Turkish Treasures


Turkish Treasures - ETTTD

Last Updated: May 1, 2013
9 days: Turkey
Print Print  |  

What's Included

Arrival transfer - Welcome gift - Walking tour of Istanbul including admission to Topkapı Palace - Tour of Ankara including Ataturk’s mausoleum, Roman quarter, and admission to the Museum of Anatolian civilization - Admission and guided walk in Goreme Open Air Museum - Walk in Rose Valley - Dinner with local family in Cappadocia - Orientation walk in Selcuk including temple of Artemis, mosque of Isa Bey and remains of St John Basilica - Entrance and guided tour of Ephesus - Local lunch and wine tasting in Sirince - Entrance and guided visit to Troy.

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and G Adventures. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Validity: Valid for all trips departing January 1st, 2013 - December 31st, 2013


Trip Style

Discovery Adventures: Say hello to your world.

Engage the extraordinary cultures, wildlife and landscapes through exhilarating, educational and immersive activities while achieving a greater appreciation for our planet. These trips are as much about doing as seeing — all with a comfortable feel.

Service Level

Comfort:


  • All the adventure you want, with a softer landing
  • Handpicked, character-rich accommodations with upgraded amenities services
  • Upgraded and private transport, including flights to maximize time
  • More included meals, activities and transfers

Physical Grading

2: There'll be some light walking and hiking. Suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Itinerary

Route map for Turkish Treasures (ETTTD)

Day 1 Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul, the city where East meets West. A Discovery Adventures representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our comfortable hotel. Please note that check in time is approximately 2pm, but the hotel will be happy to store luggage for early arrivals.

There are no planned activities today, until this evening when we meet our Discovery Adventures Tour Leaders and fellow group members for a welcome meeting. Check the notice board for a message from the guide or ask at reception for the exact time and location of this group meeting. Afterward, we have the option of heading out for a meal in a local restaurant with our travel companions. If you arrive late, the guide will leave a message at the front desk.

If you arrive early, today is a good day to visit the atmospheric Grand Bazaar, as it is closed on Sundays.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2 Istanbul (1B)

We begin our day in Istanbul with a tour to the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and the Topkapi Palace, the magnificent former home of the sultans. We explore the beautiful Blue Mosque, admiring the symmetry and internal tile work of the building. As it is a working mosque, take the chance to learn more about the ceremony behind Islam, the religion of around 98% of Turks. In front of the Blue Mosque, the ancient Hippodrome was once the scene of chariot races and now houses monuments from various stages of Istanbul’s history.

The remainder of our time is free - consider visiting the Basilica Cistern which is one of the biggest, well preserved and impressive cisterns in Istanbul, or wander down to the Bosphorus to check out the hubbub of the ferries and fishermen going about their daily business. Take a rest at a café overlooking the busy waters and sip on some black Turkish tea.

Overnight Istanbul.

Days 3-4 Cappadocia (2B,1D)

This morning we fly to Ankara. We undertake a short tour of the highlights of Ankara including the Roman and Ottoman quarters of town and Ataturk’s mausoleum, learning more about the fascinating history of this comparatively contemporary capital and its relationship to modern Turkey. We finish at the magnificent Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which contains an outstanding collection of artifacts documenting this region.

Later today, we continue on to Cappadocia. With an environment shaped and molded by nature, Cappadocia's man made and natural attractions beg to be explored. We arrive in the early evening in time for an orientation walk. There is also the option to attend a "Turkish night" where you will experience a multi-course meal followed by local entertainment.

On the morning of Day 4 we will enjoy a guided visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, a complex of medieval painted cave churches carved out by Orthodox monks. There are more than 10 caves to visit, and many of the churches are up to 1000 years old and still retain amazing color and vibrancy.

Later this evening, we will travel to a village and have dinner with a local family. While enjoying the home made menu, with dishes that change according to the food in season, take the chance to ask our friendly hosts all about life in rural Cappadocia.

Please note if you have pre-booked the Cappadocia Balloon Ride, you will be flying on Day 5.

Overnight in Goreme (2 nights).

Estimated travel time:
Istanbul to Ankara, 45 minutes
Ankara to Goreme, 5hrs

Days 5-6 Selcuk (2B,1L)

This morning we take a short flight from Cappadocia to Izmir, then transfer to the village of Selcuk. On our arrival, we undertake a walking tour of this attractive and historic town.

