I have always loved the RS tours I took in England and Scotland, but looking at the 13 days in Turkey, I noticed how many times we are on the bus for 6 hours. I understand that Turkey is BIG (larger than Texas), but I'm wondering if those of you who have taken this tour felt that it was just too much time riding on a bus? Or maybe it didn't seem like that much because of the scenery or the stops along the route? Or maybe it felt long but worth it? I would greatly appreciate others' opinions.
Posted by
near San Francisco
6482 posts
I had to look back at my Trip Report for my notes about bus time when I took the Best of Turkey tour in 2022:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/so-you-re-going-on-the-best-of-turkey-or-best-of-istanbul-tour
Much of what I wrote there may be out of date; especially with regards to prices!
If you search for the section "Those Bus Days Seem Really Long - How Were They?" you can read my detailed comments, including a sample of timing for one of the "long bus days" which included an hour and a half at Aspendos.
My overall assessment was "I can't remember a day when I was "tired of being on the bus." Even when it's listed as a lot of hours, it's always punctuated with rest stops, lunch breaks, and often sightseeing stops."
Posted by
Seattle area
82 posts
When I took that tour, I didn't find that the time on the bus was excessive. There were regular stops for food, sightseeing, and stretching our legs. The distances covered on the bus enabled us to see vastly different aspects of Turkey. It was a great tour.
Posted by
RIchmond, BC,Canada
1154 posts
I was also concerned about the long bus rides, but in the end I didn’t really notice them. There were plenty of breaks, and I got some great souvenirs at rest stops. Our guide would often fill us in on history, also. This is a very active tour, with a lot of walking, so sometimes the bus ride is a nice break.