Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here to go to our general FAQ, which has essential information that applies to all of our programs.

Resources to Learn & Teach about Turkey

Visit our recommended reading page to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have lesson plans and Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.

Terms and Conditions

It is very important for you to visit our Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.

Cancellation policy

All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.

• If you cancel 60 days or more prior to departure, all your program fee payments will be refunded besides your $350 deposit which is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to departure, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel within 30 days of departure, you will receive no refund, but your deposit is kept on file for future use

Group Leader Description

All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure’s group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO). 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 traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. Our itineraries often have plenty of free time to explore on your own. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. We also use local 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.

Fitness Level

This trip includes light walking and hiking that is suitable for most fitness levels.

Single Travelers

Half of the people that travel with GEEO are traveling by themselves, so please don’t worry if you have no one who can join you on your trip. Our pricing is based on double occupancy, in other words, two people to a room. You never have to pay for a single room unless you want one. GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender. Most of our trips have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that will allow you to have a room to yourself. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please click here where you can look up your trip in the extra services spreadsheet. Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single accommodation for all night stops, with the following exceptions: Night 6 local village stay and Night 12 in Ayvalik.

About Accommodation

On this trip you can expect to stay in small family-run hotels or pensions (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run, with some traditional character, and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations. Below are details on some of our unique accommodation experiences on this itinerary. Day 6 Village Stay: During our village stay, we aim to give you the experience of life with a local family. We use two houses with each room sleeping up to three people and sharing the family bathroom. All bedding is provided. In the evening we gather together to enjoy a meal of fresh, local produce with the menu dependent on what is in season. Day 12 Ayvalik: Located in a restored Ottoman house, our family-run pension is always a highlight for our travelers. This accommodation has shared bathroom facilities and some rooms may be multi-share.

Joining Instructions

Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned. Upon arrival to the city on Day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us), please make your way to the joining hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon). Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note at reception from your tour leader. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on Day 1 (usually between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.), where you will get a chance to meet your tour leader and other travelers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details! If you miss the Welcome Meeting, your tour leader will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need and with instructions for the next morning. A metered taxi from Istanbul Airport to the hotel will cost around: Yellow Taxi: 180-200 TRY (Around 22-25 USD) Turquoise Taxi: 200-220 TRY (Around 24-27 USD) Black Luxury Taxi: 350-370 TRY (Around 40-43 USD) It is possible to take the shuttle bus "HAVAIST" from the Istanbul Airport to the old city. The closest HAVAIST stop to our hotel is BEYAZIT. Our hotel is around a 20-25 min walk from BEYAZIT SQUARE. From BEYAZIT SQUARE, you can follow the tram line and walk through CEMBERLITAS, SULTANAHMET, and GULHANE tram stops. After the GULHANE tram stop, you will see the tram line is making a left. But you will need to continue walking straight and follow TAYA HATUN SOKAK to the end. Once you reach the end, a new street starts to the left, called ISTASYON ARKASI SOKAK. The hotel will be on this street, on your left after the Police Station. You can find the bus schedule from here https://www.hava.ist/en If you have paid in advance for an arrival transfer, Istanbul airport are no longer permitted to present branded/company signs. At the Istanbul Airport (IST) G Adventures has been allocated characters "M55." Since welcoming staff are not allowed to the airport, to get to M55, you need to exit the airport from GATE 13. If you are arriving to Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) airport G Adventures has been allocated characters "M55" and they will be waiting under column number 13 after exit. The holder of this sign will be responsible for transferring you to your first accommodation. If you are unable to make contact for whatever reason, please call the emergency number.

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. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS G Adventures Local Representative (Turkey) During office hours: + 90 212 296 80 36 After hours emergency number +447817262559 (Yavuz) G Adventures Turkey Manager - Yavuz (Istanbul Turkey) Emergency number: +447817262559 If you are unable for any reason to contact G Adventures’ local office, they have a toll-free line within North America which will connect you directly with their Toronto office: 1 888 800 4100

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 downstairs, 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 ones 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. Health & Safety (Required!)

