Voir des derviches tourneurs à Istanbul?
by Lula
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Je voudrais voir des derviches tourneurs à Istanbul, bientôt, au mois d'avril.
Je ne sais pas comment m'y prendre.
Evidemment, je préfèrerais que ce ne soit pas un plan "touristes". J'aimerais donc savoir où me renseigner sur internet, ou alors, une adresse où me rendre une fois sur place.
Merci pour vos conseils.
(wiki)"... La danse elle-même est constituée d'un mouvement giratoire au cours duquel les derviches tournent sur eux-mêmes, les bras tendus, une paume dirigée vers le sol, l'autre vers le ciel, en signe de communion avec Dieu. Cette cérémonie n'a plus lieu aujourd'hui qu'une fois par an au cours du festival de Mevlâna qui se tient chaque année en décembre. Cette limitation fut instaurée par les réformes qu'Atatürk promulga et qui considéraient le mouvement des derviches tourneurs incompatible avec l'ouverture de la Turquie au monde contemporain..." (source : http://www.voyageturquie.org/konya.html )
Bonne soirée 🙂
Oups, c'est mieux avec le coupé-collé. pardon.
Whirling Dervish Ceremony Tour & Real Dervish Monastery Visit in Istanbul
http://www.lesartsturcs.com/lessons/whirling_dervish.php
Interested in learning more about Rumi? What a better way to learn about Sufism than by actually seeing a Whirling Dervish ceremony! Every Monday night a Whirling Dervish ceremony at a little Monastery located in Istanbul-Fatih, (near the VEFA football stadium) gives the intrigued visitor an once in a life time opportunity to see an unique religious ritual. It must be stressed that this is not a tourist attraction or theatrical dance performance, but rather a religious ceremony between believers and their selective guests.
Sufi music is considered to be unique because of its combination of synchronized hums with prayers--helping the WhirlingDervishes to achieve pure religious ecstasy. The actual ceremony starts around 21.00 in summer time, (20:30 in winter time) however guests are to meet at the Les ArtsTurcs Gallery Incili Cavus Sokak, located in Sultanahmet-In front of Hagia Sophia, one hour before the ceremony to ensure a timely arrival.
The cost is 25 Euro per person, which includes guide(s) little speech about sufism and sufis in Turkey, their life at Gallery LesArtsTurcs and round trip transportation to monastry and from the ceremony.You do not pay for Ceremony .Ceremony is FREE.Women are reminded to dress conservatively, covering both arms and legs.Men are advised not to wear shorts. These requests are rules of the monastery. When in Rome do as the Romans do! Impress your friends by bragging about your new cultured experience!
Note: photo and video cameras are not permitted.We do not have any relationship with touristic sufi show in town like tea gardens, Train station, hotel rooms.
During month of Ramadan, Rumi week in december, religous days, touring outside of Istanbul there is no CEREMONY.
To find out availability of performances and reservations call us at any of the phone number listed below. Or you can simply e-mail Nurdogan at nurdogan@lesartsturcs.com
or nurdogan@e-turkey.org For a print out of directions to the gallery go to: http://www.lesartsturcs.com/contact.php
Telephone numbers:
00 90 212 527 68 59 00 90 212 511 21 98 00 90 212 511 75 56 Les Arts Turcs Incili Çavus Sok. No: 37 Kat:3 Alemdar Mah.Sultanahmet 34400 (Between Tourism info and Underground Cistern) Istanbul Turkey
If you want to see also our Cd's about Sufi music just check our order web site out. If you need any hotel in Istanbul or in rest of Turkey let me know . http://www.lesartsturcs.com/ and http://www.lesartsturcs.org/
Please check out http://www.bazaarturkey.com/tours/lesartsturcstours.htm
Our other tours and Cultural events in Istanbul http://www.bazaarturkey.com/hotels1.htm
Hotels about Istanbul and Turkey.Hotels Links are made by us and we make also Hotel Reservations around 450 hotels in Turkey.
