Looking for small group tour to Turkey for solo traveler
 

Hello,

I'm traveling solo & would therefore rather travel with a small group instead of by myself. I'd like to go to Turkey in March for about 2 weeks and have some time in Cappadocia to hike, if possible.

Would prefer a group with mixed ages or at least older than 20's... with decent accommodation (doesn't have to be big hotels, just clean and with local character, if possible).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

I've seen this site recommended a few times, and I consulted it myself before going. I went with family, so can only commment from that perspective.

http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/

We ended up doing Turkey on our own, but originally was very serious about the OAT (Overseas Adventure Tours) there, which included a couple night by boat. I've since traveled to Vietnam with them going solo in a group of 14 and I can't speak highly enough about the experience.

Thanks. I've consulted them also and couldn't locate a tour that was in March for a solo traveler, reasonably priced (forgot to mention that part). It doesn't have to be cheap (I know you get what you pay for) but comfort level/accommodations somewhat affordable.

OAT is sold out for March. :(

You can try this group. I used them for Turkey a few years ago and the guide was great. The group size is not specifically small but in March there should not be very many people on a tour. When I went there were 19 people in my group.

Hi Adrienne,

Which group is that? There wasn't a link attached. Thanks.

Sorry!!

http://pachatours.com/

Thank you! Did you go there solo? Was there a single supplement? Were there many other solo travelers? Thanks again!

I was with a friend - you'll have to check the web site for single supplements. It's been my experience on tours that most people are either with a spouse or a friend; few people travel solo on tours. You'll also find that there are few single supplements offered on tours and this keeps down the number of singles.

This tour was all inclusive so everyone ate together and we all became friendly very quickly because of the dining arrangements and the small group plus lots of bus times since Turkey is a large country.

Run a search on google or Yahoo Australia or N Zealand. Turkey is a pilgrimage destination for Aussies and Kiwis who visit ANZAC Beach to honor the dead at Gallipoli.

adrienne, that isn't completely accurate. One of the main reasons I chose OAT for my Vietnam tour was that the price for a solo traveler was exactly the same as for one of a couple! There was NO single supplement and I had my own room with bath everywhere I went (usually a double room just like the couples had). That may be unusual in the world of tours -- but OAT offers quite a few like that.

NeoPatrick - I think we're talking about 2 different things. A single supplement is 1 person traveling by her/his self. It has nothing to do with whether or not you have to pay extra to travel solo.

Many tours do not offer a lot of availability for singles (single supplements). On your OAT tour how many single supplements were offered (whether or not there was an additional fee for the SS)?

Last year GCT (sister company to OAT) was not offering any single supplements on their Russia River cruise. That meant that if I wanted to take that cruise solo I would have to be paired up with another person to share a cabin.

Use this link (hope it works) and scroll down to the middle of the page where it states:
"Single Supplement is FREE on all 2012 departures"

http://www.gct.com/Trips/2012/Sicily-2012.aspx

I know that Rick Steves did not used to offer any single supplements - you had to share a room (I think that rules has changed/relaxed now).

You can check other tour companies but I believe you will find SS restrictions on all tours except those designed for singles/solo travel.

"few people travel solo on tours. You'll also find that there are few single supplements offered on tours and this keeps down the number of singles."

There's a translation problem here. A "single supplement" is an extra charge for solo travellers, and many tour companies offer SS on most of their products.

"You can check other tour companies but I believe you will find SS restrictions on all tours except those designed for singles/solo travel"

This is definitely not true.

<i>"A single supplement is 1 person traveling by her/his self. It has nothing to do with whether or not you have to pay extra to travel solo.</i>"

Sorry, but that's incorrect. Tour prices are usually quoted in terms of double occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you pay extra, i.e., a "single supplement".

Back in the day when I used to travel on tours, I always paid a single supplement. Sometimes it was only a few hundred dollars more, other times it was as much as 60% more than the double occupancy price. Some companies will pair up single travelers so they can avoid the single supplement, but I never took that option --didn't want to bunk with a stranger.

