Turkey tours & vacations

Travelers from some nationalities can travel to Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days within 180 days. Other travellers must apply for a visa online or through a Turkish embassy or consulate before traveling.  

To enter Turkey, you may also need: 

• A passport issued within the past ten years 

• A passport valid for at least six months after return  

• Proof of onward or exit travel 

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travelers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travelers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travelers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance

It’s normal to tip 10 to 15% of the bill in cafes, restaurants and bars in Turkey (if the bill doesn’t include gratuity already). Hotel and hamam (Turkish bathhouse) staff may also expect a small tip. Tipping taxi drivers is unnecessary, although rounding up the fare for convenience is common.

Turkey is warm from late spring to early autumn, so layered clothing made from breathable fabrics like linen and cotton is recommended. In major cities and tourist areas, travelers and locals often wear shorts and sleeveless tops in the hot summer months.

In more remote areas, locals wear more conservative attire, so it’s best to follow suit and wear clothing that covers your shoulders to your knees – think long pants or a skirt, a T-shirt and an overshirt or scarf.

Long layers must also be worn in mosques, as well as a head covering for women.

For winter trips, you’ll need warmer layers, especially if you’re venturing inland where the climate is continental. Ideally, a warm, windproof raincoat, a beanie and gloves, warm trousers and a thermal top. 

No matter when you visit, comfy footwear is a must, as is a day bag for your essentials.

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Turkey. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water or carry water purification tablets with you.

There are many free wi-fi spots in Turkey’s cities, and most restaurants, cafes and bars offer wi-fi to customers. The connection speed is fast in urban and touristy places but may be slower in rural areas, so consider activating global roaming on your phone or buying a local SIM card if you want to stay connected.

Mobile phone coverage is good in Turkey, especially in large cities. However, coverage may not be available in more remote areas. Before you leave home, ensure you have global roaming activated with your mobile carrier or look into buying a local SIM card.

Toilets are known as WCs (short for water closets) in Turkey. There’s a mix of Western and squat-style toilets, sometimes with a jug of water for manual flushing. The latter becomes more common in remote regions. However, there's typically a Western-style toilet in every bathroom.

Many public toilets require a small payment of roughly 5 to 10 liras, so ensure you carry change when out and about. It's also a good idea to carry toilet paper and hand sanitiser as these aren't always provided. 

Turkey is generally a safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travelers as long they exercise discretion. Many parts of Turkey, especially outside major cities, have conservative cultural attitudes. While same-sex relationships and non-normative gender presentation are not illegal, there's a lack of comprehensive legal protections against discrimination for LGBTQIA+ people. Legal measures like 'offenses against public morality' have occasionally been used to target LGBTQIA+ folks, although this is rarely directed at tourists.

Big cities like Istanbul and Ankara have established queer scenes; however, same-sex couples are still unlikely to engage in public displays of affection.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel. 

If you’re traveling with Intrepid, you’ll be roomed with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know when booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some trips for travelers who don’t wish to share a room.

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveler. Trips to Turkey directly support our foundation partner, Foundation For The Support of Womens Work (KEDV).

KEDV are determined to support equal employment and leadership opportunities for women. Donations help them provide community childcare centers and leadership training to break the cycle of poverty and inequality for women.

Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Learn more or make a donation

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

While infrastructure is improving, much of Turkey remains difficult to navigate for wheelchair users and people with mobility concerns. Many cities in Turkey have been occupied for thousands of years and their design reflects that, with little regard given to making streets and attractions accessible. Travelers with impaired mobility will find that while tourist locales in Istanbul, such as hotels and mosques, are fitted with ramps and connected by an accessible tram, getting around the rest of the city can be challenging. Rural regions like Cappadocia will be difficult for travelers with mobility impairment to navigate independently. 

Squat toilets remain the norm in many parts of Turkey, which can pose problems for travelers with certain disabilities.

Traffic in Turkey can be chaotic, and even when traffic lights and pedestrian crossings exist drivers do not always obey them. Taxis are, for the most part, not wheelchair-friendly.         

Travelers who use battery-operated hearing aids should consider bringing a stash of extra batteries, as they can be difficult to locate in Turkey.

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or you’re about to embark on your first trip, traveling can be as intimidating as it is exciting. That's the beauty of a small group tour. From handling the logistics and organizing amazing cultural activities to local leaders who know each destination like the back of their hand (like which street has the best markets and where to get the most authentic food), traveling on a small group tour with Intrepid will give you unforgettable travel experiences without the hassle that comes with exploring a new place. Plus, you'll have ready-made friends to share the journey with. All you have to do is turn up with a healthy sense of adventure and we’ll take care of the rest.