Tour of Türkiye

Full details of this tour are available on a dedicated website here.

Join us for this 7-day journey through some of Türkiye’s diverse ecoregions from Caucasus-Anatolian-Hyrcanian temperate forests to Aegean & Western Türkiye sclerophyllous and mixed forests. During the Tour, the participants will experience oak diversity in temperate, steppe, and Mediterranean vegetations, as well as the plant diversity of these ecoregions, and also the cultural heritage of the country. 

The Tour will be led by IOS Board Member Dr. Elif Deniz Ülker, Dr. Ali Kavgacı (phytosociology and fire ecology expert), Dr. Tuğrul Körüklü (president of the Flora Research Association and the manager of ‘Herbarium Turcicum’), and Dr. Can Bilgin (biodiversity expert). Local forest management chiefs may guide us at some spots, and a history enthusiast will inform us in the ancient cities. The Tour will begin in İstanbul, and then we will travel down to Antalya.

Highlights of the Tour

Natural Habitats & Field Exploration

• Observation of diverse oak ecosystems, from temperate lowland forests and steppe landscapes to Mediterranean maquis and montane cedar forests

• Field visits to endemic and conservation-priority oak species, including Quercus vulcanica and Q. aucheri

• Visits to stands of other spotlight forest species such as Abies bornmuelleriana, Juniperus foetidissima, Pinus nigra, Cedrus libani, Liquidambar orientalis

Sites & Cultural Experiences

• Visits to major botanical institutions, including Atatürk Arboretum and Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanic Garden

• Expert presentations on the flora of Türkiye and the Illustrated Flora of Turkey project

• Exploration of oak landscapes within historic and archaeological sites such as İstanbul, Aizonai, Sagalassos, Termessos, Myra, and Kyenai, and protected areas including the Kasnak Oak Nature Reserve and the Çiğitepe–Tınaztepe Historic National Park

Itinerary and Registration

Detailed information regarding the Tour, including itinerary, registration, payment procedures, accommodation venues, and restaurants, is provided on the dedicated Tour webpage: https://www.turkiyeoaktour.com/. On the website, you will also find recommendations for participants wishing to explore Istanbul prior to the Tour, as well as alternative options for those planning onward travel to other parts of Türkiye following the Tour.

Tour Logistics

The Tour will be organized as a fully inclusive package. The Tour fee will cover accommodations, all meals (except the first overnight in Kaş), in-country transportation, and return airport transfers. All logistics will be coordinated by the organizers, allowing participants to focus fully on the field visits and enjoy a safe experience. See the Tour website for details.