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About Turkey
Turkey budget travel offers the chance to explore a land of untapped potential. From scuba diving to paragliding; the Black Sea to Mount Nemrut, Turkey backpacking tours offer the vacation of a lifetime.Turkey Budget Travel
Below is a list of Turkey's top destinations, click on the link to view all details and tours.
Cappadocia, Gallipoli Peninsula, Istanbul, Oludeniz, Olympos, Pamukkale
Fast Facts
- Currency
- Turkish Lira (TRY)
- Dialing Code
- 90
Airports
International Turkey airports include the following:• Atatürk International Airport - Istanbul
• Sabiha Gökçen International Airport - Istanbul
• Esenboğa International Airport - Ankara
• Dalaman International Airport - Antalya
• Antalya International Airport - Antalya
Read more on Airports in Turkey.
Conservation
With a diverse environment and many rare and precious habitats, and many highly endangered marine and wildlife species, Turkey conservation plays a vital role in protecting the country’s forests, coastal regions, mountains and other habitats. The country has a very progressive approach to conservation, with many private and state sponsored efforts to address the environmental issues within the country.Read more on conservation in Turkey.
Culture
Turkey culture comprises of the following elements:• Food and drink
• Architecture eras and influences
• Arts and calligraphy
• Music and dance
• Literature and cinema
Read more on culture in Turkey.
Health
Health precautions in Turkey include the following:• There have been some outbreaks of Malaria in certain parts of the country
• It is best to avoid tap water, and stick to bottled water
• Vaccinations are essential when travelling to Turkey
• Food can be on the rich side, so tummy bugs can occur
• Medical facilities are modern and readily available
Read more on health in Turkey.
AIDS
The risk of AIDS in Turkey is extremely low, with a prevalence rate of less than 0.1%. As a predominantly Muslim country with very conservative views, Turkey has a very low incidence of sexually transmitted diseases.Vaccinations
The following Turkey inoculations are advised:• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Malaria
• Measles
• Polio
Read more on Vaccinations in Turkey.
Languages
Turkey languages include the following:• Turkish 90%
• Kurdish, Zaza, Arabic, Laz
• Albanian, Bosnian, Pomak/Bulgarian
• English 17%
• German 4%
• French 3%
Read more on languages in Turkey.
Money
Turkey money & banking information is as follows:• The Turkish currency is the New Turkish Lira
• Banknotes come in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Lira denominations
• The Lira consists of 100 Kurus
• Banking hours are 8.30 am-12.30 pm and 1.30 pm-5 pm, Monday to Saturday.
• Euros and Dollars can be easily exchanged at banks, post offices and foreign exchange bureaux
Phrase
Some of the Turkey local phrases you may try include the following:• Merhaba (Mer-ha-ba) Hello
• Gunaydin (guen-eye dhun) Good morning
• Evet (Eh-vet) Yes
• Hayir (h-eye-uhr) No
• Lutfen (lewt-fen) Please
Read more on phrase in Turkey.
Plants
Turkey plants are typical of the forest and coastal habitats of this Mediterranean country, with a number of broadleaf deciduous plants, pine forests, oak forests, steppe, shrubs as well as flowering plants and wildflowers, plus edible plants and crops. Plantlife varies according to the different vegetation regions, which include coastal, mountain and central regions.Read more on plants in Turkey.
People
Turkey people include the following groups:• Ethnic Turks 70-75%
• Kurds
• Armenians
• Greeks
• Bulgarians
• Albanians
• Macedonians
• Bosnians
• Georgians
• Chechens
• Arabs
• Assyrians
• Jews
Read more on people in Turkey.
Safety Tips
• Turkey is generally a safe country for travel, with friendly locals to be found in every city
• Petty crime can occur however, especially in the bigger cities
• Scams can occur, especially for single travellers ' be on the lookout for suspicious activity
• Be careful when crossing busy streets, as accidents can sometimes happen in the busier cities
• In very rural areas, stray dogs are common ' while many are tagged and vaccinated, the dogs that do not have tags may pose a rabies risk
• Wild animals such as wild boar, bears and wolves can pose a small threat ' if you come across any animal, walk away slowly and do not ever approach
Read more on safety tips in Turkey.
Religion
Turkey religion includes the following:• Islam 99%
• Christianity
• Judaism
• Other
Read more on religion in Turkey.
Transport
Turkey transport includes the following options:• Bus
• Fast ferry
• Dolmuş
• Train
• Plane
Read more on transport in Turkey.
Travel Books
Try the following Turkey travel book reviews:• Turkey Travel Map by Globetrotter
• Lonely Planet Turkey Country Guide by Tom Brosnahan and James Bainbridge
• Turkey Insight Guide by Reinhard Bockhorni
• Eyewitness Top 10 Istanbul by DK Publishing
• Turkey - Bright Sun, Strong Tea: On the Road with a Travel Writer by Tom Brosnahan
Read more on travel books in Turkey.
Visa Requirements
Turkey visa information is as follows:• Visas are required for all international visitors
• A valid passport of 6 months minimum is also required
• Certain European countries do not require a passport to enter, but require an ID card instead
• A range of visas from single entry tourist visas to work, multiple entry and up to 1 year visas are available
• Visas take on average around 3 working days to arrange
Read more on Visa Requirements in Turkey.
What To Pack
What to pack for safari in Turkey:• Sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses
• Bathing suit and towels
• Headscarves for women, plus long skirts and t-shirts that cover shoulders
• Comfortable walking shoes plus sandals
• Casual and smarter clothes for various activities
• Camera with spare batteries and memory card/film
• Binoculars for bird spotting
• Guide book and phrase book
• Mosquito repellent and first aid kit
Read more on what to pack in Turkey.
What To Buy
What to buy for holidays in Turkey:• Spare batteries for torches and camera
• Guide books, bird books, Turkish phrase books
• Thick socks for hiking boots
• First aid kit for travel purposes
• Large refillable water bottle, or plenty of bottled water
Read more on what to buy in Turkey.
When To Go
When to go to Turkey:• Spring has the best weather, with long days and less tourists
• Autumn has mild weather, with shorter days and more rain
• Summer is hot in most regions, with clear weather and more tourists
• Winter is typically cold and wet, with snow in parts and the few tourists
- Minette - OverlandingAfrica.com24 Apr 2012
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Hi Hein, we only sell scheduled overland truck safaris and would not be familiar with ferry times or costs. Best would be to contact the local tourism information center for more assistance. Happy trails!
- Hein24 Apr 2012
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I would like to travel by train from Istanbul to Kusadasi via the ferry and on the overnight from Izmer back to Istanbul. Do you have any information or links on what the timetables and links are?
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6 places worth checking out in Turkey
Gallipoli Peninsula
Visit Gallipoli Peninsula on the Middle East Trek
Tours through Gallipoli PeninsulaTurkey Photo Gallery
Turkey


I consider every moment of Overlanding Africa's efforts to have surpassed my hopes and expectations.
T.J. and Bervin, our crew, were knowledgeable, kind, and genuine. I felt s...






