Overseas Adventure Travel - Turkey's Magical Hideaways 2021 YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE - Overseas Adventure Travel
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YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE
Turkey’s Magical Hideaways
2021
Small Groups: 8-14 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 12)
®
Overseas Adventure Travel
The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled
1
Dear Traveler,
We can dream, can’t we? That’s what I’ve been doing these past months, as I look forward to traveling as
soon as it’s safe to do so. I know you’re eager to get out there again soon, too, and our Turkey’s Magical
Hideaways itinerary described inside is an excellent way to start.
Exactly how your adventure unfolds is up to you, because you have many choices to customize it. You
can arrive early and stay later—perhaps by adding a pre- or post-trip extension, spending time in a
Stopover city, or combining 2 or more trips. Plus, your itinerary is laced with free time, so you’ll have
opportunities to do your own thing. More than 80% of the travelers who reserve this trip choose to
tailor their adventure. In fact, O.A.T. is the only travel company to offer such flexibility and choice for an
experience that is truly personalized.
As for Turkey’s Magical Hideaways, thanks to your small group of 8-13 travelers (average 12) you can expect
some unforgettable experiences. Here are a few that stood out for me:
When I saw Cappadocia for the first time, it felt like I had been plucked from reality and transported into an
otherworldly fairytale. I stood in awe at towering, cone-shaped pillars and pinnacles that met a boundless
sky. The only thing more awe-inspiring than the fantastical landscape was the welcoming nature of the
locals who live here now. I stopped at one of the small villages nestled on the outskirts of Cappadocia,
where I visited a local craft cooperative. The women here showed me the intricacies of their handicraft
traditions before speaking with me about their dreams for the future. You’ll meet them, too, and hear their
personal experiences before getting a taste of Turkish hospitality during a Home-Hosted Lunch in the
village.
You’ll also hear about another side of Turkey when you meet with a Syrian refugee to discuss Turkey’s
conflicting beliefs toward refugees. He’ll delve into his own harrowing account of fleeing from Syria as well
as the challenges he and other immigrants face as they integrate into Turkish society.
The way we see it, you’ve come a long way to experience the true culture—not some fairytale version of
it. That’s why we don’t shy away from controversial topics, and why all our Trip Experience Leaders are
“insiders” who live in the country. At times you may be nudged out of your comfort zone. But you will also
be inspired by the resilience and humanity of the wonderful people you meet. And that’s what adventure
travel is all about.
Thanks for letting me dream along with you about the Turkey’s Magical Hideaways. I’m optimistic that soon
we won’t just be dreaming, but experiencing the enrichment that only travel can bring. Until then, feel free
to call our Adventure Specialists at 1-800-955-1925.
Love and peace,
Harriet R. Lewis
Vice Chairman
Overseas Adventure Travel
P.S. Due to the uncertainties of the continuing pandemic, we are
EXTENDING our Risk-Free Booking Policy through 12/31/21. Please
see details at www.oattravel.com/riskfree-booking.
USA Today “Best Tours”
10Best Readers’ Presented by
Choice Awards Solo Traveler
2
CONTENTS
A Letter from Harriet Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The O.A.T. Difference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The Grand Circle Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Leader in Solo Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
TURKEY’S MAGICAL HIDEAWAYS Climate & Average Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . 63
Your Adventure at a Glance: Aboard Your Ship: Cabin Features, Dining &
Where You’re Going, What it Costs, Services on Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
and What’s Included . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Turkish gulet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary . . . . . . . . . . 9
Optional Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS:
Pre-Trip Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE
Post-Trip Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Turkish Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Deck Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Religion and Religious Observances . . . . . . . 69
Dates & Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Shopping: What to Buy, Customs,
Shipping & More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . . 43 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY
Visas Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Turkey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . . . . . . . . . 45 Facts, Figures & National Holidays . . . . . . . . 76
No Vaccines Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Turkey: A Brief History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Azerbaijan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Tipping Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
RESOURCES: SUGGESTED
Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . . . . . 53 READINGS & MOVIES
Optional Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Suggested Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Communicating with Home from Abroad . . 54 Suggested Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . 56
Suggested Packing Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Electricity Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
O.A.T. Health & Safety Measures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
3
EXPERIENCE THE O.A.T. DIFFERENCE
in Turkey
This adventure not only showcases iconic sights, but takes you beyond them to experience the
culture through unique activities, engagement with the natural world, and authentic encounters
with local people. Since our founding in 1978, O.A.T. has become America’s leader in personalized
small group journeys on the road less traveled.
SMALL GROUPS: 8-13 TRAVELERS LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
(AVERAGE OF 12)—GUARANTEED To see the world like the locals, you should
The world feels more intimate and engaging travel like one. Our small group size allows
when your experience of it is also personal and us to take the roads and waterways that are
genuine. That’s why our groups never exceed 13 less traveled, and we often follow them using
travelers. This gives you access to people and the same unique modes of transportation
places larger groups simply can’t reach. More that the locals use—be it a canoe, a camel or a
authentic interactions. Deeper bonds with vintage cab.
your travel mates. Personal service from your
Trip Experience Leader. Smoother transitions. UNIQUE LODGINGS
And a far more satisfying experience than any Our lodgings reflect the local character,
traditional tour offers. from smaller family-run hotels and historic
manors to comfy inns. Occasionally, larger
THE BEST TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS hotels closer to city centers are used. Wherever
Your English-speaking, O.A.T. Trip Experience you stay, you’re assured fine comfort and
Leader is a resident of the region you are visiting, hospitality.
so you will get a true insider’s perspective
that brings each place alive—the stories, food, OUR WORLDWIDE OFFICES
customs, hidden treasures and more. With 36 regional offices around the world,
we are perfectly poised to leverage our local
AUTHENTIC CULTURAL CONNECTIONS relationships to deliver an excellent experience
Engage with local people through visits to and value. During this trip, you’ll be supported
farms, factories, markets, and artisans’ by our team in Istanbul.
studios; school visits; Home-Hosted meals;
and more.