• N95/KN95 Face masks (At least three per week)
• Hand sanitizer
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
• Quick Covid Test/Antigen Tests (At least 5, and for longer trips, 3 per week of travel)

Suggested Checklist

• Fleece top
• Light windproof/waterproof jacket (Chances are it won’t rain much)
• Sun hat
• Personal clothing for mild to hot weather (t-shirts, shorts, etc.); for women, we recommend having at least a few outfits that cover knees and shoulders.
• Daypack
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Bathing suit
• Travel towel
• Sport sandals or flip-flops
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Watch or alarm clock
• Clothes for religious sites – knees and shoulders must be covered
• Shawl or scarf- needed for mosque visits, but you can buy in Turkey
• Flashlight (If your smartphone has one you can use that)
• Toiletries (Your hotels will have soap and shampoo)
• Camera
• 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 Checklist

• Lightweight silk sleep sheet
• Travel pillow
• 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
• Ear Plugs
• Snacks (Packing a few granola bars is a good idea. You can buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy here.)
• Ziplock bags for wet clothing
• Reading/writing material
• Hand sanitizer/Baby wipes

Document Checklist

• Passport (with photocopies)
• Travel insurance (with photocopies)
• Airline tickets (with photocopies)
• EUR/USD 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 our hotels for a charge. If you want to do your own laundry, we suggest you bring your own non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Passports and Visas

All GEEO trips require that the participant have a valid passport. Please see our general FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double-check the information we provide below by searching here. Passengers traveling to Turkey for tourism must purchase an electronic visa prior to entering the country. This electronic visa has replaced the “sticker” and “stamp-type” visas issued at Turkish points of entry. This e-visa can be obtained by visiting the website: www.evisa.gov.tr. Your passport must be valid for 6 months on the date that you enter Turkey. The length of validity of your visa is dependent on your nationality but is commonly 3 months.

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 ATMs are found within main cities in Turkey and will generally accept debit cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks. It is a great idea to travel with both a Visa and Mastercard if at all possible as, while there is no hard and fast rule, some banks seem to only work with one brand of card. Please note, your bank will charge a fee for overseas withdrawals. Cash is recommended for times when ATMs are not accessible. Euros, British Pounds, and US Dollars are easy to exchange into Turkish Lira. Please note - while you should bring some cash with you for emergency situations, carrying cash only is a high safety risk. Money on ATM card/s and some cash is the ideal mix. Cash advances can also be made with some banks but are time-consuming and tend to have high fees attached. Credit cards are sometimes not accepted in Turkey - however, they can be used at some larger stores if shopping for big items such as carpets. As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com.

Tipping

Turkey has a strong tipping culture – it is customary and even expected to tip small service providers such as restaurant and bar waiters, hotel staff, reception, cleaning personnel, bell boys, and taxi and van drivers. Also, at the end of your trip, if you felt your G Adventures Tour Leader did an outstanding job, tipping is also expected and appreciated. The precise amount is entirely a personal preference, however, $25-30 USD per person per week can be used as a general guideline.

Vaccinations

We legally cannot give you any medical advice. It is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. Please take this seriously!

Flights

We find the best prices for flights are often available 60 days before departure, but of course this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. We advise that you wait until this trip is confirmed before booking non-refundable and non-changeable flights. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Istanbul, which would usually mean departing the U.S. on the prior day. You can arrive at any time you choose. You can depart any time you wish on day 15 of the trip or beyond.

Plugs and Converters

There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers. The adapter is the plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two to three-pronged power cord to match the prongs required by the local outlets. The transformer changes the local voltage to that required by your device. Turkey uses a European-style two circular prong plug. Their voltage is 230 Volts. U.S. outlets are 120 Volts. Most new devices (phones and laptops) can handle the different voltage rates, but some devices only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device to see what voltage range it handles. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity. For example, “Input: 100 – 240V” means that it will work on voltages from 100V to 240V. If your transformer can’t handle the different voltage, you’ll need to purchase a voltage converter. You can find world regional voltage converters power packs at various vendors.

Expectations

Before you decide on traveling with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.

• The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe place for you to sleep. Sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised, but do not expect luxury. Sometimes the accommodation is not air-conditioned.
• You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack.
• Many of our programs 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, which sometimes include day hikes with your daypacks.
• We recommend always carrying snacks with you as meals can be far apart.
• Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip as they are not the traditional “guide” you may be expecting. While our trips are educational, they aren’t study/lecture trips. We want you to learn through exploring, and much of your experience will be based on how active you choose to be in acquiring knowledge and interacting with locals.

Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the routes described on our website, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The information on our website is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Weather

Turkey’s climate varies by region, but summer means hot sunny weather all around. On the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts temperatures will typically be in the 80s F, whereas in Cappadocia and other central parts of Turkey the highs are typically over 100 F.

Food

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? They pretty much universally 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 (which a Turk would always choose!) or coffee (which is pretty much always 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 travelers do find them a bit repetitive and enjoy buying market fruit the day before and eating this for breakfast. 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: Yum- it's all about the sugar. Baklava (about 2 TKL a piece for the good stuff) 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 munching on 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 a 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. Water is approximately 1 TRL for a 1.5-liter bottle, soft drinks and juices are around 2-3 TRL. Eating is a big part of traveling. Traveling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally, meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what, and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally, food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your tour leader will be able to suggest your favorite restaurants during your trip.