We begin our explorations at the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Temple of Artemis. While the single column is a scant remain, it is easy to picture how magnificent this sight must have been in former times.
We continue on to the Mosque of Isa Bey. This building is the best example of a building which reflects the change from the dominant Selcuk, to Ottoman style of architecture. Our final stop is the hilltop remains of the Basilica of St John. The ruined church provides stunning views over the surrounding countryside and is the reputed burial place of St John who died here around 100AD.

The following morning, we visit the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Ephesus. One of the foremost cities of the world in its time, with a strategic location on the trade route, this well preserved city is one of the best places in the world to get a real feeling of what life must have been like during Roman times. The massive, well preserved theater dominates the view down Harbor Street, which leads to the long-silted-up harbor. The impressive two-story library, whose façade has been carefully reconstructed from all original pieces, was built in 125AD and once held nearly 12,000 scrolls. There is even a chance to see 2000 year-old public toilets.

Later in the day, we will take an excursion to the picturesque Greek village of Sirince where we enjoy a local lunch of gozleme, which are savory pancakes cooked over an open fire, we can also sample some of the local wine, visit the church and shop for homemade crafts.

Overnight in Selcuk for two nights.

Estimated travel time: Cappadocia to Kayseri airport,1 hour, Flight Kayseri to Izmir, 1 hour, transfer from Izmir to Selcuk, 1 hour.

Day 7 Canakkale (1B)

Today we make our way north, towards Istanbul passing lush orchards, crop filled pastures and plenty of glimpses of the picturesque coastline. On our way to the city of Çanakkale, our base for the night, we pay a visit to the world famous Troy. Troy was first made famous by the Iliad, Homer's epic poem, and more recently by Orlando Bloom and Brad Pitt in the film of the same name. For centuries this story in the Iliad, was regarded as just a myth, until the ruins of the city were found in the mid-nineteenth century. While today not too much remains, it is possible, with a bit of imagination to get a feel for what a great city this must once have been. Of course we won’t want to miss the chance to have a photo taken with the Trojan horse.

We then continue to the harbor town of Çanakkale, a busy port with a thriving student population. Join the crowds as they stroll the waterfront nightly, seeing and being seen.

Overnight in Çanakkale.

Approx travel time: Selcuk to Troy, 5hrs; Troy to Çanakkale, 40mins

Day 8 Istanbul (1B)

We continue our journey to Istanbul where there will be the opportunity to continue sightseeing or get in some last minute shopping.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Approximate travel time: Canakkale to Istanbul, 5 hours.

Day 9 Istanbul (1B)

Depart at any time.


Important Notes

1. Discovery Adventures is operated in conjunction with G Adventures, the world leader in sustainable adventure travel. An award winning company with over 800 employees and 17 operational offices worldwide, G Adventures has 20 years experience in creating culturally interactive travel experiences. G Adventures advocates a triple bottom line business philosophy where equal attention is given to the environmental, social and economic impact of tourism to achieve long-term environmentally responsible growth whilst protecting destinations & cultural heritage for future generations.

2. Depending on the lunar cycle, Ramadan will fall between July 10 to August 10, 2013. Please note that Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some limitations to services and disruptions to schedules during Ramadan, but generally our tours still operate effectively during this period and food is available to non-muslims throughout the day.

3. Looking to add to your experience? Check out our Theme Packs! Specially designed for travellers with unique interests, theme packs are optional add-ons that make your adventure more you-centric. Theme Packs must be booked prior to departure, please see details in our optional activities field and ask you sales agent.

Accommodation

Comfort hotels (8 nts)

About Accommodation

The accommodation level for most Discovery Adventure tours are comfortable, in mid-range hotels, motels, lodges, guest houses, etc. You'll often enjoy air-conditioned rooms, complete with en suite bathrooms and some amenities. Accommodation and amenities can vary by Country and region and please remember that standards can be different from what you are used to in your home country, which is part of the appeal of adventure travel. Some trips may include camping, permanent tented camps or more rustic lodges, depending on the remoteness of where you are visiting. Please see your trip details for more information, specific to your tour. Porterage is not included, but can be arranged directly at most hotels.

