Best of Turkey

This trip uses a combination of public and private transport, and all vehicles are modern and have air-conditioning and most are fitted with seat belts. Some journeys can be long in order to maximise the areas visited, but this gives you a chance to interact with the local community and see more of the country. You'll also be pleasantly surprised to find most Turkish buses have wi-fi and serve coffee and cake! Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the bus, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the ‘Essential Trip Information’ section.

1. This trip starts in Istanbul on Day 1 at 1.00 pm. This allows time after the joining meeting to explore Istanbul with your Leader.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances.

Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.

Below are some ideas and helpful tips on what you specifically need for this trip.

GENERAL PACKING LIST:
• Travel documents: passport, visa (if required), travel insurance, air tickets or e-ticket receipts and a copy of this document.
• Photocopy of main passport pages, visa (if required), travel insurance and air tickets.
• Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes and bandaids.
• Daypack
• Watch/Alarm clock or phone that can be used for both.
• Power adaptors
• Insect repellent
• Sun protection - hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
• Earplugs and eye mask (you might be sharing with a snorer!)
• Water bottle. We recommend at least a 1.5litre capacity. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
• Warm clothes including hat and gloves - When travelling in cooler climates
• Wind and waterproof rain jacket
• Toiletries/travel wipes
• Travel Towel
• Closed in, comfortable walking shoes. As most of our trips include some walking elements, we highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in walking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings.
• Camera with spare memory cards and batteries
• Swimwear (itinerary dependant)
• Clothes! Bear in mind that laundry facilities will be widely available throughout this trip. The cost varies in each destination.

LUGGAGE LIMIT:
On this trip, you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and, although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage, we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg. If your itinerary includes a flight, please keep in mind that some domestic airlines have checked luggage limits of 15kg.

CLOTHING & CLIMATE:
Temperatures are highly variable depending on the time of year and the region you are travelling in. Winters range from freezing in the central and eastern areas, cold in Istanbul and relatively mild on the west coast. Summer (June to August) can be extremely hot all over the country. Spring and autumn tend towards warm days and cooler nights. A light water and windproof jacket is useful and a hat essential. 

VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your hotel safes to store the bulk of your money, passport, and airline tickets. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

BATTERIES/POWER:
Most of our trips have access to power to recharge batteries for phones and cameras regularly. We always recommend that you carry an extra battery for your camera just in case. Charging of batteries is advised before checking out of your hotel rooms. Please bear in mind there may be some nights were electricity may not be as readily available as you might be used to i.e overnight boat

From the ancient city of Ephesus to the trek to Oludeniz on the Lycian way, this trip can involve a lot of walking and soft hiking. To make the most of the trip, it's highly recommended that you have at least a moderate level of fitness and are able to walk on uneven and sometimes steep ground.

No11 Hotel & Apartments, Balyoz Sok. No:11 Asmali Mescit Mah Beyoglu, Istanbul, 34430, TURKEY

NO11 Hotel has adopted “Waste Reduction, Green Cleaning and Recycling Policy” in line with international eco-labeling institutes in the field of tourism and hospitality. It was awarded the Green Key award, Turkey's first small independent hotel with an international eco-label. The carbon footprint of each guest currently staying is measured. The hotel is also in a great location where you can reach everything you need during the day as quickly as possible. Within walking distance of Istanbul's most famous historical sites, NO11 is surrounded by the city's most exclusive entertainment venues, restaurants, shops, boutiques, cafes and bars.

Alternate Joining Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
04 Jul 2024 (ERSI240704)
11 Jul 2024 (ERSI240711)
01 Aug 2024 (ERSI240801)
26 Aug 2024 (ERSI240826)
04 Sep 2024 (ERSI240904)
09 Sep 2024 (ERSI240909)
11 Sep 2024 (ERSI240911)
17 Sep 2024 (ERSI240917)
25 Sep 2024 (ERSI240925)
07 Oct 2024 (ERSI241007)
Manesol Galata Hotel
Azapkapı
Billur Sk. No:1
Beyoğlu
Istanbul
34421
TURKEY
Phone: +90 2122450000
For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
22 Apr 2024 (ERSI240422)
25 Apr 2024 (ERSI240425)
27 Apr 2024 (ERSI240427)
06 May 2024 (ERSI240506)
23 May 2024 (ERSI240523)
27 May 2024 (ERSI240527)
30 May 2024 (ERSI240530)
Root Karakoy
Necatibey Caddesi No:95
Istanbul
34425
TURKEY
For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
22 Jun 2024 (ERSI240622)
24 Jun 2024 (ERSI240624)
29 Jul 2024 (ERSI240729)
26 Sep 2024 (ERSI240926)
30 Sep 2024 (ERSI240930)
17 Oct 2024 (ERSI241017)
Weingart Hotel
Hacımimi
Necatibey Cd. No:69
Istanbul
TURKEY
Phone: +90 212 945 60 20

Intrepid can assist with pre-booking an arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details, including which airport in Istanbul, at least 14 days prior to your departure.

There are two international airports servicing Istanbul. Istanbul Airport (IST) is 50kms/30miles northwest of central Istanbul, on the European side. Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) is 50kms/30miles southeast of central Istanbul, on the Asian side. From either airport you can take a metered taxi to the joining point hotel. The taxi fare will cost approx. TRY700-900.

Arriving at Istanbul Airport (IST)
For your confirmed arrival transfer, please collect your luggage and proceed to Gate 8 in the arrival hall. Exit through Gate 8 and on the lefthand side you’ll see our representative holding an Intrepid sign. Our representative will then advise the driver to come upon meeting you. Due to airport regulations, drivers have to wait offsite so you will need to wait for a short period of time before they arrive at the pick-up area. Once the driver arrives, the transfer representative will escort you to meet the driver (two floors down).
In case you have trouble locating our airport representative, please call our local emergency number listed in the Essential Trip Information document.
The journey from the airport to the hotel will take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour but can increase to 90 minutes or more during rush hour.

