Sufi Trail

[O Peracha]

Has anyone here walked the Sufi Trail (Istanbul to Konya, Turkey) - all or any portion? I've already reviewed the sufitrail website. Looking for first hand experience. Thanks.

 

[timr]

I'm also very interested to know as I heard about it only last week. It would bring me from Istanbul towards Cyprus which is what I need!! I thought the website looked quite encouraging.

 

[O Peracha]

I'm a fan of Rumi's and would really like to do this walk. I've checked out the website also. There is a Canadian person who did it solo, finishing in Oct or Nov. She has written about her experience but it is more of a stream of consciousness exercise. I was looking for more practical information. For example, I don't want to camp but don't mind walking long distances - 40-50 km a day. Is this feasible or is the distance between accommodations greater than 50 km? Also, how current are their guidebooks regarding accommodations?

Anyway, I have reached out to one of the contacts (Iris) listed on the website. I'll come back and post here once I hear back from her.

 

[timr]

I'm a fan of Rumi's and would really like to do this walk. I've checked out the website also. There is a Canadian person who did it solo, finishing in Oct or Nov. She has written about her experience but it is more of a stream of consciousness exercise. I was looking for more practical information. For example, I don't want to camp but don't mind walking long distances - 40-50 km a day. Is this feasible or is the distance between accommodations greater than 50 km? Also, how current are their guidebooks regarding accommodations?

Anyway, I have reached out to one of the contacts (Iris) listed on the website. I'll come back and post here once I hear back from her.

Thanks
I am also trying to avoid camping so equally interested on that front
I got from Canterbury to Brindisi without a tent and hope tocontinue in same fashion!

 

[O Peracha]

Iris (the contact from the Sufi Trail website said that she was confident that we would not need to camp. I would have have been more comfortable with data. But I think the way it works is that in villages without hotels/pensions, etc. you contact what is the equivalent of the mayor, tell him/her what you're doing and something can always be arranged, perhaps in a private home. You can also contact Iris while you're walking and she will try to help, also. So, leap of faith . Besides, what's the worst that happens. You stop and play tourist in Turkey?

Reference:
https://sufitrail.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sufitrail/

 

[Sedat]

Hi Omar, The Sufi Trail guidebooks are accurate and the GPX/KML files are up to date. There is a place to sleep in any case in distances less than 50 kilometers but almost every village in Turkey has village guestrooms for travelling guests. I am co-author of the Sufi Trail guidebooks. We are just back from a winterhike on the Sufi Trail to test the trail on cold conditions.
With Suif Trail passport and guidebooks you will find your way smoothly. Iris Bezuijen is the other author of the guidebooks and together we provide whatsapp support on distance.
We hope to see you pilgrims on the Sufi Trail.
Bon camino,

Sedat

 

[O Peracha]

Appreciate the response, Sedat. The reasons for my concern with lack of lodging was because of information on this site - http://cultureroutesinturkey.com/sufi-trail/accommodation-sufi-trail/. It lists accommodations by day and there are missing days which I assumed meant that there was nothing available. I am very intrigued and this trail is definitely a contender for this year's walk.

Thanks, again.

 

[Sedat]

I understand Omar. Culture Routes Website gives only a brief information about each of the member routes in Turkey. Sufi Trail guidebooks gives full information. We have also PDF updates of the contacts and accommodation. We normally reply within a day to questions from pilgrims. (we mean mostly Iris)