Silk Road Explorer Tour

Emergency Contact

Pinar: +90 533 280 77 39 or Canan: +90 532 374 49 51

Head Office (Turkey) Pinar: +90 533 280 77 39 or Canan: +90 532 374 49 51

Hotels used on this tour

The following hotels are used on this tour for departures and pre/post tour accommodation within the given date ranges. They are also the default hotel for pre/post tour accommodation on tours that don't include accommodation, such as day tours. This is intended to give an idea of the type of accommodation that may be expected. The actual hotels used for any given tour may change due to many reasons such as group size, availability, time of year, hotel standard has dropped or simply we found a better hotel. If we do change hotels it will be to a hotel of equal or higher standard and will be at no extra cost. Where more than one hotel is shown for a given an overnight stop this means that one of those hotels will be used.

Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel

Address : Türkmen, Atatürk Blv. No:42, 09400 Kuşadası City : Kuşadası Suburb : Phone : +902566147608 Web : https://www.ilaydaavantgarde.com/

Adem Pira Hotel

Address : Karahayıt, 113 Mustafa Sezer Sokak No:5/1, 20190 Pamukkale City : Pamukkale Suburb : Phone : +905331306631 Web : https://www.adempirahotel.com/

Gamirasu Hotel

Address : Davutlu, Ayvalı Köyü Yolu No:101, 50400 Ayvalı/Ürgüp City : Cappadocia Suburb : Phone : +903843545815 Web : https://www.gamirasu.com/

Nidya Hotel Galataport

Address : Kılıçali Paşa, Meclis-i Mebusan Cd. No:21, 34333 Beyoğlu City : Istanbul Suburb : Phone : +902122929060 Web : https://www.nidyahotelgalataport.com/

Weather

Optional Tours

The prices below are meant only as a guide and are not to be taken as definitive as they change often - ask your tour guide for the current

price. Prices below do not include the tipping. Please note that not all the options below will relate to your specific tour.

Pamukkale

Hot Air Ballooning (45 Minutes) 1st November to 31st December 2024 EUR 200 (Cash)

Longer flights are available on request.

View the amazing landscape of Pamukkale, from the air, early in the morning with a hot air balloon flight.

Whirling Dervish Show Pamukkale - EUR 25

The Whirling dervish evening ceremony is inspired by Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi (1207 - 1273) It symbolizes the different stages of a mystic journey to perfection, through love and service to all creatures without discriminating in regard to belief, class, or race.

Cleopatra's Pool Pamukkale - EUR 7

Swim amongst the ruins in this thermal spring pool. Especially in The Roman Empire period, Hierapolis and its site were a health centre. In those years, thousands of people used to come to the baths and they found their remedy in those baths. Today's Antique Pool was shaped by the earthquake which happened in the 7th century AD. The marble portico with Ionic arrangement fell into the spring during that earthquake.

Cappadocia

Traditional Turkish Folklore Evening Cappadocia - EUR 85

A great night out where dinner, unlimited beer, wine, Turkish Raki, soft drinks and entertainment is included in the price. The show features belly dancers, traditional folk dancers and traditional Turkish musicians. This option is available whilst on tour in Cappadocia.

Show only, without dinner - EUR 65

Hot Air Ballooning (45 Minutes)

1st January to 28th Feb 2025 - 190 Euro (Cash)

1st March to 31st March 2025 - 220 Euro (Cash)

1st April to 31st May 2025 - 300 Euro (Cash)

1st June to 31st August 2025 - 250 Euro (Cash)

1st September to 31st October 2025 - 300 Euro (Cash)

1st November to 31st December 2025 - 190 Euro (Cash)

Start the day with a balloon ride over the moonscapes of Cappadocia. The experienced pilots take you deep into the valleys and rise as high as 2000 feet.

Longer flights are available on request.

Prices are subject to change.

We recommend that you request your guide to book your flight as soon as possible.

Turkish Bath Cappadocia - EUR 50

A traditional Turkish bath will usually consist of relaxing in a sauna for a while, then moving to another room where you will lie on a marble slab. The masseur will come and scrape all the dead layers of skin off your body with a exfoliating glove before you are smothered in suds and washed clean. A bath approximately takes around 1 hour.

