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Turkey: Erdogan & The Anatolian Tigers

Backed by steady economic growth and religious conviction, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is changing the face of his country. Political analysts Ekrem Güzeldere and Piotr Zalewski examine what this means for the region.

Dates: Oct 26th - Nov 3rd

Cost: £2,500.00

Single Supplement: £250.00

Changing Turkey - A slideshow by: Lynsey Addario

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Experts

Ekrem Eddy Güzeldere

Ekrem Eddy Güzeldere works as a political analyst for the European Stability Initiative, a think tank that studies political and social change in Turkey and its relations with the EU. He is based in ESI’s...

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Piotr Zalewski

Piotr Zalewski is the Turkey correspondent for Polityka, Poland’s bestselling news magazine, and an editor at European Stability Initiative, a think tank that studies Turkish EU relations. He is also...

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Tour

Turkey is on the rise. Led by a conservative and avowedly religious leader, it is emerging as a significant power in the Mediterranean basin. But many, both in and outside Turkey, are unclear about its course.

The tour covers both Istanbul and Ankara as well as Gaziantep, town on the border with Syria. It explores recent events with academics, journalists, politicians, activists and ordinary people. The briefings and discussion will be interspersed with tours of key institutions, as well as historic sites, not to mention excellent food in some of Turkey’s best inns and restaurants.

This tour will number between 8 and 18 persons. If we do not meet the minimum number we may cancel the tour and will give you a full refund.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – To Gaziantep: This evening, there will be a welcome dinner with an introduction of the tour itinerary, with Political Tours staff and local experts who will give a summary of the region and an introduction to the tour. Stay 3 nights at a centrally located hotel (Tucan Hotel). (B, L, D)

Day 2 – Gazientep: Once known for little more than being the centre of pistachio and hazelnut cultivation in Turkey, Gaziantep has become one of the country’s key industrial and commercial centres, home to a number of cement, textile, leather, metal and machinery factories. Benefitting from cross-border trade with Syria, the local economy is booming, but it remains to be seen how this will be affected by the current plight of Syria and what Turkey’s role will be. Sightseeing in Gaziantep will include a visit to local factories, as Gazientep is now the top exporter of nuts, carpets and cement. The discussion over dinner tonight will focus on Turkey’s economic miracle; the Middle East’s rising Middle Kingdom and an introduction to Gaziantep.

Day 3 – Gazientep: Today’s itinerary includes visits to the city bazaar and fortress and a lunch meeting with local researchers to discuss the region’s economy; Turkey’s new open-door policy with its neighbours; Islamic Calvinists and Turkey as a trading state. This evening there will be a dinner with local officials and businessmen at a well known local restaurant Imam Cagdas. Learn to make Baklava where it originated! (B, L, D)

Day 4 – To Ankara: A mid-morning flight to Ankara. We travel straight from the airport to Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. This is followed by a late lunch with an expert on Turkish nationalism. After a late afternoon break we dine in the city’s fortress. The discussion topic for this evening’s dinner will be ‘Human rights in Turkey’ hosted by a representative from the human rights centre of Ankara University, and a lawyer of the Human Rights Agenda Association. Overnight at a centrally located hotel (Name –TBA). (B, L, D)

Day 5 – Ankara and To Istanbul: After a morning briefing with a local correspondent the tour will proceed to the parliament buildings for a tour with an MP from the ruling AKP party. We also meet with the republican MHP and the Kurdish BDP. Lunch in parliament (TBC). We fly to Istanbul in mid afternoon. After checking into our hotel we dine with Political Tour’s Istanbul analysts Piotr Zalewski, and Ekrem Guzeldere. (B, L, D)

Day 6 – Istanbul | Changing Turkey: an economic power, urban redevelopment and the growing income gap: After breakfast this morning we leave for Kabatas, on the Asian side of the Bosphorous, on a visit that examines the rapid social changes and economic growth that Istanbul has experienced. The tour will visit an international food conglomerate and a leading business in the area before proceeding to Umraniye where we will, meet a local family who have migrated to Istanbul from Anatolia. Lunch will be in Ciya, with a menu that offers a range of foods available across Turkey. We return by boat to the European side after lunch and join Constanze Leitsch, a migration expert stopping to visit Tarlabasi, to examine the impact of Istanbul’s rapid urbanisation on less well off groups. This evening’s dinner looks at the challenges faces Turkey’s economy as growth slows. (B, L, D)

