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Hitchhiking in '''Turkey''' is easyan extremely hitchhiking-friendly country. Looking like a Western backpacker Your waiting times will get you a lot of attention when travelling outside rarely exceed 15 minutes on reasonably used roads, even off the major tourist areasmain roads. OftenOn smaller roads, the first vehicle passing you is likely to pass will stop for you (sometimes even if they are going the opposite direction!) Lifts with big trucks are the most common − partly because personal cars are . Also you're very likely to be invited for tea and food, and often quite fullalso to home stays. Very few people speak English, while German might be a little bit more useful, especially in the east. However, it's essential to learn at least a few words of basic [[Eastern Europe phrasebook#Turkish truck drivers are generally |Turkish]], also for your safety. Turkey has a very friendly and helpful distinct reputation, especially when it comes to female hitchhikers, but may not speak a word once you get on terms with the dynamics of Englishinteracting with Turks (likely only after you make your first mistake, though) you'll usually be fine. Knowing some Turkish phrases will help a lotSee the Safety Chapter below.
Especially truck driver It's not very likely that drivers will often invite ask for money, but it happens occasionally. If you feel your status as a free hitchhiker is unclear, make sure to say ''para(m) yok'' before you get into the car. On the other hand, this might offend drivers who genuinely want to help you for tea and on long distances even for mealsdo not expect money.
Some drivers might ask Hitchhiking at night works well as long as you for stand in a few Lira, and if you are not willing to contribute to the cost of the ride, please learn to say ''Param yok'' (I have no money) before getting in the carsomewhat visible spot.
Having == Safety ==Turkey has been getting a bad reputation for female hitchhikers following the murder of [[SignsPippa]] in April 2008 and many discouraging stories, ranging from minor harassment (see Personal Experiences below) to near-miss murder/rape cases like the one [[User:Zenit|signboardZenit]] (together and the girl he was travelling with experienced in November 2011. While these things shouldn't deter anybody from travelling in Turkey, they certainly prove that there is a specific code of conduct different from any other country that needs to be respected in order to avoid unnecessary problems. It will take a little bit of travelling in the country first to get used to this different dynamic, so this will be the time to be extra cautious. Further reading for female hitchhikers – and anybody travelling in Turkey – is [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.com/2008/04/hitchhiking-guide-to-turkey-for-girls.html this blog]. Safety is always important while hitchhiking, so check the [[Hitchhiker's safety|Safety]] article before hitting the road! What follows is a list of general guidelines for hitchhiking in Turkey. Remember, however, that you cannot fully master the different dynamics of social interaction, especially between members of opposite sexes, until you've been exposed to the inital special attention you'll receive as a foreigner and possibly made some beginning's mistakes. * First of all, keep in mind that in Turkey there is widespread prejudice concerning the willingness of Western girls to engage in casual sex with random strangers. * Having said that, the thumb extended) certainly helpsbiggest part of problems arise from the different conceptions of flirting in the West and in Turkey. In Turkey, making eye conctact, since most smiling and accepting compliments can all easily be interpreted as outright flirtateous behaviour. Another thing to watch out for is that Turkish hitchhikers men will test males travelling with a female to see how protective they are of their female companion. This will always be in a somewhat playful manner, and hardly ever in a threatening way. One very important thing is that a man travelling with a woman should never let her sit next to a man other than himself. This cannot be stressed enough, as drivers will read from this behaviour that a) the guy has no claims on the girl and don't use really care what happens to her from this point and b) that the girl might be interested/easy.* Another important point, if one that goes somewhat without saying, is about clothing. Turkey is definitely not the place to hitchhike in hotpants and a tanktop, the least should be long trousers and a unrevealing t-shirt with sleeves down to your elbows. Anyone wearing less than this (apart from the Western coastal regions maybe) will usually be seen as a prostitute, and without the necessary language skills to explain women's rights over their own body you might get yourself into hassle you don't really need. If you want to be extra safe, you can also hitchhike with a headscarf and therefore it draws much more attention /or a long ("Iranian style") gown going down to your thighs and hiding your shape.