Sail Turkey Trip Notes

Trip Overview

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Set sail with us for an eight-day adventure along Turkey’s gorgeous coastline with endless sunshine and turquoise waters! Sail Turkey’s incredible summer spots as you jump on board a traditional gullet boat. Discover secluded bays, sunken ruins, and hidden beaches on a Mediterranean exploration. Soak up the sun on the deck and swim in crystal blue waters during the day. Then roam the charming coastal villages and relax in small towns as you embark on a voyage of a lifetime.

Duration : 8 Days

Destination : Turkey

Start/Ends in : Fethiye/Fethiye

Group Size :8-20 People

Age Req. : 18+

Trip Theme : Sailing

Boats : 5 & 4 Star

Departs : April to September

Why you will love this tour

• * Swim in a different ‘blue-flag certified’ bay or beach location each day, including the sunken ruins of Kekova and Blue Lagoon of Oludeniz.

• * Enjoy a fully-catered onboard bar with refreshing drinks at the ready! Plus, no need to mess around with payments each time you order, simply fix up your tab at the end of the trip!

• * All meals throughout this 8-day Sail are included and freshly prepared by the onboard Chef.

• * Explore the scenic seaside ports of Kas, Fethiye, St Nicholas Island and more – As the crew docks up throughout the sail so you can make the most of beautiful sunsets, pristine beaches, cobblestone towns and jaw-dropping fortress views.

• * Enjoy smaller tour groups with 8 to 16 passengers per boat.

• * Travel with an experienced and professional onboard Captain, Chef and crew.

Arrival Details

Meeting Point:

The meeting point for the Sail Turkey tour is:

Travel Talk Office

Ecesaray Marina, Main Entrance

Address : Karagozler mahallesi, Fevzi Cakmak Caddesi, Fethiye/ TURKEY

Phone : :+90 533 139 50 15

Emergency Number: +44 203 14 99 200

Highlights

Demre: Demre is a town in Antalya, Demre is the Lycian town of Myra, the home of Saint Nicholas of Myra. The district was known as Kale until it was renamed in 2005.

Fethiye: Fethiye is the perfect launching pad to explore the many tourist attractions and things to do along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. The town has surrounding beaches.

Firnaz Bay: Sailing off the southern coast of Turkey, Firnaz Bay is a short boat ride from Kalkan. It is also a popular spot among divers and snorkelers. Clear Turquoise waters and corals.

Kalkan: Kalkan is a Turkish Mediterranean fishing village gone upscale to resort status, Kalkan has retained more of its Ottoman-era character and has beauty and charm.

Kas: Kas is a seaside town on the Mediterranean coast in. The modern town occupies the site of ancient Antiphellos, with still-visible ruins including a theater.

Samanlık Bay: Samanlık Bay is known as one of the closest bays to the city center in Fethiye. Samanlık Bay, which is 3.4 kilometers from Fethiye, meets with a lush forest

St. Nicholas Island: On the island there are the remains of several churches built between the 4th and 6th centuries. Archaeologists believe it is the original tomb of Saint Nicholas.

Itinerary

Please note that the itinerary may be subject to small changes depending on the conditions during the tour.

Inclusions & Exclusions

The tour price covers the following services:

Accomodation : Traditional Turkish Gulet

Meals : 7 breakfasts | 6 lunches | 7 dinners

Transportation : Air-conditioned modern non-smoking coach or mini-bus

Guide : Services of experienced Travel Talk local guides licensed by the Ministry of Tourism

Sightseeing : Fethiye, Demre, Firnaz Bay, Kalkan, Kas, Samanlık Bay, St. Nicholas Island

What is NOT included in the tour price?

