Turkey Tours & Holidays

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Turkey, which can be applied for online via https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/. Travellers from the Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa and the USA can apply for a 90-day e-visa online. Although this process usually takes only several minutes, we recommend to obtain it at least 2 weeks before you arrive in Turkey.

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa if staying for less than three months: United Kingdom, New Zealand, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland.

Passport validity entry requirements: Travellers entering Turkey must carry a passport or travel document valid for at least 60 days from the expiry date of their visa.

This information is provided as a guidance, we strongly advise that you check with the consulate or embassy as this information can change at any time and with little notice. It is your responsibility to make sure that all the required travel documents are ready when travelling.

Yes, all passengers travelling with Travel Talk must have travel insurance before participating in any of our tours. Your guide will collect your travel insurance details on the first day of your trip.

It is your responsibility to make sure you have an adequate and suitable travel insurance in place. You may read more about this here.

Turkey has quite a variable geography and climate, make sure to check the Pre-departure file of your tour (found on each tour page online) for the average temperatures at the sites visited.

The Aegean (western) and Mediterranean (southern) coasts have a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers, so beach resorts are highly popular from May to August.

March, April, September and October tend to remain moderate along the coast with many local tourists enjoying the sea and pleasant weather. During these months, inland Anatolia (i.e. Cappadocia, Ankara) is typically cooler and drier.
Winter season in Turkey (December – February) can be cold, rainy and snowy, with occasional sunny days.

Most Turkish cities and resorts carry on as normal during Ramadan. After sunset, slow-paced Istanbul gets back into full swing with a carnival-like atmosphere. Festive coloured lights are switched on and mosques are illuminated. Restaurants will be packed with locals to break their fast. Most restaurants offer special Ramazan menus or banquets. Tourists and non-Muslims are welcome to join the festivities. Please check the Pre-departure file or the FAQ for Ramadan dates.

Free Wi-Fi is commonly available in airports, hotels, cafes and restaurants in Turkish cities, however the quality of connection differs. You can also find plentiful of internet cafes in the cities visited. Make sure to enable data roaming on your mobile if you wish to use 3G/4G, although the connection may be unreliable in some rural areas.

Coverage is generally quite good in Turkey, you’ll rarely be far from a mobile phone signal. Make sure to enable global roaming before leaving home to be able to use your mobile in Turkey. 3G/4G is commonly available throughout the country, however may be unreliable in rural areas.

The Turkish Lira is the currency of Turkey. Please find below approximate prices in USD to give you an idea.

• Coffee: USD 0.50
• Sandwiches: USD 0,50 – 2
• A bottle of beer: USD 3
• Mid-range restaurant meal: USD 10
• Turkish bath entry: 15-20 USD

It is not recommended to drink tap water in Turkey. Bottled water is commonly available, alternatively you may fill a reusable water bottle or carry water purification tablets with you to reduce your use of plastic.

Major credit/debit cards are widely accepted in Turkey. Some shops at small towns and rural areas may not accept cards, we would recommend to carry some cash with you for small purchases just in case.

ATMs can be easily found in many places in the cities however are not as common in rural areas. Also not every small shop accepts cards, so you may need cash for smaller expenses.

All tours starting in Istanbul include arrival airport transfer if your flight lands in Istanbul on the first day of your tour between 5am and 11:30pm or if you have booked pre-accommodation with us.

You must inform our call centre or [email protected] of your flight details (date of flight, flight number, arrival time and name of travelers) at least 15 days prior to your departure date. If you do not receive confirmation that your pick-up is arranged, please contact us.

You will be picked up by a Travel Talk representative holding a Travel Talk sign at the airport. Departure transfer is not available in Turkey.

If your tour starts in Istanbul, the welcome meeting will be held in the hotel lobby around 7pm with your group and guide. You can find the arrival information for land and sailing tours in Turkey under the Trip Notes section of each tour. If there is any change in your arrival hotel, we will send you an e-mail to inform you before the trip.