My Own Room

Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops

Transport

Minibus, plane, walking

Group Size Notes

Max 15, avg 10

About our Transportation

Our main form of on ground transportation will be comfortable A/C mini buses.

Local Flights

All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.

Meals Included

8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Meals

Travelling with Discovery Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful foods and flavors that are available in the world. Some meals are included in the trip price in more remote regions or as a highlight where we can share a local specialty or cultural experience. In many places where there is a choice of eating options, we like to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each others company, but there is no obligation to do this. Your group leader will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

Breakfast
Many breakfasts are included as part of your tour. Turkish breakfasts are very different from your usual cereal and toast morning fare - when was the last time you had olives for breakfast? In most cases they consist of large slices of fresh "french style" white bread accompanied by slices of tomato, cucumber, white and yellow cheeses, olives, jam and honey. This is accompanied by tea or coffee (usually instant coffee). You will of course want to sample the famous Turkish coffee, but it is usually taken after a big lunch or dinner, or in the late afternoon with a pastry. While we think these breakfasts are absolutely delicious, some travellers do find them a bit repetitive and enjoy buying market fruit the day before and eating this for breakfast.

Lunches
Lunches will usually be simple and on the run. They are a great chance to try Turkey's delicious and healthy array of "fast foods". This may include, "gozleme", a type of Turkish savory crepe, "chorba", delicious lentil soup, and of course doner kebabs in both beef and chicken varieties. You won't want to miss the chance to try "pide", Turkish pizza, and lahmucan- thin crust pizza you fold greenery into
You may also find "kumpir", Turkish stuffed potatoes.

Dinner
Most Turks start their dinners with a couple of mezes- small taster dishes such as grilled octopus, aubergine salad, and many more. You could also choose a soup made of fresh local ingredients. Main courses tend to be based around fresh seafood if you are near the coast (expect to pay around 15 lira for a whole fish)or the ubiquitous kebab- skewers of charcoaled meat which comes on bread with salad. There are plenty of variations of the kebab-many regions have their own specialty so be sure to ask your leader.

Desserts
Baklava (about 2 TKL a piece) is something of a national obsession and it is believed the best comes from the East. There are endless varieties of pastries and milk based deserts available and you are sure to spend at least some time in a Turkish bakery taste testing.

Snacks
Don't miss trying a simit, a Turkish pretzel or perhaps some grilled sweet corn to get you through between meals.

Drinks
Tea, served in small tulip glasses, is the number one beverage of choice in Turkey. It is freshly brewed and a tea bag is a rare thing. Turkish coffee is wonderful thing to try. The national beer is named Efes and is very good (usually 4-5 TKL a bottle) Wine is made in Turkey and is getting better every year (expect to pay around 6-7 liras for a glass in a restaurant).

Group Leader Description

All Discovery Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our expert group tour leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. Group leaders are experts in their region with a broad, general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local expert guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.

Joining Hotel

Q Inn Hotel - Old City
Hocapasa Mahallesi Dervisler Sokak No 9 Sirkeci
Istanbul, Turkey
+90 (212) 514 1200

Joining Instructions

An arrival transfer is included, please look for the Discovery Adventures representative, who will be holding a Discovery Adventures sign.

If the Discovery Adventures representative is not there at first, please wait up to 30 minutes, and then proceed to take a taxi, or call our local staff at who will assist you in getting to the start hotel.

Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned, so you may arrive at any time. Similarly the last day is a departure day in which no activities are planned.

Your Tour Leader will contact you at the hotel on Day 1 and make sure you are settled comfortably. If you arrive late, s/he will leave you a message detailing what time and where you should meet the next morning. Your Leader will organize a short meeting soon after arrival, during which you will meet other tour participants and receive information about general and specific aspects of the trip.

Arrival Complications

We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, please contact our emergency numbers below.

What to Take

You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. Your baggage should be clearly labeled and restricted to one soft compact suitcase, or sports bag, maximum 33 pounds (15kg), plus a daypack. Luggage limits on airlines are strictly enforced and space on vehicles is limited. Porters are not often available, so be prepared to carry your own bags. It is important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings.

