I would like to know what single tour travelers go after they go on the 7 Day Istanbul tour. I have two weeks to go on vacation and would really like to go on the 7 day Istanbul tour. But I don't want to just go for one week and come home. Too long flight and too much money for just one week. Where and what do single travlers go and do before or after the 7 day tour? Do they join other Turkey tours given by other tour companies other than Rick Steves?
If so, what other tour companies would offer a short tour of other cities of Turkey for no more than 7 days. To make it a two week trip. Do they take another Rick Steves tour? Do they just tour Turkey on their own? I really don't want to tour Turkey on my own. I rather join a tour. Thank you. Ann
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2788 posts
Have you considered taking the RS 13 day Turkey Tour instead? We took that one last year and then returned to Istanbul for another 5 days for a total of 9 days in Istanbul and still did not see everything.
Posted by
Arlington, TX, USA
281 posts
I took the RS Istanbul tour last year. One couple on our tour took the 13 day tour in conjunction with the Istanbul tour. Our tour ended on Saturday and their tour started on Monday. Another suggestion: After our tour we could not return home due to the ash from the volcano in Iceland. We booked a two day tour to Cappadocia and thoroughly enjoyed it. We booked it through the tour company RS uses in Turkey. The information is listed in the guide book. I think you could do the same trip on your own or use a different company and get the same tour at a better price. There were 6 of us on the extension and it was around $500 for airfare, transfers, guide who traveled with us, driver with transportation, all meals and one night lodging. Another destination to consider is Ephesus. If you go to Cappadocia, do the balloon ride over the
fairy chimneys!
Posted by
Redlands, Ca, USA
358 posts
I would take the best of Turkey 13 day tour which spends 3 days in Istanbul covering almost the same sites as the 7 day tour of Istanbul. This past oct while taking the 7 day tour of Istanbul we ran into the 13 day tour at the Chora church. I heard instead of doing the overnight train to Ankara they are now using a bus according to our guide who does this tour.
The only thing you will be missing is the walk around the Walls and Golden Horn district,the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent,and the Archaeological Museum which I skipped.
Posted by
Bellevue, WA, USA
811 posts
You can either go inland to see capadocia, or down the coast to efes and pamukkale. can't combine these 2 trips though, the distance is too great. i usually go on my own but if you want to join a tour you want to pick a tour that either covers capadocia, or efes, and possibly pamukkale with efes.