http://www.bazaarturkey.com/press/press.htm
Read some more about us. If you need some more help let me know. Nurdogan
Whirling Dervish Ceremony Tour & Real Dervish Monastery Visit in Istanbul
http://www.lesartsturcs.com/lessons/whirling_dervish.php
Interested in learning more about Rumi? What a better way to learn about Sufism than by actually seeing a Whirling Dervish ceremony! Every Monday night a Whirling Dervish ceremony at a little Monastery located in Istanbul-Fatih, (near the VEFA football stadium) gives the intrigued visitor an once in a life time opportunity to see an unique religious ritual. It must be stressed that this is not a tourist attraction or theatrical dance performance, but rather a religious ceremony between believers and their selective guests.
Sufi music is considered to be unique because of its combination of synchronized hums with prayers--helping the WhirlingDervishes to achieve pure religious ecstasy. The actual ceremony starts around 21.00 in summer time, (20:30 in winter time) however guests are to meet at the Les ArtsTurcs Gallery Incili Cavus Sokak, located in Sultanahmet-In front of Hagia Sophia, one hour before the ceremony to ensure a timely arrival.
The cost is 25 Euro per person, which includes guide(s) little speech about sufism and sufis in Turkey, their life at Gallery LesArtsTurcs and round trip transportation to monastry and from the ceremony.You do not pay for Ceremony .Ceremony is FREE.Women are reminded to dress conservatively, covering both arms and legs.Men are advised not to wear shorts. These requests are rules of the monastery. When in Rome do as the Romans do! Impress your friends by bragging about your new cultured experience!
Note: photo and video cameras are not permitted.We do not have any relationship with touristic sufi show in town like tea gardens, Train station, hotel rooms.
During month of Ramadan, Rumi week in december, religous days, touring outside of Istanbul there is no CEREMONY.
To find out availability of performances and reservations call us at any of the phone number listed below. Or you can simply e-mail Nurdogan at nurdogan@lesartsturcs.com
or nurdogan@e-turkey.org For a print out of directions to the gallery go to: http://www.lesartsturcs.com/contact.php
Telephone numbers:
00 90 212 527 68 59 00 90 212 511 21 98 00 90 212 511 75 56 Les Arts Turcs Incili Çavus Sok. No: 37 Kat:3 Alemdar Mah.Sultanahmet 34400 (Between Tourism info and Underground Cistern) Istanbul Turkey
If you want to see also our Cd's about Sufi music just check our order web site out. If you need any hotel in Istanbul or in rest of Turkey let me know . http://www.lesartsturcs.com/ and http://www.lesartsturcs.org/
Please check out http://www.bazaarturkey.com/tours/lesartsturcstours.htm
Our other tours and Cultural events in Istanbul http://www.bazaarturkey.com/hotels1.htm
Hotels about Istanbul and Turkey.Hotels Links are made by us and we make also Hotel Reservations around 450 hotels in Turkey.
http://www.bazaarturkey.com/press/press.htm
Read some more about us. If you need some more help let me know. Nurdogan
"... Derviches tourneurs, les chantres d'un islam libéral Leur pratique religieuse est hétérodoxe pour des musulmans : les femmes jouissent d'une complète égalité, ne portent pas le foulard et participent aux cérémonies aux côtés des hommes.
La confrérie des Mevlevi, ordre soufi connu sous le nom de derviches tourneurs, pratique, en Turquie, un islam ouvert et pacificateur.
Profondément humaniste, le soufisme, courant mystique de l'islam fondé au XIIIe siècle par le poète Mevlana Celaleddin Roumi, prône l'amour universel et la tolérance.
Ardents défenseurs de l'Etat laïque et moderne, ses adeptes vénèrent Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Cette forme libérale de l'islam, honnie par les conservateurs, n'en a pas moins été pourchassée après la fondation de la République.
Interdites en 1925, les confréries ont vécu dans la clandestinité jusqu'en 1950. « Aujourd'hui, nombre de derviches ne sont que des professionnels du spectacle cherchant à attirer les touristes », déplore Nurdogan Senguler, directeur du centre Les Arts Turcs. Le sema, leur danse rituelle, n'est pourtant pas un spectacle pour touristes mais une cérémonie à la gloire d'Allah.
