Details

Trip Notes & Expectations

Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program contained on this page. Our programs are quite adventurous, and we find that clients who read the trip details in full are happier with their experiences.

1. ACCOMMODATION: Our program fees are based on double-occupancy accommodation (see "Single Travelers" below if you do not have a travel companion and would be interested in a private room). Our accommodations are chosen to provide a safe, conveniently located place to sleep. While you may be pleasantly surprised, please don't expect luxury, as we prioritize keeping our programs affordable.
2. TRANSPORTATION: We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Sometimes you will have full days and nights of transportation as our trips tend to cover a lot of ground. The transportation will often be an adventure in itself.
3. TURKISH AIRLINES: If you decide to book a flight with Turkish Airlines, make sure that all connecting flights are through a codeshare partner. This means that the connecting airline is in the Star Alliance. We had multiple people have serious flight issues when they bought a flight with Jet Blue to connect with their Turkish Airlines flight on one ticket. These airlines functionally do not communicate with each other, making booking seats difficult, and if anything goes wrong with your flight, neither will take responsibility for rebooking you.
4. ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE: Many of our activities occur in locations where it is very hot during the day. Please make sure you have thoroughly read the itinerary and can handle the group activities. This trip includes plenty of walking and some light hiking, and requires at least an average level of fitness. On the more active days, expect to walk quite a bit. In the cities, you can split apart from the group to go at your own pace. We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
5. LUGGAGE: In Turkey, it is less common to find elevators in train stations, hotels, or other public places. We use some public transport on this trip, which means you will need to carry your luggage from place to place and possibly up multiple flights of stairs. You will also need to be able to stow your luggage safely on trains and buses. You should be able to comfortably walk for 10-30 minutes at a time with your luggage. It is essential, therefore, that you pack light and bring luggage that is compact and lightweight. Carrying your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.
6. GROUP LEADER: All GEEO/G Adventures trips are led by a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight—giving you the best of both worlds.

Single Travelers

Half of GEEO’s participants travel by themselves, so please don’t worry if you do not have a travel companion for your trip. Our program fee is for one traveler in double-occupancy accommodation, and GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender if you do not have a travel companion. Most of our programs have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that you can pay to have a room to yourself. You will only incur an additional charge if you specifically request a single room. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please find your program on our extra services page. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org to request a single room.

Emergency Contacts

Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures 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 transfer, it will be arranged based on flight information provided to G Adventures. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, they will do their best to rearrange your arrival transfer, but they 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 hotel. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS: Arrival Transfer Company Viport: 90 544 642 80 66 G Adventures Local Representative (Turkey) During office hours: + 90 530 153 45 15 After hours emergency number +447817262559 (Yavuz) G Adventures Turkey Manager - Yavuz (Istanbul Turkey) Emergency number: +441858378000 If you are unable for any reason to contact G Adventures’ local office, they have a toll-free line which will connect you directly with their Toronto office: Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100 Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000 Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000 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

Packing List

Please read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels. As a rule, we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags, which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 22-30 lb. Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size. No XXL bags please! A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person plus a daypack per person.

Suggested (click to expand)

• Fleece top
• Light windproof/waterproof jacket (chances are it won’t rain much)
• Sun hat
• Personal clothing for mild weather; for women, we recommend having at least a few outfits that fully cover knees and shoulders.
• Daypack
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Bathing suit (if you plan to wade in the ancient pool in Pamukkale)
• Travel towel
• Sport sandals or flip-flops
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Watch or alarm clock (or use your phone)
• Clothes for religious sites – knees and shoulders must be covered
• Shawl or scarf - needed for mosque visits, but you can buy in Turkey
• Toiletries (your hotels will have soap and shampoo)
• Camera (or use your phone)
• First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)

Optional (click to expand)

• Travel pillow
• Light weight silk sleep sheet
• Money belt
• Water bottle
• Phone/tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
• Chargers for electronics as well as converters/adapters, if needed
• AirTags or Tile trackers
• Packing cubes
• Earplugs
• Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can also buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy
• Ziplock bags for wet clothing
• Reading/writing material
• Hand sanitizer/baby wipes

Documents (click to expand)

• Passport (with photocopies)
• Travel insurance (with photocopies)
• Airline tickets (with photocopies)
• USD/EUR cash
• Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
• G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information, and dossier
• Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
• GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent 10-30 days before departure

*Laundry: Laundry facilities are offered by some of hotels for a fee. You can also use a local laundromat, if necessary. We recommend packing enough clothes so you don't have to do laundry.

Passports and Visas

Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries. PASSPORT All travelers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps. Need to apply or renew? Start here. ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country's official government resources. Use the tool below to see entry requirements for your specific itinerary. Entry information below is provided by Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner. You must search each of your destination countries separately; “Add connection” solely searches transit visa requirements. Additional fees apply if you choose to purchase any services through Sherpa.

Money Exchange

The local currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY). Almost all local purchases in Turkey (meals, souvenirs, optional activities, etc) will be paid for in TRY. For current exchange rates, visit www.xe.com. We recommend that you obtain cash from ATMs while traveling; they will dispense the local currency. We do, however, recommend that you bring at least $200 USD in cash for emergency use or in case you have trouble with the ATMs. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops, but you may be charged an international transaction fee; ask your financial institution about their international fees. Please note that if you are carrying U.S. dollars, the bills should be in good condition (i.e., not torn, wrinkled, or marked on in any way) and dated recently.

