Eastern Turkey Travel FAQs | Tips for Genesis Expeditions

You’ll be visiting in summer. Expect sunny and warm temperatures. The average temperature range during the first few days will be a daytime low of 68 to a high of 80, but the last few days will be in a different zone with a low of 80 to a high of 95 during the day. We don’t expect rain. Each day, we will end our day with the same clothes we began our day. Breezy cottons and linens are best. The areas we are visiting are not used to seeing shorts, skirts above mid-thigh and strappy dresses and shirts when in a public area. Since it will be warm, it is fine to bring longer shorts just above the knee, skirts and dresses to just above the knee or below, etc.

We are traveling to areas that only use Turkish Lira. When we arrive in the Istanbul airport, we can all go to a currency exchange or ATM machine and buy Lira. So, you can take cash and trade US cash for Turkish Lira if you like. Since we are on a fairly long trip, we recommend getting at least $300USD per person worth of Turkish Lira. $300USD will equal around 13,000 Turkish Lira. There are ATM’s in all airports in Turkey.

Both airlines and ground operators have really tightened restrictions on the weight, size, and number of pieces of luggage allowed on their planes and vehicles and will charge for checked luggage on the flights that connect to your international flights. Please check directly with the airline prior to packing to read the most updated baggage requirements for size and weight. While we do coordinate your flights for you on Turkish Air, we are not an agent for them. If you are not arriving on the flight the group arrives on, or departing Istanbul on the flight the group departs on, we will guide you on getting to our first hotel, or getting a departure transfer. Turkish Air limits your weight to 15# for your one main carry-on (plus then you are also allowed a backpack or purse etc. One tip worth mentioning. Normally, if you have the ability to download the Turkish Air App and download or print your OWN boarding passes, it is not necessary to see an agent if you are not checking luggage at all. This means if you do not present yourself at the counter (because you already have your boarding pass), they do not weigh your carryon, as a standard procedure.
If you originate in another city besides the international departure city, you may have to buy a separate air ticket. Turkish Air does not charge for the checked bag, but domestic carriers do. The weight limit for a checked bag is 50#.

Please know that if you have flight delays, checking luggage can sometimes add a layer of complication to travel. Checked luggage can be “lost” by the airline for a few days and you could arrive at your destination without it. Should you check your luggage and end up at your destination without it, your luggage may not be delivered to you for 5-6 days. If you do decide to check a bag, we strongly recommend packing a couple of changes of clothes, toiletries, all your medications, and any valuables or items you will need right away in your carry-on bag and/or as your personal item to ensure you don’t have to do any shopping and miss valuable days of touring!

Special luggage tags will be sent to you with your final documents a couple of weeks before departure. Please attach them to both checked and carryon luggage— they’re very helpful to baggage handlers at the hotels.

Our trip will be very casual. You will not need any formal or dress clothes on this journey.

The group air travels to Istanbul, aircraft change and then into Igdir. On arrival in Istanbul you follow the signs to transfers. In following their directions they will review your luggage and passports and then it is a bit of a long walk to the gate. You can purchase an IGA pass if you like. The website is igapass.com. We cannot assist you with it or provide answers, but you can register for a speed line through customs and even a cart to meet you at your arrival gate. Our flight to Igdir is considered a Turkish domestic flight. Changing flights is very easy in Istanbul. If you did not originate with the group at Dulles, you will see us at the gate for the flight to Igdir. We will transfer to our hotel in Igdir on arrival with dinner. The Turkish Air serves meals on all flights.

A visa for North American participants is not required for Turkey.
If you have an issue where you cannot reach us, you can call the emergency phone number at: 011 90-532-242-9829 or +90-532-242-9829. Should you have any trouble on your flights, please email our office at [email protected].

We will be sending each traveler a name badge and shirt that is great to keep the sun off of you, along with your tour documents a couple of weeks before departure. We ask that you always wear your name badge when the group is together (including upon arrival at the airport!)—please do not assume that everyone on the trip is great at names, so let’s make it easy to mix and mingle!

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of your return flight into the USA. Please be sure to confirm your passport’s validity as soon as possible.

A visa is not required for US Passport holders.

If you are traveling with minors, please keep in mind that the Turkish government requires that anyone traveling with underage children provide a notarized note from any parent that is not also traveling with them.

Bring all necessary medications and copies of their corresponding prescriptions with you. Prescription medicines should be in their original containers. If you wear prescription glasses, bring an extra pair with you. A fanny pack around your waist is recommended to hold your camera, extra film, water, small bills, and change. Passports and most money should be carried in a more secure way, such as in a money belt that fits under the waistband or under a shirt.

Remember to pack all your valuables in your carry-on bag instead of in your checked luggage: money, medicines, cameras, etc. As you will be flying on some small Turkish-run air carriers, know that they will charge for luggage and be prepared. Pack light and travel with just a carry-on if you’re able!

