Turkey Packing Guidelines

LUGGAGE

NO MORE THAN ONE CHECKED SIZED BAG PER PERSON.

  • Most hotels offer valet service, but there will be times you must carry your own luggage while traveling, and all group luggage must also fit under the bus. For these reasons we ask that you do not bring more than a maximum of one checked sized bag per person.

  • Sharing one checked size between couples is recommended. Less is more when traveling/organizing at each stop. Traveling carryon and personal item only may also be preferred for some.

  • We will provide a brightly colored TTT luggage tag with your trip materials for easy group ID at the airport and hotels during the trip.

  • NOTE: For those checking luggage, make sure to pack at least one change of clothes and all essential medications and toiletries in your carry-on as checked bags risk loss or delay.

personal item (Bus Bag/Site Bag)

  • Bring a backpack or tote bag to carry necessary items on the bus from your hotel each day; this “bus bag” is recommended for storing necessities that you may want available during the day, but not necessarily while hiking around each site. Such necessities may include medications, extra snacks, extra pens & highlighters, money, change of socks/shoes, jacket, rain gear, battery pack chargers, etc. Crossbody bags are recommended for added security.

  • Site Bag: Additionally, you may want a smaller daypack suitable to use as your “on site” bag. Items you may carry to most sites include your passport/money, TTT Study Guide, Bible, pen/highlighter, water, snack, hat, and possibly jacket, seat cushion, and hiking poles which can be attached by carabiner, etc.

CLOTHING/TOILETRIES

As with travel anywhere, weather can be unpredictable as we navigate a diverse lands from mountains to coast. Be prepared for cooler mornings/evenings and for unseasonably heat waves. Layers are recommended, as are lightweight, moisture wicking sun protective clothes. Dry season in Türkiye is from April to October, so rain shouldn’t play a big factor early in the season, but pack a rain jacket just in case. No fancy dinner clothes are necessary; older clothes or travel specific quick dry items that you can handwash and hang dry overnight as needed are ideal.

SPECIFIC CLOTHING ITEMS TO PACK

  • Wide-brimmed hat: REQUIRED wear for sun protection each day. A must have; we will all look cool together.

  • Shirts: We recommend a few comfortable base layer t-shirts (crew neck), that can layer with 2-3 sun protective long-sleeve shirt options. Moisture wicking, lightweight button up or crew neck shirts that offer sun protection and modesty are ideal.

  • Pants: 3-4 comfortable, quick dry (for wash and hang dry), perhaps hiking specific (but not required) pants are recommended. No leggings; when in doubt, pack looser fit options; religious sites will use their own discretion on what they deem acceptable or not. Shorts are possible for some days, but lightweight pants that offer increased sun protection and meet modesty dress codes at the many religious sites we visit are recommended.

  • Walking/Water Shoes: We recommend having two good walking shoe options on the trip to rotate. Good lace up hiking or trail running shoes (Oboz, Merrells, etc.; any shoe offering good support and traction). If purchasing new shoes for the trip, take them on several good walks to BREAK THEM IN WELL ahead of the trip.

  • Socks/Underwear: Hiking or running specific socks made from nylon or merino wool are recommended (cotton socks are more likely to cause blisters and take longer to dry after handwashing).

  • Swimsuit: Swimming opportunities at the hotels and Pammukale hot springs, and perhaps the sea. Some hotels may require swimming caps, but usually sell them for a few dollars, or bring your own.

  • Light Jacket and/or sweater for cooler days (especially evenings and mornings) and plane ride is recommended. Evenings may get cool in some areas.

  • Scarf to use as head covering for women when needed (or can purchase in Istanbul during first free day - plenty around).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

  • PASSPORT: With expiration date at least 6 months after your date of departure from Türkiye.

  • Passport Color Copies: submit a color copy with your registration. Keep two additional copies, one in your checked luggage, and another elsewhere, separate from your passport in case of loss/theft.

  • Alternative Picture I.D. (i.e. Driver's License)

  • Emergency Medical Information: Keep a document listing any known medical conditions, allergies (food, medicine, etc.), medicines, immunizations, insurance, etc. with your passport in case of emergency. If you have any existing medical concerns, please confirm with your doctor that you are clear to travel and provide a copy of your medical documents to your group leader.

MONEY

  • Debit/Credit Cards: ATM’s are available many places. Credit/debit cards are widely accepted. Be familiary with your cards foreign transaction fees.

  • Cash: ATMs are available, and provide local currency, and dollars will likely be accepted many places. Bring a variety of new, untorn bills for this option. credit card works almost everywhere as well. Cash only is often limited to street vendor shopping.

NOTE: Notify your credit/debit card companies of your travel dates and that you will be in Türkiye so that a security hold will not block your credit or debit cards when you arrive. Do not bring Traveler’s Checks.

STUDY MATERIALS

  • Bible (small travel Bible, or Bible app on personal device is recommended; large study versions get heavy when hiking.)

  • Travel the Text Turkey Study Guide (provided by TTT)

  • Journal/Notebook

  • Pens/Pencils/Highlighters

WATER & MUNCHIES

Breakfast and dinner are provided buffet-style at your hotels. Lunch is included and will be served at restaurants along our travel route, with some menu options provided (especially vegetarian/not). NOTE: Those with food allergies or sensitivities should always travel with supplemental snacks in case a suitable option for you isn’t available.