Explore ancient ruins on Gemiler Island Interact with locals in their home in Cappadocia
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THE PILLARS OF DISCOVERY
Enriching. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These features form the foundation
of your Turkey’s Magical Hideaways adventure.
GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) A DAY IN THE LIFE
VISIT Do you ever wonder, “What would it be like
GCF was established in 1992 to help change to live here?” when you visit new lands? Let’s
people’s lives in the world where we live, find out during your O.A.T. A Day in the Life, an
work, and travel. To date, we have pledged or exclusive, immersive experience that places
donated $200 million worldwide. you in the heart of a community where you’ll
meet various people where they live, work,
By investing in the places we explore— and play; visit the neighborhood school; lend a
including local schools, cooperatives, or arts hand with daily chores; and break bread with
centers—we hope to give locals the skills and our hosts.
confidence they need to become leaders of
their generation and preserve their heritage Perhaps you’ll join a local resident or
for many years to come. We’re proud to play community leader for a guided walk through
a part in preserving precious locales like the the town, visit a market, or enjoy a unique
Bryggen waterfront district of Bergen, a living opportunity to meet teachers and students at
example of the glory days of the Hanseatic a local school if school is in session.
League, and supporting villages like Harmi in
Estonia, whose once-struggling school is now HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES
a center of community life. Stories shared. Differences solved. Taste buds
engaged. Good will extended. It’s amazing the
CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS things that can happen across a kitchen table,
Every culture has its joys and achievements, so we’ll break into groups of 4-5 to join a local
and we celebrate them all. But every place family in their home for a snack or a meal.
also has its challenges, and to gloss over them This is a rare opportunity to witness family
would not do justice to those whose stories life, learn local customs, and taste some
need to be told—nor to you, as a traveler who home-cooked fare.
deserves more than a sugar-coated version of
On this adventure, we’ll learn more about the
things. So our Trip Experience Leaders will
rich culture of Cappadocia when we share a
lead frank discussions on controversial issues,
meal with a local family in their home. While
and introduce you to people whose stories will
savoring a homecooked meal, we’ll delve
expand your understanding.
into local culture and everyday life with our
For example, we’ll meet with a Syrian refugee gracious hosts.
ĢłRŭŶÖłðŽķŶŋùĢŭóŽŭŭ̵¦ŽũĴāƘ̪ŭùĢƑĢŭĢƑā
attitude towards Syrian refugees and discuss
the challenges he and his fellow immigrants
face as they integrate into Turkish society.
5
GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION
Changing people’s lives, one village, one school, one person at a time
GIVING BACK TO THE WORLD WE TRAVEL
Dear Traveler,
Since our inception in 1992, the Grand Circle
In 1992 we established Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated more than
Foundation, an entity of the Lewis Family $200 million to projects around the world.
Foundation, as a means to give back to
the world that had already given us so JOIN OUR GENEROUS TRAVELERS
much. We’ve pledged or donated more We consider each and every one of our travelers
than $200 million worldwide to support to be partners in our worldwide giving.
the education of young people and the Some travelers, however, are so inspired by
preservation of international treasures the schools and villages they visit, they are
and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. compelled to give more. In fact, our travelers
have donated more than $1 million in 2019
Of course, none of this would be possible
alone. And because we have no administrative
without your help. A portion of the
costs, 100% of donations are used to help
proceeds of every adventure is donated to
change people’s lives.
Grand Circle Foundation—so just as your
life will be enriched by the discoveries BETTER OUR OWN COMMUNITIES—
you’ll make on your journey, you’ll also ALL AROUND THE WORLD
help to enrich the lives of the people
In addition to the destinations where we travel,
you’ll meet along the way.
we strive to better the communities where
Thank you for traveling with us, and for we work—from our headquarters in Boston
helping to change people’s lives. to our 36 offices around the world. In Boston,
more than 99% of our associates participate
Love and peace,
in community service each year. Worldwide,
nearly all of our offices organize annual
community service events of their own..
Harriet R. Lewis
Chair, Grand Circle Foundation
How you can help
To learn more about ongoing Foundation projects, you
can sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, the Inside Scoop,
at www.oattravel.com/community/the-inside-scoop.
When you do, you’ll not only receive updates on Grand
Circle Foundation, but the latest news and discoveries on
all things Grand Circle and Overseas Adventure Travel.
www.grandcirclefoundation.org
6
THE LEADER IN SOLO TRAVEL
in Turkey—and Around the World
ON THIS ADVENTURE …
FREE Single Supplements: We don’t The leader in solo-friendly
charge a single supplement on this travel for Americans—
adventure and optional trip extensions—
by the numbers
a savings of $795-$1100 per person
compared to other travel companies.
But single spaces fill quickly, so early More than 50,000 solo travelers
reservations are advised. joined us in 2018 and 2019—on their
own or with a friend or relative
One of our most popular trips for solo
travelers. More than 331 solo travelers
joined us on this adventure in the past two 20,000 single spaces with a
years—either independently or sharing FREE or low-cost Single Supplement
a room with a mother, daughter, sister, in 2021—a 25% increase from 2019
or friend.
High ratings: More than 89% of these solo
travelers rated their adventure excellent.
More than 90% of solo women
travelers rated their adventure
On average, half of your group will also excellent
be traveling independently, so it’s easy
to forge special bonds as you experience
unforgettable moments together. 38 exclusive women’s departures
featured on 23 of our most popular
You’ll be in good hands, thanks to your adventures—8 of which are
dedicated local Trip Experience Leader single-only departures
(a resident of Turkey), and the expertise
of our regional office team in Istanbul.
Increased Single Space: In 2021, we have
118% more single spaces than in 2019,
with up to 3 single spaces per departure.
See available FREE single space at
www.oattravel.com/tmh2021.
Solo doesn’t mean “alone.” Three out of eight O.A.T. travelers
join our small groups as solos, so you will be in good company.