Istanbul

Half Day Bosphorus Cruise Istanbul - EUR 59

Take an aftenoon cruise between two continents on the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia. The cruise lasts 1 hour, allow 30 mins for transport to and from the port.

Bosphorus by Night Istanbul - EUR 89

At 8pm we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the boat to sail up the Bosphorus. The waterway lies between Europe and Asia and passes under the suspension bridges whilst viewing Ottoman summer palaces, waterside mansions and modern villas linng the European and Asian coasts. The panoramic view of Istanbul from the Bosphorus at night and dinner will both be memorable.

Istanbul Classics Istanbul - EUR 149

Duration: 9 a.m. to 4 pm. Visit the most important popular sites of Istanbul in one full day tour. St Sophia Museum, Byzantine Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar.

Istanbul Two Continents Tour Istanbul - EUR 139

One of the most beautiful sights in the world, the Bosphorus, is the strait separating two continents - Europe and Asia. Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, Rumeli Fortress, Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridge and Camlica Hill

Topkapi Palace Harem Istanbul - EUR 45

Visit the famous Imperial Harem at Topkapi Palace. The Imperial Harem of the Ottoman Empire, existing between 1299 and 1923, was the Ottoman sultan's harem composed of the wives, servants (both female slaves and eunuchs), female relatives, and the sultan's concubines, occupying a secluded portion of the Ottoman imperial household

Turkish Bath Istanbul - EUR 99

A traditional Turkish bath will usually consist of relaxing in a sauna for a while, then moving to another room where you will lie on a marble slab. The masseur will come and scrape all the dead layers of skin off your body with a exfoliating glove before you are smothered in suds and washed clean. A bath approximately takes around 1 hour.

Bosphorus by public ferry Istanbul - EUR 4

Cruise between two continents on the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia. The ferry departs every few hours zig-zags back and forth from continent to continent. Enjoy spectacular views from the very end of the Black Sea and Istanbul. The journey takes the majority of a day and easy to arrange on your own by heading down to the ferry port.

Prince's Islands by public ferry Istanbul - EUR 5

A nice option if you wish to escape from the bustling city for a day. The Islands are situated just off Istanbul in the Marmara Sea. The best island to visit is Buyuk Ada (Big Island). There are no vehicles allowed on the Island, only horse and buggy and bicycles. Easy to arrange on your own by heading down to the ferry port.

Tipping

Tips are common place and customary in Turkey / Türkiye, for everything from table service in a restaurant to a massage in a Turkish bath. It is more often a reward for good service and for most local people, an essential means of supplementing their income, meagre by Western Standards. Often tourists to a country don't know how much to tip or who to tip. The following amounts are a guideline and based on local considerations and feedback from our past travellers:

Restaurants and taxis: Local markets and basic restaurants - leave the loose change. More up-market restaurants we suggest 5% to 10% of your bill.

Local guides: Throughout your trip you may at times have a local guide in addition to your tour guide. We suggest USD 20 per person per day for local guides.

Drivers:You may have a range of private drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We would suggest a higher tip for those more involved with the group however USD 10 per person per day is generally appropriate.

Gulet Boat Trips: If you are travelling through Southern Turkey / Türkiye on a Gulet Boat trip we suggest USD 10 per person per day for the boat staff.

Tour guide: As a guideline we suggest around USD 80 - 100 per person for the whole tour, but this is ultimately up to you.

Money

The currency unit in Turkey / Türkiye is Turkish Lira (TRY). 100 Kurus = 1 Turkish Lira

Current Exchange rate TRY 1 (EUR 0.03) as at Mon, 7 Oct 2024 12:55:14 GMT

Banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 Lira

Coins: 5, 10, 25, 50 Kurus and 1 Lira

You should always carry some back up cash or traveller's cheques separate to the rest of your money and cards. So if you loose your wallet or handbag, you have enough back up money to at least make some phone calls and eat for a few days.