* There is different things you can say about your marital status. If travelling with a guy, the classical story of the married couple can work well enough, but won't necessarily stop a determined guy from trying his chances. Also keep in mind that many truck drivers (but generally not drivers unof private cars) know that foreign hitchhikers tend to lie about their status as married couples. This might actually encourage some truck drivers to try his luck even if in the first point they never intended anything at all. If travelling alone as a girl, it seems to be safer to say that you are unmarried -used meaning, for most people, a virgin. The purity of virginity is widely respected and can provide protection. You can usefully combine both of these strategies (if travelling in a couple) by saying that you're cousins because a) you will be seen as a unmarried virgin, b) male relatives traditionally protect unmarried female family members and c) a cousin might at some point also have been picked by the family to be a future husband to seeing signboardsthe girl. Writing * Something that plays into the dynamics of hitchhiking in Turkey as well are the mostly Russian/Eastern European prostitutes that can be found practicing their trade all over Turkey. As a girl hitchhiking, be it alone or in company, you will at some point likely be confused with one of the name working ladies. As an effect of first town on many of those girls being Russian, the words "rus" or "natasha" have come to mean "foreign prostitute". If your route—no matter how small driver says any of those words, he's most likely asking if you're a prostitute. Make very very clear that you have nothing to do with this, say ''yok'' very clearly without hesitating, smiling, laughing, or any other even remotely flirtateous reaction. Be insulted. Likewise it's not a very good idea to say that you're Russian or even from any Eastern European country that could be associated with Russia, especially Ukraine. If the driver has understood that you're not a prostitute, he'll usually not bother you about it is—and any more.* There is one main Turkish hand gesture that leads to confusion among foreigners. It is indeed extremely ambiguous, used in very different situations and complicated to understand in its context. It consists of the name index fingers of both hands rubbed against each other back and forth. Some important meanings of it include casual sex, friendship, physical contact, geographical closeness of objects or places, money, etc. You see that the meaning can range from explaining how to get somewhere or explaining that driver is going close to your destination to asking for casual sex. Nothing more can be said than to use your common sense and not to be overly paranoid.* When it comes to accepting rides, listen to your intuition and don't worry about being picky. Remember that even if you say no to several cars you'll still not wait very long.* To finish, a farther and bigger city brief list of useful vocabulary in difficult situations. Check out the pronounication guide in the [[Eastern Europe phrasebook#Turkish|Turkish phrasebook]].:* ''çok ayıp'' - lit. "big shame", the most useful thing to say if somebody is goodharrassing you (sexual or not.):* ''Allah aşkına'' - lit. "for Allah's love", i.e. for God's sake:* ''kuzen'' - "cousin", ''biz kuzen'' - "we are cousins":* ''evli'' - "married"
Also while waiting for As a brief summary: As a liftgirl, have your backpack on the ground ''in front be aware of'' your feetbody language - smiling, in a position that is easily visible and recognizable as a backpack eye contact, being flattered by passing by driverscompliments are all bad ideas. As many will admit, seeing a large backpack and camping gear such as guy hitchhiking with a mat girl, stand your ground, show presence; always makes Turkish drivers more comfortable with make sure to sit next to the driver. If the driver talks mostly to the idea of letting girl, it's a stranger bad sign. Girls should dress modestly and make sure not to be confused with Russian prostitutes ("rus", "natasha"). Be picky about your rides. Most importantly though, keep in their car—since it kind mind that in 99% of proves that you are travelling on budgetthe cases all will be fine, not a serial killer—and thus enabling especially if you pay attention to get lifts far more quickly.those guidelines!
Hitchhiking at night works even better than at daytimeAs a guy travelling with a girl it is rare that you will be hit on with the notable exception of the far Eastern part of the country. On However travelling alone as a busy road, guy you will easily get lifts /might be asked for sex depending not so much on your attractiveness in less than 5 minutes, the Western sense as long on how exotic you are (i.e. being big and blond will most likely increase the level of attention). Keep in mind that just even if a guy asks you to have sex with him it does not necessarily mean he's gay. Especially in Eastern Turkey it's very common among unmarried straight men to engage in casual sex among each other as drivers can see an effect of an extremely conservative society and sometimes horrible ramifications for girls having pre-maritial sex. However other than the nuisance of being asked for sex you're unlikely to run into any problems.