7
Our best value in 3 years—with a savings of up to $500 per person
Turkey’s Magical Hideaways
Small Ship Adventure
Turkey: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, 4-Night Turquoise Coast private gulet cruise, Ephesus
Countries: 1 | Cities: 4 | 4 Nights Aboard A Privately Chartered 13-Passenger Turkish Gulet
Small groups: 8-13 travelers—guaranteed!
It’s Included
(average of 12)
• Accommodations for 3 nights in • 36 meals—15 breakfasts, 9 lunches,
3895
Istanbul, 3 nights in Cappadocia, and 12 dinners (including 1 Home-
17 days from $ 3 nights in Antalya, 4 nights aboard a Hosted Lunch)
Includes international airfare privately chartered Turkish gulet, and
2 nights in Kusadasi
• 27 guided tours and cultural experiences
Travel from only $230 a day
• International airfare, airport transfers, • Services of our local O.A.T. Trip
Experience Leader with your group
16 days from $ 2695 government taxes, fees, and airline fuel
surcharges unless you choose to make
of 8-13 travelers (average of 12)
throughout your adventure
Without international airfare your own air arrangements
• All land transportation and • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, ship
FREE Single Supplement available crew, and luggage porters
internal flights
• 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward
your next trip
Maximize Your
Discoveries & Value
To get a richer view of the Included Features on this adventure,
Optional extensions: watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.oattravel.com/tmh2021
Untouched Azerbaijan
5 nights pre-trip from $2895
Travel from only $483 per night
Northwest Turkey: Battlefields of
Ancient Troy and Gallipoli & Istanbul
6 nights post-trip from $1495
Travel from only $250 per night
Gulet, Antalya, Turkey
Turkey’s Magical Hideaways
8
Turkey’s Magical Hideaways
YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY
BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION
6 nights in Untouched Azerbaijan
Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 5 Overland to Guba • Krasnaya
Sloboda village visit • Explore Guba
Day 2 Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey • Fly to
Baku, Azerbaijan Day 6 Khinalug village visit •
Home-Hosted Lunch
Day 3 Arrive in Baku • Explore Baku
Day 7 Overland to Baku • Carpet Museum
Day 4 Excursion to Gobustan • Gobustan
& Cultural Center visits
Museum visit
Day 8 Martyr’s Lane visit • Fly to Istanbul •
Begin main trip
Day 1 Fly to Istanbul, Turkey Blue Mosque. On-site amenities may include
a bar and terrace; typical rooms here feature
Afternoon/Evening: You depart today on an a minibar, TV, wireless Internet access, and a
overnight flight to Istanbul, Turkey. private bathroom.
Lunch: On your own. You are free to settle
Day 2 Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey
in at the hotel, or venture out to start your
• Destination: Istanbul
explorations of Istanbul independently. After
• Accommodations: or similar you savor the flavors of Turkey for lunch, you
Morning: You’ll arrive in Istanbul sometime in may seek out a bakery or restaurant that serves
the early afternoon, depending on your specific traditional baklava, a sweet dessert made with
flight arrangements. An O.A.T. representative filo dough, honey, and nuts.
will arrange for your transfer to your hotel—a
Afternoon: The afternoon is yours, with the
ride of about 1.5 hours, depending on traffic.
freedom to rest in your room or stroll the
Here we’ll be joined by travelers who took our
nearby neighborhood.
optional Untouched Azerbaijan extension.
Dinner: On your own. The area around our hotel
Upon arrival, you will check in and receive your
features an assortment of Turkish restaurants,
room assignment. We stay in Istanbul for three
and your Trip Experience Leader will be ready
nights—depending on where we stay, we’re
to recommend favorites. Perhaps you’ll seek
likely to be situated in the heart of the city,
just a brisk walk from the Hippodrome and
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
9
out a restaurant that prepares traditional embroidery and have a chance to ask them
dishes like turlu, a popular and flavorful about life in Istanbul. The head of the project
vegetable stew. will also be available to discuss the mission.
Evening: You’re free to seek out Istanbul’s • How to get there: A 15-minute metro ride
delights on your own. You may choose to from Old Town, plus a 10-minute walk.
experience dondurma, Turkey’s famous • Hours: 9am-7am, Monday-Saturday.
gravity-defying ice cream. Made with salep • Cost: Free.
flour, the ice cream resists melting, and is often • Explore the Istanbul Archaeological
known to droop down off the side of a cone Museum: With over one million artifacts
without falling to the ground. from a variety of cultures, Istanbul’s
Archaeological Museum is one of the largest
Freedom To Explore: During your three days
in the world. The majority of treasures you’ll
in Istanbul, you have the freedom to explore
find here are from civilizations that were once
this city on your own during your free time.
part of the vast Ottoman Empire, including
Below are a few recommended options for
the Balkans, Africa, Mesopotamia, and
independent explorations:
Afghanistan.
• Master Turkish cuisine at Cooking Alaturka: • How to get there: A 15-minute metro ride
Step into Istanbul’s first cooking school, from Old Town, plus a 10-minute walk.
opened in 2002, to learn about the techniques • Hours: 9am-7am, Monday-Saturday.
and ingredients that go into Turkish cooking. • Cost: Free.
Then, enjoy a hands-on lesson preparing a
traditional five-course meal. You’ll get to Day 3 Explore Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar &
enjoy the fruits of your labor after completing Topkapi Palace
each dish as you sample the cuisine you have
• Destination: Istanbul
just prepared, along with a glass of local wine.
