Private Tours from Selcuk to more distant ruins
Feb 18th, 2008, 01:45 PM
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Private Tours from Selcuk to more distant ruins
Hi All,
We are taking a whirlwind last minute trip to Turkey in early March for just 7 nights staying in Istanbul, Ugrup and Selcuk. We have already lined up our airfare (grabbing the direct flight between Kayseri and Izmir) and our accomodations (Dersaadet Hotel, Esbelli Evi and Hotel Bella).
Our problem has been arranging private tours of the areas. We have decided to likely wing Istanbul and pick up a guide locally as needed for each site.
In Cappadocia, the hotel has been able to provide us with a car/driver/guide at a somewhat reasonable price after some back and forth.
In Selcuk we will be only 3KM from Ephesus so we can wing that as well.
But our biggest problem is arranging tours of Pergamum (from Izmir airport and then to the hotel) as well as a full day tour to Afrodisias and Hierapolis/Pamukkale from our Hotel in Selcuk. We have been getting quotes from $500-$600USD (per 2 pax) for each trip. Does anyone have an alterative besides getting a rental car? (which we would like to avoid).
Please advise if any of you nice folks know of an reputable individual tour guide or a company that can do such tours at reasonable rates. We just cant handle $600 for a day trip, which is more than our hotel costs for Cappadocia and Istanbul combined!
Thanks in advance,
Michael
We are taking a whirlwind last minute trip to Turkey in early March for just 7 nights staying in Istanbul, Ugrup and Selcuk. We have already lined up our airfare (grabbing the direct flight between Kayseri and Izmir) and our accomodations (Dersaadet Hotel, Esbelli Evi and Hotel Bella).
Our problem has been arranging private tours of the areas. We have decided to likely wing Istanbul and pick up a guide locally as needed for each site.
In Cappadocia, the hotel has been able to provide us with a car/driver/guide at a somewhat reasonable price after some back and forth.
In Selcuk we will be only 3KM from Ephesus so we can wing that as well.
But our biggest problem is arranging tours of Pergamum (from Izmir airport and then to the hotel) as well as a full day tour to Afrodisias and Hierapolis/Pamukkale from our Hotel in Selcuk. We have been getting quotes from $500-$600USD (per 2 pax) for each trip. Does anyone have an alterative besides getting a rental car? (which we would like to avoid).
Please advise if any of you nice folks know of an reputable individual tour guide or a company that can do such tours at reasonable rates. We just cant handle $600 for a day trip, which is more than our hotel costs for Cappadocia and Istanbul combined!
Thanks in advance,
Michael
Feb 18th, 2008, 01:51 PM
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Last summer I booked a trip to Pergamum from the Hilton Hotel in Izmir. There is a travel agent on the 9th floor. Although this was not specifically a private tour, there was no-one else on the tour. Just me, the guide and the driver. It cost me 65 euros. What a great day.
Feb 18th, 2008, 02:13 PM
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Dear jersey1977
Write to Asil Tuncer he can help you for your trip his e-mail adress is: [email protected]
Have a nice trip in Turkey
Sinan Akdeniz
Write to Asil Tuncer he can help you for your trip his e-mail adress is: [email protected]
Have a nice trip in Turkey
Sinan Akdeniz
Feb 23rd, 2008, 09:38 AM
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Things upsacle and private effects the price. 600 Usd. is not an exessive amount. From Selcuk or Kusadasi straight drive to Pamukkale is 3,5 hours drive so if you consider the price of gasoline in Turkey, with entrance fees, if its is so, a good professional guide, entrance fees etc. would add on. 600 Usd. sounds reasonable for me. Of course regular tours are available as well some in one language some in couple of different languages in the same tour !!! 60-90 Euro range is a bargain and probably with at least 1 shopping stop.......
While taking tours with private guides if not via a travel agency please bare in mind to check the guides license and if the vehicle taking you on tour has a TURSAB sign on the wind shild.....
Your hotel choices looks fine especially with Esbelli.....
If your budget does not allow you a private tour and you still do not want to join a regular tour my suggestion would be to take a hire car with driver.
Happy travelling,
Murat
While taking tours with private guides if not via a travel agency please bare in mind to check the guides license and if the vehicle taking you on tour has a TURSAB sign on the wind shild.....
Your hotel choices looks fine especially with Esbelli.....
If your budget does not allow you a private tour and you still do not want to join a regular tour my suggestion would be to take a hire car with driver.