Deux fois par mois, les fidèles se réunissent au couvent de Galata Mevlevihanesi, à Istanbul. Sur des rythmes de tambours, ils récitent d'abord dans une longue litanie les différents noms de Dieu. Puis, paumes de la main tournées, l'une vers le ciel, l'autre vers le sol, imitant la ronde des planètes autour du soleil au son d'une flûte de roseau, les derviches entrent dans un état de transe extatique pour communier avec Dieu...
Audrey Levy (à Istanbul) " (source : http://www.bazaarturkey.com/...siness_islamique.htm )
Interdites en 1925, les confréries ont vécu dans la clandestinité jusqu'en 1950. « Aujourd'hui, nombre de derviches ne sont que des professionnels du spectacle cherchant à attirer les touristes », déplore Nurdogan Senguler, directeur du centre Les Arts Turcs. Le sema, leur danse rituelle, n'est pourtant pas un spectacle pour touristes mais une cérémonie à la gloire d'Allah.
Deux fois par mois, les fidèles se réunissent au couvent de Galata Mevlevihanesi, à Istanbul. Sur des rythmes de tambours, ils récitent d'abord dans une longue litanie les différents noms de Dieu. Puis, paumes de la main tournées, l'une vers le ciel, l'autre vers le sol, imitant la ronde des planètes autour du soleil au son d'une flûte de roseau, les derviches entrent dans un état de transe extatique pour communier avec Dieu...
Audrey Levy (à Istanbul) " (source : http://www.bazaarturkey.com/...siness_islamique.htm )
http://www.metacafe.com/...esi_istanbul_turkey/
🙂
The ceremony has seven parts symbolizing the whirling dervish's love of God, humankind and all creation:
1. Natt-i Serif: praise for God the Creator, for the Prophet Muhammed, and for the prophets preceding him (Musa/Moses and Isa/Jesus, etc.)
2. Kudum: the beating of a small kettledrum symbolizes the command of God which created the universe: "Be!"
3. Ney: The soulful, breathy music of the ney, the open-ended reed flute of the Mevlevi, symbolizes the breathing of life into all creatures.
4. Greeting: the dervishes greet each other three times, a symbol of the soul being greeted by its secret soul.
5. Whirling: the dervishes drop their black cloaks to reveal white costumes fitted to the torso, but with long, flowing skirts. The dropping of the cloak symbolizes the casting off of falsehood and the revelation of truth. Each dervish places his arms on his chest to symbolize his belief in the Oneness of God, "the One." Bowing, he kisses the hand of the Sheikh Efendi (spiritual leader) and seeks permission to enter the sema. As he enters, each dervish slowly unfurls his arms, his right hand reaching up to heaven to receive its blessings, the left hand down to communicate them to earth. He whirls counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise), right to left, with his heart at the axis of the turn. The dervishes complete four whirling sessions of approximately 15 minutes each, resting briefly between sessions. The Sheikh Efendi joins in the final session, turning slowly.
6. Prayer: prayers are recited from the Kur'an in praise of God.
7. Fatiha: recitation of the Fatiha, or first chapter of the Kur'an, in memory of all prophets, martyrs and believers, followed by a prayer for the welfare of the nation and its leaders.
(source:http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/CentralAnatolia/Konya/sema.html)
🙂
The ceremony has seven parts symbolizing the whirling dervish's love of God, humankind and all creation:
1. Natt-i Serif: praise for God the Creator, for the Prophet Muhammed, and for the prophets preceding him (Musa/Moses and Isa/Jesus, etc.)
2. Kudum: the beating of a small kettledrum symbolizes the command of God which created the universe: "Be!"
3. Ney: The soulful, breathy music of the ney, the open-ended reed flute of the Mevlevi, symbolizes the breathing of life into all creatures.