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
A minimum of two people need to be signed
• Accommodations: Armada Old City Hotel
up for this class.
or similar
• How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk
from the Armada Old City Hotel. Activity Note: As we explore bustling city
markets today, we’ll be exposed to a cacophony
• Hours: 10:30am-2:30pm and 4:30-
8:30pm, Monday-Saturday. of sights, sounds, and smells in extremely
busy environments. The boisterous energy
• Cost: About $75 USD.
may be overwhelming to some travelers, so
• Meet the embroiders at the Turquoise Tassel:
we encourage you to be ready with a spirit
Tucked into a less-visited corner of Istanbul,
of adventure. If either the Grand Bazaar or
the Turquoise Tassel is unlike most other
Topkapi Palace are closed today, our Trip
handicraft shops you’ll find in the city. This
Experience Leader will rearrange activities as
embroidery workshop was established to
needed to include these visits on a different day.
provide training and employment to local
women who have no other opportunities to Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel
work outside of the home. During your visit, beginning at 7am, with Turkish and American
you’ll see the women hard at work on their options available.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
10Morning: Around 8:30am, we’ll gather as a Constantinople) and served as the residence of
small group for the first time and meet with our Ottoman sultans—along with their wives and
Trip Experience Leader for a Welcome Briefing concubines—for the next 400 years. Today, it is
at our hotel. During this briefing, we will one of the world’s richest museums, and during
introduce ourselves and review our itinerary in our 1-hour visit, we’ll behold a staggering
more detail (including any changes that may collection of arms, porcelain, and priceless
need to occur). Our Trip Experience Leader will treasures that include the jewel-studded
also discuss logistics, safety and emergency dagger made famous by the Hollywood heist
procedures, and answer any questions we may film, Topkapi.
have. Then, around 9:45am, we’ll set off on a
Our visit conludes around 2:45pm, at which
full day bus and walking tour of Istanbul, the
time you are free to return to the hotel with
historic city formerly known as Byzantium
the group, or remain in historic center to
and Constantinople, with our Trip Experience
explore on your own. Perhaps you’d like to visit
Leader. Due to its strategic location astride both
Archaeological Museum, showcasing over a
Asia and Europe, Istanbul served as the capital
million artifacts from the Balkans, to Africa,
of a series of empires since its founding back
and Afghanistan. At about 6:15pm, we’ll take a
in the seventh century BC, and today boasts
15-minute walk to a local restaurant (or we may
myriad treasures from its incredible history.
drive there, if the group wishes to).
Our first stop is the Hippodrome of
Dinner: Around 6:30pm at a local restaurant.
Constantinople, a lively central square that was
Tonight’s Welcome Dinner will feature
the social heart of the city during the Byzantine
authentic Turkish cuisine, including an
era. We’ll witness the square’s defining
appetizer, main course, and dessert. Your
features—two soaring obelisks—before
choice of bottled water and a soft drink, glass of
continuing on to the Grand Bazaar, about a
beer, or wine is included.
15-minute walk. Upon arrival around 11am,
we’ll delve into this lively and historic market. Evening: On your own. You’re free to walk or
Home to more than 4,000 shops today, this ride back to the hotel if you’d like. Perhaps
remarkable complex dates back more than 550 you’ll venture out to one of the city’s popular
years. Stroll through row after row of colorful rooftop nightspots, where you can enjoy a
stalls, sampling street foods and Turkish drink and striking views of the city. Your Trip
delicacies as you do. Experience Leader will be happy to provide
recommendations.
Lunch: On your own around noon. Grab a bite
at one of the Bazaar’s many food stands—your
Trip Experience Leader will be happy to point
you in the direction of his or her favorites.
Afternoon: After exploring the myriad wares
sold at the Grand Bazaar, we’ll regroup around
1:30pm and begin making our way to Topkapi
palace, another highlight of the city’s glorious
past. The complex of grand pavilions and
courtyards was built by Mehmet II in the middle
of the 15th century (just after his conquest of
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
11Day 4 Explore Istanbul & Hagia Sophia country: The status of Syrian refugees in
• Controversial Topic: The challenges Turkish society. We will meet with one of
three female Syrian refugees and speak with
facing Syrian refugees in Turkey with a
her for about an hour to learn about her
female refugee and a Turkish citizen
experience as an outsider in this country. A
• Destination: Istanbul Turkish female speaker will also be on-hand to
• Included Meals: Breakfast provide the complicated Turkish perspective
• Accommodations: Armada Old City Hotel on the situation: While most Turks recognize
or similar the refugees’ desperate situation, many are
Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries beginning to resent the Syrians for straining
feature the Controversial Topic of the Turkey’s resources. It’s a emotionally charged
challenges Syrian refugees are facing in issue for Syrians and Turks alike; for their
Turkey with a refugee and a Turkish citizen. safety, our speakers have asked that we not
This conversation will reveal both sides identify them by name.
of a complicated humanitarian issue that Since 2012, more than 4 million Syrians have
has no easy solution. Read more about this sought refuge in Turkey (though unofficial
conversation below. estimates put that figure much higher, at about
Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel 6 million refugees). Fleeing a war-torn region
beginning at 7am, with Turkish and American that has been battered by civil war, Kurdish
options available. militants, the Assad regime, and the Islamic
State, these refugees have left all their worldly
Morning: At around 8:30am, we’ll begin our possessions, their homes, and in many cases
city tour of Istanbul. We’ll walk approximately their friends and family members—all in search
10 minutes to Hagia Sophia—a true wonder of of a better life in Turkey.
the Byzantine world. Completed under Emperor
Justinian in AD 537, this massive building But with so many refugees arriving penniless
(known best for its resplendent dome) was a and desperate, attitudes among the Turkish
Christian church for nearly 1,000 years, until are divided, and the refugees’ reception has
Mehmet the Conqueror claimed it for Islam. not been uniformly welcome. In large part,
Kemal Atatürk, the revolutionary leader and this is due to the support given to the Syrians
founder of the Republic, proclaimed it as a by the Turkish government: Syrian people
museum in 1934. The church’s interior was receive priority medical treatment over the
designed as an earthly mirror of heaven, and local Turks at hospitals, for example, and
as we explore, our Trip Experience Leader will unemployment benefits are longer and more
point out the stunning Byzantine mosaics and substantial for Syrians than for Turkish people.
distinctive features that contributed to the And as the number of Syrians in Turkey has
success of this estimable goal. grown, so, too, has their pressure on the
system—Syrians now make up about 8% of the
At approximately 10am, we’ll drive about total Turkish population, a sizable minority.