Don’t worry if you will miss the welcome meeting on Day 1 as some travellers arrive late in the day – just make sure to let us know in advance.

Depending on the dates and hotel availability, we may be able to arrange pre/post-tour accommodation in Istanbul. Pre-accommodation includes breakfast & airport transfer, and post-tour accommodation includes only breakfast.
For sailing tours extra accommodation is not available.

You can book pre/post-accommodation during the booking process online, or by contacting us.

Solo travellers often join our tours to meet and travel with like-minded adventurers, forming longstanding friendships. We also strive to provide a relaxed and sociable tour experience to allow the group to weld throughout the journey.

Solo travellers will be roomed with another solo traveller of the same gender, or can upgrade to a solo room by paying the single supplement.

There are always solo travelers on our tours. If you don’t mind being roomed with another single traveler of the same gender, you do not need to pay the supplement. Single supplement is for travelers who would like to stay in a single room for the duration of their tour.

Please note that the single supplement may be required for sailing tours as gullets have double cabins.

Please contact us with your request & we will do our best to arrange your room accordingly. [email protected] 0208 099 9596

Our tours do not include airfare to/from the destination, and we do not advise on, ticket or sell flights. It is your responsibility to make it to the starting point of your tour on time.

If you provide your dietary requirements at the time of booking, we will do our best to make the necessary arrangements where available. You can leave a comment under the “Notes” section when making an online booking or simply contact us. Please note that gluten-free & vegan options may be limited in the country.

The Turkish Lira (TRY) is the local currency. Although you can pay with USD and EUR in some places, you’ll always get a better deal paying in the local currency. You can get lira from ATM’s using your debit card or travel card — withdrawing cash on credit card is less favourable.

Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted except in some small vendors. Avoid changing the bulk of your money at the airport as the exchange rates are usually more favorable in the city. Your tour leader will be pleased to help if you need any assistance.

Good news, there isn’t any luggage restriction on our tours as long as you’re able to carry your own luggage – usually just for a very short distance.

Tipping service staff is common in Turkey – typically around 10-15% for a restaurant meal. There is no need to tip taxi drivers, however it is customary to round up the fare for convenience.

Your tour guide and crew would be especially appreciative and honored with this kind of traditional gratitude at the end of your tour.

You can join a tour late or miss the Welcome Meeting on Day 1 if you inform us prior to the departure date. Please note that it will be your responsibility to make the necessary arrangements to catch up with the group.

For sailing tours, please contact us at [email protected] as meeting with the group may not be possible once the ship sets sail.

Please contact us at [email protected] or +44 208 099 9596.

For all emergencies, you can contact +44 208 099 7536 .

Ramadan (Ramazan) is the Islamic holy month, during which Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset. Fasting means ‘nil by mouth’ including food, water and cigarettes. Ramadan dates move every year, please see below the dates for 2020 and 2021. Some local cafes and restaurants close during the day; however tourists are not expected to fast, and there are many cafes and restaurants that stay open to cater for you.

During Ramadan, you are encouraged to show your respect by not walking around in public eating, chewing gum, smoking or drinking (especially alcohol). It is fine to do so in your hotel or in a cafe/restaurant recommended by your tour leader. Your tour leader will organise lunches and dinners to make Ramadan easier for you. During the month you will find that tourist sites often close early to allow staff to return home in time to break their fast, and shops often open late and close early.

Ramadan Dates:
• 24 April – 23 May 2020
• 13 April – 12 May 2021

If your tour visits Cappadocia, Hot Air Balloon is one of the optional activities of your tour. Please note that optional activities are not operated by Travel Talk and that hot-air ballooning depends on the weather conditions.

Both tours are the same except for 3 days of the itinerary around Fethiye.

The Gulet option includes a blue cruise of the crystal clear bays of the Mediterranean for 3 nights. The Land group stays in a Fethiye resort with swimming pools, visiting Oludeniz, Salkikent Canyon and Dalyan over 3 nights.