Travel Tribe Turkey – Final Details

Turkey: A Voyage of Discovery

July 12th – 22nd, 2024

Important Details

Tourist Visas

Starting in 2024, citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and most European Countries are now allowed to enter Turkey without a visa. As a result, no preparations are needed and you do not need to obtain a tourist visa for this trip. Upon arrival in the country, the immigration officer will simply stamp your passport and you’ll be allowed to enter.

Airport Arrival

Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at Istanbul’s International Airport:

After exiting the plane, walk through the terminal building to the immigration inspection. Make sure you enter the immigration area for “International Visitors”.
Once through immigration, follow the signs to the luggage area. Collect your luggage from the correct carousel and then pass through the customs inspection where your bags will be screened.
After you exit the baggage/customs area through the sliding doors, you’ll enter the large Arrivals Hall.
Please turn right and walk all the way to the end of the building until you reach Exit Door #14.
Walk outside through this door and you will find your driver waiting for you with a sign that has your name on it.
Drivers are not allowed to wait inside of the airport.

If you are unable to find your driver, please contact your tour leader, Luna, at +34 722-38-0929 or our local representative, Ilker, at +90 535-559-0057

Please note: When arriving into Turkey, you are sometimes required to fill out a landing card or tell the immigration officer where you will be staying in Istanbul. Here are the details:

Erboy Hotel, Hoca Paşa, Ebussuud Cd. No:18, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye

Arrival / Departure Airport

Please note that both the arrival and departure airport for this tour is the Istanbul International Airport (IST) in Istanbul. Please make sure you’re not arriving or departing from the city’s second and smaller airport, the Gökçen International Airport (SAW).

WhatsApp Group

We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.

Tour Leader

The tour leader for your trip is Luna Rodriguez, a well-traveled guide who has led multiple tours across various destinations. She will be with you every step of the way, sharing her extensive knowledge and passion for travel. Luna will introduce herself and share more details when we create the group WhatsApp chat approximately 2 weeks before the tour.

*Our tour leader will be there to ensure the trip runs smoothly and our local guides are there to share the wonders of their country!

Local currency

The local currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 32 TRY

In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $30 USD per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc…) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.

As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are located throughout urban areas in both countries. However, check with your bank at home as many banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money overseas.

If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD, Euros or GBP to exchange at money exchange offices in the cities.

Tipping

Tipping in Turkey is common and expected. Here’s a general guideline:

Restaurants – 10% – 15% if a service charge is not already added to the bill
Hotel staff – 50 TRY ($1.50 USD) if someone helps you with luggage or anything else
Local guide – At the end of the trip, we recommend that everyone gives a $100 USD tip for our local guide who will be with you throughout the entire journey. We will collect this on the last day and give it to him before we say goodbye
Tour leader – If you wish to tip your tour leader, they will always be greatly appreciative

*Tips for waitstaff at included meals are already included.

Staying Connected

Although Turkey is a relatively modern country, the internet connection is not as you’d expect back home. Wi-fi will be available in all of our hotels and it will be okay, although most likely slower than what you’re used to. If you want a stronger connection throughout the trip, we recommend that you either activate the international plan from your network at home or buy an online E-Sim prior to the trip. These two options will ensure you have a good 4G connection throughout the tour.

Packing / Luggage Restrictions

Packing lightly will make it easier to load up the van when needed and also easier for the flight that we’ll be taking. There may be times when you’ll need to walk with your luggage for a short while to reach our accommodation.

*Important: For the internal flights, you can take a maximum of 1 check-in luggage (max 23kg/50lbs with a size of no more than 158cm/62″ by the sum of its three dimensions), 1 carry-on luggage (max 8kg/17 lbs), as well as 1 small personal item that fits under the seat in front of you.