We will stay in two hotels for two nights if you need to do laundry, otherwise we will stay in most hotels for only one night. Bring light laundry soap if you need to rinse things out. Remember, it’s better to pack light and take advantage of a laundry service than to bring extra clothing and must pay for checked luggage! You could invest in those types of articles for this trip.

There is no reason to bring a hair dryer, all our hotels supply them in each room. DO bring a voltage transformer and type F for Turkey if you are taking a camera, phone or electronic equipment that requires recharging. Kits are readily available at Target®, Walmart®, in luggage stores or online at Amazon®. Bring an extra plug if you can—you would not be the first to accidentally leave one in the wall! Additionally, sometimes the wall socket is recessed, so even if your voltage transformer has the type F or C prongs, bringing a separate adaptor can give you the needed extension.

Turkey is 7 hours ahead of Eastern time, 10 hours ahead of Pacific time and 2 hours ahead of GMT.

At the time of writing, no inoculations are required for U.S. residents for this tour. Please know that governmental health requirements can change on a whim, and there may be precautionary recommendations for you to consider. It will be very important to stay hydrated. Our buses will normally offer bottled water. Otherwise, it is normal for you to have to soft drinks at each meal during the tour. Normally, all water and such is always included, but if you are charged, please pay it as we are receiving services from many different restaurants.

If you travel with a C-Pap machine, distilled water can be obtained at a store locally in Turkey, we may have to send a driver for it, but it is usually quite economical. You can also bring a couple small bottles of your own in case of an emergency.

Take twice the number of camera memory cards that you think that you’ll need— there’s a lot to photograph! Check with your local camera store before traveling for any filters that you may need. Take photos wisely, and if taking pictures of local people, it is best to first establish some type of relationship with them – even a smile – and then request permission.

Please be mindful that you will be visiting some early 2nd century Syriac churches and 3rd century churches in Cappadocia, which may have limitations on using flash while inside to protect the ancient colors.
We utilize What’sApp to share photos of each other and great photos during the trip, once you receive a photo on What’sApp and you look at the image, it is permanently saved on your phone. Makes it a great way to share photos!

Leave expensive watches and jewelry at home. As a rule, if you cannot replace it, don’t take it. Turkey has a VERY low crime rate, but see that your money, passport, credit cards, etc., are difficult for others to access—keep these items inside a money belt under your waistband/around your neck, out of sight, and carried in front. Fanny packs are handy, but are also easily stolen, so keep valuables and cash elsewhere.

If you need to stay in contact with anyone back home, contact your cell phone provider before you leave to see what they offer you from Turkey. Most cell phones will work if you arrange this in advance. Your email, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger can be used to talk to friends and family via free WIFI when there is a connection available. Each hotel has its own wireless access program.

In order to keep in touch with the group, we will create a group chat on the WhatsApp phone application. It’s helpful to download this ahead of time and get added to the group early, in case you have any travel delays. Please be sure that Living Passages has the cell phone number you will be carrying on the trip so we can invite you to the group. If you’ve never downloaded or used WhatsApp, and need assistance, we will help you do so at the start of the trip.

Wherever you go, you’ll find fascinating items that you may want to take home! For large items like rugs, vendors are happy to ship them internationally to spare you the struggle of traveling with them. A rug demonstration is a standard in the middle east. The bus driver and guide receive a small amount of compensation when shoppers make a purchase at one of their presentations, but you have a very strong company to stand behind the quality of your purchases because of this relationship. We have had some amazing stories where customers are always taken care of. Their hope is that you will love the presentation, and should you see a museum-quality carpet or piece of pottery – that you might love it in your own home or to give as a gift.

If you plan to do much shopping, we recommend you keep your luggage restrictions in mind, so you aren’t surprised by any baggage fees when it comes time to leave!

Tipping is customary in Turkey. We have prepaid a minimum gratuity wherever possible. As stated in your registration, tips to your guides and drivers on all the tours on your trip have been included as the equivalent to a minimum expected tip. Though they have been given a minimum, if you enjoyed your guide or driver, an extra Lira would be a huge blessing to them! The guides and drivers would also take dollars, it is the smaller vendors who live remotely who would need to receive Lira.

They will hear all our discussions about The Lord, see our Bibles, and they will be watching our behavior... what a great testimony generosity can be! Housekeeping is also always overlooked financially with tipping, and it would really be a blessing for them to know how generous Christians are. Seeds of the gospel are planted and watered on trips like these, so let us do it well!

Begin to pray now for your travel companions, your driver, guides, and hosts, your housekeepers, the shop owners, and all those God brings to your mind.

Pray for God’s blessing on our trip.

Pray that God will use your investment to His glory.

Pray for a Christ-centered response to each day and every situation.

Thank God for the blessing and privilege of being His hands and feet!