10 minutes aboard our private motorcoach As a result, many Turkish people consider the
to a Syrian-owned café in Aksaray, an Syrians a burden on society, taking work and
Istanbul neighborhood known as “Little resources away from Turkish citizens at a time
Syria.” Here, we’ll sit down to learn about of economic distress. Violence against Syrians
a Controversial Topic currently roiling the is on the rise, particularly in the suburbs of
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
12Istanbul where there is a prevalence of both After our conversation concludes around
Turkish and Syrian gangs. Right-wing political 11:30am, we’ll make our way to the Taksim
groups are also taking aim at the refugees: area, approximately 30 minutes away by bus.
There is even an increasing demand amongst Upon arrival, our Trip Experience Leader will
hardline Turks that the refugees return home, give us a brief overview of the neighborhood
creating an impossible contradiction—for and point out options for lunch.
many Syrians, there is no home to return to.
Lunch: On your own around 12:30pm.
At the same time, many Turkish people have The area around Taksim is surrounded by
taken a softer approach to their new neighbors. restaurants and you’re free to find one that
They regard the Syrians as hardworking appeals to you. Or, your Trip Experience
members of society and a welcome contribution Leader can recommend a true Turkish
to the fabric of Turkish culture, worthy of the experience: trying local street-food favorites
same aid, dignity, and respect as any other such as islak (a type of hamburger), a döner
person. But even among these Turks, there is kebab, or a delicious simit (a special bagel with
a sense of fatigue: Many thought the refugees sesame seeds).
would only be in Turkey for 2-3 years, but the
Afternoon: We’ll reconvene around 1:30pm
situation in Syria has yet to stabilize.
to take a stroll around Galata, the old Genoese
This puts the Syrians, who have already faced quarter. Our 1.5-hour walk will take us through
unimaginable tragedy, in an increasingly one of the oldest neighborhoods in Istanbul and
difficult situation. A great deal of them are to Istiklal Caddesi, a two-mile-long pedestrian
taken advantage of by local employers, street. As we walk, we’ll have time to witness
working for subpar wages and living in and appreciate the colorful shops and wealth of
crowded dormitories. They are often regarded Art Nouveau and Ottoman-era buildings that
by Turkish citizens as outsiders. And yet the line this route. We’ll begin our return trip to our
decision to assimilate into Turkish culture can hotel around 3pm. En route, we’ll stop at Misir
be wrenching, with other refugees condemning Carsisi, the Spice Bazaar—one of the largest
their fellow countrymen for abandoning bazaars in the city. Travelers who wish to
their roots. participate can join our Trip Experience Leader
on a walk through its bustling stalls. Otherwise,
We’ll hear from each of our speakers for about
you’ll remain on the bus and return to the hotel.
10 minutes apiece, then spend the remainder
of the hour asking questions to further our The remainder of the afternoon is yours to
understanding of the perspective of some relax in the hotel, or you may choose to take a
of Turkey’s most invisible people. Your Trip short ferry ride to Kadıköy, an up-and-coming
Experience Leader is ready to facilitate the neighborhood popular with the locals on the
conversation as needed. As you continue Asian side of the Bosporus.
your journey through Turkey, be sure to keep
Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll ask your
an eye out to see for yourself how refugees
Trip Experience Leader where to find the
have settled in to Turkish society, and how
best manti in town. This stuffed dumpling dish
locals’ opinions about them vary from person
traditionally features a filling of ground meat
to person.
and onion, served with yogurt and tomato
sauce—but Istanbul has seen a rise in new
filling options, among them fish or vegetables.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
13Evening: The evening is free for your own cities in the area housed up to 20,000 people.
discoveries. Your Trip Experience Leader is a There are also more than 600 Christian
wealth of information for activity ideas. churches carved into the soft rock, some dating
to the third century AD. A few Cappadocian
Day 5 Fly to Cappadocia • Visit Göreme caves also serve as homes for modern-day
troglodytes, who stay quite cool here in the hot
open-air museum
summer weather.
• Destination: Cappadocia
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner At about 3:30pm, we’ll arrive in Göreme, a
• Accommodations: or similar literal “open-air museum” of ancient rock-cut
churches, chapels, and monasteries adorned
Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel
with Byzantine frescoes dating from the tenth
beginning at 7am, with Turkish and American
to the 13th centuries. We’ll explore this natural
options available.
wonderland on foot for approximately 1.5 hours
Morning: At about 9:30am, we’ll board before traveling by bus for about 15 minutes
our bus for a 1.25-hour ride to the airport. to our hotel. Depending on where we stay, our
Upon arrival, we’ll check in for our 12:30pm hotel for the next three nights may include
flight—depending on our departure date, we’ll on-site restaurants in addition to a bar, shop,
fly to either Kayseri or Nevsehir. Although and swimming pool. Your room may feature air
our flight from European-influenced Istanbul conditioning, a minibar, TV, and private bath
to landlocked Cappadocia is only about 450 with hair dryer. After checking in and getting
miles, it may feel as if we landed on another our room assignments, the remainder of the
planet when we arrive. Over millennia, rain afternoon is yours, with the freedom to relax
and wind have shaped the soft white volcanic and settle in.
rock—called tufa–of the surrounding Anatolian
Dinner: We’ll depart for a local restaurant
plain into an otherworldly landscape of
around 6:30pm, where we’ll dine on regionally
dripping cones, pillars, pinnacles, and fairy
inspired dishes.
chimneys soaring more than a hundred feet
into the sky. Evening: On your own. You’re free to enjoy
a nightcap at the hotel bar, or chat with your
Lunch: After landing around 2pm and boarding
fellow travelers about favorite moments from
our bus for a panoramic drive, we’ll make a
the adventure thus far.
brief stop at a small store to pick up fruit and
nuts to enjoy for lunch as we make our way Freedom To Explore: During your three days
toward Göreme. in Cappadocia, you have the freedom to explore
this region on your own during your free time.
