A guided tour thru Turkey
Aug 17th, 2006 | 01:55 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2005
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A guided tour thru Turkey
We are in the inital planning stages of arranging a guided tour thru Turkey. If you have taken one, who did you use, when did you go and would you recommend them. Thanks for the info. Marg
Aug 17th, 2006 | 03:32 PM
#2
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,556
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Hi
We'll be using Insight Vacations in a couple of weeks - http://www.insightvacations.com/au/l...n_tour_id=1775
Make sure that when you book your tour that it has a guaranteed date of departure. Otherwise they reserve the right to cancel on you if there are insufficient numbers. This appears to be a policy of most tour companies. Check with your travel agent.
Cheers
We'll be using Insight Vacations in a couple of weeks - http://www.insightvacations.com/au/l...n_tour_id=1775
Make sure that when you book your tour that it has a guaranteed date of departure. Otherwise they reserve the right to cancel on you if there are insufficient numbers. This appears to be a policy of most tour companies. Check with your travel agent.
Cheers
Aug 18th, 2006 | 02:52 PM
#6
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 51
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Femi - I would like to spend around 14 days give or take a few days either way. We live in Vancouver Canada so it is a long flight and being retired, time isn't such an important issue. As far as a budget- not much of an idea, we aren't backpackers, don't need 5* service so something middle of the road. Not made of money but want a good trip. As I said we are in the very beginning planning stages so really haven't figured that part out yet. Just looking for recommendations of people who have had good trips and finding out what travel company they went with. Marg
Aug 18th, 2006 | 04:32 PM
#7
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,556
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Hi again
Felicia - we're going on a Womders of Turkey, a 10 day trip commencing Sat 2/9. I've only got notes for Istanbul. The rest I'll rely on my "Eyewitness Travel Guide" on Turkey. You're welcome to get a copy of what I've got - this is the first time in Turkey for me so I'm hardly an authority! The notes have been cobbled together from researching forums and the net. If you want them email me on [email protected].
Marken: We have used Cosmos Tours twice - Greece and Spain. I thoroughly recommend them. They are a 3 star option so would suit your "middle of the road" requirement. We would have used them again for Turkey but they bailed on us due to lack of numbers. I'll still use them again but hence my point about guaranteed departure dates.
Felicia - we're going on a Womders of Turkey, a 10 day trip commencing Sat 2/9. I've only got notes for Istanbul. The rest I'll rely on my "Eyewitness Travel Guide" on Turkey. You're welcome to get a copy of what I've got - this is the first time in Turkey for me so I'm hardly an authority! The notes have been cobbled together from researching forums and the net. If you want them email me on [email protected].
Marken: We have used Cosmos Tours twice - Greece and Spain. I thoroughly recommend them. They are a 3 star option so would suit your "middle of the road" requirement. We would have used them again for Turkey but they bailed on us due to lack of numbers. I'll still use them again but hence my point about guaranteed departure dates.
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Aug 25th, 2006 | 08:09 AM
#8
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 831
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We traveled with OAT to Turkey in May and loved the whole experience. Great group of 14, terrific guide, comprehensive itinerary. ( @ 18-19 days), and we felt the price was fair.
On the other hand, the agents in the US were difficult to deal with, as many on this board will attest to.
On the other hand, the agents in the US were difficult to deal with, as many on this board will attest to.
Aug 25th, 2006 | 08:59 AM
#9
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
Toured western Turkey a few years ago with Pacha Tours (they deal only with Turkey) and were very satisfied. They have a website, think it's just pachatours.com
Ask for a brochure, as they seem to cover the entire country very well. We did the 15 day Turkish Delight tour.
Somewhat different from other tour companies, we had people joining us for a few days, then leaving. Seems as if they could join up for a couple days or more to see specific areas, like Cappadocia or Ephesus.
We went in September and the weather was wonderful. On the average there were about 20 people on the tour, which was great, as compared to a bus full of 40-50 on so many bus tours. My friend and I were the only ones from the US, others from Canada, Australia, NZ, British Isles, etc.
Turkey is wonderful, and I'd love to go back and see the rugged Eastern part. Have a great time!
Ask for a brochure, as they seem to cover the entire country very well. We did the 15 day Turkish Delight tour.
Somewhat different from other tour companies, we had people joining us for a few days, then leaving. Seems as if they could join up for a couple days or more to see specific areas, like Cappadocia or Ephesus.
We went in September and the weather was wonderful. On the average there were about 20 people on the tour, which was great, as compared to a bus full of 40-50 on so many bus tours. My friend and I were the only ones from the US, others from Canada, Australia, NZ, British Isles, etc.
Turkey is wonderful, and I'd love to go back and see the rugged Eastern part. Have a great time!
