• > How Strenuous are these Trips?
• > Group Participants and Tour Leader
• > Private Tours and Custom Dates
• > Local Transportation
• > Accommodations
• > Meals
• > Climate
• > Travel Documents
• > Flights
• > Airline Tickets
• > Money
• > Health
• > Luggage & Clothing
• > Resources
• > Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

Djoser participants enjoy an active style of travel. On a Djoser tour, we do lots of walking. There are hearty nature walks and more strenuous hikes for the more energetic travelers. You can also forgo these activities for a more leisurely activity. Our hotels are often located so that you can walk to the nearby sites. Once in a city, we will only take transport to sites that are far away.  You must be capable and willing to carry your own luggage from the bus to the hotel, as usually, there is no porter.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

INTERNATIONAL GROUPS (Traveling with a Dutch Group): On this tour you will join an International Group. Most of the participants are Dutch with a maximum of four travelers from the U.S. and Canada. These tours are very popular with many of our Djoser regulars but can be challenging for other travelers.  Please consider the descriptions below before booking a trip with an international group.

The Dutch travelers tend to be very social and accepting. They are experienced and lively travelers. Dutch travelers of all ages are likely to take hearty hikes, rent a bicycle to explore, and will take full advantage of the Djoser style of travel taking many opportunities for independent explorations.

The tour leader (from the Netherlands) addresses the group first in Dutch and then in English, however the information flow tilts a bit more heavily towards Dutch. While the guide will willingly share information about the region, these are NOT lecture tours. You will receive the important information. The groups are larger and you cannot expect as much attention from the guide as you would get on a North American trip.

Almost everyone from the Netherlands has a superb command of English. It is inevitable that the participants will lapse into Dutch from time to time at meals and on the bus, until they get to know you. The guide will help to integrate you, but you will enjoy this trip most if you are the type of person who can is comfortable initiating conversations yourself. If you have a travel partner, it will be easier to find your way into the conversations or at least to have a buffer during times when the group is chatting in Dutch. It can be more difficult for singles.

These trips are best suited for the most independent-minded, experienced, North American travelers. Before booking, you must be at ease with the concept of being in the minority. We do not recommend the international groups for inexperienced travelers, those who seek a lecture tour, travelers who need lots of one-one-one attention from the guide, or single travelers who may be more introverted. For those who love the added international experience and enjoy a high degree of activity and independence, we think you will love “going Dutch”.  

GROUPS: Active travelers of all ages; singles, couples, friends, and families. Minimum group size of 8. Usually 15 to 20. Mostly Dutch travelers with a maximum 4 North Americans.  

GUIDES: Our Dutch tour leader is knowledgeable about the area and will willingly share their information. The guides will handle logistics for travel and lodgings but he/she is not a lecturer.The tour leader delivers information in Dutch first and then in English. The guide organizes many meals and activities and accompanies many of them, but not all. Your guide will accommodate the Djoser philosphy of independence and will recommend safe activities and restaurants for your free time and explorations. You can generally expect a free day if you are spending a second day in a city. We also have experienced land agents stationed in each country who work with the tour leader and who can assist in case of an emergency.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Custom dates can be arranged for your private group of 8 or more. Please inquire about discounts for 8 or more.

Local Transportation

We will travel on an air-conditioned bus with a Turkish driver. During the whole trip the group will have the same bus at their service. It may stop to allow picture taking, or to have a bite to eat or drink, or to take a closer look around. Turkey has a reasonably good infrastructure, but take into consideration that it is a large country and some distances are very long. In the city we seldom use our bus. During the 23-day trip we will take a three-day boat tour along the shore. A comfortable night train will cover the final stretch from Ankara to Istanbul. Use the following link to view slides of the transportation we use:
http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

Accommodations

Generally we spend the night in tourist class hotels with a pleasant atmosphere. The rooms have private baths. Do not expect luxury items such as a mini bar or a television in your room. All hotels are centrally located and most sights are within walking distance. Most hotels provide laundry service.

The maximum group size for the 16-day trip is 22 participants. All rooms and cabins are based on double occupancy. There are showers and toilets on the boat. During the boat trip single occupancy is not an option.

Use the following link to view some of our lodgings:
http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

If you are traveling alone you will be matched with a roommate of the same sex. Please note the cost of a single room listed in the cost descriptions. If you request a roommate, but we are unable to match you, there will be no penalty charge for the single room.

Meals

Turkey has a variety of restaurants where you may choose from an extensive menu at reasonable prices. In typical restaurants, called “locantas” and “kebab salunus,” you may order dishes such as stuffed vegetables, stew casseroles, meat from the grill, rice, pasta or Turkish pizzas. Characteristic in Turkish cuisine are the multiple uses of fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh fruit, light olive oil and garlic. The Islamic character of Turkey becomes apparent by the lack of pork on the menu. They do serve lamb, mutton and goat meat.

The typical Turkish restaurant and also the teahouse and the “pastane”, the bakery, are extremely popular. In the seaside towns you will find numerous fish restaurants. Bottled mineral water is for sale everywhere, as is tea, which is the national beverage. Breakfast is included. For all other meals you are free to choose when, what, where and with whom you wish to have them. Of course the tour guide will always have suggestions; join the guide and group members for meals, or you may dine on your own.  During the three-day boat tour on the 23-day trip a cook aboard prepares all meals. The price for these meals is included in the total trip cost.

