Please note there is a minimum number of two participants required in order to guarantee each departure. Please wait until you've received confirmation from Encounters Travel before making any travel arrangements.

Yes, we have private departures available on this trip! Private departures offer more flexibility to travel when it suits your group. Additional costs may apply and dates are subject to availability. Please contact our Adventures Team to explore pricing and check on availability.

Yes! If you are interested in spending less time in Turkey, there are other itineraries available. Please contact our Adventures Team for more information and to explore pricing and availability.

Fly into one of the two airports in Istanbul, Turkey (IST or SAW). You’ll then be met by a representative from Encounters Travel and transferred to your hotel. If you need assistance booking your flights, Encounters Travel is able to assist with this after you have booked your travel dates.

Passports should be valid for at least six months after your departure from the country. Please do not bring an almost full or almost expired passport. Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveler, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.

Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter Turkey, and need to obtain it online in advance through the following site: http://www.evisa.gov.tr. Applicants need to log on to the site using the link, provide the requested information, make online payment (after the application is approved) and download their e-Visa. More information is available here: http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa .

Encounters Travel uses a range of hotels at the local 4-star level with some boutique-style properties also used on some tours. Accommodation levels and hotels are slightly different in Turkey to general Western standards. Encounters Travel regularly inspects all the hotels they use to ensure that the service you receive is as close as possible to your expectations. Please check your hotel room when you first arrive (hot water, cleanliness, etc.), as an Encounters Travel representative will wait in the hotel reception for at least 15 minutes to help in case of any problems. Encounters Travel will typically contact you with your arrival hotel details a couple of weeks before departure.

Single travelers may choose to pay a single room supplement to guarantee themselves a single room throughout the tour. Alternatively, you may choose to share a room with another traveler of the same sex. If there are no other single travelers available for you to pair up with at the time of your booking, the supplement will be due for payment but will be refunded if a share becomes available later. For pricing and availability, please contact our Adventures Team.

The minimum group size is 2 and the maximum group size is 20.

You'll be provided 10 breakfasts and 7 dinners, as listed on the itinerary. Additional meals, snacks, and drinks can be purchased locally.

Meals included in the itinerary will be served in the various accommodations and are generally prepared buffet style. Options vary from day to day and typically include assorted local Turkish and international dishes. Vegetarian options are also available.

The Turkish lira was re-valued at the end of 2004 to become the ‘New Turkish Lira’. The word ‘New’ has now been dropped, and they are back to ‘Turkish Lira’ again (TRY).

It is normally cheaper to convert money to Turkish Lira in Turkey than at home. Using an ATM or a credit card will often get you the best possible exchange rates; the post and telephone office (PTT) and banks also offer very reasonable rates. Try to use ATM machines that are attached to banks during business hours in case your card is swallowed so you can go into the bank and get it released back to you.

How much pocket money a person needs will vary from person to person. However, as a general rule $20-50 per day can provide you with additional meals, tipping, snacks, and drinks. Should you wish to purchase many souvenirs or other luxuries, of which there is a diverse range, you'll want to budget for these.

A mixture of cash and credit cards are the best forms of currency. Credit cards are accepted in most restaurants, bars, and pubs. MasterCard and Visa are most welcomed; American Express cards work at some ATMs and AmEx offices. Credit cards are also useful for cash advances, which allow you to withdraw Lira instantly from associated banks and ATMs throughout Turkey. Cash cards and ATMs are widespread in most of Turkey including Istanbul, Canakkale, Selcuk, Marmaris, Pamukkale, Fethiye, Kas, Cappadocia, and Ankara.

Luggage: Suitcases, rucksacks, or duffel bags are all fine to bring with you to Turkey. You should also bring a small daypack/bag to take out during the day. Your main luggage will normally be left in the hotel during your sightseeing trips – you won't need to carry it far, and there are nearly always hotel porters to assist.

Luggage limits: There is no luggage limit for this tour. However, most airlines restrict you to 44-55 lbs for your hold luggage and between 10-20 lbs for hand luggage. Please check with your airline before traveling to the airport.

Clothing: Turkey’s climate changes significantly, with cold winters and hot summers. In Western Turkey from late March to May, spring brings average temperatures of around 59°F, though the weather does gradually warm up with sunny days interspersed with rain showers. From May to the end of October, the climate is hot and sunny, getting cooler as the year progresses. In Central Turkey around Cappadocia, the climate is cold with regular snowfall from the end of November until late February. With spring the weather warms and the snow disappears altogether, though it still remains cold at night and first thing in the morning. Summer starts from May onwards, with temperature reaching around the mid 80's °F. In Eastern Turkey, it warms up considerably starting in late May and stays hot until late September with sunny days, but the night time temperatures start to drop. By the end of October you can expect the first of the winter snows. It is recommended to pack for cool and potentially wet conditions late in the year.

Modesty rates highly in some parts of Turkey, especially for women, so please ensure clothes are loose fitting and not too revealing. Loose shorts are acceptable in tourist sites, as are T-shirts, but these should not show too much bare skin (your shoulders should remain covered). In the villages of Eastern Turkey, and any mosques throughout the country, legs and arms should be covered. Attitudes are more relaxed in the seaside resorts.

Other items: It is also recommended that you bring a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a basic first aid kit, toiletries, money belt, small torch, camera & charger.

Travel insurance is required for this adventure. It allows you to seek reimbursement if you are forced to cancel your trip for unforeseeable reasons, or if you need to cover medical help, emergency transport, and/or theft or accidental damage while traveling. We recommend VisitorsCoverage as a provider.

We recommend you visit the local government websites where you plan to travel and review the required documentation for entry, current restrictions, and general recommendations for travel within the area. We encourage you to also visit your home country's embassy website if you are traveling to a foreign country. Requirements can change rapidly. Please be sure you stay abreast of the requirements and restrictions for anywhere you plan to visit. You can also enroll in the U.S. government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and you will be sent updates if the situation in your destination changes. You can find the program link at https://step.state.gov/.

Yes! Book confidently with Free Cancellations within 72 hours of booking. After 72 hours, cancellation fees will apply.

New For 2022 Departures: We’re providing more flexible booking options on this trip.

Up to 60 days prior to departure*
You may postpone or modify your trip up to 60 days prior to departure.

You will have the option to:
1) Select a new travel date within one year and travel within two years of your original travel date. Additional trip costs may apply.
2) Receive a lifetime store credit toward a future trip. Standard cancellation fees will apply.

Up to 30 days prior to departure
You may postpone or modify your trip up to 30 days prior to departure.

You will have the option to:
1) Select a new travel date and travel within one year of your original travel date. Additional trip costs may apply.
2) Receive a lifetime store credit toward a future trip. Standard cancellation fees will apply.

Less than 30 days prior to departure
In some cases, you may have the option to postpone your trip within 30 days prior to departure.

If this is available at the time of your request, you will have the option to:
1) Select a new travel date. Additional trip costs may apply and new dates are subject to availability, or
2) Receive a lifetime store credit toward a future trip. Standard cancellation fees will apply.

For more information on our Travel Cancellation Policy please Click Here.