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Welcome to the group tour page for the retreat|recreate
TÜRKIYE TEXTILES & HANDCRAFTS TOUR
31 AUGUST – 15 SEPTEMBER 2026
Your tour page comprises the following documents:
- Itinerary
- Trip Notes – updated 30 April 2026
- To Do List
- Travel Details Form – updated June 2026
- Suggested Packing List – uploaded 14 June 2026
- Useful Information – to be uploaded closer to departure
- Booking Conditions
Our list of pre-trip reading and viewing suggestions for Türkiye is HERE
The tour is confirmed to proceed so you’re welcome to go ahead and book your flights. Please refer to the Trip Notes and To Do List for instructions.
There are a few places still available – please continue to spread the word, share our Turkiye social media posts and tell your friends, family and craft community about the trip. PLEASE only refer new enquirers to the public information pack page HERE (and NOT this private final group tour page).
OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR OR POST-TOUR EXPERIENCE – A unique opportunity to spend an afternoon in the home of a local family with an expert in the art of crochet. Enjoy an informal workshop plus home-cooked, local refreshments. We’ll work on a crocheted head-scarf (as per far left photo below) or similar item. The traditional Turkish art of Oya incorporates crochet and needlework skills – we’ll explore other Oya techniques during our itinerary on day 6 and day 10. Time: 12:30 – 3:30pm. Price: AUD 70 per person. Available on/before 30 August, or on/after 16 September. Location: Sultanahmet, Istanbul – a 5-minute walk from Şişhane metro station. Travel to the location will take approximately 15 minutes, including a train and some walking, from our starting point hotel. Indicate your interest and preferred date on the Travel Details Form. EOIs: 30 AUG: Susan, Marilyn
THINGS TO NOTE
- Our starting point hotel in Istanbul is The Haze Karaköy Hotel – Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Necatibey Cd. No:36-38, Karaköy – Beyoğlu – İstanbul. Tel: +90 1800 968 024. https://www.thehazeistanbul.com/
- Our tour begins at 1pm on 31 August with a welcome briefing meeting at the Haze Karaköy Hotel. Please be sure to arrive in plenty of time and have lunch first.
- If you wish to book additional pre-tour or post-tour accommodation at The Haze Karaköy Hotel, please indicate your request/s on the Travel Details Form and email it to retreatrecreate@gmail.com
IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS (refer also to the To Do List)
- ASAP and no later than 16 June 2026 – Complete and return your Travel Details Form. Invoices will be issued once all Travel Details Forms are received.
- 26 June 2026 – Pay your tour balance – to ensure your payment is received no later than the due date you may need to initiate your payment in advance (eg. for credit unions, international transfers etc). Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
- Apply for an e-visa (if required for your nationality) at least two weeks prior to your arrival in Turkiye at http://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ US, UK, Canadian and New Zealand passport holders are exempt. As at April 2026, Australians holding ordinary passports no longer need a visa for tourism or transit purposes if staying 90 days or less in a 180-day period. Please check the above webpage for updates until departure as eligibility and requirements and can change without notice.
- Arrange for either a global roaming cell/mobile phone package from your provider or purchase an eSIM. Refer to the Trip Notes for more information. If you purchase an Airalo e-SIM, you’re welcome to use the code SUSAN1062 to receive a small discount. If you purchase a Holafly e-SIM, you’re welcome to use the discount code HFREFYVPJ5CX4
- Upload your travel documents, eVisa and vaccination certificates to your phone. Carry them at all times during your travels. Email a copy to your next of kin.
- Notify your bank that you’ll be travelling overseas to prevent your card being cancelled the first time you use it outside your home country.
- Install WhatsApp on your phone at least 2 weeks prior to departure. We’ll create a WhatsApp chat group for this tour and will use it to provide last minute pre-tour updates and daily on-tour updates and reminders.
- At our group meeting on day 1, our tour leader will discuss the idea of running a group tipping kitty whereby everybody contributes an equal amount and our tour leader pays the tips on behalf of the group as we travel, while keeping a running record of all monies spent (except restaurant tips). The amount to budget for the tipping kitty on this trip is approximately EUR 200 (TBC).
- The group tipping kitty does not include a tip for our local tour leader. If you are happy with our local leader’s services, a tip would be welcome at the conclusion of the tour. As a guideline, we suggest an amount of USD 4-7 per person per day x 16 days (payable in TRY, USD or EUR), although you are welcome to tip more or less depending on your perception of their service.
- On day 16, the included luggage allowance on our group’s domestic flight is 1 x 25kg checked-in luggage + 1 x 8kg hand luggage (max 23 x 40 x 55cm) per person and 1 personal item (max 40 x 30 x 15cm and 4 kg). Any excess luggage fees are the responsibility of each traveller.
retreat | recreate 