Rural Turkey - Rural Couchsurfing

Rural Turkey

Posted October 24th, 2012 - 9:25 am by

from Helsinki, Finland (Permalink)

I am going to be in Turkey for around 3 weeks with a friend in December/January. Since we are very interested in both culture and landscape, we wanted to find some beautiful rural places to travel and stay at around Turkey. We are open to any suggestions, so if you have any, please let me know :) Thanks!

Posted October 24th, 2012 - 5:34 pm by

from Viroqua, United States (Permalink)

I highly recommend travelling to the Black Sea area of Turkey. December/January might be a bit chilly, but you're from Finland!

I rode my bike the entire length of the Turkish Black Sea coast and I felt like it was a forgotten part of the country when it comes to tourism. It lacks the blue waters of the Mediterranean, it doesn't have the crazy geography of Cappadocia--rather, it has wonderful terrain, food and heavy doses of just regular folks. It is rural, unassuming, but beautiful. It is like going to the midwest of the USA.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclenavigator/sets/72157619696776609/

Posted October 24th, 2012 - 7:43 pm from Saint Petersburg, United States

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Posted October 26th, 2012 - 7:43 pm from Welcome Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

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Posted October 31st, 2012 - 10:06 am by

from Helsinki, Finland (Permalink)

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Posted November 4th, 2012 - 10:46 am by

from Izmit, Turkey (Permalink)

Hi, Laura. I live in the rural area in Izmit. you and your friend can guests. but'm going traveling in December 20. I hope that this date would be right for you.
For more information about where I live;
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=659203107
http://www.facebook.com/HelikonArtCenter
I hope see you soon
orhan özçalık

Posted November 5th, 2012 - 6:37 pm by

from Albuquerque, United States (Permalink)

I enjoyed spending time in a the area near Ahmetçe and Demirci Köy. These villages are near the larger town of Ayvacık which the nearest city is çanakkale (a famous WW1 battle-site and near to the ancient city of Troy/Ilium/Truva). This countryside is on the Mediterranean, or in Turkish - Ege Deniz. It is quite pretty and will likely have a little snow in December/January. It is much more "Western" and you will see loads of people with cellphones, though in the countryside almost every woman will still wear headscarves. I also enjoyed seeing the northeast of the country on a visit to Sakartvelo (Georgia/ Gurcıstan). I think it's very pretty and I can see that the east and south-east of the country would be very interesting. It will be quite cold and snowy at that time of year- perhaps "impassable" in some very rural mountainous regions. In the south-east you may want to travel with a head-scarf, if you don't mind my giving you some advice. I've never been there, but it is more "traditional".

I hope you have a wonderful time! It's a beautiful country and the people were very kind.

Posted November 19th, 2012 - 10:35 pm from Usak, Turkey

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Posted November 22nd, 2012 - 7:40 pm from Sooke, Canada

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Posted November 26th, 2012 - 12:57 am from Usak, Turkey

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Posted November 28th, 2012 - 11:40 am by

from Antalya, Turkey (Permalink)

You may want to check this:
http://www.bugday.org/bugdaygil/Tatuta/
There you can find the list of organic farms where you can stay, help the work (or pay if you prefer not to work). There are amazing people. I know some of them in person. (I may not be able to follow all the comments in person due to work load but if you want to ask me smth. pls. write me in person.
Enjoy your trip!
(And yes, Blacksea Region is amazing but the season is not good to travel there. In winter time, Aegean and Mediterranean regions are easier to travel to)

Posted November 28th, 2012 - 12:01 pm by

from Albuquerque, United States (Permalink)

I agree with Tijen about Bugday... that is how I spent three months in western Turkiye. I meant to visit farms in different regions but I loved the village I was in and stayed there during almost my whole stay in Turkiye. Tatuta is a great program if you are interested in meeting rural people.

Posted November 30th, 2012 - 5:41 pm by

from Helsinki, Finland (Permalink)

Thank you very much for all of the useful information (and pictures!)
I think I have now decided to first go east to the black sea area, then a bit in the Northeastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions, Carppadocia and then start heading back up toward Istanbul. I've experienced some pretty harsh winters before,so I think I should be fine :)

Posted November 30th, 2012 - 5:48 pm from Antalya, Turkey

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Posted March 8th, 2013 - 6:46 pm by

from Helsinki, Finland (Permalink)

Thank you for all the great advice! I had an amazing time!!!

Posted December 23rd, 2012 - 11:00 pm by

from London, England (Permalink)

Sile (pronounced shear-lay)is gorgeous! a little fishing village with a 2000 yr old castle remains in the harbour and just lovely beach town vibe...better in warm weather obviously! but still lovely...about an hour on the bus from Istanbul:)