• Any flights not mentioned above

• Travel insurance

• Meals not stated above

• Items of a personal nature

• Tips & gestures

• Entrance fees to the sights and museums

• Optional activities

• Other services not stated in the itinerary

Budgeting

Please note that entrance fees to sights and optional activities are not included in the tour price. Optional activities are not operated by Travel Talk and may require a certain number of attendees to run. Your guide will be happy to inform you further about the available optional activities at the start of your tour. Optional activities are also listed under each day in your tour itinerary.

Optional Activities

Please note that optional activities are not operated by Travel Talk.

Myra & St. Nicholas Tour — EUR 30

Paragliding — USD 160

Saklikent Gorge Tour — TRY 25

Personal Spending

The Turkish Lira (TRY) is the currency of Turkey. While every person has different spending habits, we have estimated your average daily expenses to help out with the planning. Please find below in USD the approximate spending to expect for meals not included and more.

Drinks

Soft Drinks

Bottle of water: EUR 0,25

Mineral Water: EUR 1,00

Cola-Fanta: EUR 2,50

Energy Drink: EUR 3,00

Alcoholic Drinks

Beer – 50cc: EUR 5,00

Rakı – Gin – Vodka – 4cc: EUR 5,00

Cider – 33cc: EUR 8,00

Corona – 33cc: EUR 6,00

Whiskey – 4cc: EUR 7,00

Import Drinks – 4cc: EUR 7,00

Glass of Wine: EUR 4,00

Doluca Red/ White/ Rosé Wine – 70cc: EUR 15,00

Cocktails: EUR 7,00

Tipping

Tipping good service is common in Turkey, typically ~ 10% for a restaurant meal. No need to tip taxi drivers,however you can round up the fare for convenience. Your guide and driver would also appreciate this kindof traditional gratitude at the end of your tour.

Essential Information: Turkey

Passport & Visas

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Turkey, which can be applied for online via www.evisa.gov.tr. 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. Please note, visa costs can change at any time and with little notice depending on the political climate of the region. It is your responsibility to make sure that all the required travel documents are ready when travelling. For more details, check out our Turkey travel advice.

Travel Advice

We are closely monitoring the latest travel updates to Turkey and follow the advice of the UK Foreign Office. For the latest travel advice from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), please visit: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey

We recommend all travellers to check their Government National Travel Advisory prior to their departure:

Australia – https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

Canada – https://travel.gc.ca/

New Zealand – https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/

USA – https://travel.state.gov/

Travel Insurance

All passengers travelling with Travel Talk are required to have personal 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 for you in place, you may read more at https://www.traveltalktours.com/travel-insurance

Health & Safety

The health and safety of our passengers, staff and communities visited is of utmost priority. As we monitor and comply with the official advice from the UK Foreign Office, as well as World Health Organization and government authorities regularly, we have implemented several policies and precautions on our tours for your wellbeing. You may find our Safe Travels Protocols at https://www.traveltalktours.com/safe-travels

Travel Talk Adventures has received the Safe Travels stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which allows travellers to recognise companies around the world that have adopted health and hygiene global standardised protocols – so consumers canexperience ‘Safe Travels’.

Please make sure to regularly check your Government’s travel advice before travelling and be well-informed of any requirements. Your tour guide will also notify you of the regulations and protocols to follow throughout your trip with us.

Please note that if any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary or possess a potential risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to remove them from all or part of a trip.

Please consult with your doctor for the latest medical travel information and any vaccinations you may need. We recommend that you bring any personal medical requirements and medications with you as these may be difficult to obtain while on tour.

Weather

Istanbul has wet, cold and often snowy winters and has the highest rainfall from November to February. Spring in Istanbul is damp with mild temperatures and it is relatively dry and hot in the summer. The city also tends to be windy. The southern, coastal regions of Turkey are warm and pleasant during the summer. In winter the temperatures rarely fall below 7°C making the Turquoise coast an ideal destination even in early spring and late autumn. Due to the high altitude of the central Anatolian plateau, Cappadocia can be cool in the evenings, even in the summer, but it remains hot during the day – often in the mid-thirties. Spring and autumn can be very crisp and suitable clothing is advised. Please find below the average temperatures for each month in different parts of Turkey.

