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Dear Sufi Trail friend ,
Sufi Trail Newsletter – Together on the Path to Konya
The walking caravan winds deeper through Turkey’s landscapes, where every day spins new tales between red-white marked trails and chance encounters. It begins with the people: Fikri, our jack-of-all-trades, misses his smoke buddy Rina but soldiers on bravely. Meanwhile, Mehmet, our "dog whisperer," ensures every four-legged local greets us as friends—even when we briefly adopted a "lion" named Aslan (who turned out to be a gentle giant called Dobby).
The caravan is a tapestry of colorful souls. Meryem, René, and Tielleke form an inseparable trio, navigating trails and conjuring one-pot feasts. Anneke scatters flowers like breadcrumbs of joy, while Victor and Hetty capture the journey in words and collages.
The route itself grows richer. With brushes and blue notebooks, we refine markings, and thanks to donations, new signposts bloom—like Cecilia and Annelies’ kilometer markers. Villages open their doors, teapots simmer, and on a mountain meadow where the view erases all fatigue, a proud "Refugio" sign now stands.
This is a journey of tiny triumphs, shared jokes, and unexpected kinship. For more tales, dive into the blogs of Rina, Victor, Iris, and Sedat. But the truest story is written together, step by step, toward Konya.
For the path matters more than the destination, the souls who walk it with you.
Love,
Iris Bezuijen & Sedat Çakır
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Follow the Journey: Inshallah, until the next signpost!
🌹 The Sufi Trail Team
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For laughter, blisters, and Mehmet’s tea wisdom, Rina’s blog
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For laughter, Rumi Navigators wisdom and stories about our hiking caravan read Victor's Polarsteps
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Sedat's movies and pictures
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Iris her stories and pictures
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Sufi Trail Whispers
- Eid Mubarak
- Rumi Trail Cycling Team Almost Complete
- Trail Life: Stamps & Characters
- Blazing a Better Trail
- Signpost Success
- A Route Coming Alive
- Join us in 2026!
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🌙 Eid Mubarak, Trailblazers!
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Eid Mubarak!
As the moon prepares for a new cycle, millions of people around the world celebrate
Eid al-Adha – the festival that marks the end of Ramadan. We would also like to congratulate everyone on this special moment of joy, connection, and gratitude!
🌙 Eid Mubarak! May this day be filled with light, love and sweet treats. عيد فطر مبارك وسعيد!
"Kurban Bayramınız kutlu olsun! Yollarımız hep aydınlık, kalplerimiz hep beraber olsun."
🌍 And to everyone: "Happy Eid! May this celebration bring peace, joy and many shared trails ahead."
Eid is about coming together. Like our walking caravan, it connects stories, cultures, and hearts. Today, families come together, share sweets (try the local baklava!), and embrace forgiveness.
"May your paths be filled with light, your encounters with warmth, and your days with endless adventures. Eid Saeed – Bayramınız mübarek olsun – Happy celebrations!"
With a deep bow to the moon that guides us, and a smile to the sun that warms us
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Rumi Trail Cycling Team Almost Complete
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Rumi Trail Cycling Team Almost Complete
The pioneering Rumi Trail bike journey is nearly sold out—just two spots left! Don’t wait to book your saddle adventure.
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Trail Life: Stamps & Characters
**Meet Jeremy Aitken and Kaye Gartner – the first Australian pilgrims to grace the Sufi Trail, leaving imprints as vibrant as their spirits. Their custom stamps tell their story: *"Kaye of the Southern Stars – She turns footsteps into prayers, and dust into dervish whirls"* dances alongside *"Jeremy Aitken of the Long Song: Where the Southern Cross meets Rumi’s moon, he maps the unseen path."* From the very first steps, this radiant duo wove themselves into the caravan’s fabric—Kaye with her laughter that lifts weary walkers, Jeremy with his quiet wisdom that mirrors the trail’s hidden contours. Whether stirring pots under Anatolian skies or translating blisters into poetry, they embody the Sufi Trail’s soul: wanderers who don’t just walk the path, but become it.** 🌟🐪
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Stamp Festival & Caravan Characters
What a celebration it was! Each Sufi Trail walker received a unique stamp—a pilgrim’s badge for modern wanderers. And what a crew gathered around those inkpads:
- Anneke, the flower whisperer, sowing blooms like invisible joy.
- Meryem, our human Ankara Compass, guiding hearts southward.
- René, the "slow pilgrim," proving every step is meditation.
- Tielleke, the morale booster when legs grow weary.
- Hetty, knitting group bonds with warmth.
- Victor, our Rumi-quoting navigator.
- Anna, gliding ahead on sunbeams.
- Kaye & Jeremy, the Aussie "Southern Stars," sparking laughter.
Together, they’re a living caravan—where stamps mark not just paper, but memories. For it’s not the miles, but the stories between them that matter. ✨
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Blazing a Better Trail
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Walking Life on the Sufi Trail. We’ve been blessed—both with camaraderie and Turkey’s weather! Though we’ve already bid farewell to a few walking friends. Rina is safely home, much to Fikri’s dismay (she was his smoking companion, but he vows to quit). Gert couldn’t join, but Guus, our "Sultans Trail Walking Advisor," dropped by with jokes and tales from Sedat’s early expeditions. Cecilia and her son Bo have also departed—though they’re with us in spirit, and who knows? Our paths may cross again.
