The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm on DAY ONE of your tour. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting.

Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:

1. Passport.

2. Vaccination Certificate.

3. Travel Voucher.

Cross the plains of Antatolia, travel along sections of the ancient Silk Route, explore the warren of tiny streets in Bursa and experience the must see destination of Cappadocia. Cappdocia, meaning 'White Horses' is a fascinating area full of strange rock formations, underground cities, and beautiful panoramas - perfect for sunset and a wonderful setting for our optional Turkish Folklore night, (belly dancing included!)  This tour also includes guided tours of the cities of Konya, Ankara and Bursa.  All this in less than a week!

Antalya to Cappadocia.   Today is a long travelling day as we turn inland.  However the day gives you ample opportunity to catch up on postcard writing and to watch the scenery change as we travel through the countryside and mountains. There will also be a stop in the city of Konya, home of the Whirling Dervishes.  We will see the Mervlana Museum and a 13th century monastery in order to learn more of the history of this mystical religious sect. 

After lunch there will be a visit to a Karavanserai, a resting house used on the ancient Silk Road, before we continue to Cappadocia. This is a region of unusual beauty even by Turkish standards. The combined forces of man and natural erosion have created many compelling environments with unique rock formations that give the valley a bizarre landscape.

Either today or tomorrow, your Tour Leader will organise a Turkish Folklore evening (optional - approximate cost 25 Euros), which includes an 'all you can eat and drink' Turkish meal, lots of local folk dancers, as well as a belly dancer with fantastic stomach muscles! Audience participation is encouraged and this is probably the only time in your life when having a beer belly is a distinct advantage!

Breakfast and Dinner included.

Cappadocia to Ankara.  Our next stop on this tour is Ankara, Capital city of Turkey. The afternoon will be spent visiting the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and Ataturk's Mausoleum a national memorial to the founder of the Turkish Republic, built on a grand scale. We will also visit the imposing Hisar (also known as the Ankara Kalesi).

Breakfast included.

Bursa to Istanbul.  A busy day to see the many delightful sights that Bursa has to offer - the Green Mosque, the Grand Mosque and the Green Tomb.  Bursa has a very traditional Turkish atmosphere and tourists are far fewer than in the Mediterranean resorts or in Istanbul.  Therefore it is the ideal place to sit in a street side cafe with a glass of Turkish coffee or sweet apple tea and watch the world go by.  There will be some free time for last minute shopping and lunch before we board our transport for our final journey to Istanbul. 

Our journey will take us across the Izmit Gulf by ferry, arriving in Istanbul late afternoon.

Breakfast included.

Vaccinations:

No vaccinations are compulsory in Turkey however we do advise that you are up-to-date with your tetanus and polio vaccines. You may need additional inoculations so please contact your G.P or a travel medical centre for further information.

We also recommend:

- A dental check-up prior to travelling.

- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.

That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.

You can also visit www.kumuka.com for further details.

Medical Supplies:

Your tour coach has a well-equipped medical kit that by law must remain sealed and can only be used in an emergency. We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items:

Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.

A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

Turkey, like the rest of the world, is no stranger to theft. You must exercise extreme care with wallets, cameras and other valuables especially in towns or busy tourist areas. We advise that you make copies of your passport, credit cards, airline tickets and your insurance policy and that you keep a careful note of both used and unused traveller’s cheque numbers.

At times when you are unable to store your valuables in safety deposit boxes in hotels we recommend that you carry some sort of money belt or hidden pouch for safekeeping of valuable items.

We recommend an average of US$15-20 per day. This of course depends on your own spending habits, the number of optional excursions you wish to take and the amount of additional snacks, souvenirs and drinks you wish to buy along the way. Be aware that some places are more expensive than others and your expenses will vary enormously.

· US dollars cash is more widely accepted than pounds sterling.  Euros are also increasingly accepted in Turkey.

· Carry most of your money in Traveller’s cheques - small denominations are preferable.

· It is often a good idea to have a small amount of the currency of the country you are visiting prior to arrival. This will cover you for any initial expenses at or from the airport.

· Credit cards are accepted in the larger cities. You can also get money from ATMs. Do not however depend on using your credit card as your major source of funds.

· Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

How much should I take?

·          A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards Travellers Cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Turkey is 2 hours ahead of GMT. Remember that time is not quite so valuable to the Turks and often tasks that should take five minutes can take an hour. Be patient and consider it as all part of the Turkish experience.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. It will always be clean, comfortable and of a very high standard. All accommodation is in superior tourist class hotels (3 star and above).

In Turkey tipping is a way of life and very much expected. For many tipping is a means of supplementing their wage and is a normal part of payment for goods and services. Be sure to keep small denomination notes or coins on you to avoid embarrassment. Sales and service taxes are imposed in some restaurants and bars.

Bargaining is also expected and in all souq’s and bazaars prices are inflated to accommodate such a practice. Rule of thumb is to cut the offer in half and work upwards. This can sometimes be hard work but so not let yourself be intimidated by stallholders, you can always say no and walk away.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.