Check out our weather guide for the best time to visit Turkey.

Money Matters

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.

Major credit/debit cards are widely accepted in Turkey. Some shops at small towns and rural areas may not accept cards, we would recommend carrying 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. Avoid changing the bulk of your money at the airport as the exchange rates are usually more favourable in the major cities. Your tour leader will be happy to help if you need any assistance!

Please remember that everyone has different spending habits, some prefer to spend more on souvenirs, some on experiences and others on a night out! Make sure to budget your trip to your spending habits for shopping, drinking, and tipping.

Tipping is not compulsory, but is commonplace, with locals and tourists alike tipping good service. We recommend tipping ~10% of the total bill when dining in a restaurant, if a service fee has not already been applied. However, simply rounding up the fare in a Taxi for convenience is acceptable and appreciated also. Your guide and driver would also appreciate this kind of traditional gratitude at the end of your tour.

Eating & Drinking

The Turkish love to eat out and it’s easy to see why! Turkish cuisine is filled with a unique blend of Eastern European, Central Asian and Middle Eastern flavours. Don’t let the clichés fool you; there is more to Turkish cuisine than shish kebabs!

No one does breakfast, or Kahvalti, quite like the Turkish. Expect to see the table covered in a variety of meze dishes and gastronomic delights served on small plates including cheeses to olives, eggs. breads and pastries. There are two common restaurant styles in Turkey – A-La-Carte and ‘ready meal’. Ready meal restaurants offer a range of pre-prepared, buffet-style dishes and are a fantastic opportunity to sample a wide variety of traditional cuisines for reasonable prices. Meanwhile, in more upmarket restaurants, we recommend sampling a range of ‘Meze’ platters (appetizers) to get a taste for the unique local tastes. Searching for authentic dishes to your taste can be a challenge with so many incredible options, so here’s a few must-try dishes to get you started in Turkey. For more, check out our Turkish food guide.

Gozleme: Thin savoury Turkish pancakes filled with cheese, meat, mushroom, spinach or potato.

Pide: A savoury bread baked with feta cheese, parsley, and mozzarella, sprinkled with nigella seeds. You can also fill with lamb which is like Lebanese lamb fatayer

Simit: Bread ring studded with sesame seeds. Sold in bakeries and by street vendors.

Cig Kofte: A simple snack made from cracked wheat mixed with raw meat, tomato paste and lots of spices. Usually served on lettuce leaves with lemon juice, it is a spicy, crisp, and refreshing flavour

Adana Kebabs: Similar to the widely popular Shish and doner kebab, Adana is a spicy minded meat kebab sprinkled in purple sumac herb.

Baklava: Don’t forget to save room for traditional dessert… A deliciously rich, buttery, sweet dessert made from phyllo dough, finely ground pistachios, butter, and a syrup made from sugar, water and lemon juice.

Kadayif: Shredded pastry dough filled with nuts and drenched in syrup.

Lokum (Turkish Delight): A family of confections based on a gel of starch and sugar. Premium varieties consist largely of chopped dates, pistachios, hazelnuts, or walnuts bound by the gel and flavoured with rosewater.

There is a common misconception that Turkish Coffee is the nation’s traditional drink, brewed thick and powerful yet drank in just a couple of short sips. However, Tourists are often surprised to learn that tea (cay) is far more popular amongst locals. It is served in a small fluted glass with a small spoon and saucer. There are various flavours of tea to try from the traditional to sweet apple and lemon. You’ll also find a wide variety of alcoholic drinks on offer with Beer (bira) the most popular. Local beer brands include Efes and Tuborg. While ‘Raki’ is the national aperitif served with ice and water.