Look at this pricing chart for Cosmos. Immediately below it is info re single supplements. This is typically how single supplements are listed.
http://www.cosmos.com/product.aspx?c...ice&trip=25080

There are even clubs for single travelers, one of the goals of which is for singles to meet other singles to travel with to avoid the dreaded single supplement. Take a look at this one:http://www.travelbuddiesworldwide.com/

Note the second line:

<i>We provide free of charge a room-mate matching service to save you the cost of the single supplement, which can run as high as 200%.</i>

Cruises don't usually offer single occupancy prices. If you want to travel solo, you pay twice the quoted rate.

adrienne, I agree with the others. I have no idea what you mean by the two of us talking about two different things. We are both talking about a charge for a single supplement which is an extra charge for traveling solo. And OAT is just one tour company which is not designed for singles, but often offers just two places on each tour for solo travelers and charges no single supplement for doing so, does not require those travelers to travel or bunk with someone, and therefore allows a single to travel for the same cost as half of a couple.

“It's been my experience on tours that most people are either with a spouse or a friend; few people travel solo on tours.”

Roxanne, I have enjoyed many tours “flying solo” in Europe. The last one I took – Globus to Cornwall and Devon – was large and included four men and six women traveling alone including "moi." My hunch is that you will feel very comfortable on any excursion going “solo.” Personally, I gladly pay the “single supplement” and would never consider sharing a room with a stranger to save costs.

Go and enjoy!

Check www.intrepidtravel.com. They have a pretty good reputation. I did their Italy tour 5 years ago and had a great time.

I've never been on their Turkey tour so can't comment on its quality, but my first 2 overseas trips were solo with Rick Steves tours. Both had a mix of ages. One tour had many solo travelers, while on the second one I was the only solo person. RS is pricy, but I would recommend them to anyone who wants a tour and doesn't mind getting up early every day.

I have traveled solo with a tour group a few times for just the reasons you mention. I can recommend gadventures (gadventures.com), formerly gapadventures, as a great company with small group tours that don't charge extra for solo travelers unless you choose the "my own room" option. I have used them several times. There have been at least 3-5 solo travelers in each group I have been in, and the groups have all been friendly and inclusive. I have just signed up for a tour of Turkey with them in May, but expect it to be the same high quality as my other experiences with them.

<< We are both talking about a charge for a single supplement which is an extra charge for traveling solo >>

That is not what I'm talking about. I am calling a single supplement a person traveling w/o a companion regardless of any additional charges such as on the site I linked.

SS = person traveling solo

Let's just forget this. I was trying to be helpful and explain to the OP that there are usually few spaces for singles on tours but apparently quite a few people disagree with me.

adrienne, Why is this so confusing? Have you ever seen a "single supplement" that doesn't include a charge? If there is no additional charge, then I can't imagine them calling it single supplement. Supplement MEANS charge or fee, doesn't it? By the very definition -- if there is no charge for traveling without a companion, there there is NO single supplement. If there IS a single supplement, then there IS a charge.


When OAT lets a person travel w/o a companion, then there usually is NO single supplement. When they charge extra for a person to travel w/o a companion then there IS a single supplement. Exactly what we are both talking about. What am I missing here? Or what are you missing here?

And I don't see where "quite a few people disagree with" you regarding the fact that there are few spaces for singles on tours -- in fact that seems to be what everyone (myself included) is agreeing with.

adrienne,
You have not traveled solo on tour, so you don't know the definition of single supplement. You incorrectly thought it referred to a person traveling solo. It doesn't. It refers to the <i>extra charge</i> that a person traveling solo incurs because most tour rates are based on double occupancy.

Instead of copping an attitude, just admit that you were mistaken about the definition.

And it's not true that there are few spaces for singles on tours. I have been on over a dozen tours solo with 7 different companies. Tours don't care whether you travel solo <i>as long as you pay the single supplement</i>, which can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to twice the double occupancy rate.

Odysseys Unlimited offers small group tours that are limited to 12-24 participants. Their first tour for 2012 doesn't leave until April 8, though. I don't see any tours for March. Single supplement is $995.
http://www.odysseys-unlimited.com/to...gendary-turkey

Several years ago I took a Cosmos tour of Turkey. It's not a small group tour, though. There were about 5 or 6 of us singles as I recall. Most people were mid-40s to late 60s, plus 2 college students traveling with their parents. The tour included a lot of driving, but I didn't mind.