== Getting In ==Citizens of most EU Police and other Western countries can get a 3 months visa for 10 Euro or more. Czech, German, Latvian, Italian and Romanian citizens are allowed to enter the country without any visa at all.Terrorists
Hitchhiker [[User:Guaka|Guaka]] had From 2019 I can account for a terrible experience at great and likely growing suspicion of anyone strange on the road, specifically in Eastern Turkey, where the police are sure there are terrorists everywhere. Knowing the [[Kapitan Andreevo]]-Kapıkule [[border crossing]] Kurds having gone through this area and Iraqi Kurdistan before, I doubt more than a fraction of a percent of them, if any, are hostile, however times in October 2008 when he was refused entry by turkey are edgy to say the least. Do NOT let this stop you, but be advised you might be wayleighed a grumpy border guard who was probably looking number of times if hitching through the mountainous regions, especially if you look kürdi, have military gear like mine, or for whatever other reason look suspicious. Here are some serious-business police and military forces, and if you're stopped they might just scare the life out of you. But don'baksheesht worry. If you aren't doing anything wrong, the worst you'. It took ll get is a lot proper shakedown and lots of convincing questions. I have sat next to some of the finest names in terrorism, as well as the finest police and military forces, and they all (they all) offer you tea and treat you well. Stay uninvolved, and never use a term like Kurdistan around the Turks. Just be allowed back to aware that the Turks are petrified of the truck to get back his PKK and other groups and might either suspect you OR (Guaka'sand more likely for you more civilian types) backpackinsist you take a bus or camp near their checkpoint, citing the dangers of terrorism in the region. The next day there was This should be considered a significant headache at times, leading to slowdowns, but no effective trouble in the long run and no problem reason at all to get avoid these areas. It's just a damn shame when people are pitted against each other and this is the reality inheavily Kurdish regions of Turkey. Answer their questions, stand your ground about hitching and camping, don't fear the armoured cars and AKs ...and enjoy the tea. == Climate == [[File:Erzurum.JPG|thumb|250px|In [[winter]] it can be cold.]]
The During the summer temperatures tend to rise above 35 °C, especially in the South, so it is recommended to secure yourself with sufficient supplies of water, and to plan travelling in a way that most well-trafficked crossing from [[Greece]] is of the actual hitchhiking would be earlier in the [[İpsala]]/[[Kipi]] border gatemorning or in very late afternoon, on the highway {{E|90}}to avoid a burning sun.
From In [[Georgia (country)|Georgiawinter]] and the rest of Caucasus, though, it's easiest to enter the country at [[Sarp-Sarpi border crossing]] on the Black Sea coast. Crossing the Sarp/Sarpi borderpost on foot is allowedcan be quite cold in Turkey.
== Safety ==Following As long as you stick to the [[Pippa|recent events]] in April 2008south coast, this [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.com/2008/04/hitchhiking-guide-you'll be able to-turkey-for-girlshave a swim in the Aegean any sunny winter day.html hitchhiking guide to Turkey for girls] might be an interesting piece to read for everyone (not only for girls) whoOn some places it's planning to hitchhike in Turkey. Safety is always important while hitchhiking, so check just hitching 100km north into the [[Hitchhikermountains and you's safety|Safety]] article before going out to wave your thumbll see snow too!
A personal story[[File:Mikeeg555 hitching in Turkey.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[User:My friend and I (both female) hitched through Mikeeg555|Mikeeg555]] hitching in Turkey from ]]While waiting beside the Greek border road, town-to Cappadocia and it was quite stressful. We never waited long for a ride and most of the people we rode with insisted on buying us chai -town minibus drivers (just teawhich can be recognized by banners proclaiming town names all over) and meals. However, I would say that with about 90 percent of our rides we got our butts, boobs, or crotches grabbed, intercity buses will flash their headlights or honk at least asked you — to ask whether you'd like a ride (for sex. There is a hand sign in Turkey that means sexfee, which is quite different from that we have seen in America (much nicer, actuallyof course) you just rub your two pointer fingers together back and forth. It took us a while to figure out what that meant! We had to make our driver leave us on the side of the road a lot in the middle of nowhere so that was kinda dangerous. And it took us about 10 hours to make it 25 miles from just before Istanbul to just past the city. People kept trying to take us into the city or someplace we didnDon't want be afraid to go. We were so glad when we finally made it out of Turkey at the Bulgarian border. It was an adventure though stop them and say "''Param yok'' (which literally translates "I would recommend traveling through Turkeydon't have money"), just be aware that all it's ok?". A couple of the other women standing on the side of the road are prostitutes. It was all just hitchhikers did this when a giant misunderstanding and bus stopped beside them to drop a lack of respectpassenger, to some extentand then they kept doing this everytime, on our part, for and about 30% of the local culture. When hitching here maybe you can learn how to say "we are just traveling and we aren't looking for sex may we still have buses gave them a ride" before getting in a vehicle. For [[User:Sirrdc|Sirrdc]] also had great success hitchhiking on intercity buses. Inside the recordcities, our drivers always let us out when we told it's even easier; ask them too politely and nothing dramatic happened beyond the daily grabbingsthey will take you a bit further ahead.