Climate

Turkey represents different geographical and climate zones. The shore of the Sea of Marmara from Istanbul to Canakkale is hilly, alternating with some plains. The shores of the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea guarantee sunshine from early spring until late fall. Central Anatolia consists of a high plateau with mountain ranges. The climate has dry and warm summers and mild and pleasant spring and fall seasons. Even though it will be warmest in summertime, the heat will be tolerable due to the low humidity.

Check the weather for your destination: Check temperature and rainfall for specific cities on your trip, during your month of travel at www.worldweather.org

Travel Documents

To enter Turkey you will need:

-    Valid passport
-    Visa upon entry, which costs @$12.50 (subject to change)

If you need rush service for processing your passport, we recommend a service called It’s Easy, located in New York. You can check their website http://www.itseasypassport.com for passport requirements and to download the current forms and rates and processing fees. Or you can call them to fax you forms if you do not have Internet. Let them know you were referred by Djoser. They will honor a 10% discount over the service portions of your fee for Djoser travelers.  

It’s Easy  (Passport & Visa Service)
Satellite Airline Terminal
125 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone - (212) 286-8500,
Fax (212)-490-3224
Website   http://www.itseasypassport.com
E-mail      mail@itseasypassport.com

Flights

We book our flights with top airlines. Most airlines will honor earned mileage. You will need to submit your mileage credit yourself upon receipt of your flight information. For airlines that allow advance seating reservations, we typically request aisle and adjoining seats unless otherwise instructed on your registration form. It is vital that you arrive at the airport early, according to the airline (often 3 hours prior to flight time). We do provide airport transfers (airport pick-up and drop off) in our destination country for those who book the Land/Air package. Flight times are subject to change. It is recommended that you book your domestic Add-on (connecting) flights through Djoser in association with the international flight. To avoid penalties for flight changes do not book your own domestic add-on (connecting flight) without first receiving a printed copy of your flight record from Djoser confirming your actual departure and return flight times. Below you will find the usual flight times for the airline indicated.

Sample flight with Northwest/KLM
 

Depart NY	Return NY
6:15 PM	4:25 PM
Depart LAX	Return LAX
9:45 AM	4:04 PM

Usual flight time – Subject to change

Airline Tickets

You will receive your tickets or E-tickets 10-12 days prior to your departure date.
In case the airline uses E-tickets you will receive two documents:

•    A document that shows the E-ticket number & flight itinerary (sent by email & mail).
•    A receipt of the E-ticket (sent by mail).

The first document listed is needed to check in at the Automated kiosks. If you check in at the E-ticket desk you don’t need any of the provided documents, you can simply show your passport and you’re good to go. Both the automated kiosk and the e-ticket desk insure a much faster check in than at the regular check in desks. It is important to hold on to your e-ticket receipt, as you might need it to claim your mileage credits (if the airline awards mileage for this particular flight).

Money

Please refer to www.exchangerate.com for the current exchange rates.
One dollar is worth about 1,340,225 Lira.
ATM: Automatic Teller Machines are readily available anywhere.
Cash: EUROS
Credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere.
Traveler’s Checks may sometimes be cashed for a high fee.
As a guideline for expenses that are not included, such as meals, entrance fees, optional excursions and personal expenses, we suggest a minimum of $275 U.S. dollars per person per week. Keep in mind that entrance fees for sights are high: they average $12.50 per entrance fee. On top of that, Turkish regulations mandate that a guide be present with the group at each place of interest at an additional cost of  $12.50 per person.

Tipping
At the beginning of your trip, your tour leader will collect a “tip pot” of approximately $2 per land day, per person. So that you will not be burdened with tipping those who assist you along the way, this sum will dispersed by the tour leader as tips for the driver, local guides and hotel staff. The tip pot does not include the tip for the tour leader. A typical guideline for an American tip would be $2-$3 per day but the amount is at your discretion and should be based on his/her efforts and your satisfaction level. Dutch tipping habits are different than North American guidelines. You may feel more comfortable tipping your guide privately to avoid the great cultural tipping debate. However, it’s up to you! We take pride in our Djoser guides who do their utmost to make your experience great. We do ask that you bear in mind their extra challenge of a dual language group.

Health

Recommended for this trip are vaccinations against DTP and Hepatitis A. Be sure to check with your family physician or your local health department to find out about the latest requirements in regards to vaccinations when traveling to Turkey. You can read about travel issues on the Center for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. Further questions may be directed to the CDC at 1-800-311-3435. There is a CDC traveler’s information call line at Travelers Health 1-877-394-8747 if you need information faxed to you. Internet is the best mode of communication. Here are the current CDC recommendations. It will be wise to be careful about what you eat. Even though Turkey’s environment is reasonably hygienic, some medicine against intestinal troubles and some saline solution against dehydration may come in handy. The tour guide will have an emergency medical kit.

Luggage & Clothing

A travel bag or a frameless backpack would be the easiest piece of luggage to use for you and your travel companions. Preferably do not bring a suitcase: space for luggage on the bus is rather limited. We request that you bring no more than about 30 pounds of luggage. After booking, you will receive more specific information in regards to what to bring. For summertime we advise light cotton clothing and a sweater or jacket for the evenings. In spring and fall you may need additional warmer clothing. Also take into consideration that Turkey is an Islamic country and that appropriate clothing will be appreciated. This means that shoulders, upper arms and knees should be covered for both men and women. Voltage is 220 Volts. Be sure to bring an adaptor. 

Resources

Communication

Telephones: available everywhere.
Internet Cafes: present at many locations.
Cell Phones: coverage is available almost everywhere. Check with your provider before you go to see if you can call and receive from Turkey.