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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 – updated June 2026
- Trip Notes – updated 30 April 2026
- To Do List – refer to this page for important dates and reminders until departure
- Travel Details Form – updated June 2026
- Suggested Packing List – uploaded 14 June 2026
- Useful Information – uploaded 16 June 2026
- Booking Conditions
- Map showing ATMs near The Haze Karaköy hotel
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.
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. Will be added to your invoice. Booked: 30 AUG: Susan, Marilyn
OPTIONAL SUNRISE HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT on 13 SEPTEMBER. EUR300 per person (tbc) payable direct to flight operator one day prior (credit card payments accepted). Don’t miss this opportunity to view Cappadocia’s spectacular landscape in the early morning light from a hot air balloon. An incredible way to start the day and a very memorable experience that will stay with you forever. EOIs: Jayme, Jo, Cathy, Jane, Kirsten
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.
- Our hotel’s website has a useful list of attractions, distances and map links HERE
- An ATM is conveniently located onsite at The Haze Karaköy hotel. Scroll down to the bottom of this webpage for a map of other nearby ATMs (marked with red symbols).
- 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
- Our group flight from Cappadocia on 15 September is scheduled to land at Istanbul (IST) airport at 14:30.
IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS (refer also to the To Do List)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 group tipping kitty whereby everybody contributes an equal amount and our tour leader pays the tips (for hotel reception, housekeeping, porters and restaurant staff, local guides, our driver etc) on behalf of the group as we travel, while also keeping a running record of all monies spent. The amount to budget for the tipping kitty on this trip is approximately EUR 200 (TBC on day 1).
- 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/EUR 4-7 per person per day x 16 days = USD/EUR 64-112 (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.
ITINERARY as at June 2026
TRIP NOTES as at 30 April
TO DO LIST
TRAVEL DETAILS FORM – as at June 2026
PACKING LIST as at 14 June 2026
USEFUL INFORMATION as at 16 June 2026
BOOKING CONDITIONS
ATMs near The Haze Karaköy hotel, Istanbul
retreat | recreate 