Day 7 – Istanbul | Suits and uniforms: secularism, religion, and the conflict between the army and government: This morning’s visit will be to a local newspaper that has exposed a series of military conspiracies against the government known collectively as the Ergenekon scandal. During lunch, there will be a briefing on the Ergenekon scandal and recent military resignations with Gareth Jenkins, an expert on Ergenekon and civil-military relations. In the afternoon, there will be an excursion to a Tekbir fashion house that produces clothes for conservative Muslim clientele with Nigar Goksel, a women’s rights expert. To end the day, this evening over dinner there will be a discussion by experts regarding ‘Democracy and Islam in Turkey’. (B, L, D)

Day 8 – Istanbul: Following breakfast there will be a guided walk through Galata with visits to an Italian church, Sephardic Synagogue, Genoese administrative buildings, Jewish museum, old workplaces and fish market followed by lunch at a nearby restaurant. This afternoon, there will be the opportunity to join an optional guided walk through Istanbul including visits to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar, ending at the spice market and Yeni (New) Mosque.

This evening’s dinner will be in the Cihangir neighbourhood of the city, with the following guest speakers: Turkey analysts, a former MEP, now at Sabanci University and a professor at Bahcesehir University. They will review a changing Turkey: the rise of the AKP, Turkey as an emerging power, Anatolian Tigers and Turkey-EU relations in 2011. This evening, there will be a farewell dinner on the Bosphorus. (B, L, D)

Day 9 – Departure: to the airport. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Flights: International and domestic flights are not included in the above itinerary, we are a land tour operator and do not sell flights. However we can assist you in finding flights, and recommend using the website skyscanner.net, which lists all the options.

Departure to Istanbul. Flights back home.

Itinerary for Kurdish extension

Day 9

Flight to Diyarbakir

Tour starting in the evening, allowing for travel from Gaziantep.

Day 10 Monday

Guided walking tour with Abdullah Demirbas, Mayor of Sur: lost multiculturalism, rebuilding the old town with EU support, the Armenian Church, former Chaldean patriarchate and Ulu Mosque. Dinner with Yilmaz Akinci, an Al Jazeera correspondent: an introduction to Diyarbakir and the Kurdish issue.

Day 11 Tuesday Rural development and Rights

Field visit to a project of the Development Centre in a village near Diyarbakir. Lunch in the village, transfer back to Diyarbakir. Visit to the Diyarbakir Cultural Centre (DSM). Melike Coskun on the revival of Kurdish culture and bringing international art to Diyarbakir. Screening of Min Dit, a recent film about extrajudicial killings in the Southeast. Dinner with human rights lawyers.

Day 12 Wednesday Education, the Economy and Political Parties.

Meeting with Kurdi-der, an association campaigning for Kurdish language education. Visit to a local school, discussion with pupils, teachers and director. Lunch at the school with Kurdish journalists from Dicle News Agency and Azadiya Welat, the only Kurdish daily. Meeting with Galip Ensarioglu, president of the Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce, and Dimer, the largest marble company in Diyarbakir at Sümerpark: Diyarbakir’s economy and guided visit of the Diyarbakir Industrial Zone.

Dinner with BDP and AKP local politicians: Who represents the Kurds?

Day 13 Thursday Return to Istanbul

If you would like to book a tour please fill in the booking form, which can be obtained by clicking the Book Tour button. Or call us on 0843 289 2349 to find out more.

Essential information

How to make your booking.

You can make a booking by contacting Political Tours directly by phone on 0834 289 2349 or by filling the booking form on the Book Tour button.

To reserve a place on a tour please complete the booking form and send it to Political Tours Ltd together with your non-refundable deposit of 15% of the total holiday cost or £250 per person (whichever is the greater) made payable to Political Tours Limited.

If you are booking less than 8 weeks prior to departure the full cost of the tour is payable.