Essentials to Bring & Internet

-Face mask/cover and hand sanitiser enough for your personal use throughout the trip – See more at https://www.traveltalktours.com/safe-travels/

-Travel Documents: Passport, Visa (if required), flight or transport ticket (and photocopies)

-Travel Talk Tour Voucher (printed or digital)Travel Insurance Policy (and photocopy)

-Personal medical kit and medicine

-Money (cash, credit card, travellers’ cheques)

-Power Adapter

-Reusable water bottle

-Ear plugs and eye mask

-Sun protection – hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

-Comfortable, closed walking shoes

-Wind/water proof jacket

-Warm clothes, hat, and gloves for cold weather

-Sandals, swimwear, shorts for warm weather

Internet Access

Free WIFI can be found throughout an abundance of cafes, shopping malls and restaurants in Turkey’s major cities and stopover, however quality of connection differs. While the Travel Talk Hotel accommodations almost always include WIFI, meaning there will be plenty of time to upload those travel pics and give your friends and family back home a call!

Culture, Religion and Etiquette

Turkish Culture has its share of interesting traditions that you are unlikely to find anywhere else in the world. Due to its proximity to diverse cultures and its vast history, you will discover remarkable samples of Ancient Greek, Byzantine and Ottoman influences around the country. Depending upon the region of Turkey you are travelling to, cultural practices dialect vary significantly. Turkish are renowned for being extremely friendly, polite and hospital. However, it is important to remember that while most Turkish cities are modern metropolises, Turks can still be quite traditional. The villages of Turkey tend to be more modest, with the sale of alcohol less common. Turkish bathhouses (Hamams) and Coffee Houses are popular pasttimes and traditions amongst the locals while nightclubs and bars are the standard form of entertainment for young Turks in the big cities.

Turkish people are seen to be polite and formal with both greetings and attire. The vast majority of the population in Turkey identify as Muslim and Islamic holidays, such as Ramadan, are recognised as public holidays. It is important to be aware and respectful of local customs. Please feel welcome to speak with your tour leader if you have any questions regarding local customs, religions, or appropriate clothing to wear while on tour. With this in mind, we strongly recommend wearing clothing that covers both from your shoulders to knees when visiting or nearby mosques and other religious complexes in Turkey. It is also recommended that female travellers carry a scarf on them to wear when visiting mosques.

Solo Travellers

We have many solo travellers joining our tours. Solo travellers will be roomed with another traveller of the same gender. If you would like a private solo room, please contact us. You may see out solo travels page for more details.

Rules to Follow

We are committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. We do not tolerate any form of violence (physical or verbal), bullying or harassment involving customers, partners, Travel Talk staff or locals. Sexual relationships between a tour leader and a passenger are forbidden.

We will not tolerate any illegal activity, including but not limited to: use and possession of illegal drugs, trespassing, and disrupting public order. If you consume alcohol, please ensure that you drink responsibly and follow the local laws and regulations.

You must follow the advice of your tour leader and local officials regarding health and safety measures. We operate all tours under Safe Travels protocols for the wellbeing of our passengers, staff and communities visited. Please ensure that you have read the https://www.traveltalktours.com/safe-travels/ and are fully prepared for your trip.

If someone is acting inappropriately regarding these matters, please notify your tour leader immediately or contact us on the emergency contact number provided below.

Your tour leader has the right to remove from the group anyone not abiding by these rules, with no right of compensation or refund. See more at https://www.traveltalktours.com/booking-terms/

Please remember that our travellers come from different parts of the world and will have various needs and preferences. Be understanding and patient with your fellow travellers, and always strive to be on time.

Responsible Travel

We believe that travel is a force for good and show our support through various initiatives and charity organizations, as well as keeping the principals of responsible and sustainable travel at the core of our ethos. These values are engrained in our business culture and the design of our trips just the same. Together with you, we strive to make a positive impact on local people and economies, respecting the local culture, environment, social fabric and customs; encouraging respectful and meaningful cross-cultural exchange. Read more at https://www.traveltalktours.com/responsible-travel/