Itinerary

July 12th: Istanbul / Arrival Day

Airport transfers
Welcome dinner consisting of traditional Turkish cuisine

Accommodation: Erboy Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast (for the participants who booked the pre-trip accommodation with us), Dinner

July 13th: Istanbul

Tour of the historic and vibrant Sultanahmet neighborhood, where we’ll visit, the wondrous Blue Mosque and the underground Basilica Cistern, offering a glimpse into the fascinating history of Turkey
Continue to the Spice Market to learn about an array of exotic spices, dried fruits, nuts, and traditional Turkish delights
Group lunch at a spot famed for its connection to the hippy trail
Free time to enjoy Istanbul at your own leisure, with an optional visit to the Topkapi Palace Museum
Group dinner at a popular local restaurant

Accommodation: Erboy Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 14th: Istanbul

Morning tour of the Hagia Sophia (considered by some to be the most beautiful building in the world)
Continue to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, featuring over 4,000 shops spread across 61 streets
Group lunch just outside the market
Visit to the 16th-century Suleymaniye Mosque with its colorful interior and sweeping views out over the city
Ferry ride across the Bosphorus Strait to visit the Asian side of Istanbul
Dinner at local Turkish restaurant
Return ferry ride to the European side

Accommodation: Erboy Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 15th: Istanbul

Tour of the Balat neighborhood, home to the Jewish, Roma and Armenian populations
Group lunch
Free time to keep enjoying this grand city at your own leisure, including an optional visit to a local hammam
Afternoon visit to the Galata neighborhood, including a stop at the most famous baklava shop in the city
Group dinner

Accommodation: Erboy Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 16th: Istanbul ➜ Cappadocia

Quick 1.5-hour flight towards the breathtaking landscapes of Cappadocia
Panoramic orientation tour of South Cappadocia, acquainting ourselves with its unique geological formations and historical sites
Check into our remarkable cave hotel
Orientation walk in the local village before catching the sunset over this spectacular region
Group dinner

Accommodation: Yusuf Yiglotu Mansion
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

July 17th: Cappadocia

Morning visit to the Goreme Open Air Museum, recognized by UNESCO for its significant cultural heritage
Tour of both the Ortahisar Castle and the Fairy Chimney Valley, with its mushroom-like rocks and out-of-this-world formations
Finish at a red clay pottery workshop located along the river, where we’ll learn about this craft that has become well-known in Cappadocia

Accommodation: Yusuf Yiglotu Mansion
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

July 18th: Cappadocia

Optional morning hot air balloon ride at sunrise, floating between two volcanic mountains
Return to our hotel for breakfast and some well-deserved rest
Visit the Uchisar Castle, the tallest fairy chimney in the region that once served as a formidable fortress
Continue to the Kaymakli Underground City, an astonishing subterranean complex where thousands of people lived across centuries
Finish at the Pigeon Valley, renowned for its scenic beauty
Whirling Dervish performance
Group dinner

Accommodation: Yusuf Yiglotu Mansion
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

July 19th: Cappadocia ➜ Konya ➜ Pamukkale

Morning 9-hour scenic drive to Pamukkale, complete with several stops along the way
Pause in Konya for a brief guided tour, exploring the city’s rich cultural heritage
Group lunch
Settle into our cozy hotel in the evening

Accommodation: Venus Suites Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

July 20th: Pamukkale ➜ Kusadasi

Morning visit to the Travertines of Pamukkale, thermal pools that were originally used as a Roman spa resort
Continued on a tour of the Hierapolis Ruins to admire the ancient Roman architecture
Start our drive towards Kusadasi
Group lunch along the way
Check into our luxurious hotel, followed by a short orientation tour of Kusadasi

Accommodation: Charisma De Luxe Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

July 21st: Kusadasi

Full day to make your own adventure in Kusadasi. You may wish to take advantage of the city’s pristine beaches, indulge in a time-honored hammam spa experience or explore Kusadasi’s vibrant neighborhoods at your leisure
Farewell dinner, celebrating the end of an unforgettable Turkish adventure