Aug 25th, 2006 | 12:44 PM
#10
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 0
I went with Cultural Folk Tours in 2002. http://www.boraozkok.com/
The hotels were 3/4 stars (mostly 4).
Our guide Akin was very knowledgeable and I learned an incredible amount from him.
The pace was steady, just about all activities (except for a dinner show one night) were included.
As geribrum mentioned, I would be extremely cautious about joining those large groups (40-50 people) as I believe that this really dilutes the quality of te experience.
I had a great time. CFT whetted my appetite for more. There were on !7! of us in the group because of the war in Iraq/Afghanistan, and I think this went a long way in the amount of personalised attention and their ability to accommodate special requests.
I returned to Turkey in 2005 (with a more upscale outfit) to confirm that Turkey is indeed one of my favourie destinations in the world.
Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time.
Bon Voyage!
The hotels were 3/4 stars (mostly 4).
Our guide Akin was very knowledgeable and I learned an incredible amount from him.
The pace was steady, just about all activities (except for a dinner show one night) were included.
As geribrum mentioned, I would be extremely cautious about joining those large groups (40-50 people) as I believe that this really dilutes the quality of te experience.
I had a great time. CFT whetted my appetite for more. There were on !7! of us in the group because of the war in Iraq/Afghanistan, and I think this went a long way in the amount of personalised attention and their ability to accommodate special requests.
I returned to Turkey in 2005 (with a more upscale outfit) to confirm that Turkey is indeed one of my favourie destinations in the world.
Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time.
Bon Voyage!
Aug 25th, 2006 | 12:51 PM
#11
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,709
Likes: 1
I did a Rick Steves tour of Western Turkey in 1999, with a wonderful Turkish tour guide. She now runs her own company: http://melitour.com/ and I'd love to travel with her again but the dates haven't worked. I did one Asian tour with OAT and would never use them again, but some people love them.
Aug 25th, 2006 | 01:15 PM
#12
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,818
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Marken:
You're getting plenty of recommendations...but I'll chime in with an idea that may not be your style...anyway, why not do it on your own..we've traveled the world over independently and Turkey is not at all difficult if done properly. Our first visit ten years ago went very smoothly...the planning took no more or less effort than any Western country. Lots of reading beforeheand like we do for all places visited..found no need for guides and didn't miss a trick.
Revisited six years ago...same method, no problems at all.
On both visits we started with a week in Istanbul, then flew to Kayseri, rented a car and stayed in the Capadoccia region for five days, covering it well...stayed in well known cave lodgings ..Esbelli Pansyion in Urgup. Superb and fun.
Drove from Cap. to the Central Lake district in Egridir and on to Antalya. Transited the Turquoise Coast as far as Kalkan and Kas...then drove from Antalya to Pamukkale for two nights and on to Kusadasi and Ephesus for three nights....turning south we visited several ruins en route to Bodrum for a three night stay and Marmaris for two nights before embarking to the Greek Islands, turning in the car in Marmaris.
Hotels (3-star mostly)cost an average of $60 then and went up a bit in 2000. Food very good and exceptionally reasonable..all in all the dollar goes quite far in Turkey even today.
Try it...driving is easy, plenty of petrol stations (where they automatically wash your car), people very friendly and helpful Try it Mark...you'll enjoy going where and when you want to.
Stu T.
You're getting plenty of recommendations...but I'll chime in with an idea that may not be your style...anyway, why not do it on your own..we've traveled the world over independently and Turkey is not at all difficult if done properly. Our first visit ten years ago went very smoothly...the planning took no more or less effort than any Western country. Lots of reading beforeheand like we do for all places visited..found no need for guides and didn't miss a trick.
Revisited six years ago...same method, no problems at all.
On both visits we started with a week in Istanbul, then flew to Kayseri, rented a car and stayed in the Capadoccia region for five days, covering it well...stayed in well known cave lodgings ..Esbelli Pansyion in Urgup. Superb and fun.
Drove from Cap. to the Central Lake district in Egridir and on to Antalya. Transited the Turquoise Coast as far as Kalkan and Kas...then drove from Antalya to Pamukkale for two nights and on to Kusadasi and Ephesus for three nights....turning south we visited several ruins en route to Bodrum for a three night stay and Marmaris for two nights before embarking to the Greek Islands, turning in the car in Marmaris.
Hotels (3-star mostly)cost an average of $60 then and went up a bit in 2000. Food very good and exceptionally reasonable..all in all the dollar goes quite far in Turkey even today.
Try it...driving is easy, plenty of petrol stations (where they automatically wash your car), people very friendly and helpful Try it Mark...you'll enjoy going where and when you want to.
Stu T.