Tipping

It is customary to leave a small tip for service providers, such as waiters, if you are pleased with the service. Tipping is an expected, though not compulsory, component of this program and an expression of satisfaction with the people who assist you on your trip. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There will be opportunities during the trip to tip your local guides or drivers. You may do this individually, or your tour leader may offer to collect the money and give a tip on behalf of the group. Ask your tour leader for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and expectations. Also, at the end of your program, if you felt your G Adventures tour leader did an outstanding job, a tip would be appreciated. Tipping amounts are entirely your personal preference, but as a guideline:

• Service providers/Waiters: $1-2 USD for snacks or 10% of a meal bill
• Local guides and drivers: $15-20 USD per person per week
• Tour Guide (CEO): $40-45 USD per person per week

Vaccinations

GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously!

Flights

We find the best prices for flights are often available around 90-120 days before departure, but of course this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. You should wait until this trip is confirmed before you book non-refundable flights. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. This program begins and ends in Istanbul. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Istanbul. You may want to arrive in Istanbul one or more days early in case you have flight disruptions. You can arrive at any time you choose, but try to make it in time for our 6:00 p.m. Welcome Meeting on Day 1. You can depart from Istanbul any time on the final day of the program, or stay later to see more of the city.

Plugs and Converters

There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers (also called electrical converters). The adapter is for your device's plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two- to three-pronged power cord to fit the local outlets. The transformer/converter changes the local voltage to the voltage used in the U.S. Turkey uses a European-style Type C plug with two circular prongs, and the voltage is 230 Volts. (Standard U.S. electrical outlets are 120V.) Most new devices, including phones and laptops, are made to work with the different voltage rates, but some devices, like hair dryers, may only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device's plug or manual to see what voltage range it requires. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity; for example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work with voltages between 100V to 240V. If your device can’t handle the higher voltage, you’ll need to purchase a transformer/converter. You can find world transformers/converters online or at many retail stores in the travel section.

Weather

Turkey’s climate varies by region, but the weather is generally mild and sunny in the spring. On the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, high temperatures will typically be around 60ºF.

Food

While most meals aren’t included—giving you freedom to choose where, what, and with whom to eat—food in Turkey is generally affordable. Our groups often enjoy meals together to try more dishes and share the experience, but there’s no pressure to join. Your tour leader will always have great recommendations for local spots worth checking out.

Expand to learn more about eating in Turkey

Breakfast: Most breakfasts are included during your tour. A typical Turkish breakfast usually includes fresh bread, slices of tomato and cucumber, white and yellow cheeses, olives, jam, and honey, often served with tea (the national favorite) or instant coffee. You’ll likely want to try traditional Turkish coffee, but note it’s usually enjoyed after lunch or dinner, or in the afternoon with something sweet. While many travelers enjoy the breakfasts, some find the selection repetitive and pick up market fruit the day before to supplement their breakfast. Lunches: Lunches are usually quick and casual, giving you a great chance to sample Turkey’s delicious fast foods. You might try: – Gözleme (a savory crepe) – Çorba (lentil soup) – Döner kebabs in beef or chicken varieties – Pide (Turkish pizza) – Lahmacun (a thin-crust pizza you roll fresh herbs into) – Kumpir (stuffed baked potatoes) Dinner: Turkish dinners often start with mezes—small taster dishes like eggplant salad or grilled octopus—followed by fresh soup. Mains typically feature grilled seafood along the coast (about 15 lira for a whole fish), or kebabs served with salad and bread. Nearly every region has its own kebab variation, so ask your guide what’s special locally. Desserts: It’s all about sugar! Baklava is a national obsession—roughly 2 TKL per piece for the good stuff—and the best is said to come from eastern Turkey. You’ll also find milk-based desserts, pastries, and Turkish bakeries that make taste-testing irresistible. For a quick bite, grab a simit (Turkish sesame pretzel) or some grilled sweet corn from a vendor. Drinks: Tea is the most popular beverage, served freshly brewed in small tulip glasses. Turkish coffee is strong, thick, and worth trying at least once. Efes, the national beer, is widely available and typically 4–5 TKL per bottle. A glass of local wine runs about 6–7 TKL. Water is inexpensive (~1 TKL for 1.5L), and juices or soft drinks are around 2–3 TKL.

Advice from Past Travelers

"I wish I would have utilized a SIM card, but have learned how to do that now for next trip. Also, be prepared for it to be hot- flowy dresses were great to have. Bring a neck pillow for long van rides. When using cabs in Istanbul, negotiate a price upfront or use Uber, if available. Try to limit cab usage and use public transport- it will save you hours of time in traffic." "I worried more about packing than I needed to. Somewhere I had gotten the impression that I should dress conservatively, but that wasn't the case. For almost every day of the trip, I was fine in my typical American shorts/tops and sundresses. Our guide let us know ahead of time the one day we needed to dress more conservatively." "Something to be aware of in terms of packing: Lots of sidewalks are slippery, as are some of the historic sites. I recommend shoes with good grip, such as Chaco sandals or sneakers. I wore tennis shoes that were sturdy but not grippy, and I slipped a few times. (Not badly, but it could be bad for someone with bad knees or something.)"