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An update from Evaneos
Van

Van (Turkey)

Practical information about Van

  • Lake
  • Place or Religious Monument
  • Place or Historical Monument
5 / 5 - One review
How to get there
Eighteen hours east of Ankara by car
When to go
All year round, though it's more pleasant in summer
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days

Reviews of Van

Timothée D. Travel writer
285 travel articles

The largest lake in Turkey, Lake Van lies at an altitude of 1,600 meters at the eastern extreme of the country.

My suggestion:
I advise anyone going to Lake Van to explore the volcanoes in the surrounding area, which can be reached via some beautiful hikes.
Summary:
Although Lake Van is located in eastern Turkey, it is actually one of the Armenian community's most important places: they consider it to be one of their three great lakes, two of which are today to be found outside the country. This is the reason why you will see a number of monasteries all around the lake and even on its islands, e.g. that of Holy Cross on Akdamar, which was once the royal church of Armenia. These are of great importance to the Armenian community.
View of an Armenian monastery in eastern Turkey