FARM TOUR TO TURKEY. 7 th 14 th APRIL 2019

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "FARM TOUR TO TURKEY. 7 th 14 th APRIL 2019"

Eleanor Hawkins
5 years ago
Views:

FARM TOUR TO TURKEY 7 th 14 th APRIL 2019 Turkey sits astride the 2 continents of Europe and Asia.

opportunities further east and south. Historically, the country has some unique contrasts to explore and enjoy.

spectacular. With a wonderful coastline and stunning scenery, it is no wonder it is a popular destination for tourists.

for all. Agriculture employs 19% of the total workforce and 50% of the land is in agricultural production.

They have a significant dairy industry and produce pork, lamb and beef in large quantities.

Magdalen lived, Pamukkale and the Travertine Terraces, The Gallipoli Peninsula and the wonderful harbour of Kusadasi, as we work our way

1 FARM TOUR TO TURKEY 7 th 14 th APRIL 2019 Turkey sits astride the 2 continents of Europe and Asia. Not quite part of the EU, it nevertheless enjoys advantages in trading status and attracts significant visitor numbers from across both continents. The unique geographical position it enjoys opens markets both in the east and in the west providing a gateway for Europe to diverse opportunities further east and south. Historically, the country has some unique contrasts to explore and enjoy. Ruled by the Greeks, Persians, Romans, Byzantians and ultimately the Ottomans, the Christian and Muslim historical architecture is spectacular. With a wonderful coastline and stunning scenery, it is no wonder it is a popular destination for tourists. The country has enjoyed a buoyant economy with growth and industrialisation over the last 30 years that has seen living standards improve for all. Agriculture employs 19% of the total workforce and 50% of the land is in agricultural production. With a warm climate and good rainfall, they can produce a wide variety of crops, fruits and vegetables. They have a significant dairy industry and produce pork, lamb and beef in large quantities. Our tour will concentrate on the Aegean Coast and finish in Istanbul, with visits to Ephesus, the Christian city where St Paul and Mary Magdalen lived, Pamukkale and the Travertine Terraces, The Gallipoli Peninsula and the wonderful harbour of Kusadasi, as we work our way to Istanbul by road. We finish with 2 nights in the most exciting city in the world where we will see the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia, The Roman Basilica Cistern and cruise the Bosphorus Straights to name but a few. The country has not been without its recent troubles, both political and financial, but the country is on the approved list of FCO countries to visit and we will deliver the tour following best security practices recommended and approved by the FCO for tour operators.

The Country Turkey Country Information The Republic of Turkey connects Europe to Asia and where it borders Greece and Bulgaria on the European side and Syria, Iraq, Iran, Georgia and Armenia on the

Ruled by the Greeks, Persians, Romans, Byzantiens and Ottomans the country became a republic in 1923, when Kermal Ataturk led the expulsion of the Greek and Armenian forces to declare independence.

2 The Country Turkey Country Information The Republic of Turkey connects Europe to Asia and where it borders Greece and Bulgaria on the European side and Syria, Iraq, Iran, Georgia and Armenia on the Asian side. Ruled by the Greeks, Persians, Romans, Byzantiens and Ottomans the country became a republic in 1923, when Kermal Ataturk led the expulsion of the Greek and Armenian forces to declare independence. He created a government with western ideas and principles, a major change from the former Ottoman rule, who were led by the Sultan, a king. A Muslim country, Ataturk created a secular state separating church from government. However, the former Prime Minister, now President, Erdogan, has succeeded in changing from a Parliamentary Government to Presidential led country and is attempting to re-establish the influence of the church on Islamic principles. The Agriculture Turkey is a largely mountainous land with several high peaks over 16,000 feet, the highest being Mount Arat at close to 17,000 feet. Steep slopes are common throughout the country and this reduces the land that can be used for agriculture. The topography also creates climates that are more extreme than should be expected in these latitudes. Agriculture is still the occupation of the majority of Turkish people and it is one of the few self-sufficient countries in the world in terms of food. They can grow almost any kind of crop, although the activity in the mountain regions is confined to animal husbandry. About 35% of the country is available for arable crops, amounting to about 24 million ha under production. Turkey is the world s biggest producer of hazelnuts, figs, apricots and raisins, the 4th biggest producer of fresh vegetables and grapes, the 6th biggest producer of tobacco, the 8th biggest producer of wheat, and the 7th biggest producer of cotton. The Weather The coastal areas of Turkey bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea have a hot -summer Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. The coastal areas of Turkey bordering the Black Sea have a temperate Oceanic climate with warm, wet winters and cool to cold, wet summers. In April the temperatures can be mild, averaging 17º C through the day with cool evenings. The People There are around 72,000 million people in Turkey of which approximately 70 80% of the country's citizens identify themselves as ethnic Turks. Time Turkey is GMT + 2 hours Web reference:

TOUR ITINERARY Day 1 Sunday 7th April 2019 (Meals in flight, D) Mid morning departure from London Heathrow to Izmir via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines.

Day 2 Monday 8th April 2019 Breakfast. Depart to the ancient city of Ephesus, a former trade and cultural centre of the Christian world, where St Paul lived and preached before going on to Rome.

3 TOUR ITINERARY Day 1 Sunday 7th April 2019 (Meals in flight, D) Mid morning departure from London Heathrow to Izmir via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Early evening arrival in Izmir where you will met by your English speaking guide and coach and transfer to Kusadasi, one of the most spectacular resorts in Turkey, 2 night stay, dinner included. Day 2 Monday 8th April 2019 Breakfast. Depart to the ancient city of Ephesus, a former trade and cultural centre of the Christian world, where St Paul lived and preached before going on to Rome. The city is being restored to its former glory and it is possible to walk the streets and enter the buildings as they were at the time of Christs death. Close by are the remains of the Greek Temple to the Goddess Artemis or Diana, which was one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. Lunch at own cost close to the ancient city. Depart to a modern winery for a tour of the vineyards and enjoy tasting. Visit a 200 ha organic farm complex that has a dairy herd, beef herd, poultry, sheep, goats, olive groves and cereal production. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 3 Tuesday 9th April 2019 Breakfast and check out. Depart to Pamukkale, passing through some of the most fertile land in the country. Famous for growing figs, olives, cotton, fruits and vegetables our first visit will be to the Cotton Research Station. Established in 1965 as a commercial operation, it has been nationalised and is responsible for collecting and evaluating crop data, doing crop protection and development research work, providing laboratory services and sharing information with farmers. The successful development of the industry in Turkey has lifted it to the number one country for producing high density cotton and 7th for overall production at 980 thousand tonnes per annum. Lunch at own expense under local arrangements. Visit a rural village that has been selected to be part of a new agricultural project to create a smart hub where IT systems connected via the internet to a central processor will collect environmental inputs and data inputs from farmers to create a smart farming environment that all of the farmers can use to improve farming production. Depart to Pamukkale, where the hot thermal springs that cascade down the hill have created a terrace of mineral similar to a waterfall. Check in to your local hotel for a 1 night stay. Dinner and overnight. Day 4 Wednesday 10th April 2019 Breakfast and check out. En-route to the Aegean coast the landscape is covered with vast vineyards and we will stop at a winery that is producing for export and operates a major bottling and packing operation. Lunch at own expense under local arrangements. There will be short stop at Sardis, another of the ancient christian cities and mentioned in the Book of John in the Bible. Depart to Pergamon, one of the Seven Churches of Asia and which was home to the largest library in antiquity. 1 night stay at a coastal hotel. Dinner and overnight. Day 5 Thursday 11th April 2019 Breakfast and check out. Depart to one of the largest fruit and veg producing greenhouses in Europe. With 32 ha of glass and plastic and with a further 8 ha to be erected in Phase 4 of the development. The company is a major exporter to Europe and Russia, growing produce from their own seedlings in a closed production environment. Lunch at own expense under local arrangements. Depart to an olive producer who has been crushing the product for olive oil since Continue through the picturesque Ida Mountain range, well known for the endemic plants, spices and herbs used for health products. Our visit will be to a dairy unit en-route to Canakkale, close to the Dardanelles Straits. Check in for a 1 night stay with dinner. Day 6 Friday 12th April 2019 Breakfast and check out. Cross the Dardanelles by ferry to reach the Gallipoli Peninsula, with a brief stop to look at the memorial to the fallen of the Allied invasion in 1915 that cost the lives of thousands of soldiers on both sides. Lunch at own expense under local arrangements. The route to Istanbul will take us alongside the Marmara Sea and is a region renowned for cereal production, including wheat, barley, rapeseed and sunflower. The area is also well known for dairy production. We will visit a cereal operation and a dairy operation producing its own cheeses. Continue to Istanbul and check in to your city hotel for a 2 night stay. Dinner and overnight.

