-Guided walking tour of Istanbul
-Explore the fairy chimneys and castles of Cappadocia
-Experience the ruins at Ephesus
-Enjoy a traditional meal with a local family
-Relax on the beaches of Bodrum
-Cruise the Aegean Sea on a Turkish sailboat
Straddling the two continents of Europe and Asia, Turkey is complete with historic ruins, a gorgeous coastline, incredible scenery, and amazing cuisine. It’s no wonder why Turkey is a must-visit destination!
Experience the best of Turkey from the bustling city of Istanbul to the unique rock formations at Cappadocia to the beautiful beaches of Bodrum. Along the way, you will discover one-of-a-kind sights and experiences with the help of locals who know their homeland best.
The Turkish Lira (TL).
A visa is required when traveling to Turkey for US Passport holders and Canadian Passport holders.
Applicable travelers can apply for an E-Visa. The cost is $60 USD.
The best time to visit Turkey is during the Spring and Fall months. During April, May, September, and October, temperatures in Turkey are warm and pleasant, and you will experience fewer crowds than in the peak summer season.
Turkey’s official language is Turkish. This is spoken by roughly 90% of the population. Kurdish and Arabic are two common minority languages spoken in Turkey. English is less commonly spoken among the Turkish population. However, those working in the tourist industry do speak English, especially in the bigger cities such as Istanbul.
The lighter, the better! If you only have a rolling suitcase, that will work, but if you can get your hands on a more mobile bag, like a large backpack, that would be better. We take private and public transportation, including two domestic flights. We move often on this trip, changing locations every 2-3 days. Loading your suitcase on and off all these modes of transportation can be challenging.
You'll also want a daypack for your personal gear, food, and drinks for the day.
20 kg (44 lbs).
Considering the size and landmass of Turkey, one can find a variety of climates no matter what time of year. Here is what you can expect in the regions we operate:
Istanbul: In the months of May and June temperatures range from the upper 60s to mid 70s Fahrenheit (20-25 Celsius). You may experience some rainfall during these months. From September to October, the weather remains warm with average temperatures in the upper 70’s Fahrenheit (25-28 Celsius).
Cappadocia: In the months of May and June, you can expect warm days and chilly nights. Average temperature ranges in the 60s Fahrenheight (15-20 Celsius). From September to October, the weather in Cappadocia begins to cool down and you should pack warm clothes, especially for the evening time. Temperatures range from upper 40s to low 60s Fahrenheit (9-15 Celsius).
Selcuk/Bodrum: In the months of May and June, this region of Turkey experiences little rainfall and has warmer temperatures. Average temperatures range from the upper 70s to the 80’s Fahrenheit (25-30 Celsius). From September to October, the day time temperatures also range from the upper 70s to the 80’s Fahrenheit (25-30 Celsius), though the evenings can begin to get a little bit cooler.
Tap water is generally safe to consume and is pretreated to make it safe for consumption. However, the locals widely prefer to drink bottled water versus tap water, due to the hardness and taste of tap water, especially in urban areas of the country. Please bring a reusable water bottle and a reusable straw. We’d love you to join us in our efforts to be environmentally friendly and keep Turkey beautiful.
Eat like a local with delicious Turkish dishes.
Although meat-based foods such as kebabs are common in Turkish cuisine, meals in Turkey largely center around rice, vegetables, and bread. A huge range of vegetable dishes known as zeytinyagli yemegi–foods cooked in olive oil. The majority are vegetable-based and include green beans, artichokes, and eggplants.
All the hotels provide open buffet breakfast with American breakfast options. There will be eggs, olives, lots of greens, various cheese types, jams, corn flakes. Unlimited tea & coffee will be available.
Included dinners will be traditional Turkish dishes. Dinners will include soup, cold appetizers, and a main dish. Turkish cuisine is so rich that everyone with a different diet habit (vegan, pescetarian, etc) can enjoy something traditional around the same table.
Must-try Turkish dishes:
We suggest booking a round-trip ticket arriving and departing from Istanbul Airport (IST). Then book a separate domestic flight from Milas-Bodrum (BJV) to Istanbul Airport (IST). Turkish Airlines offers multiple flights per day for this route.
Yes. In Turkey there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug that has two round pins and plug type F is the plug that has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Turkey operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
You can order a European travel adaptor here.
We suggest bringing $400 USD in cash to be used at establishments that do not accept credit cards. There are 6 lunches not included. On average you should expect to spend $15 for lunch. However, you can also find meals for as little as $5 when eating at street food vendors. There will be 4 dinners that are not included. On average, you should expect to spend $20-25 USD for dinner at a sit-down dining establishment. Optional activities range from $10 to enter museums to $60 for a Turkish Hamman experience. Additionally, if you opt for the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, you should budget $300 USD. This price varies depending on the time of year and the particular vendor.
Yes. There is an included private boat trip on the final full day in Bodrum (Day 8). You will also have an opportunity to visit the beaches near Selcuk.
Turkey has a vibrant nightlife scene. Bigger cities such as Istanbul have a variety of nightlife options including clubs, music venues, and bars. Bodrum, a beach resort destination, has plenty of nightlife options and laid-back beach bars.
Yes. Each city we visit will have ATMs available. However, please understand that certain banks charge more fees than others.
Yes. A few of the hotels offer laundry services for an additional fee. You can also find self-service laundromats in the towns we visit.
Of course! This trip is your trip, and you don’t have to participate in anything you don’t want to. Just be aware that opting out of included activities will not change the price of the trip.
Yes! When travelers take advantage of our “Switch Your Trip” program, last-minute slots open up on sold-out trips. Visit our Trips On Sale page for the latest last-minute deals.
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Feel free to reach out to our all-star customer service team at [email protected] or by calling 1 (888) 839-2086.
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