Should I take my waterproof hiking boots? Can I leave them on the bus during the day if they're not needed for the day's events (rain or places where I need more ankle support.)
For that matter, will I need more ankle support during this tour, and if so, where?
Thanks!
You can always leave belongings on the bus for the day's events. You always want to take them off at the end of the day; and always when transitioning from one location to the next. I've never taken this specific tour, (have taken 3 RS tours) but I always take a backpack with things I think I'll need for the day; and pull things out as needed. Sometimes the jacket or umbrella you bring isn't necessary, so I leave it on the bus while we do whatever it is we are going to do. Same with hiking boots.
Although I haven't taken the RS tour of Turkey, I have been to Turkey 6 times, and I think I have been to pretty much every place on the RS itinerary.
Unless you have trouble with weak ankles, I wouldn't worry with hiking boots. I have never taken anything heavier than Merrell Jungle Mocs. There have been a few occasions -- hiking into the Taurus mountains from Aga Limani or hiking portions of Termessos -- where I would have appreciated some light hiking boots. However, neither of those places is on the RS tour.
You generally don't need hiking boots for the ancient sites -- Aspendos, Aphrodisias, Ephesus, Hierapolis, and such. If you hike the travertines at Pamukkale, you have to do it barefoot --- no shoes or socks are allowed. I am not sure how much hiking is involved in the Cappadocia part of the tour. I have only been to Goreme National Park and one of the underground cities in Cappadocia, and hiking boots aren't necessary for either place.
Not knowing your personal foot situation, there were few places on the tour that I could envision using hiking boots. Potentially in Cappadocia when we did some walking around Göreme and going through the underground city Kaymaklı, or if you did some on your own hiking in Antalya. But even at the historic sites, the paths were not rough terrain (like hiking in the woods rough) and it was mostly stairs.
IMHO packing hiking boots would take up valuable luggage space - a solid pair of waterproof trail runners or walking shoes with good tread would be my choice instead. But I cannot recall when you are taking this tour, but I'd check the historical weather patterns for the time of year you're going to see if you'll even need waterproof shoes. And of course you can leave your boots on the bus if you take them and decide not to wear.
Teresa, I did a 13 day "Journeys of Paul" to greece and turkey last October. It was not described as being really physical, however.....
Schlepping from one end of the istanbul airport to the other as we arrived from Chicago and grabbed a local plane to Athens was a brutal 3 mile walk, brisky, w luggage. and then the acropolis was that afternoon. I ended that day with inflamed plantar fasicitus in both feet that I was then babying along for the next 12 days, each of which involved seeing archeological sites. I thought I had chosen well, a pair of Nikes and a pair of lug soled step in lands end shoes, but neither were up to the task. Most of those historical sites have cobblestone rubbed as slick as glass by centuries of the faithful and the curious. I don't know if waterproof is important, but oh my golly, hiking boots might have saved me. (I did use one hiking pole each day, but that did not save my arches) a few folk in my group had light hiking boots they changed into
Cappadocia was one of the places i had to drop out, yes, some of those places have stairs... up the mountain, with no hand rail or sense of anything that would stop you from tumbling off the side. I was greatful for hiking pole
I just got back from the Turkey tour. (April 7-19). I wore a pair of waterproof trail runners and they were fine. One person on the tour had lightweight hiking boots but most of the women did not. We had rain and fairly cool weather in Istanbul. (The two days prior were sunny and warm until the wind changed). We had minimal rain otherwise, though we had snow on the way to Ankara and in Cappadocia. The balloon ride was beautiful but cold.
I would recommend shoes that grip—like trail runners as the ancient ruins (and some of the current streets can be slick. I brought a pair of Allbirds along as they repel water but the sole is smooth and I usually chose the other shoes.
Closing the loop in case this helps others.
I took one pair of very lightweight walking shoes and my lightweight waterproof hiking boots. I wore my hiking boots on the planes so they didn't take up luggage space. The combination worked great for me. I was glad to have my hiking boots when I needed warmth (along with SmartWool socks), and when we walked around in the rain. I was also glad to have the ankle support and grip on visits to the ancient sites. I changed shoes on the bus in between activities.
Having said that, other people were fine in athletic shoes.