Note[[File: During our travels in Turkey, hitch-hiking or otherwise, we also saw this handsign (rubbing both forefingers together) many timesturkeyhitch. Although it could be misconstrued as meaning “sex” it has many different meanings such as “relationship” “friendship” “partner” etcjpg|thumb|350px|[[User:Chael777|Chael]]<small><sup>[http://www. So if a Turkish person makes this hand gesture don't automatically assume they are asking you for sexvelabas.com/ site]</sup></small> hitching south to Bodrum, April 2008]]
Another personal story: == Regions and Their Hitchability ==:I have just finished my second two-week trip alone through Turkey just hitchhiking, and my experience has not been at all like the above. I was quite shocked when I read While in general it! I was traveling for long distances almost every day and I must have hitched with over fifty drivers – and only one of those drivers touched me apart from is fairly easy to shake my hand, and I was asked for sex twice, relatively politely, and both accepted no as an answer. I was treated with courtesy, respect, generosity, kindness, invites home to meet their families, and yes, tea and oranges. Also people kept buying me bus tickets rather than 'letting' me hitchhike on, which was horribly embarrassing! I think people who picked me up probably did consider that I might be attract a prostitutelift in Turkey, but easily accepted that I wasnlocals't judging on behavior. I suspect that experiences like view of hitchhikers vary across the above depend on inappropriate behaviour or dress, or horribly bad luckcountry. I don't speak TurkishIn general, so sometimes it was a bit boring, which was probably people in northern and inland regions of the worst thing about hitchhikingcountry are friendlier towards hitchhikers. I would recommend not understanding If put systematically, the questions about whether you're alone or married- not speaking Turkish can actually help! And also be aware that Turkish women hitchhiking sit level of ease to get a lift in various regions of the back seat of cars, same country is as follows in taxis.general, from easiest to hardest:
Another personal story::I hitch-hiked with Southeastern Anatolia (usually the first car passing by offering a male friend for 3.5 weeks lift) > North coast (Black Sea Region) (one in every ten cars offering a lift) > Northwest/European Turkey. We started from Istanbul(Thrace) (most waits not exceeding 5 mins) > Inland steppes (Central Anatolia, to Safranbolu, Yozgat, Malatya, Nemrut Daig, Cappadocia, Kalkan and back to Istanbul. I was asked to have sex with the bus conductor after one longest waits likely ~20 mins) > Northwest/Asian Marmara (South Marmara) > Aegean Region > Southwest coast (Lycia) > Rest of the bus conductor invited us to take us and he found out that my friend and I are just friends traveling together. Well, that's just a minor issue. We got picked Mediterranean coast (expect waits up by an old man when we were hitch-hiking from Cappadocia to Nemrut Dagi. The old man had only 2 fingers on his right handtwo hours!), with eastern mountains (Eastern Anatolia) perhaps falling somewhere between Central Anatolia and he was driving at the speed of 150km/h, drinking cai and talking over the phone while my friend and I were sitting at the back! He drove us to a town nearby to do some sight-seeing and invited us to stay with his daughter's family! We ended up staying there for 3 nightsSouth Marmara. My fiend joined her husband to work while i stayed at home with the wife doing some traditional stuff!The hardest route to get a ride was probably from Antalya to Kalkan. It was late and no one wanted to pick us up! In the end, two guys who worked in a restaurant picked us up and sent us to our friend's doorstep!Traveling in Turkey by hitch-hiking rocks! I never hitch-hike before but my friend has been hitch-hiking since he was 9!
