aby

Hi

Has anybody been there lately?
or do you know of another forum I can get updated?

i'm eager to visit this area again in april
i'm quite cakm about it (and ISIS) but my spouse needs some first hand info

wuth thanks

aby

aby

calm (not cakm)

Croesus

The UK Foreign Office advises "against all but essential travel" in the provinces bordering Syria.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey

otherchelebi

aby, your previous posts say you can do it and can probably also convince your spouse to do it with you.

Your risks will be:

1. PKK : low possibility of finding oneself in armed confrontation between PKK and security forces because the gov't in midst of peaceful solution negotiations and cannot risk anything just before June 2015 elections.

2. ISIS : So far ISIS has shown almost no terrorist activity in Turkey. Word is that Turkey has been clandestinely supporting them and has some agreements in place. However that is a situation which can change at short notice.
If I hear anything on this subject, I will be posting on my on-going thread here on Fodors.

3. The Local Security Forces : They are badly under trained and trigger happy, especially after the FG sect followers who were much better trained have been weeded out by their former partners. They are also brain washed against United State investigations in Turkish affairs in terms of CIA or NSA activity in investigating Turkish over the border relations. Their perspective is usually, "Guilty until proven innocent."

4. Syrian Refugees : More than just a nuisance in those regions. In Istanbul, they are desperately seeking help and depend on alms to survive. In the Southeastern cities, they also may mug or steal.

5. Local Kurdish, Christian,Turkish population : Quite friendly. In need of your tourism input into the local economy and aware of it. Rather politicized and may also be willing to speak out on political issues.


Some ideas :

- Use local guides at each location.
- Renting a car will be faster but do not get close to the border or further East than Midyat and HasanKeyf.
- I do not know situation re Harran.
- Urfa and Gobeklitepe are safe. Have not heard anything to the contrary.
- Gaziantep also appears OK although there have been some violent protests.
- Stay off the streets after dark in Mardin and away from crowds.
- You may want to give a miss to Diyarbakir which is politically the most vocal and active city.
- I do not know of situation on visiting Nemrut, but would advise against doing it without a guided tour.
- Definite give a miss to Karkamish.
- If you wish to go to Hatay, it seems OK but do not go further South than Saint simeon Stilit Jr.'s monastery. Samandag is a big disappointment.

- Dress conservatively.
- Have clothes suitable for warm and cold weather. We had freezing temperatures on March 30 once and then in the 70's in April at another time.

Have a look at my blog, Otherchelebistravels at blogger.com

I will try to answer if you have more detailed questions.

gertie3751

Brilliant reply by OC.

Just to add: I was there in 2013. I know things change very fast, but my experience was fantastic. I did a G Adventures trip for a week visiting all the places you and OC mention. It was one of the best trips I have ever done. At one point we were driving along the Turkish border with Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria. No problems whatever. Of the groups OC mentions, we only saw Syrian refugees and they were mainly women and children. Didn't notice a particularly heavy military presence.

In the cities we only met helpful cheerful people, had no negative experiences. We were in Kars, Van, Batman, Mardin, Diyarbakir, Urfa. Visited Hasankeyf, Harran, climbed Mount Nemrut. There were one or two other tour groups in the big sightseeing areas but not many independent travellers, certainly not foreigners.. And very few tourists in the cities.

I don't think I would have liked to do the trip independently and I'm sure it would have been a lot of hassle organising transport. Certainly couldn't have done it in the time. We had a Turkish guide with us all the time and he too was excellent. Almost no English spoken in Eastern Turkey, it is a far cry from Istanbul.

But things change fast. You are wise to keep an eye open.

trtourorganizer

Hi there,

i have just returned from the area with a small group of tourists and as always, we had great time there. no worries at all... Guided tour is recommended so you get the best of south east anatolia, harran and environs because traffic signs are poor at some areas in south east anatolia and because of ongoing renewing project in many cities like SAnliurfa, gaziantep and kahramanmaras, it may be challenging to drive around on your own.

only unfortunate thing is the beggars in the streets which are not dangerous. however, they realize you are a tourist and they can be irritating if you are wandering around alone but your guide will be able to keep them away...

have a nice trip,

aby

Thanks to all for your replies!!

<blue> Croesus </blue>
thanks for the link. I shall not get to 10km from the border & the rest I define as "essential travel" (I miss those fabulous places)
<blue> Croesus </blue>

<blue> otherchelebi </blue>
thanks for your detailed answer, advice and your tips and hints. i'll also read your blog

<blue> gertie3751 </blue>
thanks for writing your personal experience.
I agree this is one of the best trips (years ago I've agreed with a guide who guides in all continents, that eastern turkey deserves to be on the top-10 list of tours on this planet)
we would travel by ourselves, only the two of us.
transport = hired car

<blue> trtourorganizer </blue>
thanks.
<I>"traffic signs are poor"<I> true. this is part of the adventure in such an off the beaten track destination.
and in contrary to my past visits, I now have "Waze" "Maps with me" and various other maps with GPS navigation (soviet army, Bing, Google, Open Cycle etc`) on the cellular phone / tablet. most can be navigated offline, even Waze once started in the hotel using Wi-Fi..

aby