Afternoon: Our 1-hour drive to Göreme will be
Below are a few recommended options for
our first introduction to Cappadocia’s geologic
independent explorations:
wonders and remarkable human history. As
we’ll learn from our Trip Experience Leader, • Visit a family living in a fairy chimney:
people have inhabited the region since ancient During the Roman period, persecuted
times, using hand tools to hollow out thousands Christians went into hiding in Cappadocia—
of the freestanding tufa formations. These and quickly realized that the region’s fairy
cave-like rooms once sheltered Turkey’s early chimneys could double as dwellings. With just
Christians from invaders, and vast underground a little excavation, they were move-in ready,
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
14and some families simply never left. Your Day 6 A Day in the Life of a Cappadocian
Trip Experience Leader would be happy to village • Optional Ballooning Over
arrange a meeting with one of these families
Cappadocia tour
so that you might see their home first-hand
• Destination: Cappadocia
and learn about life in this otherworldly
destination. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodations: Alfina Hotel or similar
• How to get there: A 30-minute drive by
bus. Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries
• Hours: Based on the family’s availability. feature a NEW A Day in the Life experience of
• Cost: Free. an unspoiled village in Cappadocia. With the
mayor of the town as our guide, we’ll play a
• Master the art of paper marbling at
traditional game with local men at a teahouse,
Kapadokya Ebru Sanat Evi: Ebru is the art of
visit a women’s cooperative and help make
paper marbling, which is typically used as
handcrafts, enjoy lunch with a local family, and
a background for calligraphy and covers for
learn about the town’s agricultural traditions.
books and stationery. To achieve this marble
Read more about this experience below.
finish on paper or fabric, artists add dye to
the surface of water and dip either the paper Early Morning: At about 5am, early risers are
or fabric into the water, which absorbs the welcome to join us for a spectacular experience:
color and takes on a marble pattern. Watch an optional hot-air balloon flight over
as a local who has been honing his skill for Cappadocia, with the chance to view its surreal
14 years creates ebru before you have the beauty from high above, illuminated by the rosy
chance to dye a silk scarf using this technique light of dawn. During this 2-hour excursion,
yourself. we’ll soar over the amber terrain and fairy
• How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute taxi chimneys—all the while savoring this unique
ride, about $13 USD one way, from the panorama in remarkable fashion.
hotel.
Travelers who partake in this experience
• Hours: 9am-7pm, daily. will be back to the hotel by 7:30am, where
• Cost: About $45 USD. we’ll re-convene as a group and depart for
• Decompress in the whimsical surroundings our NEW A Day in the Life experience in the
of Cappadocia with a Yoga class: Unplug in unspoiled town of Cat. Nestled in the heart of
the other-worldly environment of Turkey’s Cappadocia, Cat is located in one of the popular
Cappadocia region with Kundalini yoga and travel destinations in Turkey. But while nearby
meditation. Breathe deep as you take in towns have been transformed by tourism,
sweeping views of the honeycombed hills Cat has retained its authentic character. The
and towering boulders, and strengthen your economy here is agrarian, and the town’s
body and mind amidst the captivating beauty. 2,200 residents still maintain their traditional
This activity is weather permitting and runs customs and beliefs.
approximately 1-2 hours.
Breakfast: At approximately 8am, we’ll
• How to get there: Classes are held in arrive at the pastures on the outskirts of Cat,
various locations.
where we’ll enjoy a typical farmer’s breakfast.
• Hours: Hours vary, classes available daily Farmers in this area typically rise very early
and weather permitting.
in the morning to tend to their fields, taking a
• Cost: About $80 USD.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
15break after the sun comes up to enjoy a simple men-only teahouses. We’ll spend about 45
breakfast from home. We’ll dine on modest minutes at the cooperative, learning about its
fare similar to what the farmers enjoy every mission, talking to some of the local women,
day while learning about local agricultural and even trying our hands at making one of
traditions. their crafts.
Morning: Around 9:15am, we’ll bid farewell to Lunch: Around 12:15pm, we’ll begin making our
the farmers and continue on the town center way to the home of a local family with whom
about 15 minutes away. Here, we’ll be met by we’ll enjoy lunch. As we dine on traditional,
our community leader for the day: the mayor homemade dishes, our hosts will share what
of Cat, and one of the town’s most successful life is like in a traditional Turkish community,
residents. As a farmer, business owner, and and we’ll ask any questions that we may have.
well-regarded community member, he’s an
Afternoon: After lunch concludes around
ideal host for our discoveries today.
1:45pm, we’ll board a bus bound for a
After spending approximately 30 minutes community storage facility about 15 minutes
learning more about the mayor and this away. Carved into a rocky hillside, the facility
community, we’ll walk to a nearby teahouse is a cool, dark place for storing Cat’s most
to meet more village residents. Teahouses are abundant crop: potatoes. Up to 25,000 tons
typical Turkish “man caves”—places for local of potatoes can be stored in the facility at one
men to catch up with one another over a cup time, and the natural climate control keeps
of Turkish coffee or a cold drink. While women them fresh until they can be sold to individuals
are not forbidden from entering teahouses, and vendors across Turkey. For a fee, every
their presence would be highly unusual. (We’ll farmer in the community can store his crops in
learn more about this gender segregation in the facility. We may even have the opportunity
Turkey on Day 9.) Fortunately for our group, to meet a farmer or the owner as we explore
the teahouse we’ll visit has an outdoor terrace the space. At approximately 2:30pm, we’ll
where the patrons typically gather, and we bid farewell to Cat’s mayor and begin the
will be most welcome to join them. In addition 30-minute return trip to Cappadocia, stopping
to socializing, men often play rummikub en route to visit a few of the region’s most
(a tile-based game similar to dominoes) at famous rock formations, such as the soaring
teahouses. We’ll get a primer on the rules Three Beauties or aptly named Camel Rock.
and then challenge the locals to a friendly
After we arrive around 3:30pm, you are free
competition.
to relax on the hotel grounds, or explore the
Our visit to the teahouse concludes around surrounding landscape at leisure. At around
11am, at which time we’ll walk to a women’s 6:45pm, we’ll take a 15-minute bus ride to a
cooperative about 15 minutes away. The local restaurant for dinner.
cooperative was established by the municipality
Dinner: Around 7pm at a local restaurant,
to help local women learn how to make
featuring regional dishes and local ingredients.
handcrafts (like lace, paintings, and reusable
shopping bags) that they can sell to supplement Evening: On your own after we return to the
their income. In addition to providing new hotel around 8:15pm. You’re free to ask your
skills, the cooperative is also a spot for Trip Experience Leader for more insights into
socializing, serving as an alternative to Cat’s
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
16Cappadocian village life, or perhaps you’ll Lunch: Around noon, we’ll depart for a local
choose to compare photos with your fellow restaurant for lunch, arriving approximately 15
travelers. minutes later.