== Climate ==[[File:Erzurum.JPG|thumb|250px|In [[winter]] it As can be cold.]]During the summer temperatures tend to rise above 35 °Cclearly seen, especially in the South, so it less touristy somewhere is recommended to secure yourself with sufficient supplies of water, and easier to plan travelling in attract a way that most lift there. That being said, however, there are of course helpful drivers on the actual hitchhiking would be earlier in highways of the morning or in very late afternoonsouth, too, although they seem to avoid a burning sunbe exceptions rather than the rule.
In * [[winter:Category:Antalya (Province)|Antalya Province]]* [[:Category:Çanakkale (Province)|Çanakkale Province]]* [[Cappadocia]] * [[:Category:Muğla (Province)|Muğla Province]]* [[:Category:Southeastern Anatolia|Southeastern Anatolia]], though, it can be quite cold in Turkey.
For larger distances buses (coaches) are more common. They provide reliable service ''- Some recent thoughts and are pretty comfortable. Free tea and snacks are generally served along the way, and the buses tend to stop in nice reflections about hitchhiking Turkey as a solo female at [[rest area]]shttps://anaimlesshitchhiker. Some drivers who pick you up com/2013/01/04/an-update-about-hitchhiking-solo-as -a -female-in-turkey/ an aimless hitchhiker may try to convince you to take a bus. If you do end up on a bus they are relatively cheap although not as cheap as trains which are slower but more adventurous.]''
Of the transportation options which involve payment, trains are by far the cheapest in the country, especially if you are under 27, when you are entitled to a 20% discount on already cheap fares. However, as the network doesn't reach far and wide, most of what is interesting in Turkey is out of rail coverage, though they are still a good bet if you need a night's sleep during the ride, especially in inland regions where rail network is relatively denser.
=== Hitchhiking buses ===While waiting beside the road, town''-2020 february i hitchiked from Batumi border to-town minibus drivers (which can be recognized by banners proclaiming town names all over) Istanbul and intercity buses will flash their headlights or honk at you — to ask whether you'd like a ride 1200 km i did in 2.5 days (for a fee, of coursewith sleeping in nights). Don't be afraid Just stick to stop them main highways and say "''Param yok'' (which literally translates "I don't have money"), it's ok?"make text with big city 300 km away. A couple of hitchhikers did this when a bus stopped beside them to drop a passanger, and then they kept doing this everytime, and about 30% of On the buses gave them a paid highway i got ridein 5 minutes.. Inside the cities, itAlso i seen alot of local youth hitchiking around''s even easier; ask them politely and they will take you a bit further ahead.
== Food ==
You will never have to worry about lack of [[food]] in Turkey. Many truck drivers have coffee makers in their truck. Turkish people are very generous, and it is seldom that you get a ride without a driver offering you food. The food in Turkey is relatively cheap, and is very meat-based. There is also a variety of a good local produce of tasty sweets and snacks. The tea (black tea or apple tea in Istanbul) is ''the'' national drink, and almost all the people that you meet offer you a tea − this is probably the most common way of showing you their hospitable culture.
A great way to reduce your bottled water costs, especially in the hot southern/Mediterranean coast of Turkey is to use free cold water dispensers, locally called ''sebil'' (pronounced ''say-beel'')Hitchhiking out was really a hassle. It is easy to get a lift, which can usually be found on but people do not understand that you need to follow the sides of the streets and mosque courtyards in less-touristed towns and neighbourhoods in Mediterranean Turkeyhighway. They look like smallthink you want to take a bus, white refrigators and usually have two faucets: red one delivers warm (or mildly hot depending on the weather) water, while the blue one offers comfortably cold waterthus it gets complicated. Though the water coming out In other parts of the faucets is not from Turkey I had a commercially-bottled jar, recorded message by Turkish friends explaining what I was actually doing and likely what I needed from the city water networkdrivers. I didn't have it when leaving IST, and it's harmless and causes no stomach upsetswas a mistake. A way Get a Turkish friend to reduce the risk may be allowing yourself record a week after arrival in the region to get accustomed message on your phone which you can play to local microflora and -fauna that may be present in the water drivers who give you a lift. It should say something like: "I'm from COUNTRY, and then taking full advantage of right now I''sebil''sm hitchhiking from PLACE to PLACE.Can you help me with ride please??"
