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.
