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.
A “golden-green leaf thrown into the Sea” and a land of “wild weather and volcanoes,” in the words of the Greek Cypriot poet Leonidas Malenis, Cyprus comprises tall mountains, fertile valleys, and wide beaches. Settled for more than 10 millennia, Cyprus stands at a cultural, linguistic, and historic crossroads between Europe and Asia. Its chief cities—the capital of Nicosia, Limassol, Famagusta, and Paphos—have absorbed the influences of generations of conquerors, pilgrims, and travelers and have an air that is both cosmopolitan and provincial. Today Cyprus is a popular tourist destination for visitors from Europe, favoured by honeymooners (as befits the legendary home of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love), bird-watchers drawn by the island’s diversity of migratory species, and other vacationers.
Please find below the 4 & 3 Star hotels used on our Greece trips. All accommodation is carefully hand-selected to satisfy our standards in terms of quality, authenticity and location for you to enjoy a comfortable and unforgettable holiday.
Find our seasonal breakdown in detail for the best time to visit Turkey. The best time to visit Turkey is spring and summer, when the climate across the diverse regions in Turkey is perfect for all kinds of activities.
Spring in Turkey offers mild and pleasant weather. The countryside is green and blooming with flowers, making it an ideal time for cultural exploration in places like Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Ephesus. Summer is the peak tourist season, with hot and dry weather in most of Turkey. It’s perfect for beach vacations on the Turkish Riviera and the Aegean coast, but expect larger crowds and higher prices.
Why You Should Visit Turkey: Visit Turkey for its rich historical sites, diverse landscapes, vibrant cities like Istanbul, delicious cuisine, warm hospitality, architectural wonders, outdoor adventures, unique shopping experiences, historical significance, and affordability. It’s a captivating destination that blends the old and the new, making it a must-see for any traveler.
Explore the Turkey Travel Highlights:
Each destination offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, making Turkey a captivating travel destination. Don’t miss the opportunity to soak in the therapeutic waters of the Pamukkale terraces, explore the underground cities of Cappadocia, and savor succulent kebabs, baklava, and Turkish delight, stars of Turkish cuisine. Taking a trip to Turkey is a captivating experience that offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Turkey natural attractions beckon among the limestone hills of the Turquoise Coast and Central Anatolia.
Read through our Turkey travel advice in detail and make sure you are up-to-date with the pre-departure essentials before your trips to Turkey. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from Turkey. Check the visa requirements for your country. Many nationalities can obtain an e-Visa online before arriving in Turkey. It’s essential to verify the latest visa regulations on the official Turkish government website, as well as any Turkey travel warning in the advisories. If eligible, apply for an e-Visa through the official Turkish government website or at the port of entry upon arrival. Make sure to carry a printed or digital copy of your e-Visa during your travels. You need to have valid and adequate Turkey travel insurance before your tour with Happydays Tour begins.
Turkish culture is a rich tapestry of influences, traditions, and a deep sense of hospitality. Turkey’s strategic location has made it a crossroads of civilizations throughout history, resulting in a culture deeply influenced by the Hittites, Phrygians, Urartians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Turks are known for their warm and welcoming nature. Guests are highly respected, and offering tea or coffee is a common gesture of hospitality. They say travel to Turkey for the hospitality if not for the dazzling attractions.
Turkish cuisine is renowned worldwide, featuring dishes like kebabs, baklava, Turkish delight, and a wide array of mezes (appetizers). Food plays a central role in social gatherings and family life. Turkish culture values traditional arts like calligraphy, rug weaving, ceramics, and music. Turkish rugs, in particular, are highly prized for their craftsmanship.
Turkish cuisine is a culinary journey that tantalizes the taste buds with its rich flavors and diverse dishes. At the heart of this cuisine are the beloved kebabs, with various meats like lamb, beef, and chicken marinated and grilled to perfection. Shish kebabs, döner kebabs, and köfte (meatballs) are favorites among locals and visitors alike. The succulent meat, often served with pita bread and a selection of mezes (appetizers), reflects the fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences that define Turkish cuisine. Mezes play a significant role in Turkish dining. These small, flavorful dishes range from stuffed grape leaves (dolma) to creamy eggplant salad (baba ghanoush) and cool yogurt with herbs (cacık). The variety of mezes allows diners to sample an array of tastes, making it a social and communal experience. Sharing mezes over conversation and laughter is an integral part of the Turkish dining tradition, an element you will experience during your Turkey tours.
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.
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.
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 info@happydaystour.co.uk 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 Happydays Tour 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. info@happydaystour.co.uk 0203 355 0089
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 info@traveltalktours.com as meeting with the group may not be possible once the ship sets sail.
Please contact us at info@happydaystour.co.uk +44 0203 355 0089
For all emergencies, you can contact +44 0203 355 0089
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.