== Sleep ==
[[Finding accommodation|Hospitality exchange]] networks have many friendly members in Turkey, and they can help you with an accommodation.
All towns in Turkey have an ''OtoGar'', a - 2 times I hitchhiked from Istanbul to Asia and once back to Europe. I didn´t have any map of the city and I haven´t use any bus terminalbecause hitchhiking from Istanbul is very easy. Most There are a lot of these offer a warm cars and turkish drivers will not let you wait. If you are goning to Asia and fairly safe place you´re still in european part so the best spot is probably on the start of Bosphorus bridge. To get out from Istanbul you always need to spend take more cars(about 3-5 cars). In this city you can use hitchhiking as a night. Nonethelesspublic transport, be careful just raise you´re tumb and try to place your luggage in such there is a way so big chance that you are surely to be awaken in case if someone tries you´ll come forexample to take your thingscity center faster than by metro. ''
Smaller towns outside the main tourist areas have very cheap hotels, starting at 8 Lira.
Many truck drivers will have ''- My friend and I (both female) hitched through Turkey from the Greek border to Cappadocia and it was quite stressful. We never waited long for a ride and most of the people we rode with insisted on buying us chai (just tea) and meals. However, I would say that with about 90 percent of our rides we got our butts, boobs, or crotches grabbed, or at least asked for sex. We had to make our driver leave us on the side of the road a lot in the middle of nowhere so that was kinda dangerous. And it took us about 10 hours to make it 25 miles from just before Istanbul to just past the city. People kept trying to take us into the city or someplace we didn't want to go. We were so glad when we finally made it out of Turkey at the Bulgarian border. It was an extra bunk in their truck cabinadventure though and I would recommend traveling through Turkey, just be aware that all of the other women standing on the side of the road are prostitutes. It was all just a giant misunderstanding and they are usually happy a lack of respect, to offer it some extent, on our part, for the local culture. When hitching here maybe you can learn how to say "we are just traveling and we aren't looking for sex may we still have a ride" before getting in a hitchhikervehicle. For the record, our drivers always let us out when we told them too and nothing dramatic happened beyond the daily grabbings.''
Wild camping is pretty much possible, OK, and legal except in large urban agglomerations. Just be discreet, away from sight of houses and roads. Private property such as farmland and oliveyards are technically off the limits, however if you arrive late, break the camp early, and leave no trace of your stay (including removing any trash and not damaging any crops), it is no problem at all to camp at those places. Beware of fires, though, as most of Turkey lies in Mediterranean climatic zone which is very arid in summer, most of country's terrain is naturally covered with dry grasses in summer months. So while wild camping, try to avoid the temptation to build campfires; even cigarette butts that are not properly distinguished and disposed of can result in damages that you can't even dream of. Another thing to take note of while camping is the scorpions (''akrep'' in Turkish), especially in southern Mediterranean coast and in of the country—keep the zip of your tent and backpack always locked, check and shake your shoes before putting them on.
== Cities ''- I have just finished my second two-week trip alone through Turkey just hitchhiking, and License plates ==my experience has not been at all like the above. I was quite shocked when I read it! I was traveling for long distances almost every day and I must have hitched with over fifty drivers – and only one of those drivers touched me apart from to shake my hand, and I was asked for sex twice, relatively politely, and both accepted no as an answer. I was treated with courtesy, respect, generosity, kindness, invites home to meet their families, and yes, tea and oranges. Also people kept buying me bus tickets rather than 'letting' me hitchhike on, which was horribly embarrassing! I think people who picked me up probably did consider that I might be a prostitute, but easily accepted that I wasn't judging on behavior. I suspect that experiences like the above depend on inappropriate behaviour or dress, or horribly bad luck. I don't speak Turkish, so sometimes it was a bit boring, which was probably the worst thing about hitchhiking. I would recommend not understanding the questions about whether you're alone or married- not speaking Turkish can actually help! And also be aware that Turkish women hitchhiking sit in the back seat of cars, same as in taxis.''
{{Cities Turkey}}
The number is given to a whole province, e.g. [[Antalya]] and [[Alanya]] are both 07, as they are situated in the same province (Antalya Province).