A mixture of cash and credit cards are the best forms of currency. Credit cards are also accepted in most of the 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 / Türkiye. Cash cards and ATM's are widespread in most of Turkey / Türkiye; in Istanbul, Canakkale, Selcuk, Pamukkale, Fethiye, Kas, Cappadocia, and Ankara. When travelling, plan your budget and use the ATM machines before leaving the main towns.

Always try and use ATM's that are attached to banks while the bank is open, so that if the ATM swallows your card, you can go into the bank and get the card back.

It is much cheaper to convert money to Turkish Lira in Turkey / Türkiye 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 offer very reasonable rates too. In the past, because of Turkey / Türkiye's high inflation rate, it was best to convert money on a daily basis. However, the currency has remained steady against all major currencies in recent years.

It is difficult for us to specify the money that you will spend per day, however, as a general rule EUR 20 to EUR 40 per day, can provide you with additional meals and optional entrances. Should you wish to purchase souvenirs or other gifts, of which there is a diverse range, you will have to budget for these.

Exchange rates used throughout this document are correct as at Mon, 7 Oct 2024 12:55:14 GMT

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event). 

General Info

Turkey / Türkiye has so much to offer the traveller with its breathtaking natural beauty, unique historical sites and the famous Turkish hospitality. Walk across the soil that holds intact remains from the Hittites to the Ottomans and more classical Hellenistic sites than Greece! Nearly every major empire has conquered, occupied and left their trace on these lands.

Turkey / Türkiye is a country with a double identity, poised delicately between East and West. The only NATO member in the Middle East region, the country has recently been accepted as a candidate for membership of the EU. Yet although in many respects Western Turkey / Türkiye retains its frustrating differences, and its fascinating contradictions: mosques co-exist with churches, and remnants of the Greco-Roman Empire, ancient Hittite and Neolithic sites, crumble alongside modern culture.

Politically, modern Turkey / Türkiye was a bold experiment, founded on the remaining Anatolian kernel of the Ottoman Empire and almost entirely the creation of a single man, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. An explicitly secular republic, though one in which almost all of the inhabitants are at least nominally Muslim. It's a vast country and incorporates large disparities in levels of development. At the same time, it's an immensely rewarding place to travel, not least because of the people, whose reputation for friendliness and hospitality is richly deserved.

Turkey / Türkiye is spread upon 3% of the European continent and 97% in Asia. It is bordered by Europe and the Aegean Sea to the West, the Caucasus Mountains to the East, the Black Sea in the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. With 7000 kms of coastline, snow capped mountains and volcanoes, natural wonders, immense rivers, pristine beaches, crystal clear waters and rich agricultural valleys, welcome to Turkey / Türkiye.

Largest city: Istanbul 13 million; capital city: Ankara 5 million.

Geographical area: 814, 578 sq kms

Population: 78,785,548 million. (July 2011 est.)

International dialling code

International dialling code: +90

Time Zone: Turkey / Türkiye is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Meant Time. During day light saving Turkey / Türkiye is 3 hours ahead of GMT, which is from the last Sunday in March to the last Saturday in October.

Electricity: All appliances need a double round pin type plug for 220 volts AC, 50-hertz.

Religion and Local Law 90% of Turkish people are Muslim, however, for many people this is more of an identity rather than a strict religion. You would never guess this statistic walking around much of Western Turkey / Türkiye, especially Istanbul, which in part is a trendy, cosmopolitan city. Turkish Law is secular and guarantees complete freedom of worship to people of all religions. It is recommended that at least one set of modest clothing is taken with you. It is a sign of respect to cover your shoulders and legs when visiting mosques and also attracts less unwanted attention. You cannot visit a mosque during prayer time unless you are praying. If you have any questions concerning appropriate (and legal) behaviour please ask your tour guide or leader. If accused of and detained for illegal behaviour, the Turkish authorities are obliged to inform your embassy or consular representative immediately, you can also insist on communicating with them directly. Turkish authorities command a high level of respect so be polite at all times. Turkish law requires everyone (Turks and non-Turks) to carry Id at all times. Always remember that in Turkey / Türkiye you are bound by Turkish law.