Checklist

Documents:
•Passport (with photocopies)
•Travel insurance (with photocopies)
•Airline tickets (with photocopies)
•USD cash and traveler's cheques
•Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
•Discovery Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information and trip details
•Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required

Suggested Items:
• 4 shirts/t-shirts
• Sun hat
• hand sanitizers/ antibacterial wipes
• 1 pair of shorts
• 2 pairs of long trousers
• Fleece top/jacket (nights will be cool if you travel between October and March)
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Sun block
• Sunglasses
• Watch or alarm clock
• Flashlight (with extra batteries and bulbs)
• Money belt
• Small travel towel
• Personal female hygiene products (as they are difficult to purchase locally)
• First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, band aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, dehydration powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Local Dress

Optional Items:
Camera and film, reading/writing material, binoculars, cover for backpacks

Emergency Contact

Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Representative (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.

AIRPORT TRANSFER 
If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that:

Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer however we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please take a taxi to your start point hotel. 

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
G Adventures Local Representative (Turkey)
During office hours: + 90 212 296 80 36
After hours emergency number +90 532 481 51 73 (Yavuz)

G Adventures Turkey Manager - Yaviuz (Istanbul Turkey)
Emergency number: +90 532 481 51 73

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.

Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0844 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 01805 70 90 30 00
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

Laundry

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Money Exchange

ATMs are found within main cities in Turkey and will accept Visa and Mastercard. A credit card is the safest way to carry money and most larger restaurants and stores accept them. Cash advances also can be done with some banks. You can still exchange travellers cheques in some 5 star hotels and banks but this takes time and possible fee. Thomas Cook or American Express travellers cheques in US currency are the easiest to change. Euros, English pounds and US dollars are all easy to change to the Turkish lira. Please not that you should bring some cash with you for emergencies situations but carrying only cash is a high safety risk.

As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com

Emergency Fund

Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

Tipping

Depending on your preference and/or that of the group, you may choose to tip individually, organize the tipping with your traveling companions, or your tour leader will offer to collect the tip money at the beginning of your tour - and tip as a group with your participation as the tour progresses. A recommendation for tipping small service providers is about $3 USD per day, depending on the quality of the service (this does not include your Discovery Adventures Tour Leader).

Feel free to ask your Tour Leader for the breakdown/distribution of the tips. Note that if you have been really disappointed by a particular service, please inform your Tour Leader right away, and the tip will be adjusted accordingly.

Also, at the end of your trip if you felt your Discovery Adventures Tour Leader did an outstanding job, tipping is also expected and appreciated. The precise amount is entirely a personal preference, however $30-35 USD per person per week can be used as a general guideline.

Optional Activities

CUSTOMIZE YOUR ADVENTURE
Our trip designers work very hard to assemble the life-altering experiences that fill this brochure. That said, our travellers are a diverse group driven by all sorts of different tastes, motivations and interests. What’s a trip designer to do? The solution? Theme Packs! Specially designed for travellers with unique interests, theme packs are optional add-ons to your Discovery Adventures trip that make your adventure more you-centric. Theme Packs must be booked prior to departure.

Theme Packs available on this trip:

CAPPADOCIA BALLOON RIDE
Cappadocia, 1 hour ride
When travelling, perspective is everything. Get a god’s-eye view of ancient civilizations and rugged lanscapes with this unique balloon-based tour. Cappadocia is captivating from the ground, but that’s just the half of it. See the seemingly hand-painted landscapes of Cappadocia as they deserve to be seen: From the air aboard a hot air balloon.

Other optional activities:

Optional activity prices are subject to change and can fluctuate in relation to the high/low season and the number of people on a specific excursion. Not all excursions listed here may be available, due to season, or weather conditions. As generally not a lot of time is spent in start/end cities, you may want to arrange to arrive early, or stay longer after the trip in order to allow sufficient time to participate in optional activities there.

Health

Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.

Nothing compulsory but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, infectious hepatitis and polio. Though malaria does exist in Egypt it is not normally found in the areas where we travel.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit, hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements.

Detailed Trip Notes

REGIONAL INFORMATION

Climate

Trip Specific Safety

Like anywhere in the world, major cities such as Istanbul have areas that are safer than others, use common sense, be aware of your surroundings and keep a close eye on your personal belongings.

Local Dress

No short shorts/skirts, shoulders should be covered (both men and women).