Afternoon: At approximately 1:30pm, we’ll
Day 7 Cappadocia • Underground make our way to a rug-weaving cooperative
city excursion • Optional Whirling approximately 30 minutes away. Local artisans
Dervishes tour will help us learn about all aspects of this
• Destination: Cappadocia traditional Turkish craft, from silkworm
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner cultivation to spinning, dyeing, and the
• Accommodations: or similar traditional patterns and weaving techniques.
Activity Note: Today’s discoveries include a Then, we’ll return to our hotel around 4pm.
1-hour hike—up to 3 miles along hilly trails You may opt to enjoy a few hours of free time,
with uneven surfaces—and a walk through or enjoy another glimpse of Turkish culture
uneven, underground tunnels. by joining our Whirling Dervishes optional
tour. Around 5:30pm, you’ll take a 15-minute
Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel drive to witness the legendary “Ritual
beginning at 7am, with Turkish and American of Sema,” a traditional religious dance
options available. wherein dervishes (Muslim religious figures
Morning: Around 9am, we’ll depart our hotel akin to monks) spin faster and faster to
for a 1-hour hike to enjoy unimpeded views summon the divine. The show concludes
of the sweeping valleys and landscapes of around 6:45pm, at which time you’ll return to
Cappadocia without any of the large tourist the hotel to join your fellow travelers for dinner.
crowds to interrupt the serene beauty of this Dinner: Around 7:15pm at the hotel.
magical region. Our explorations continue
around 10:15am, when we take a 30-minute Evening: On your own after we return to our
bus ride to Ozkonak, one of the remarkable hotel by about 8:30pm. Perhaps you’ll share
underground cities dotting the local landscape. stories about the view over a drink at the bar.
During the Hittite era, as successive armies
swept across Asia Minor, these multi-leveled Day 8 Overland to Konya • Whirling
complexes were built as uniquely defensible Dervish monastery visit • Overland
communities—all had heavy millstones for to Antalya
doors that could be rolled in place to seal off
• Destination: Antalya
the outside world. There are believed to be
about three dozen of these underground cities • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
in the region, but few have been excavated. In • Accommodations: Tuvana Hotel or similar
Ozkonak, we’ll explore some of the hundreds of Activity Note: Today’s transfer to Antalya
rooms, which were designed to house 60,000 includes about 9.5 hours of bus travel, with
people for up to three months. We’ll wander stops along the way.
the narrow, sloping passageways between
kitchens with enameled food storage areas, Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the lodge
water cisterns, stables, and living quarters at beginning at 7am, with Turkish and American
the deepest levels—all well-ventilated by giant options available.
air shafts.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
17Morning: Around 8am, we’ll board our bus for bath with hair dryer. You’ll have about two
the day’s journey southwest, across the Taurus hours to settle into your room—or begin to
Mountains toward the Mediterranean seaside explore the hotel grounds.
town of Antalya. Along the way, we’ll discover
Dinner: Around 7pm at the hotel, featuring
one of Turkey’s iconic fixtures: the Whirling
Mediterranean-inspired local fare.
Dervishes. Around 11:30am, we’ll arrive in the
city of Konya, a bastion of Seljuk culture and Evening: On your own, with the freedom to
home of the Mevlevi—known as the Whirling seek out Antalya’s delights independently. Your
Dervish for the dramatic whirling practice they Trip Experience Leader will be happy to provide
include in formal ceremonies. Our 45-minute recommendations, should you like.
visit with our Trip Experience Leader will
include the Mevlana Muzesi (a museum Freedom To Explore: During your three days
dedicated to Mevlana Celalettin Rumi), as in Antalya, you have the freedom to explore
well as the former tekke (dervish hall) that the city on your own during your free time.
now holds the tomb of Celaleddin Rumi. Later Below are a few recommended options for
known as Mevlana, he was the founder of the independent explorations:
Mevlevi order and became one of the greatest
• Meet local women at the Women’s
literary and spiritual figures of all time—more
Counseling Center & Solidarity Association:
than a million and a half Turks come here to
Founded in 2000, the center’s mission is to
pray each year. Shortly after noon, we’ll walk to
prevent violence and discrimination against
a nearby restaurant for lunch.
women, and to provide legal and psychologi-
Lunch: Around 12:15pm, we’ll dine at a local cal counseling. During your visit, you’ll learn
restaurant, featuring regional dishes. more about the steps the center is taking to
support and empower women, and you’ll
Afternoon: We’ll return to our bus around meet a few women to discuss the unique
1:30pm and continue our journey toward issues they face in Turkey.
Antalya. Along the way, the glimmering
Mediterranean Sea will come into view, with
• How to get there: A 15-minute taxi ride.
mountain views all around. Once an old fishing
• Hours: 9am-5pm, daily.
village, Antalya is now a sprawling seaside
• Cost: Free.
resort that combines unspoiled beaches and • Experience a traditional Turkish bath at
modern homes with a walled Old Town. The Demirhan Hamami: Centuries ago, locals in
eclectic architectural styles on display reflect this region drew inspiration from the bath
more than 2,000 years of history. cultures of the Romans and Asia. To the
Romans, the bath was a place to mingle with
We’ll reach our hotel around 5:30pm, at others, so a more social bath experience was
which point we’ll check in and get our room adopted in Turkey. And in Asia, the steam
assignments. While our exact hotel may vary, bath was popular, which made its way into
we’ll be well situated for exploring Old Antalya. Turkish bath culture as well. During this fully
On-site features may include a private beach, immersive visit, you’ll learn more about
garden, and restaurants. Your room may
include a TV, wireless Internet, and a private
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
18Turkey’s famous baths firsthand, including take place earlier in the day, or on Day 10. Your
hygienic and religious elements that are Trip Experience Leader will advise you of any
significant to the experience. changes. Read more about this conversation
below. This evening, we’ll also experience a
• How to get there: About a 15-20-minute
walk from the hotel. Home-Hosted Dinner in the home of a local
family in Antalya.