4. Greeting: the dervishes greet each other three times, a symbol of the soul being greeted by its secret soul.
5. Whirling: the dervishes drop their black cloaks to reveal white costumes fitted to the torso, but with long, flowing skirts. The dropping of the cloak symbolizes the casting off of falsehood and the revelation of truth. Each dervish places his arms on his chest to symbolize his belief in the Oneness of God, "the One." Bowing, he kisses the hand of the Sheikh Efendi (spiritual leader) and seeks permission to enter the sema. As he enters, each dervish slowly unfurls his arms, his right hand reaching up to heaven to receive its blessings, the left hand down to communicate them to earth. He whirls counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise), right to left, with his heart at the axis of the turn. The dervishes complete four whirling sessions of approximately 15 minutes each, resting briefly between sessions. The Sheikh Efendi joins in the final session, turning slowly.
6. Prayer: prayers are recited from the Kur'an in praise of God.
7. Fatiha: recitation of the Fatiha, or first chapter of the Kur'an, in memory of all prophets, martyrs and believers, followed by a prayer for the welfare of the nation and its leaders.
(source:http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/CentralAnatolia/Konya/sema.html)
salut, j'ai vu cela il y a une dizaine d'années (donc je ne peux pas certifier que cela soit vraiment d'actualité). C'est le dimanche soir (2è et dernier dim du mois je crois) au couvent des derviches tourneurs (tu peux visiter, ce n'est pas extraordinaire sauf s'il y a un spectacle), derrière la tour galata en remontant sur taksim.
A l'époque, le "spectacle" était public (environ 10 touristes séparés des membres de l'organisation) pour qu'il ait le droit de se produire.
2 heures avant : les derviches, les musiciens, les adorateurs, … bref tout le monde arrivent et c'est la cérémonie du baise-main envers le grand maitre (cétait dans le jardin), ça sent la "secte"…
étrange, mais un grand souvenir
😎
étrange, mais un grand souvenir
😎
2 heures avant : les derviches, les musiciens, les adorateurs, … bref tout le monde arrivent et c'est la cérémonie du baise-main envers le grand maitre (cétait dans le jardin), ça sent la "secte"…
Un baise main n'a rien a voir avec un secte c'est juste un rituel de respect qui existe au sein de la société turque envers les grands 😏 les belges sont vraiments des gens etranges 😛
Un baise main n'a rien a voir avec un secte c'est juste un rituel de respect qui existe au sein de la société turque envers les grands 😏 les belges sont vraiments des gens etranges 😛
2 heures avant : les derviches, les musiciens, les adorateurs, … bref tout le monde arrivent et c'est la cérémonie du baise-main envers le grand maitre (cétait dans le jardin), ça sent la "secte"…
Un baise main n'a rien a voir avec un secte c'est juste un rituel de respect qui existe au sein de la société turque envers les grands 😏 les belges sont vraiments des gens etranges 😛
où as-tu vu que j'étais belge, lieu de résidence ne signifie pas lieu d'origine, tu as fais un raccourci malheureux……………… de même baise-main = secte (encore un raccourci hatif), c'était juste un exemple parmi d'autres…… dans le même ordre d'idée tu ne manqueras pas de noter que le terme secte est entre-guillemets Je t'engage vivement à lire un peu mieux les posts avant de porter un jugement définitif
😛
Un baise main n'a rien a voir avec un secte c'est juste un rituel de respect qui existe au sein de la société turque envers les grands 😏 les belges sont vraiments des gens etranges 😛
où as-tu vu que j'étais belge, lieu de résidence ne signifie pas lieu d'origine, tu as fais un raccourci malheureux……………… de même baise-main = secte (encore un raccourci hatif), c'était juste un exemple parmi d'autres…… dans le même ordre d'idée tu ne manqueras pas de noter que le terme secte est entre-guillemets Je t'engage vivement à lire un peu mieux les posts avant de porter un jugement définitif
😛
j'ai bien relu ton message et il ressort que le fait de mentionner le baise-main soit la raison d'utilisation du mot secte car il n y a rien d'autres dans ton message qui se referre a l'utilisation du mot secte.
en effet, le fait d'habiter la belgique ne fait pas de toi un belge
en effet, le fait d'habiter la belgique ne fait pas de toi un belge
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Hi there!
