1. Catalhoyuk, a very large Neolithic and Chalcolithic prehistoric settlement in southern Anatolia, which existed from approximately 7400 - 5200 BC. It is the largest and best preserved Neolithic site found to date. Neolithic Site of Catalhoyuk is truly a very important place, primarily because it is an extensive site that dates back to very early periods. Another feature that enhances the importance of this place is that it has survived to our day extremely well preserved. Catalhoyuk tells us how humans made the transition to settled life and started farming. Catalhoyuk is one of the best sites representing early society. Catalhoyuk represents significant social change and development. The taller eastern mound contains eighteen levels of Neolithic occupation between 7400 - 6200 BC, including wall paintings, reliefs, sculptures and other symbolic and artistic features. Together they testify to the evolution of social organization and cultural practices as humans adapted to a sedentary life. The western mound shows the evolution of cultural practices in the Chalcolithic period, from 6200 - 5200 BC. Catalhoyuk provides important evidence of the transition from settled villages to urban agglomeration, which was maintained in the same location for over 2000 years. It features a unique streetless settlement of houses clustered back to back with roof access into the buildings.

2. Cappadocia: the site of nature’s wonderful formations, is in central Anatolia and world heritage with a history dating back to 3000 B.C.This awesome geography where history and nature intertwines has been host to many civilizations throughout the centuries. The unique volcanic landscape of the region took shape as a result of the erosion of the volcanic layers which spread through the area with the eruption of Erciyes, Hasandag and Güllüdag mountains about 60 million years ago.Cappadocia, which means “land of beautiful horses,”in Persian language, has been the hub of many civilizations and a gigantic shelter and center for Christians who fled from the Roman Empire during the Hittite period and hid in the houses and churches carved inside of rocks.With the formation of fairy chimneys in time, the local communities carved houses and churches into these rocks and made frescoes inside of these structures connecting the past with the present.A district of Nevşehir and one of the key points of the Silk Road, Cappadocia is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

3. Pamukkale is one of the most important highlights of Turkey, unique in the world. The dazzling white calcareous castles are formed by limestone-laden thermal springs, creating the unbelievable formation of stalactites, potholes and cataracts.Waters in the terraces are the sediments of the springs with calcium bicarbonate in 33C. Waters, containing mainly calcium salts and carbon-dioxide, run off the plateau's by depositing calcium while carbon-dioxide disappearing. The marvelous landscape of Pamukkale has been created by this gradual formation, leaving a cotton-like image. Located above the theatre of Hierapolis, the mineral water sources from the thermal springs of Cal Mountain. It is collected in a pool, known as the "Sacred Pool" of ancient times, where you can swim amidst the historical remains of Hierapolis. The water of Pamukkale is famous for its benefits to the eyes and skin; and its curing properties to the ills of asthma, rheumatism, as well. The remains of the ancient Hierapolis are situated on back of the thrilling white terraces, standing wondrously in the area.

4. Cennet Cehennem (Heaven and Hell) are two dolines, located very closely, near the small fishing village Narlıkuyu. They are cultic places since prehistoric times. The Greek believed this to be the place where the giant T YPHON lived, who was killed by Z EUS, with the help of P AN and H ERMES. T YPHON was father to the hellhound K ERBEROS. So this place was also said to be the entrance to the underworld. However, it is not the Korykian Cave which is mentioned in the same rather complicated legend. That cave is located in central Greece. Cennet Çökügü (Heaven) is a huge pit 250m long, 110m wide, and between 60 and 70m deep. Quite a strenuous visit, as it is entered on a limestone staircase of 426 steps. The floor of the pit is full of trees with birds nests. Cool air announces the cave entrance, which is also the place of a 5th century cave church, or better a cave chapel, which is ruined with only the lower metre of the walls remaining. This cave leads to an underground stream of cold water, which the path follows to a sump. Cehennem Çukuru (Hell) is located 75m northeast of Cennet. It is 60m wide and 120m deep, an almost circular daylight shaft. Because of its lesser diameter it is said to be smaller, but it is much deeper and obviously was rather frightening for the locals. This may be the reason for the name hell, and obviously the chapel is the reason why the other pit is called heaven in contrast. It is also possible to visit this pit on a steel ladder, but this is rather dangerous and not recommended for the average tourist. 300m to the southwest of Heaven is the Astim - Dilek Magarasi (Asthma and Wishing Cave), also called Narlıkuyu (Pomegranate Spring). This cave is well developed and lighted and the most easy to visit of all three caves. It shows impressive speleothems, like stalactites, stalagmites and all forms of calcite crystals. The cave is 250m long and 10 to 15m wide and high. This main passage leads the visitor to four huge chambers and many small side passages. The air of Dilek Magarasi is thought to be a cure for asthma, so the locals used it for therapy. This seems to be a traditional use of speleotherapy.

5. Ihlara Valley (often misspelled as Ilhara Valley), near Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz (two of the three volcanoes of Cappadocia) is a canyon with a depth of approximately 100m and was formed by the Melendiz River thousands of years ago. It begins at Ihlara village and ends with Selime Monastery at Selime village after making 26 bends along 14 kilometers. It is believed that the valley housed more than four thousand dwellings and a hundred cave churches decorated with frescoes. Around eighty thousand people once lived in Ihlara Valley. There are 4 entrances to Ihlara valley. The first one is at the start of the valley in Ihlara Village. The second one opens to the 4th kilometer of the valley and it is the most popular entrance, and has more than 300 steps down to the valley. The third entrance is Belisirma village which allows you to enter the valley by driving. It is located in the middle (7th km) of the valley. The last entrance is the end of the valley at the Selime Monastery. The best part of the valley is the first 7km part from Ihlara Village until Belisirma Village where you can see most of the churches and natural beauty. It is very pleasant to walk through the Ihlara valley by the vineyards, poplars and pistachio trees to the soothing sound of the rushing water (Melendiz River), and surrounded by a rich wildlife of lizards, frogs, butterflies, birds and sometimes eagles and other mammals like lambs and sheep. There are many cave churches in Ihlara Valley. Most of them display scenes dissimilar to the scenes depicted in other Cappadocian churches. In fact, they are reminiscent of the early churches of Syria and the Coptic churches of Egypt.

6. Meke Lake is a crater lake formed by a volcanic explosion.It is located in Karapınar, Konya, which is the only "desert" in Turkey. There are controlled vegeatation and forestration works nearby. The "eye" of the lake at the tope of the volcanic cone is 25 m deep and salty lake. The lake around the cone is 12 m deep, covering an area of app. 500x800 m2. The volcanic soil on the surface of the volcanic cone (island) is able to suck all rainwater coming down in seconds. Therefore the shape of the lake is preserved for millions of years. Unfortunately, due to global warming and the uncontrolled irrigation of farms, the "eye" of the lake has dried and rest of the lake is drying.

7. Ivriz is an Iron Age archaeological site of a Neo- Hittite rock-relief monument and cultural place in south-central Anatolia (modern Turkey, Konya Province, immediately south-east of the modern town of Halkapınar). The rock relief depicts the late 8th-century BC Tabalian king Warpalawas and the storm-god Tarhunzas and is accompanied with a hieroglyphic Luwian inscription.