If you would like to contact Political Tours’ Director, Nicholas Wood, he can be reached by email at nicholaswood@politicaltours.com or by mobile phone on +44 7855 266 151.

What is included in the tour.

The price includes accommodation in 4-5 star hotels in Istanbul and Ankara as well as all meals during the visit. All the accommodation includes private bathrooms.

Please be aware that Political Tours is a land only tour operator. Our clients travel from many countries and the costs of flights to and from the destination are not included in the price.

How to reach the destination.

There are regular daily flights between the two airports in Istanbul, Atatürk and Sabiha Gökcen, to most British airports, including London (Heathrow, Gatwick Stansted and Luton) Birmingham, Manchester as well several major international airports including Paris, Berlin, Rome (Fiumicino), Brussels, Warsaw. New York, Geneva, Barcelona and Stockholm.

A taxi from Atatürk Airport to the hotel costs 40 TL (20 Euros); a taxi from Sabiha Gökcen Airport should cost circa 80 TL (40 Euros). There are also shuttle busses (Havas) to Taksim square (near the hotel) from both airports for 10 or 14 TL (5 or 7 Euros).

Climate + Clothing suggestions

In May temperatures in Istanbul and Ankara are relatively mild, reaching 20-25 degrees Celsius during the day. However, there is occasional rainfall.

Passports, Visa and Health

All clients are personally responsible for ensuring that they have a valid passport, relevant visa/s and conform to the health regulations required by the country/s that will be visited during the tour.

Citizens of the European Economic Area, the United States and Canada are not required to obtain visas in their home country in order to travel to Turkey. However, some nationals are required to purchase a tourist visa on arrival at the airport. The cost of the tourist visa varies from 15-30 USD, although Canadian citizens must pay 60 USD. For more information, see http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa

Advice on health requirements may be obtained from your GP, or alternatively from the Department of Health leaflet Advice on Health for Travelers, which may be obtained from us, or the Department of Health in the UK.

Personal Safety

Compared to most major cities in Europe and the USA, Istanbul and Ankara are relatively safe, even at night. It is advisable to dress appropriately in conservative neighborhoods.

We also advise all of our clients to check Foreign Office’s Travel Advice site for Turkey before departure.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/europe/turkey

Insurance

Appropriate and adequate travel insurance is essential and is a condition of travelling with us. Your policy must include comprehensive medical cover including the cost of evacuation and repatriation from the remote destinations included in your tour in the event of illness or accident in addition to other medical requirements.

Please provide us with confirmation of the name of your insurance company, the policy number and the insurers’ emergency contact telephone number for use in a medical emergency no later than 8 weeks prior to the tour departure. If you fail to do so, we are entitled to cancel your booking and apply the cancellation charges shown below.

You must also ensure that the policy will protect you in the event that you travel to an area against the advice of the Foreign Office.

Hazards Inherent in Our Tours

It is in the nature of the itineraries we offer that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office may have issued advice against all travel or all but essential travel in relation to the country or parts of the country we are intending to visit prior to confirmation of your booking. Where the FCO issues such advice, we may as a result cancel your tour or make changes so as to avoid the area concerned (see clauses 10 and 12 of our Terms and Booking Conditions). Alternatively, we may ask you to sign a form confirming you wish to proceed with the tour notwithstanding the FCO advice.

Our Cancellation Charges

If you feel you need to cancel a tour before departure we reserve the right to make the following charges.

Period before departure within which written notification of cancellation is received by us.	Cancellation charge per person cancelling.
Up to 56 days 55 to 28 days 27 to 15 days14 days or less	The Deposit 50% 75%100%

On receipt of your booking form and deposit we will confirm your booking in writing, then approximately 8 weeks before departure we shall send you further information relevant to your tour together with a final invoice.

Please pay the invoice within 10 days of the invoice date otherwise we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled and apply the cancellation conditions as set out below. Your travel documents are dispatched about 7/10 days before the tour departs.

Booking Terms and Conditions

Full details of our terms and conditions can be viewed by clicking this link.

UK: 0843 289 2349 | Int: +44 843 289 2349