[[File:Turkish''-truckSummer 2012 we spent hitch-hiking around Turkey. Me (male) and my girlfriend have experienced a lot of hospitality from Turkish drivers and hosts. Many times they stopped on the road andthey offered us lunch/dinner. Turkish men never hardly spoke to my girlfriend (they fully respect fact that woman is in relationship with other man). Once whilst hitch-truckhiking the bus pull-driverover. We explained that we don't have money for payment -2008it was any problem.jpg|thumb|right|350px|A truckAnother fantastic thing about hhiking in Turkey is you rarely have to wait more than 10 minutes, drivers pull-over their car on the driver, a boy working at highway and sometimes you just have to walk alongside the gas station road and [[User:Guaka|guaka]]they will stop the car. Great experience, somewhere between [[Ankara]] and [[Gaziantep]] October 2008]]<table border="0"><tr><td>* 01 [[Adana]]* 02 [[Adıyaman]]* 03 [[Afyonkarahisar]]* 04 [[Ağrı]]* 05 [[Amasya]]* 06 [[Ankara]]* 07 [[Antalya]]* 08 [[Artvin]]* 09 [[Aydın]]* 10 [[Balıkesir]]* 11 [[Bilecik]]* 12 [[Bingöl]]* 13 [[Bitlis]]* 14 [[Bolu]]* 15 [[Burdur]]* 16 [[Bursa]]* 17 [[Çanakkale]]* 18 [[Çankırı]]* 19 [[Çorum]]* 20 [[Denizli]]* 21 [[Diyarbakır]]* 22 [[Edirne]]* 23 [[Elazığ]]* 24 [[Erzincan]]* 25 [[Erzurum]]* 26 [[Eskişehir]]* 27 [[Gaziantep]]</td><td>* 28 [[Giresun]]* 29 [[Gümüşhane]]* 30 [[Hakkari]]* 31 [[Hatay]]* 32 [[Isparta]]* 33 [[Mersin]]* 34 [[Istanbul]]* 35 [[Izmir]]* 36 [[Kars]]* 37 [[Kastamonu]]* 38 [[Kayseri]]* 39 [[Kırklareli]]* 40 [[Kırşehir]]* 41 [[Kocaeli]]* 42 [[Konya]]* 43 [[Kütahya]]* 44 [[Malatya]]* 45 [[Manisa]]* 46 [[Kahramanmaraş]]* 47 [[Mardin]]* 48 [[Muğla]]* 49 [[Muş]]* 50 [[Nevsehir|Nevşehir]]* 51 [[Niğde]]* 52 [[Ordu]]* 53 [[Rize]]* 54 [[Adapazari|Sakarya]]</td><td>* 55 [[Samsun]]* 56 [[Siirt]]* 57 [[Sinop]]* 58 [[Sivas]]* 59 [[Tekirdağ]]* 60 [[Tokat]]* 61 [[Trabzon]]* 62 [[Tunceli]]* 63 [[Urfa|Şanlıurfa]]* 64 [[Uşak]]* 65 [[Van]]* 66 [[Yozgat]]* 67 [[Zonguldak]]* 68 [[Aksaray]]* 69 [[Bayburt]]* 70 [[Karaman]]* 71 [[Kırıkkale]]* 72 [[Batman]]* 73 [[Sirnak|Şırnak]]* 74 [[Bartın]]* 75 [[Ardahan]]* 76 [[Iğdır]]* 77 [[Yalova]]* 78 [[Karabük]]* 79 [[Kilis]]* 80 [[Osmaniye]]* 81 [[Düzce]]</td></tr></table>but I really recommend to go there as a mixed pair!''
== Regions and Their Hitchability ==
While ''- A female friend and I hitchhiked from the Georgian border to Istanbul. Turkey is one of the easiest countries in the world to hitch rides. Wait times, even in general bad locations, rarely exceed ten minutes. The hitchhiking is so good that it is fairly easy pays to attract a lift be picky about who you ride with: in Turkeyyou will have the privilege to turn down truck drivers in favor of faster vehicles. Although slower, locals' view of hitchhikers vary across the countrymost trucks will stop to offer rides. In generalWhile hitchhiking at night, people we were allowed to nap in northern and inland regions of the country are friendlier towards hitchhikerssleeping berths that long-haul trucks have. If put systematicallyBe polite, the level respectful, and learn a few words of ease Turkish and you will have great experiences (free food, impromptu tour guides, beds to get sleep in, etc.). However, you should be cautious if you are a lift in various regions of the country is solo female traveler, as even mild friendliness towards unrelated males will be misconstrued as follows in general, from easiest to hardest:flirtation.''