They currently have availability in March. Single supplement is $380, but they will match single travelers in twin-bedded rooms on request if you don't want to pay the single supplement.
http://www.cosmos.com/product.aspx?c...iew&trip=26720

Globus, their more upscale arm, also has tours to Greece. IME Globus tourists tend to be older than Cosmos, probably because of the higher cost. Their 14-day Turkish Delight tour is sold out for March; first availability isn't until April 6. Single supplement is $480.
http://www.globusjourneys.com/Vacati...key/?year=2012

Thank you all for your replies!

And Adrienne, I appreciate your trying to help, but yes, everyone else is correct in their explanation of a 'single supplement', you simply misunderstood. I'm still at a loss though on finding an appropriate trip! :( I was hoping to avoid the Gap/Intrepid, etc type of tours because I read a lot of complaints regarding poor quality accommodation standards (even when paying extra for comfort level), young age ranges, bad guides, long drives, etc... So, I'm still looking! :)

I'm willing to pay a little more for a better trip but trips either seem to be of this standard or uber expensive...

Well, thanks again, everyone, appreciate your input!

I would also love some time for hiking, etc. without spending all our time driving... Well, that's it for now... :)

Roxanne,
One option would be for you to take one of the lower priced coach tours, but break away from the group in Cappadocia and go hiking. For example, if they stay in Cappodocia more than one night they will probably offer an "optional tour" for an additional cost. Skip this and do your own thing.

When I traveled with tours, I always broke away and explored on my own. I also used to fly in early before the tour began and/or stay for up to a week after the tour ended to hang out on my own. In fact, I did this so often that I finally decided to skip tours altogether and just do the whole thing independently.

Small groups tend to be pricier because they don't have the economies of scale. For example, here's a tour to Turkey with Eldertreks, which offers small group travel for people 50+. It includes hiking in Cappadocia, but it's pricey: $5995 plus $1020 for single supplement: http://www.eldertreks.com/tour/detai...ary/ETTD000050

I hope you find what you want. Good luck to you!

Hi Roxanne, saw your post and thought I'd give you a recommendation for a tour company I have used. I do not know if Kagan has any group tours organized for the time you want to go but it is certainly worth an email to him. I booked Kagan in '07 for our 2-day overnight cruise stop in Istanbul and another day Ephesus. We had a private group of 15 people. I had decided upon Kagan after much searching of the tour guides in Turkey. He fit all the criteria I was looking for. He organized a wonderful tour of Istanbul for us (our ship did an overnight) so we were able to see most of the attractions. Kagan took care of everything for us, admission tickets, etc. We truly had a wonderful 2 day tour in Istanbul. He also met us at Ephesus and we spent another day w/ Kagan. He is truly a wonderful tour guide, very knowledgeable, speaks excellent English and you will love touring w/ him. Need I say more?

Here is his website: http://www.privatetoursinturkey.com/index.html
E-mail address:

[email protected]
[email protected]

As I said, I don't know if he has anything going in March but at least email him to see. His prices are reasonable also. Good luck.

Thanks to all for the great leads on possible tour companies. I'm searching for a small group that is predominantly solo folks. I'm a woman, middle age, and very active so I prefer to find a small group tour in the general vicinity of my age range. I'm looking for a 2 week tour in late Spring or early to mid Summer. Going to check out all your good suggestions for tour groups.

Thank you!

@ cas58: I trust you realize that there is no reason to join a tour unless that is your preference. Also, given that conditions in Turkey have changed since this thread was begun, you might want to start a new thread. Just an idea....

I just checked ricksteves.com, the company I used for a tour of Turkey back in the 90. They have suspended their Turkey tours for 2017. I would certainly not make a decision on whether to visit until after the referendum and whatever aftermath ensues.

Rick Steves has reinststed his tours to Turkey for 2018 so you may want to look at one on his websire.

Roxanne, I have travelled once with Sights and Soul in the US http://sightsandsoul.com/ and Explore, out of the UKA https://www.explore.co.uk/ . They were very different experiences but I enjoyed both and they are small group tours. I am also considering Peregrine https://www.peregrineadventures.com/en-ca this spring, even fewer people. All offer single supplements. I haven't checked their schedules to see if they offer Turkey in the spring but throw them into the mix...

BowenLinda: >>Roxanne, I have travelled once with Sights and Soul in the US<<

I seriously doubt Roxanne is looking for advice . . . she posted SIX years ago . . .

Missed that, Janis, good lord.