famous Spice Market) and then finish with a cruise on the Bosphorus Straits. Lunch at own expense under local arrangements. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

4 Day 7 Saturday 13th April 2019 Breakfast. Enjoy the day exploring the many sites of this great city led by your guide. The tour by coach and on foot will include the Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, the Roman Cistern, water storage area and home to the original Gorgon Statue, the Blue Mosque, the Grande Bazaar (world famous Spice Market) and then finish with a cruise on the Bosphorus Straits. Lunch at own expense under local arrangements. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 8 Sunday 14th April 2019 (B--) Leisurely breakfast and check out. Transfer to the airport for a lunch time check in and departure to London Heathrow, arriving late afternoon. End of Tour Arrangements (Meal basis: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner) A. Izmir B. Kuşadası C. Pamukkale D. Çanakkale, E. Gallipoli F. Istanbul

5 Tour Cost: Based on a minimum of 10 travellers per person (sharing a twin/double room) PLUS Airport taxes (subject to change at time of ticket issue) Single Supplement Tour Includes: International flights - economy class Good class hotels (7 nights) Meals as indicated B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner. Private Coach Transportation English speaking guides Technical & touristic visits as stated, subject to local conditions at the time of travel (weather, crops etc) Fully Escorted by Field Farm Tours Manager Tour Excludes: Travel to/from airport Airport taxes Upgrade flights. Meals other than stated Travel Insurance - you need to be insured to travel with Field Farm Tours Ltd. Drinks / Personal items Other Info: A visa is required for Turkey and can be obtained as an e-visa on line up to 3 months before departure. Details of visa application process will be advised upon booking. Fee is circa with credit card payment. No compulsory health requirements, but consult your doctor or health centre for professional advice. The EHIC Card is not valid in Turkey. Passport needs to be valid for 6 months after your return date. To secure a place on this tour, please complete a booking form enclosed and return with your deposit of per person. Notes: The itinerary is subject to change without notice (local conditions, availability of visits at the time of travel, etc) and to terms and conditions as per the Company s booking conditions. The air holiday package in this brochure is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL Please see our booking conditions for more information.

OTHER FORTHCOMING TOURS BULGARIA - 14-21 MAY 2019 CROATIA - 12-22 MAY 2019 SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 2019 JAPAN - 20 MAY 5 JUNE 2019 CANADA - JUNE/JULY 2019 FIELD FARM TOURS LTD FIELD HOUSE, 3 STEPHENSON

6 OTHER FORTHCOMING TOURS BULGARIA MAY 2019 CROATIA MAY 2019 SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 2019 JAPAN - 20 MAY 5 JUNE 2019 CANADA - JUNE/JULY 2019 FIELD FARM TOURS LTD FIELD HOUSE, 3 STEPHENSON COURT, STEPHENSON WAY, NEWARK, NOTTS, NG24 2TQ Tel no: Fax no: info@fieldfarmtours.co.uk The air holiday package in this brochure is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL Please see our booking conditions for more information.

WINTER GATHERING TOUR TO BELGIUM & HOLLAND

WINTER GATHERING TOUR TO BELGIUM & HOLLAND 3 RD - 7 TH DECEMBER 2018 The Winter Gathering is going to be a European short break tour visiting Holland and Belgium by coach, departing from Cambridge and