:(usually the first car passing by offering a lift) > North coast (Black Sea Region) (one in every ten cars offering a lift) > Northwest/European Turkey (Thrace) (most waits not exceeding 5 mins) > Inland steppes (Central Anatolia, longest waits likely ~20 mins) > Northwest/Asian Marmara (South Marmara) > Aegean Region > Southwest coast (Lycia) > Rest of Mediterranean coast (expect waits up to two hours!), with eastern mountains (Eastern Anatolia) perhaps falling somewhere between Central Anatolia and South Marmara.
As can be clearly seen, less touristy somewhere is, easier ''- Hitchhiked along the Black Sea Coast from Georgia to attract Bulgaria. Turkey was easy enough for me even for such a lift therehuge country. That being said, however, there are of course helpful drivers There was no issue sleeping on beaches or sleeping in fields on the highways outskirts of towns (I always asked for permission off of security guards etc. which most private property had). The cities are really big though due to the southbig populations, toowalking out of them can take ages, although they seem especially Istanbul which is very difficult to be exceptions rather than hitchhike out of. Turks are super proud too for the most part so don't offend them and also don't urinate on the rule.side of the road unless you are certain no-one will see (its definitely not acceptable)''
* * * [[Cappadocia]]* * == Links ==* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/otostopRail/ Turkish hitchhikers FB group]
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Removed the suggestion to say "virgin", as I can say with confidence that this will be interpreted as willingness to have sex in Turkey.
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=== Women hitchhiking in Turkey Hitchhiking buses ===
== Transportation Personal Experiences ==[[File:Mikeeg555 hitching in Turkey.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[User:Mikeeg555|Mikeeg555]] hitching in Turkey]][[File:CraigThumbingAsiaTurkey.JPG|thumb|250px|left|[[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitching in Cappadocia en route to Malaysia]]When you hitchhike in this country, people might try putting you on a ''dolmuş'' (mınıbus) or bringing you to the ''otogar'' (bus station). The dolmuş is the most common way of public transport inside and between cities & towns. These small buses that are advised to be used for small distances will stop anywhere on the road even if you don't signal them to stop. Generally, the ride on a dolmuş costs between 1 and 3 Lira.
''- I hitch-hiked with a male friend for 3.5 weeks in Turkey. We started from Istanbul, to Safranbolu, Yozgat, Malatya, Nemrut Daig, Cappadocia, Kalkan and back to Istanbul. I was asked to have sex with the bus conductor after one of the bus conductor invited us to take us and he found out that my friend and I are just friends traveling together. Well, that's just a minor issue. We got picked up by an old man when we were hitch-hiking from Cappadocia to Nemrut Dagi. The first two numbers old man had only 2 fingers on his right hand, and he was driving at the speed of 150 km/h, drinking tea and talking over the Turkish car plates indicate phone while my friend and I were sitting at the city back! He drove us to a car is registered intown nearby to do some sight-seeing and invited us to stay with his daughter's family! We ended up staying there for 3 nights. These are sorted My fiend joined her husband to work while i stayed at home with the wife doing some traditional stuff! The hardest route to get a ride was probably from 1 Antalya to 81 alphabeticallyKalkan. This rule is not applicable for villages that recently received It was late and no one wanted to pick us up! In the status of cities.end, two guys who worked in a restaurant picked us up and sent us to our friend's doorstep!''
* [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.com/2008/04/hitchhiking-guide-to-turkey-for-girls.html Hitchhiking Guide to Turkey for girls]
* [http://abgefahren.hitchbase.com/DE/blogs/alex/20090213/just-hitching-rides-journey-eid-christmas Just hitching rides: A journey from Eid to Christmas] (Hitchhiking from Yemen to Germany), abgefahren Blogs
* User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the Silk Road and wrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Turkey was big fun to hitch-hike. People are really hospitable everywhere - from Istanbul to Capaddocia, from Antep to Kurdistan!
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
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