Geographically, western Turkey is in Europe, while the rest of the country is in Anatolia and Asia Minor. As you move from the west to the east, the altitude goes up, first in the hills of Cappadocia and then again in the mountains of the Eastern Anatolia region. For eastern Turkey, think hilly and chilly. Snow is common in the winter (December-March), and so are below-freezing temperatures. Even during summer (June-August), when the days may be very warm, there can be a significant drop in temperature at night. No matter the season, wear layers so you can adjust when the weather changes. As we move towards the southern part of eastern Turkey, we descend towards the river valleys of the Tigris and the Euphrates. This area is hotter and drier, and as we approach the Syrian border, more like the Middle East.