Destination: Turkey

Turkey time (TRT) is 3 hours ahead of UTC. In 2016, Turkey opted out of observing Daylight Savings Time. Plans to reintroduce it in October 2018 have been reneged, so for the time being, you do not need to take this into account when planning your holiday

Yes. However, heed the Australian government advice to “exercise a high degree of caution“. Do not travel within 10 kilometres of the border with Syria or to the city of Diyarbakir, and reconsider your need to travel to all areas within the south-eastern provinces listed. Odyssey Traveller follows government travel advice and our tours in Turkey do not venture into these areas.

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping. So, when you’re with the group, you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you make sure you tip an appropriate amount for services, as is the case throughout much of Europe. It’s customary to tip 5-10% of the bill at restaurants, cafes and bars. It’s polite to round a bill up the bill for taxi fares. Hotel staff expect 5-20 Turkish Liras for their service.

Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you’re able to make calls and use data while in Turkey. Many providers will allow you to pay a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you’re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.

Internet is easily accessible, and most hotels and many cafes will be able to offer it.

ATMs are very common in Turkey. You are advised to use the ones attached to banks where possible, rather than those in free-standing booths on the street. These tend to be safer, and less prone to tampering.

The Turkish lira is the currency of Turkey and Northern Cyprus. One Turkish lira is subdivided into one hundred kuruş.

You can book your tour to Turkey with Odyssey traveller online or by calling or emailing or staff.

Odyssey’s small group, fully escorted, 22-day tour to ancient Turkey starts from $10550 per person.

The safety of our travellers, tour leader, local guide and support staff has always been our top priority and with the new guidelines for public health and safety for keeping safe for destinations around the world, we’ve developed our plan to give you peace of mind when travelling with us.

Odyssey Traveller’s Ancient Turkey escorted small group history tour visits some of the most spectacular, varied, and historically important sites in the ancient world. This Turkey tour begins and ends in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and seaport, and the place where east meets the west on the Bosphorus strait. Visit Turkey with Odyssey on this amazing guided tour through the ancient world linking the Black sea, Egypt, Syria and Europe together on this history tour. Our tour packages are especially designed to be suitable for mature-aged and senior travellers, whether joining as a couple or as a solo traveller.

The best time to visit Turkey is April, May, September and October, when temperatures are pleasantly warm, with temperatures of 20°C to 30°C. These months are typically also qieter when visiting Turkey’s grand array of ancient sites.

On Odyssey’s small group tour to Turkley, will travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia, exploring and learning with our tour leader and tour guide about the ancient world through to the Ottoman empire and the power of the Ottoman Sultan in building some of the greatest monuments. On our Cappadocia tour we visit its ‘fairy chimneys’, large rock spires that rise from the earth like mushrooms, formed over millions of years by the erosion of volcanic rock. We go on a Pamukkale tour, see the ancient ruins of Ephesus and the mosques in Turkey , and view the Aegean Sea, with our terrific local guides sharing with you both the ancient and contemporary history and scenery of this incredibly diverse nation. The tour stops in nine key places that have played pivotal roles in the development of Turkey including the Gallipoli peninsula. Typically our Turkey travel group stop for more than one night in our destinations–1 to 4 nights of hotel stay or other type of accommodation before travelling to our next point of interest. A combination of day trip, city tour, shore excursions, and overnight trips, this Turkey tour promises to be a memorable trip and an amazing travel experience.

For the most part, famous mosques and sights of interest remain open to tourists during Ramadan, although they often shut early to allow more time for prayers and evening meals with family. Sometimes a special event may cause closures or affect the day’s activities, but if you’re with a local Odyssey guide there’s no need to worry; they’ll rearrange the day accordingly. It just might mean a few earlier starts here and there!

The majority of travellers on our tours are actually solo travellers. We specialise in educational small group tours for seniors, typically groups sizes are between 6 to 12 people. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs since 1983. We offer a wide range of fully escorted, cultural and heritage journeys that expand horizons and broaden the mind. Our tours are designed for active, inquisitive travellers in a small group environment.

Odyssey asks our participants to provide their dietary requirements upon their registration. This allows us to book your meals ahead, catering to your requirements and allergies.

Odyssey’s Turkey tour begins and ends in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and seaport, and the place where east meets the west on the Bosphorus strait. Visit Turkey with Odyssey on this amazing guided tour through the ancient world linking the Black sea, Egypt, Syria and Europe together on this history tour. Our tour packages are especially designed to be suitable for mature-aged and senior travellers, whether joining as a couple or as a solo traveller.

Odyssey specialises in educational small group tours for seniors, typically groups sizes are between 6 to 12 people. The maximum group size is 15 participants.

For all travellers joining an Odyssey small group tour we ask for respect for all member of the group and yourself and the communities we are visiting and that:

1. If requested by Odyssey Traveller you will undertake to take a Covid-19 test and share the result with Odyssey no more than 72 hours before a tour commences.
2. You respect the communities you are visiting and the Covid-19 directions issued including social distancing.
3. You will advise your program leader/Odyssey of any underlying change in your health whilst on tour and up to 14 days after the tour.
4. Odyssey and its suppliers will observe as a minimum the WTTC guidelines and those of the region you are visiting their Covid-19 requirements, the higher standard of the two instructions will be applied for a small group tour.
5. We remain aware, vigilant and empathetic to the need to change arrangements in response to the challenges of managing Covid-19 before and during a small group tour for the benefit of all in the internal and external Odyssey Traveller community.

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our long-stay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Odyssey’s 22 day Ancient Turkey tour is fully escorted by an experienced local guide and an Odyssey guide to give this type of experience whether at one of the many UNESCO World heritage sites explored or local bazaars. It is always about the adventure and memories that we will create.

You should consult with your travel healthcare practitioner 6-8 weeks in advance of travel, for the most up to date information on travel-vaccinations needed for Turkey.

When visiting mosques and places of religious importance in Turkey it is necessary to cover up, as Turkey is a Muslim country. Both men and women should ensure that their shoulders and knees are covered and women should cover their hair.

For tourism or commercial travel of up to 90 days within a 180 day period, obtain a Turkish visa from Turkish missions abroad or from the e-Visa application system prior to arrival, via the website www.evisa.gov.tr.

You can email or call Odyssey and our response time is typically within a few hours. You can also chat with one of our travel coordinators via our website.

As an experienced travel company, offering small, educational group tours for seniors since 1983, we seek to keep guests off the beaten path. Our trips are remembered for authentic experiences.

It is generally not safe to drink tap water in Turkey.

The majority of Turkey’s most visited and popular attractions are open between 09:00 a.m. and 19:00 p.m., and with last entry at least one hour before the closing hour.