ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
**Requirements due to COVID-19 are constantly changing. Please check your own country's international travel advice as well as the airline requirements before travel.**
UK guests please see the UK Government Foreign Office Travel website for latest entry and exit advice; https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey
US guests please see Travel State website;https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Turkey.html
Passports:
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the period of stay. It is advised to have 1 blank page in your passport. Please be sure to fill out the "Emergency Next of Kin" section in your passport
Visas
UK guests - You can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for business or tourism.
US, Canadian and other non-European citizens - you will need a visa to enter Turkey unless entering and travelling solely by cruise ship. With an approved eVisa, you can then spend up to 90 days in Turkey.
**Note: Visa and entry requirements, regulations, and restrictions can change. Ensure you check the current requirements well in advance of travel
Travel Insurance
All passengers must have valid travel insurance before traveling, including health and cancellation insurance. Please ensure you have a copy of your insurer’s 24-hour emergency telephone number and your policy number.
Medical Conditions and Personal Medication
Please advise us before travel if you have any medical conditions requiring special attention during your trip. If you have a specific medical condition, it is wise to carry the relevant doctor’s prescription with you.
Important:
• Pack a sufficient supply of any medications you are taking, copies of the prescriptions and the telephone/fax numbers of your doctor.
• Please note, some countries require that prescription drugs be carried in their original container, with the label clearly visible. In the event of you losing your medication, a qualified pharmacist should be able to source a replacement.
Travelling with CPAP or other Medical Machines
Please inform The Big Journey Company that you are travelling with such a device as early as possible, and well before you travel. Please note, if you require distilled or ionised water, you must inform The Big Journey Company of this at the time of booking, so we are able to make preparations with our ground agents. There may be an additional charge for this.
LUGGAGE
What to Pack and Wear
We recommend comfortable, cool clothes and shoes for tours to Turkey in the summer. As Turkey is a mainly Muslim country, it is sensible to cover your shoulders and legs. Include a smart outfit for cocktails and dinner if you wish. The weather should largely be warm throughout the summer, but it is a good idea to pack a light jacket in case of rain and cooler evenings.
Luggage Allowances
International airlines have strict policies regarding the size and weight of checked-in baggage and carry-on luggage. Before your departure, please contact your airline or visit their website for specific luggage requirements. Size and weight limitations vary according to the airline and destination.
LANGUAGE
Turkish is the official language of Turkey. English is often spoken in tourist destinations.
WEATHER
Turkey’s climate is varied. The Mediterranean coast has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild, wet winters. Eastern Turkey is mountainous with warm summers and very cold, snowy winters. Central Turkey, located on an interior plateau, has low rainfall and cold or very cold winters. In May and June, Istanbul has daily temperature ranges from 13 degrees in the evening to 27 degrees at midday, getting hotter as the months progress into high summer. Expect to need to prepare for cooler evenings and sun protection during the day. There is an average of 9 rainy days in Istanbul in May. 800km further south, Bodrum is hotter and drier. Daily average temperatures may reach the mid-30s.
ELECTRICITY
Turkey operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. There are two standard plug types - type C with two round pins and type F with two round pins and earth clips on the side. You may need a plug adapter and/or converter depending on which electrical appliances you bring with you.
MOBILES & INTERNET COMMUNICATION
Moblie coverage is widely avaliable across Turkey, be sure to check with your mobile provider for coverage and rates, as data roaming can be extremely expensive.
MONEY
The currency of Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY), divided into 100 kuruş. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but it's a good idea to carry some cash for smaller purchases.
ATMs are common in cities and towns, but Turkish ATMs don’t have alphabetical keypads, so translate your PIN beforehand. Expect a service fee for ATM withdrawals. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, with most high-end hotels also accepting American Express.
Contact your bank before traveling to avoid issues with card use, and carry your bank's international contact details in case of fraud concerns.
After feedback from previous guests, we offer a group tipping package for this tour, more information on this will be shared in the 'Pre-Tour Emails'.
WATER
We generally do not recommend that you drink tap water in Turkey. Water quality can be variable from place to place. It is good practice to bring your own water filtration bottle with an inbuilt filtration system that removes bacteria and pathogens from the water or buy bottled water. Bottled water can be bought at supermarkets, kiosks and many shops.
SAFETY & SECURITY
As visitors, tourists may be more vulnerable to petty crimes like pickpocketing and scams, so we recommend staying aware and taking simple precautions.
RELIGION
Although Turkey is officially a secular country, Islam is the largest faith with almost 100% of the population identified as Muslim.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Turkey offers photo opportunities one after another. You will return with many photos that can never be repeated. Remember to pack your camera, along with the charger, spare batteries, and a spare memory card!
You must not photograph or video anything military: bases, buildings, vehicles, Occasionally, some museums and sights may require payment of a photo/video fee, which allows photography and videography without a tripod or other professional equipment, for personal (non-commercial) use only. Most of the medium-sized and smaller sites do not charge a photo/video fee. aircraft, or soldiers on duty. If you see the Turkish words Fotograf yapmak yasak! (Taking photographs prohibited!) observe the restriction. These restrictions are rigorously enforced.
ARRIVAL IN TURKEY
Please note, standard hotel check-in is around 3pm. If arriving earlier than this, your room may not be available upon arrival. For those arriving early morning, we do everything we can to work with the hotel to get you an earlier check-in subject to availability.
For further questions, contact us at: info@thebigjourneycompany.com
Disclaimer: The above information is provided as a guideline only. The Big Journey Company assumes no liability for any errors or omissions in this document.
Updated November 2024