Happy travelling,
Murat
Feb 23rd, 2008, 03:08 PM
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We arranged transfers from Izmir Airport and private tours through Anker Travel in Kusadisi. I would highly recommend them. I found out about them through the website Turkeytravelplanner.com, which offers a great deal of excellent information. Have you seen it?
Feb 23rd, 2008, 04:31 PM
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I hate to tell you, but you are going to be exhausted trying to see all of that in & days. I wonder if you will enjoy or really see anything.
We spent a week each in Cappadocia and Selcuk and still could have spent more time. Ephesus is huge and the museum each can take at least half a day. There are tons of sights just near Selcuk. ( Sirince, St John, Mary's house etc and they are all at a distance).
We saw Pergamum, Aphrodisias and Pummukale, and they are all well worth seeing....but they are a loooong way from Selcuk.
If you had more time, I would say great, but with just 7 days ( how many were you planning to spend in Selcuk out of that 7?), I think you are pushing yourself waaay too much.
You will spend most of your time coming and going and very little time seeing anything.
We rented a car and drove from Selcuk to Aphrodisias and Pummukale, which is fairly easy to do. BUT if I had to do it again, I would have booked a night in Pummukale. It is a LOOOOOOOONG drive to do both in a day. We left in the morning and got in after midnight. We wished we could have stayed longer in both places, but had to get the car back.
We were smart enough to stay over night in Pergamum. I have heard others complaining about their tours, mostly loooooong drive, then rush in and rush out.
You miss most of what is there as they are the kind of places that take time to walk around as they are big and hilly sites. LOTS of walking. NOT rush in and rush out kind of places.
We loved Esbelli Evi, but there is just so much to see in Cappadocia and again, it is spread out.
You have picked great places, but I think you are doing way to much for 7 days. Cut out some and come back to Turkey....or add more days.
Sometimes, less is more.
We spent a week each in Cappadocia and Selcuk and still could have spent more time. Ephesus is huge and the museum each can take at least half a day. There are tons of sights just near Selcuk. ( Sirince, St John, Mary's house etc and they are all at a distance).
We saw Pergamum, Aphrodisias and Pummukale, and they are all well worth seeing....but they are a loooong way from Selcuk.
If you had more time, I would say great, but with just 7 days ( how many were you planning to spend in Selcuk out of that 7?), I think you are pushing yourself waaay too much.
You will spend most of your time coming and going and very little time seeing anything.
We rented a car and drove from Selcuk to Aphrodisias and Pummukale, which is fairly easy to do. BUT if I had to do it again, I would have booked a night in Pummukale. It is a LOOOOOOOONG drive to do both in a day. We left in the morning and got in after midnight. We wished we could have stayed longer in both places, but had to get the car back.
We were smart enough to stay over night in Pergamum. I have heard others complaining about their tours, mostly loooooong drive, then rush in and rush out.
You miss most of what is there as they are the kind of places that take time to walk around as they are big and hilly sites. LOTS of walking. NOT rush in and rush out kind of places.
We loved Esbelli Evi, but there is just so much to see in Cappadocia and again, it is spread out.
You have picked great places, but I think you are doing way to much for 7 days. Cut out some and come back to Turkey....or add more days.
Sometimes, less is more.
Feb 24th, 2008, 08:22 PM
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WTnow, I hear where you are coming from, but after looking it all over I think we can manage it and have a heckuva trip. I will be sure to let you know how it goes.
We were able to secure transport for both trips Izmir-Pergamum-Selcuk and Selcuk-Afrodisias/Hierapolis/Pamukkale-Selcuk from our hotel at Selcuk for a pretty reasonable price (after some negotiation).
Thanks for everyone's advice!
Michael
We were able to secure transport for both trips Izmir-Pergamum-Selcuk and Selcuk-Afrodisias/Hierapolis/Pamukkale-Selcuk from our hotel at Selcuk for a pretty reasonable price (after some negotiation).
Thanks for everyone's advice!
Michael
Mar 1st, 2008, 02:02 PM
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If you are going to Cappadocia, Turkey, the tour group to go with is Cappadocia Tours (http://www.cappadociatours.com), run by its resourceful and helpful director, Suleyman Cackir. We have spent some the happiest days of our life with the very knowledgeable and considerate tour guides. Suleyman and his equally kind and skillful team made possible a cheerful and excitingly informative trip for me.
Mar 21st, 2008, 06:02 PM
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We are back and the trip went just about perfectly. The pacing was about right, at least for us. Our guides were fantastic in Cappadocia and the Coast. And best of all, the weather was beyond our expectations. We were in t-shirts and jeans even in Cappadocia. Feel free to ask any questions you may have and I will try to be as helpful as you all were!
Michael
Michael
