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Dear Sufi Trail friend ,
Travellers of the Universe, trailblazers and adventure enthusiasts, welcome to the exhilarating world of the Sufi Trail newsletter! We're here to bring you the latest updates on the incredible journey along the Sufi Trail, a long-distance hiking and biking trail stretching from Istanbul to Konya. But before we dive into the exciting news, let's talk about the recent rainy days in Turkey. While some might see rain as a hindrance, our intrepid hikers and bikers persevered through the wet weather and emerged victorious on their quest along the Sufi Trail. Yes, you heard it right! Despite the downpours and muddy paths, the Sufi Trail caravan triumphed over the challenges, creating unforgettable memories and forging unbreakable bonds along the way. The success of the hiking caravan during the rainy days in Turkey has not only captured the attention of outdoor enthusiasts but has also strengthened the bonds along the route.
The esteemed book, “New Pilgrimage Routes and Trails,” has acknowledged the Sufi Trail as a significant pilgrimage route, shedding light on its historical significance and the remarkable experiences it offers to modern-day adventurers. Now, here's the exciting news for all the thrill-seekers out there. Even though the rainy days have passed, the adventure doesn't stop! You can still join us on the Sufi cycling caravan this autumn, where you'll pedal through picturesque landscapes, immerse yourself in the rich culture of Turkey, and create memories that will last a lifetime. And if autumn doesn't work for you, fret not! We're already gearing up for next year's spring hiking caravan, where you can embark on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, exploration, and spiritual enlightenment. So, whether you choose to cycle with us in the vibrant colours of autumn or hike with us in the blossoming beauty of spring, the Sufi Trail caravan eagerly awaits your presence. Get ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure, where every step or pedal stroke brings you closer to the magic and mystique of this ancient path.
Stay tuned for more captivating stories, breathtaking landscapes, and awe-inspiring tales from the Sufi Trail. Join us as we continue to explore, connect, and embrace the spirit of adventure on this extraordinary pilgrimage route. Until next time, happy trails and happy travels!
Love,
Sedat & Iris
Sufi Trail
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Sufi Trail in New Pilgrimage Routes and Trails deel 3?
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We are so honoured to be part 3 deel 3 toevoegen.. New Edition by Daniel H. Olsen (Volume editor) Dane Munro (Volume editor) Ian S. McIntosh (Volume editor) ©2023 Edited CollectionVIII, 312 Pages The Sufi Tail team is very grateful for this academic attention after the thesis of ŞEYMA AYTEMİR Thank you so much, professors and teachers, for guiding us into the new dimensions of clever brains. A whole new journey to undertake.
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Items Sufi Summer edition
- Hiking caravan 2023 is home
- Bicycle caravan 2023 coming up
- Sufi Trail new stamps
- Hakan Karabaşoğlu (for Günüören)
- Rezayi Arslanboga (Yenikoy)
- Kerem Er (Sarıcailyas)
- Clara drawing wonder
- Leni navigates to the light
- Mehmet our dog whisperer
- The old road
- Hiking the Sufi Trail in spring
- GPX updated
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Hiking caravan 2023 is home
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What a walking adventure it was again. And how lucky that everyone came home safely, had a nice trip and gained a whole caravan of hiking friends. Every day was a big party, even though we hardly saw any sunlight. It rained and rained and thundered into the night. We crossed rivers, and the poncho in rainbow design coloured the walking caravan as if it were the most natural thing in the world. We were most concerned about dry socks and feet and about the normal problems such as stray dogs and herds. The fact that it went so smoothly is due to the perseverance and flexibility of the group. The slogan was “hike to the light” and we were on a pink cloud because of the love for each other. Of our twelve participants, everyone got their place in the pack. There are enjoyable anecdotes to share, which we will explain in detail in a subsequent writing. So you can already look forward to the stories of Tea Café Fred, drawing wonder Clara, Annette the balance artist, Mehmet our all-rounder, Karien the thru hiker, Louise the wise walker, Noëlle the moderator, Fikri the driver, our lifesaver with Leni right behind, who together formed the super team. And as icing on the walking party: our humorous reporter Jeannette, who, as a walking soldier, bundles everything in hopefully … a book. All this was inspired by Seyfollah, who, as an Iranian, was the only one who can translate the old Farsi texts and the theme of the Sufi Trail. To put it mildly, we found ourselves in colourful company. Fikri also regularly reassures us with the text: “Don't worry, it will be a colourful forty days”. Friends and people also live on the route where we were once again welcomed with open arms, but this calls for a new chapter. A warm heart and wet feet with sparkles of light and rivers of happiness, we close the walking caravan 2023 with a big smile. We are grateful that we have been able to experience so many adventures together again in good health. Have you also become enthusiastic about joining the hikingcaravan in 2024? Then register via the website. There is a maximum of twelve walkers, excluding the Sufi team. |
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Bicycle caravan 2023 coming up
3 places left! For a bicycle pioneer who likes camping, but also having fun and drinking tea, we've come to the right place. We start on September 29 in Yalova with our bicycle caravan and then cycle to Konya on the Sufi Trail. Afterwards, we cycle the Mecca Trail for a few more days, just like last year. The travel report of 2022 is still on Polarsteps. So that you get an idea of the adventures and camping spots. There are already five participants for this trip. Would you like to join our group, consider there are still three places available. You can register via the website or call / app us if you want to know more. We deliberately keep the bicycle caravan smaller, so that we can be agile and flexible. Each participant receives a fully equipped package with all information, routes, and the necessary Sufi Trail goodies, so that we can be seen and heard on the way, with the recent addition: the Sufi Trail whistle. This has already proven itself several times, because you also have to deal with Turkish sheepdogs and stray dogs on your bike.