I’m sharing our itinerary for May/June 2027—23 days. This is our first time in Greece, so we’re starting with the must-see spots. We’re planning another trip later to explore the north, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, and some islands.
- Athens, 4 nights - Corinth area, 2 nights (Heraion of Perachora, Canal, Acrocorinth) - Nafplio, 3 nights (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Methana peninsula) - Gefira, 2 nights (Monemvasia) - Areopoli, 2 nights (Mani). Maybe add an extra night and stay on the peninsula??? Based on my calculations, the Mani loop is about 100 km—doable in a day, but it’d be a quick trip. - Sparta or Pikoulianika, 2 nights (Mystras) - Dimitsana, 2 nights (Lousios Gorge, monasteries) - Olympia, 2 nights (via Lagkadia?) - Delphi or Arachova, 3 nights (via the west coast, Galaxidi bridge) (Delphi, Hosios Loukas Monastery) - And back to Athens.
This is just a rough draft for now. We’re planning to stay in hotels or book through Booking.com. What do you think? Thanks for your feedback and suggestions!
- Athens, 4 nights - Corinth area, 2 nights (Heraion of Perachora, Canal, Acrocorinth) - Nafplio, 3 nights (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Methana peninsula) - Gefira, 2 nights (Monemvasia) - Areopoli, 2 nights (Mani). Maybe add an extra night and stay on the peninsula??? Based on my calculations, the Mani loop is about 100 km—doable in a day, but it’d be a quick trip. - Sparta or Pikoulianika, 2 nights (Mystras) - Dimitsana, 2 nights (Lousios Gorge, monasteries) - Olympia, 2 nights (via Lagkadia?) - Delphi or Arachova, 3 nights (via the west coast, Galaxidi bridge) (Delphi, Hosios Loukas Monastery) - And back to Athens.
This is just a rough draft for now. We’re planning to stay in hotels or book through Booking.com. What do you think? Thanks for your feedback and suggestions!
Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve traveled the roads between France and Moldova a good ten times, sometimes via Central Europe, other times via the Balkans.
It was while traveling like this—what I call "hitting the road the slow way"—that I realized something simple: our neighbors' neighbors are very clearly our neighbors too. And that’s not insignificant.
Proof: https://etreounepasetrebretillien.com/2018/03/19/moldova-mea/ 🤓
After a break of a few years, I’m planning to hit the road again in September, this time heading to Kosovo, crossing through Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Having gotten a bit older, I’ve no intention of rushing—no need to speed ahead of the music! 😄
I’d rather take my time.
I’m not looking to see everything, but to soak in the atmosphere of the places, always leaving room for the unexpected and for encounters.
I’m especially drawn to culturally immersive, authentic, and welcoming regions: lively villages, backroads, preserved landscapes, markets, local festivals, traditions that are still very much alive... and, why not, a few offbeat, forgotten, or slightly secret spots.
If any of you know Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, or Kosovo a little, I’d love to hear your suggestions for itineraries, stops, backroads, homestays, village festivals, or local contacts, for example.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
It was while traveling like this—what I call "hitting the road the slow way"—that I realized something simple: our neighbors' neighbors are very clearly our neighbors too. And that’s not insignificant.
Proof: https://etreounepasetrebretillien.com/2018/03/19/moldova-mea/ 🤓
After a break of a few years, I’m planning to hit the road again in September, this time heading to Kosovo, crossing through Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Having gotten a bit older, I’ve no intention of rushing—no need to speed ahead of the music! 😄
I’d rather take my time.
I’m not looking to see everything, but to soak in the atmosphere of the places, always leaving room for the unexpected and for encounters.