Arriving at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)
For your confirmed arrival transfer, you will need to exit from the international terminal and cross the road between Column 9 and Column 10 to “Simit Sarayı” bakery. Once there you will our representer holding an Intrepid sign Our representative will then advise the driver to come upon meeting you. Due to airport regulations, drivers have to wait offsite so you will need to wait for a short period of time before they arrive at the pick-up area.
In case you have trouble locating our airport representative, please call our local emergency number listed in the Essential Trip Information document.
The journey from the airport to the hotel will take approximately 60 to 90 minutes but can increase to 2 hours or more during rush hour.

No11 Hotel & Apartments, Balyoz Sok. No:11 Asmali Mescit Mah Beyoglu, Istanbul, 34430, TURKEY

NO11 Hotel has adopted “Waste Reduction, Green Cleaning and Recycling Policy” in line with international eco-labeling institutes in the field of tourism and hospitality. It was awarded the Green Key award, Turkey's first small independent hotel with an international eco-label. The carbon footprint of each guest currently staying is measured. The hotel is also in a great location where you can reach everything you need during the day as quickly as possible. Within walking distance of Istanbul's most famous historical sites, NO11 is surrounded by the city's most exclusive entertainment venues, restaurants, shops, boutiques, cafes and bars.

Alternate Finish Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this finish point.
04 Jul 2024 (ERSI240704)
11 Jul 2024 (ERSI240711)
01 Aug 2024 (ERSI240801)
26 Aug 2024 (ERSI240826)
04 Sep 2024 (ERSI240904)
09 Sep 2024 (ERSI240909)
11 Sep 2024 (ERSI240911)
17 Sep 2024 (ERSI240917)
25 Sep 2024 (ERSI240925)
07 Oct 2024 (ERSI241007)
Manesol Galata Hotel
Azapkapı
Billur Sk. No:1
Beyoğlu
Istanbul
34421
TURKEY
Phone: +90 2122450000
For trips departing on the following dates
use this finish point.
22 Apr 2024 (ERSI240422)
25 Apr 2024 (ERSI240425)
27 Apr 2024 (ERSI240427)
06 May 2024 (ERSI240506)
23 May 2024 (ERSI240523)
27 May 2024 (ERSI240527)
30 May 2024 (ERSI240530)
Root Karakoy
Necatibey Caddesi No:95
Istanbul
34425
TURKEY
For trips departing on the following dates
use this finish point.
22 Jun 2024 (ERSI240622)
24 Jun 2024 (ERSI240624)
29 Jul 2024 (ERSI240729)
26 Sep 2024 (ERSI240926)
30 Sep 2024 (ERSI240930)
17 Oct 2024 (ERSI241017)
Weingart Hotel
Hacımimi
Necatibey Cd. No:69
Istanbul
TURKEY
Phone: +90 212 945 60 20

Intrepid can assist with pre-booking a departure transfer to the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight details, including which airport in Istanbul, at least 14 days prior to the start of your trip.
If you have pre-booked a departure transfer your group leader or local representative will advise your pick up time the day before your trip ends.

Taxi fare from your hotel to the airport will cost approx. TRY500-600. Please ask your group leader or local representative or hotel staff for assistance in arranging a taxi.

Departing from Istanbul Airport (IST)
There are express bus services available to the airport from Taksim, a short taxi ride from your hotel.

Departing from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)
We recommend taking the ferry to Kadikoy on the Asian side of the city, from which there are express bus services available to the airport

Breakfasts included: 14

Lunches included: 2

Dinners included: 2

Your group leader or local representative will endeavour to cater to specific dietary requirements where possible, and vegetarianism and gluten intolerance will be catered for in most instances. There are, however some meals and activities that are fixed in advance and therefore cannot be modified to suit dietary requirements.

Please notify your booking consultant of any dietary requirements at the time of booking. For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader or local representative will endeavour to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.

Turkey is a large country split into seven regions. As a rule of thumb the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have typical Mediterranean climates with hot summers and mild, wet winters. In the east it is more mountainous with warm summers and very cold, snowy winters. Central Turkey (Cappadocia), has low rainfall, very dry, hot summers and very cold winters. Istanbul and coastal centres can experience very high humidity.

Winter (November to March) can be very cold. Not all of our hotels have heating so consider bringing thermals, a scarf, gloves and a warm jacket for travel in this period. Summer (June to August) can be very hot. Not all of our hotels have air-conditioning, and in those that do it's not always functioning. Please consider the seasons when planning your trip.

RAMADAN
The important month of Ramadan will be in progress 10 March to 08 April 2024 and 1 March to 30 March 2025 and  and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it's a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ourtrips/contact/

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Intrepid Turkey Office: +90 850 309 68 76

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

Our Turkish Coast Cruise is operated on a traditional Gullet. Cabins are used for storing luggage, changing and bathroom facilities only. Sleeping is on deck. A mattress, sheet and blanket are provided for camping on deck under a starry Mediterranean sky. You may like to consider bringing a sleep-sheet for this activity, please refer to our packing list.

There are some long travel days and some rough travelling in areas away from main tourist routes. Windy roads, rough surfaces and cramped conditions make for some challenging travel experiences. On some long travel days we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise our time at our next destination. If you experience travel sickness we recommend you consider medication to help ease the discomfort.

Turkey - Public Transport
When and where possible we will use public buses to travel between cities on this trip.
However due to weather and seasonal bus schedules we may find it necessary to substitute public buses with private transport on some days.

Public buses in Turkey don't have toilets on board. Breaks are normally scheduled at rest stops every 2-3 hours.