  • Hydration daypacks (i.e. CamelBak, etc.) with water bladders or refillable water bottles are recommended. We provide large bottles of water to refill your more portable containers.

  • Electrolyte supplements, such as Liquid I.V. or Ultima, in powder or tablet forms to easily add to your water as needed.

  • Snacks: pack your favorite protein/granola bars, and low-sugar snack foods to ensure you stay energized on hikes and walks between meals (protein bars, trail mix, dried fruit, jerky, crackers, etc.). Several familiar snacks can also be found at convenience stops along the trip, but especially for those who need to decipher ingredient labels for food allergies or preferences, make sure to pack some from home.

OTHER

  • Sunglasses: durable sunglasses (and a spare)

  • Sunscreen and chapstick with high SPF (not aerosol per airplane regulations)

  • Medications & First Aid: Any prescription medications, inhalers for asthma, etc. We recommend you bring a mask to protect fellow group members if you begin to feel unwell. A first aid kit will travel with us, but a personal supply of preferred pain relievers, bandages, cough drops, cold/flu, stomach medications, instant cold packs, etc. Moleskin and Bodyglide if prone to blisters or chaffing.

  • Motion-Sickness Prevention: We will travel many windy, hilly roads. Even if you’ve never been motion sick, be prepared. We recommend Sea-Band bracelets, peppermint oil, hard ginger candies (gin-gins) for natural options and/or Bonine, non-drowsy Dramamine, etc. Lots of mountain roads and long hours in the bus.

  • Hand Sanitizer/Wet Wipes: You’ll want to “wash” your hands often when traveling.

  • Laundry soap: Travel detergents, or even a simple bar of soap works well for washing clothes in the sink; hotels will provide laundry service, per piece. Tide pens or shout wipes are also useful.

  • Digital or Phone Camera: Extra memory cards, external charging batteries, and charging cords.

  • Cell Phones: Many will bring cell phones, which can double as alarm clocks. Please check with your provider for international rates and plans before travel. Clear space ahead of time and know how to back up your photos during the trip if possible.

  • Portable Battery Pack: having an extra external battery pack to recharge your phone (camera) during the day is a great resource.

  • Travel Alarm Clock if your cell phone will not work for this. Hotel wake up calls are always set but not always reliable.

  • Travel toilet tissue/wet wipes: Restrooms are not always stocked; best to be prepared.

  • Adapters/Converters: multiport electric adapters are recommended, noted for Türkiye/EU.

  • Cushion to sit on (optional, but rocks do get hard). Garden/bleacher pads are great.

  • Small flashlight with new batteries

  • Washcloths are not often provided in European style hotels such as in Türkiye; hair dryers will be available.

  • Reusable Zip Snack Bags for repacking snacks, extra lunch, or other items during trip.

  • Sleep Aids: Many find that using a sleep aid that includes melatonin helps their sleep cycles get on track quickly. Bring your favorite, or for a couple recommendations, Olly sells a low dose melatonin gummy that’s easily found in most Walmart/Target type stores. Luna sells one on Amazon that features less melatonin (and a kids version that’s lower dose, and a version with none) using other natural herbs for those sensitive to Melatonin.

  • Sound Machine/ear plugs & sleep aids: Some hotels may have outside noise, so we recommend small travel sound machines for white noise, and/or ear plugs if you don’t want to wake up for every call to prayer. These can be loud, especially if your rooms window is oriented closer to one for the first (early) call to prayer chanted over a loud speaker.

  • Compression Socks: Many recommend these to help with circulation on the plane - no swollen ankles.

DO NOT BRING

  • Graphic, patriotic, military, camouflage, or religious clothing: We are guests in this land and here to learn. We will visit many diverse places and peoples each day and our love and respect, not our clothing or insignia, define us. There will be many religious sites and secure areas we visit that do not allow clothing or hats with writing, insignia, flags, military or political reference, etc. of any kind. Leave these at home.

  • Expensive/flashy jewelry: Wedding bands are understandable, but the less you bring the better. Jewelry and other small valuables risk loss, being forgotten in hotel safes, falling out of backpacks, etc. Keep nostalgic/high value items at home.

  • Weapons of any kind are forbidden. This includes pocket-knives, pepper spray, etc. We will go through metal detectors often, sometimes without notice. Security may thank you for the souvenir, but you aren’t likely to get it back…and you may be detained.

  • Modesty is required in this culture, especially in the many religious sites we visit, and local standards are often more conservative than those in the USA. Religious sites, which we will visit almost every day, do not allow the following: sleeveless shirts, tank tops, tight-fitting shirts, leggings, low-cut collars (even v-necks depending on depth), shorts, headcoverings (scarf) for women. Some sites allow capris/ankles to show, but not all. Head coverings will be provided if required (men or women depending on site) but your hat will be acceptable and is recommended. Skirts are not required for women at any site; pants are fine but for the most conservative (we will advise ahead of time) they must go to ankles. There will be 1 or 2 days, or certain sites each day when shorts or sleeveless, etc. may be acceptable. To be safe, plan to always have a pair of long pants and a jacket or long sleeve button up shirt you can keep in your bus bag just in case.