When to Visit Turkey

Vikas Mishra of San Ramon, California, leverages more than two decades of IT experience to design, deploy, and monitor various computer applications using AWS (Amazon Web Services). In his time away from work, Vikas Mishra enjoys travel to foreign countries, including Turkey.

Turkey’s high season for tourists is roughly April through September, which spans the country’s spring, summer, and fall seasons. Spring in Turkey, from March to May, is characterized by long days and temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 

While there is some rainfall in April, the skies stay mostly clear throughout the spring season, leaving plenty of activities open to tourists. Hotels in much of the country are fully booked in these months, and prices are generally high. However, spring is an off-season for beach resorts along the Mediterranean and Aegean seas.

In the summer months, temperatures get very hot in most regions of Turkey. In June through August, the average daytime temperature stays between 80 and 90 degrees in areas such as Cappadocia, Fethiye, and Istanbul. Rainfall is at a minimum during these months, and beach resorts are crowded and expensive. Fortunately, this is when tourists can find plenty of deals inland.

In the autumn months of September and October, temperatures are mild, but the days are noticeably shorter. Rainfall also picks up in October. Many hotels again fill up, particularly in Istanbul and Cappadocia, which leads to higher prices. Beach resort prices drop in autumn, however.

Winter is the least popular time to visit Turkey because of the low temperatures and high rainfall from November through February. However, the weather is offset by smaller crowds and lower prices, which makes winter a good option for visitors looking for an affordable vacation.

Trekking to Machu Picchu in the Andes

A longtime San Ramon, California, technology professional, Vikas Mishra engages with Robert Half as an AWS solutions architect. Outside of his work in the San Ramon area, Vikas Mishra enjoys experiencing new cultures and has visited locales from Australia to Machu Picchu. 

Situated in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu was part of the Inca Empire and stands as one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of the early 20th century. Since Hiram Bingham and local farmers rediscovered the abandoned city in 1911, the site has earned UNESCO World Heritage status. It attracts thousands of visitors each day, both by tour bus and on foot. 

The classic way of reaching Machu Picchu is via a 26-mile stretch of the Inca Trail, which has been in use for centuries and features cobblestones along much of its length. The high-altitude hike takes four days from the terminus of Ollantaytambo on the Sacred Valley railway line and traverses a number of minor Inca ruins before reaching the Sun Gate, or Inti Punku. At this point, dramatic drystone terraces emerge on the steep mountainside, reflecting centuries of agricultural history.

If trekking into Machu Picchu, it makes sense to plan well in advance, as only 200 trekkers, accompanied by 300 trekking staff, are allowed on the Inca Trail on a daily basis.