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Sufi Trail starting point and stamps
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The Sufi Trail is a long-distance hiking trail that connects the cities of Istanbul and Konya. It's not just a trail, though—it's a way to connect with other people from all over the world who have settled in this region for centuries. The trail was established by the municipality of Eyüp, which includes the holy district of Istanbul. To get your passport stamped, you'll need to go to Eyüp and visit Semt-i Mukaddes Pilavcısı (Rise café in the holy district). You can also get your passport stamped at Ahmet Yiğit in Yalova, Linda Pijl, Ahmet Albayrak, Tuncay Erik and Hakan Yavuz. Building a community around a trail is relying on the friends we have made along the Sufi Trail, luck seems to be on your side as you meet each other along the way and create friendships that will last forever. More stamping points along the route: |
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Hakan Karabaşoğlu (for Günüören)
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Last year some pilgrims made new friends. Now that we came by with the hiking caravan, we were warmly welcomed by Hakan. He knew all about our dream: marking and importance of Sufi Trial Passport. He had spoken to Jesus and he had camped in their gazebo. It is a beautiful garden house that resembles a kind of wooden watchtower. It is just before the village of Günüören and we passed by with our group at exactly the right time. They had also just arrived to furnish the house, ready for use. The house was just in order and the lady of the garden (house) had brought flowers and food.
We ate a delicious lunch together and Sedat immediately went into design mode that day, so they immediately made their mark for the upcoming walkers. Or cyclists of course, although I think it is really a walking route. Hakan and his family are usually there on weekends, but their address will also be included in the Sufi Trail accommodation list as a camping spot. A great asset for stringing together support points
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Rezayi Arslanboga (Yenikoy)
Quite often we pass by Yeniköy and meet Rezayi there, he supports hikers, cyclists and has known us since our first trip in 2016. This trip finally got around to making his mark as a support point. A Roman pillar has been erected as a monument in the village. We always have to laugh a bit about it, but it is true that it is normally found in museums.
Appropriately, finally an official stamp for Rezayi who is a real pillar for the pilgrims on the way.
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Kerem Er (Sarıcailyas)
For the first time this year, we camped in the Muhtar cottage on the lake near Sarıcailyas. The muhtar's son, a small peat, found it very interesting and chatted with Sedat. They got on well together, and Sedat remarked that he could become a stamping point for new travellers.
The son was happy to accept the new task, but suggested that he needed a Sufi hat with his new position. Sedat gave his cap and voilà our youngest stamper is ready. If you see him: his name is Kerem.
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Clara drawing wonder
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The walking caravan once started as a small team, where we had the honour of walking with Clara Petri. Clara is a young lady with a wise mind and tells us a lot about the plant kingdom. In addition, she is super handy with the internet. She is also very creative so that she always surprises us with portraits, cards and a very special birthday card for Sedat. With the help of Leni's printer. She is an impressive talent, our Clara, and we hope she can translate her Sufi Trail experiences into drawings.
She shares a room with Karin, and unfortunately we say goodbye to her in Eskişehir. Karin gives a nice speech before her departure. She goes to Greece at the invitation of a nunnery, where she now resides. Together with Clara we discussed that, if possible, a booklet would be published with the experiences in pictures. So who knows, we may soon open it and open our eyes, heart, and mouth at the same time, because her drawings are all works of art.