• Hours: 9am-10pm, daily.
• Cost: Starting from $20 USD.
• Discover folk culture at Suna Inan Kirac
Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel
Kaleici Museum: Dive into the rich history
beginning at 7am, with Turkish and American
and culture of Turkey during explorations of
options available.
this museum complex’s 19th-century home
and former Greek Orthodox church. Step into Morning: Around 8:30am, we’ll gather in a
the first part of the museum, a two-story room in our hotel, where we’ll be joined by an
home decorated in a typical Turkish fashion, archaeologist for an hour-long conversation.
to see life-sized dioramas of a traditional Their insights will prove invaluable at our first
wedding ceremony. As you explore, look destination: Antalya Muzesi, an archaeological
down at the detailed mosaics under your feet museum located about 15 minutes from our
that were made from pebbles collected from hotel. We’ll arrive around 10am, and spend
a local beach. Then, move on to the Church approximately 1.5 hours exploring artifacts
of Hagios Georgios, one of the few churches from the Stone and Bronze Ages to Byzantium
of its kind in this region, to view traditional housed in the museum’s many exhibition halls
ceramic pieces. and open-air galleries. Around 11:30am, we’ll
• How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk make our way to Kaleici, Antalya’s Old Town,
from the hotel. for a 1-hour walking tour, which begins at
• Hours: 9am-6pm, Thursday-Tuesday. approximately 11:45am. Kaleici translates to
• Cost: About $1 USD. “within the city walls,” and among its myriad
highlights is Hadrian’s Gate, a triumphal arch
Day 9 Explore Antalya • Antalya built in the name of the Roman emperor who
Museum visit • Controversial Topic: visited Antalya in AD 130. As we walk about,
Women’s rights in an increasingly we’ll have time to witness the neighborhood’s
conservative Turkey with local women • shops; honey-hued stone walls; and narrow,
winding streets.
Home-Hosted Dinner
• Destination: Antalya Lunch: On your own around 12:30pm. You’re
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner free to dine on the hotel grounds, if you’d
• Accommodations: Tuvana Hotel or similar like. Or, you may choose to seek out a meal
elsewhere in town. Given its coastal locale,
Exclusive O.A.T. Activities: Today’s discoveries
Antalya’s seafood is particularly popular, and
feature the Controversial Topic of how
this may be a great opportunity to sample the
women’s rights in Turkey are changing as
day’s catch. Your Trip Experience Leader will be
society becomes more traditional. We’ll speak
happy to point you toward particular favorites.
to two women with different perspectives
on this troubling issue. Depending on our
speakers’ availability, this conversation may
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
19Afternoon: You’re free to spend the afternoon a front-row seat to the dramatic increase in
as you wish. You may choose to unwind on one femicide in Turkey—up 30% since 2009. She’s
of Antalya’s numerous beaches, or venture also keenly aware of the recent controversy
back into Kaleici for additional exploration. surrounding the Istanbul Convention, an
At approximately 5:30pm, we’ll make our international coalition designed to address
way to a café just a few blocks from our hotel. violence against women. Turkey was the first
Here we’ll meet two young women who will country to adopt the convention in 2011, but
share their insights into the Controversial it sought to pull out of it in 2020, arguing that
Topic of the future of women’s rights in an the convention harmed the traditional family
increasingly conservative Turkey. Due to the structure.
sensitive nature of this topic, our speakers
Our other speaker comes from a more
have requested that their names not be shared
traditional background: She was raised in a
publicly. The café is an ideal setting for this
conservative family and even had an uncle
tough conversation: Many teahouses in Turkey
who was an Imam. Twice divorced and a single
are reserved exclusively for men, but this café
mother to a 4-year-old son, she faced backlash
welcomes women as well. As we’ll learn from
from her family when her marriages ended.
our speakers, this type of segregation is just
She has also endured her share of professional
one of the many hurdles women are facing as
discrimination. (In Turkey, women’s income is
Turkey tracks toward a more traditional society.
estimated to be just 44% of men’s, and women
Turkey has been a model of female are regularly passed over for job promotions.)
empowerment in the near-Middle East since She now owns her own e-commerce shop and
the early 20th century, when the country counts herself among the mere 33% of female
gained independence from the Islamic Ottoman Turks who are part of the labor force.
Empire and began embracing democratic,
This regression of women’s rights is believed
secular ideals. In 1930, Turkish women received
to have begun in 2002, when the conservative
full political rights, including the right to
Justice and Development Party rose to power.
hold office; 60 years later, Turkey elected its
Party leaders have made many statements
first female prime minister. Turkey has also
that seem to run counter to Turkey’s founding
amended its criminal and civil laws numerous
pro-feminist ideals, including suggesting
times over the years to further protect
that it is “against nature” to treat women and
women—including equalizing marriage rights
men equally and encouraging men to harass
and criminalizing honor killings. However, data
women who are dressed “inappropriately.”
from the last 15 years suggest that the march of
Such statements have been embraced by
progress has started slowing down—and may
fundamentalist voters while worrying
even be reversing.
secularists—effectively splitting public opinion
The women who will join us today have both in half. Our guests will spend about 20 minutes
witnessed this shift first-hand, albeit from sharing their opinions about women’s rights
different perspectives. Our first speaker is in Turkey; after learning more about the issue,
an English professor and activist who has we’ll have approximately 40 minutes to ask any
been volunteering at the Women’s Solidarity questions we may have.
Foundation for over ten years, helping
to support domestic abuse survivors and
advocating for gender equality. She has had
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
20You can also read