I’m especially drawn to culturally immersive, authentic, and welcoming regions: lively villages, backroads, preserved landscapes, markets, local festivals, traditions that are still very much alive... and, why not, a few offbeat, forgotten, or slightly secret spots.
If any of you know Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, or Kosovo a little, I’d love to hear your suggestions for itineraries, stops, backroads, homestays, village festivals, or local contacts, for example.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Planning to return to Belarus in mid-August, I just realized that since last September, Poland has reopened several border crossing points, and for buses, this means connections like Białystok-Grodno.
The official Polish page: https://granica.gov.pl/index_wait.php?p=b&c=t&v=pl&k=w

Several bus company routes, like on infobus.eu, take between 3 and 4 hours. Trains from Warsaw to Białystok take about 1.5 to 2 hours. This has the advantage of allowing comfortable train journeys with minimal time spent on a bus. Also, the Terespol-Brest border might have shorter queues if you still prefer a Warsaw-Brest bus.
Note that another route to Minsk, if you have a paper Russian or Belarusian visa, is the Kaliningrad-Minsk train. It’s long—around ten or eleven hours—but you can lie down and sleep. An option if you fly into Gdańsk and then take a short bus to Kaliningrad.
There are also Belavia flights from Minsk to Kaliningrad, but they’re expensive. The route is scenic:

In any case, this adds a few more options compared to what’s been available over the last four years.
The official Polish page: https://granica.gov.pl/index_wait.php?p=b&c=t&v=pl&k=w

Several bus company routes, like on infobus.eu, take between 3 and 4 hours. Trains from Warsaw to Białystok take about 1.5 to 2 hours. This has the advantage of allowing comfortable train journeys with minimal time spent on a bus. Also, the Terespol-Brest border might have shorter queues if you still prefer a Warsaw-Brest bus.
Note that another route to Minsk, if you have a paper Russian or Belarusian visa, is the Kaliningrad-Minsk train. It’s long—around ten or eleven hours—but you can lie down and sleep. An option if you fly into Gdańsk and then take a short bus to Kaliningrad.
There are also Belavia flights from Minsk to Kaliningrad, but they’re expensive. The route is scenic:

In any case, this adds a few more options compared to what’s been available over the last four years.
Hi there.
I’d like to know what the daily budget is for Greece in December. I’ll be landing in Athens and staying there for a week, then heading to some other islands—I don’t have a set itinerary yet. Also, I’ve heard that in December, or early January, the temperature is around 11–16°C. Is that accurate?
Finally, does anyone have a good recommendation for a cheap but clean hotel near the tourist sites? I don’t need a TV or any other extras. Also, is Greece gay-friendly?
Thanks in advance for your replies. Best regards
Finally, does anyone have a good recommendation for a cheap but clean hotel near the tourist sites? I don’t need a TV or any other extras. Also, is Greece gay-friendly?
Thanks in advance for your replies. Best regards
hi
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere. Thanks
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere. Thanks
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week trip in late September with our camper van to explore Bulgaria and Romania.
What routes would you recommend, starting from the South?
Is there an option to take a ferry in Italy, and is it worth it?
Thanks for all your tips!😊
Hi there, we’re a young couple and we’d love to go to the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) between today (26/06/26) and tomorrow (27/06/26).
Is anyone heading there and could give us a ride? We’re super friendly!
Thanks so much!
Maya and Sullivan
Maya and Sullivan
We're back. It's still a bit tough to get precise info, so here's a quick trip report!
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth. In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well. Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth. In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well. Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027.
Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer.
Initially, I had planned this itinerary:
Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture.
That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Hi there!
We bought our tickets to Greece at the end of November 2025, and let’s just say the geopolitical climate has really taken a turn since then with the war started by the United States against Iran. Not to mention all the other conflicts happening around the world 😕... Anyway!
Our flight from Montreal is on May 1st, and I was wondering how things are currently being experienced in Greece.
We were planning to rent a car and had already booked accommodations on three Cyclades islands!!
The oil shortage is also worrying us...
If you could share some insights on this, that would be great!
Thanks!!
Thanks!!