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Leni navigates to the light
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Leni de Vries has the most special things in a suitcase with a beautiful marble motif. This is how we discover that there is a printer in it, new outfits, which makes her look beautiful. In fact, there isn't much she didn't take with her. From the beginning of the trip, we agreed that we will go to Konya together. Leni and Sedat make a flat program with as few mountains as possible. When the hiking team arrives at the mountain, Leni will pick up the debris with Fikri: tired hikers and with a delicious bag full of drinks and food. No sooner said than done. Soon Leni and Fikri turned out to be the golden couple, they quickly became the super team and were very well attuned to each other. They look out for each other and Fikri knows exactly when his navigation partner will return, so that getting lost is prevented. Leni is a good navigator and Fikri is more someone who asks for directions instead of using the navigation.
The car has had to dive down almost horizontal paths, slide through muddy roads and brave puddles of water. In addition to navigating, Leni can then inspect the mud puddles with her walking stick to see if it is not too deep. It is already known that the adventures with Fikri are bigger than the hiking team. Who just walk a little. Fikri and Sedat arrange a stamp for Leni in Eskişehir because then it will be in time for Clara, who unfortunately leaves us before she leaves for Greece.
Very appropriately, she gets the slogan: “Navigate to the light”. Who would have ever thought that together we would become such an indispensable link in the hiking caravan.
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Mehmet, our dog whisperer
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The man who can do everything is Mehmet. There is nothing he can't do, anyone who travels with Mehmet immediately feels safe because he is good at everything. He repairs and makes things already in progress. Mehmet makes friends during all the treks, and they are humans and animals! The dogs are really a caravan during the treks. They wait for him for nights and some even a year! They bark when they hear he's coming. When he whistles, the animal gets very excited, the dog in question has known him since he was young, and they hug each other every time. Many people follow Mehmet during the walking caravan. This way they feel safe and when the road is calm, he makes a walking stick, cuts sausages for the four-legged friends and sees what is happening with laser sharpness. Like a hawk, he spots fruit that is just ripe and provides all walkers with a treat.
Then it is still puzzling with the suitcases and bags. If the car is arranged by Mehmet, there are certainly 2 to 3 more places in the car than if others do. The list is almost endless, and I'm only talking about a few things that come to mind. For example, I forget that he puts all hikers across the rivers, because hiking caravan 2023 is wetter than wet. To put Mehmet in the spotlight on this stormy hiking caravan, we made an appropriate stamp for him. The stamp was handed over by Leni, who had also just received a stamp. Mehmet's stamp reads, “the official Sufi Trail dog whisperer.”
But those who have the honour to get to know Mehmet knows that that is only a small part of what Mehmet can do.
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Get involved with Sufi Trail
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Participating in the Sufi Trail community? This year you will receive a special Pilgrim Route Buff if you renew your membership. In case you are not yet a member of the Sufi Trail, we do include a special designed Sufi Trail Buff for all orders placed till January 31, 2023. So don't wait too long if you were already planning to walk with us on one of our pilgrimages in Turkey. Yes, I like to renew my Sufi Trail subscription and I receive the Sufi Trail buff for free. I am not a member yet, but like to be a member and support the Sufi trail. I am a cyclist and I like to be a member and support the Sufi Trail.
Remember all new members gets a free Buff. |
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Sign up for the hiking caravan
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Due to the many positive reactions, we can already confirm that the hiking caravan for 2024 dates are set. Two already booked, 10 spots left! The dates are 3rd of May till 13th of June 2024! Would you also like to take a walk or experience the entire 40-day feeling (or part of the Sufi Trail) along the way? Then sign up. It still seems far away, but before you know it, the seasons will fly by. The date is known, so you can consider whether it fits in your agenda. Check the website for details and last year's experiences. |
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Sufi on Bike
Ready to prepare your cycling journey on the Sufi Trail? We are very happy to offer the cycling package with all the information you need to cycle from Istanbul to Konya, visiting the ever-changing landscape of Anatolian Turkey. Get ready to Cycle to the light |
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Hike & Bike Events
Sufi Trail organizes hiking and cycling events on the Sufi Trail. They are events to promote slow travel and camp outside under the stars in Anatolia, Turkey. If you have questions you can call & app us on: +31 6 440 447 90 |
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Your Sufi Story
We love to hear your Sufi Trail story for the next newsletter. You can also send your Sufi (trail) related message or story. Keep it short. 300 words maximum and send it to sufitrail@gmail.com And yes we love pictures and video's ❤ We hope that you like the work of Sufi Trail. You may also consider making a donation to the Sufi Trail foundation. |
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