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Do I need a visa to visit Turkey?

Canadian and U.S. citizens must have a visa to enter Turkey. This visa can be obtained upon entry into Turkey (at the airport) or in prior to departure from one of the five Turkish Consulates in the United States for US citizens, or from Turkish Embassy in Ottawa, Canada for Canadian citizens.

Passengers in transit through Turkey who do not leave their port of transit do not require visas.

Can arrangements be made to visit more than one country after Turkey?

We can arrange combination tours to Israel, Greece, Jordan, Italy and other countries in conjunction with a tour in Turkey.

What are the best times to visit Turkey?

Usually spring (April, May, June also July) and fall (Sep, Oct, Nov) are the best times weather-wise. However, the Western region enjoys sunny weather and pleasant temperatures most of the year.

Can arrangements be made for airline tickets?

Turkish Airlines is the only airline company that flies directly from Canada to Turkey-Istanbul. We, as Stellar Travel on the other hand, are the only GSA (General Sales Agent) of Turkish Airlines in Canada therefore we can arrange the most economical international direct flights and domestic airline tickets for you. Once you reach Istanbul, we have connecting flights to 153 different destinations, which pretty much covers every major city in the world.

Is it safe to visit Turkey?

Turkey is one of the safest countries to visit in the world, especially for tourists.  In Turkey you will get a feeling that all visitors are regarded as special guests and are treated like royalty- so called “the Turkish Hospitality”. Crime is very low in Turkey in comparison to many European countries.

What are the most popular travel destinations in Turkey?

From the perfect beaches and ancient ruins of its coast to the pulse of its cosmopolitan cities, Turkey is a study in contrasts. Visitors can lose themselves in the magic of a historic palace before enjoying a world-class meal, or swim amidst Roman ruins before continuing their journey in the comfort of a state-of-the-art yacht.

Whatever you fancy, there are countless things to see and do in Turkey. Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, serves as the gateway for most travelers. Istanbul is the only city in the world that sits on two continents and it offers an abundance of fascinating attractions for visitors. Some of Istanbul’s most popular sites include the Bosphorus Strait, the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, the Kariye Museum, the Underground Cistern, Galata Tower, the Tower of Leander, the Princes’ Islands and the Grand Bazaar.

From Canakkale Bogazi, also known as the Dardanelles, to the fairytale Crusader castle and sunny beaches of Bodrum, the Aegean shores of Turkey are among the loveliest landscapes in Turkey. The highlights of an Aegean tour are Troy, the site of the legendary Trojan War and its wooden horse; ancient Pergamon, once a great center of culture and now one of Turkey’s finest archeological sites; Ephesus, the capital of Roman Asia Minor, dedicated to the goddess Artemis whose temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; Aphrodisias, the center of the greatest school of sculpture in antiquity; Pamukkale, a unique fairyland of dazzlingly white calcified castles; and Bodrum, a charming coastal town with a long, palm-lined waterfront and beautiful beaches.

Antalya province on the Mediterranean coast is Turkey’s principal holiday region. It is a paradise for sunbathing, swimming and sports. Best of all, Antalya serves as a convenient hub for nearby archeological attractions. Ancient theatres can be found in a remarkable state of preservation at Aspendos and Perge and visitors can tour the sunken city of Simena in Kekova. Remains of ancient Lycian cities such as Patara, Letoon, Xanthos, Myra and Apollonia are also within easy traveling distance. These are among the most fascinating sites on the Anatolian Peninsula.

Cappadocia in Central Anatolia is one of the most fantastic landscapes in the world and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Turkey. The area’s early Christian inhabitants utilized its remarkable rock formations to create more than 220 churches and numerous underground cities in which they took refuge from their persecutors.

Other popular destinations include Safranbolu in the Black Sea Region, an open-air museum of traditional Turkish houses; Mount Nemrut in southeastern Turkey, where enormous stone statues of deities commemorate the first century BC Commagene Kingdom. Konya in Central Anatolia was home to the great Islamic philosopher Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi who in the 13th century founded the Mevlevi Order known as the Whirling Dervishes. Each year in early December, the white-robed Mevlevi commemorate the death of Mevlana with their trance-like turning dance or sema - an amazing sight to behold.

Do you have any incentives for tour leaders so they can receive some benefits for organizing tours?

Stellar Travel offers tour leaders special benefits for organizing and leading tours based on the group size and other factors. For more information on this please contact us.

Do you arrange conferences for organizations in Turkey?

We also specialize in conference logistics for groups ranging in size from ten to over a thousand.  For more information please contact us.

Are prices guaranteed?

We, as Stellar Travel, guarantee that no increase in land costs will occur, once you have paid the deposit for your tour. This is your protection against international currency fluctuations. Also when you have paid for your international and/or domestic flights in full with Turkish Airlines, there will be no change in the cost of the ticket, even if airfares rise later.

What is the average age of the group?

There is no age limitation in our groups. People can join to our tours from every parts of the world and from every age; unless you have a pre-planned, closed group you wanted us to arrange for a specific tour in Turkey.

Are any vaccinations required for tourists entering Turkey?

There are no vaccination requirements for any international traveler when visiting Turkey.

The World Health Organization web site http://www.who.int/en/ provides vaccination certificate requirements by country, geographic distributions of potential health hazards to travelers and information on health risks and their avoidance.

What to buy in Turkey and where to buy it?

Shopping is one of the great pleasures of a trip to Turkey and the rich variety of Turkish crafts makes it impossible to resist buying something. Fine apparel of silk, cotton, leather and wool; artful jewellery; leather accessories; brilliant faience (coloured tiles); vessels of copper, brass, marble, meerschaum and alabaster worked by master artisans; and of course heirloom-quality Turkish carpets and kilims, are among the most popular purchases. Great value and an enjoyable shopping experience can be found everywhere, from small towns to big cities. Visit www.turizm.gov.tr to discover shopping opportunities in each province.