The caravan is enriched by Hetty and Victor, crafting vivid accounts with collages. It’s magical to relive each day’s adventures through their eyes. Australians Kaye and Jeremy bring cheer, while Anna and Anneke (the "Three Springs Women") revel in the journey. Sometimes we reminisce about Heiloo, when we had no idea what awaited us—and now we’re living it!
Friends on the Path to Meryem
René and Tielleke decided to visit Meryem in Turkey—on foot! Luckily, Meryem walks with them, forming a dynamic trio that leads the way (whether in the kitchen or when energy flags). This spirited group even tackles extra miles after daily hikes and conjures delicious one-pot meals. Pure joy!
Mehmet, our legendary dog whisperer, has earned his reputation. His calm demeanor has kept the caravan safe—even when accompanied by "Snoopys" (all of whom reached their destinations unharmed). We once walked 40 km with a "lion" (Aslan), later identified as Dobby, a gentle giant from Yazilkaya. His owner arrived to collect him—yes, the poor pup had to ride in the trunk, but what a sweetheart he was!
Fikri Bekbas, our indispensable all-rounder (missing his Sultans Trail post in Sazlibosna), is a gift. He does everything imaginable, all while savoring the journey—and getting fewer "lost by car" episodes with each trip.
This is a journey woven with stories, chronicled in weaving stories circling the globe.
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Signpost Success
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Cecilia adored the kilometer markers and donated one! Fikri hangs them along blossoms and mountain villages. Annelies also sponsored a sign, and with her son Bo, we fine-tuned designs. Two new signposts are coming!
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With each trek, the route solidifies—both physically and socially. Dreams take root: rose-lined paths, revived village guesthouses, and a "Refugio" meadow (near the trail’s highest point) so stunning even the municipality noticed—adding three new fountains en route!
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Celebrating Cecilia & Annelies: Milestones on the Sufi Trail
The Sufi Trail—a 800-kilometer pilgrimage from Istanbul to Konya—grows richer thanks to visionaries like Cecilia and Annelies, whose donated signposts are more than markers; they’re beacons of hope for long-distance walkers. These handcrafted boards (like Cecilia’s kilometer count and Annelies’ directional signs) transform the trail from a physical path into a storybook of perseverance. Each sign whispers to weary pilgrims: "You’re closer than you think." In a world of fleeting digital guides, their tangible gifts endure—guiding footsteps, grounding dreams, and stitching the Sufi Trail’s legacy into the land. Because every great journey relies on those who plant signs for the souls who follow. 🗝️🌹
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A Route Coming Alive
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New Markings and Trail Maintenance
We’ve taken up brushes to refresh red-and-white trail markers where needed, jotting notes in a trusty blue notebook (more reliable than the digital abyss!). A few tricky spots remain—like Bayirkoy, where the mayor suddenly called to collaborate! New travelers like Annemarie (Belgium) bring fresh energy, proving the trail thrives on goodwill and serendipity.
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Rumi Trail
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Bicycle caravan
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Rumi Trail Cycling Caravan to the light from Kilis to Konya September 12 until October 14, 2025
€ 705,00
Special opportunity to cycle with the creators of the Rumi Trail. We will start in Kilis and cycle to the tomb of Rumi in Konya. It’s to promote the pilgrimage lifestyle and also to submerge ourselves into the more profound meaning of the Rumi Trail.
The maximum number of participants is 10, excluding the Sufi Trail crew.
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Hiking caravan 2026
Join us in 2026! Step Into the Story: Join the 2026 Sufi Trail Caravan! Imagine walking where saints and seekers have journeyed for centuries—from the bustling heart of Istanbul to the whirling silence of Konya, following a 801-kilometer tapestry of olive groves, mountain meadows, and village hearths where tea is always brewing. The 2026 Sufi Trail Caravan isn’t just a hike; it’s a moving monastery where blisters become blessings, strangers become family, and every sunset paints the path with Rumi’s whisper: "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the ocean in a drop." Walk with us for a week, a month, or the full 50-day pilgrimage. Bring your questions, your laughter, and your dusty boots—we’ll supply the signposts, the stars, and the transformative magic of putting one foot in front of the other, together. Your soul already knows the way. Will you follow? 🌄✨ Departing spring 2026 • Limited spots • All paces welcome Why Come? Live the legend – Sleep in village guesthouses, stamp your pilgrim passport, feast under fig trees. Caravan alchemy – Doctors, artists, and dreamers walk side-by-side (Mehmet’s dog diplomacy guaranteed). Leave a legacy – Help plant roses, paint trail markers, and weave your name into the Sufi Trail’s living story. "The path is made by walking." —Antonio Machado Join the 2026 Sufi Trail Caravan: A 40-Day Pilgrimage of the Soul Walk the ancient path of dervishes and seekers on our transformative thru-hike from Yalova to Konya ( May 1 – June 11, 2026). This is more than a hike—it’s a moving meditation, a chance to trade screens for sunrises, and noise for the sacred silence of the trail. Why answer the call? 🌿 Travel like the ancients – Sleep under stars (16-20 nights), share village meals, and carry only what you need 🌿 Walk with intention – Daily footsteps become prayer on this 900km journey to Rumi’s tomb 🌿 Join a soulful caravan – Only 12 spots available (excluding crew) for deep connection 🌿 Early bird offer – Book before February 15, 2026 for discounted prices! "You were born with wings. Why prefer to crawl through life?" – Rumi Will you be one of the twelve? Your path begins here. 👉 Limited spaces – Secure your pilgrimage today! Note: Participants cover personal expenses (food/gear). This is a self-sustained spiritual journey, not a guided tour.
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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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