Turkiye · PRIVATE
A shortlist rather than a catalogue: 15 private tours worth the money, each with what it costs, what travellers made of it, and the detail to check before you commit.
Cruise the Bosphorus aboard a mega yacht with dinner, Turkish music, folk dancing, city views, and optional hotel pickup in Istanbul.
“Fantastic! Great organisation, delicious dinner, excellent service. One of the best GYG events! Totally recommend!!!”
Explore Istanbul with a private guide across one to three days, from Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace to the Bosphorus and Balat.
“We spent a fantastic day with our guide, Hilal Aslan. It was a perfect introduction to this beautiful, historical, sprawling city. Hilal took the time to get to know a little about us so she could tailor the tour specifically to us. She was knowledgeable, kind, and fun! I highly recommend this tour.”
Explore Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and Artemis Temple on a private Kusadasi shore tour with port pickup and return.
“Private tour, they did what we wanted as I was very limited with my bad knee, knee brace and a rollator walker.”
Review of a private Ephesus shore excursion from Kusadasi, with flexible sightseeing, local guides, optional lunch, and guaranteed ship return.
“Our tour of Ephesus and its surroundings was magnificent. We had no idea the ruins were so plentiful and Josh’s explanations were truly enlightening. We would strongly recommend Josh as a guide for anyone who’s interested in touring and learning about these historical grounds. The only parts of the tour we could’ve done without were the leather showroom/fashion show and the hard jewelry sell at the rug makers. The rugs themselves were beautiful and we wound up purchasing one. But while filling out the paperwork, my wife was cornered and felt very uncomfortable by a jewelry salesperson which was totally unnecessary. It wasn’t the saleswoman’s fault - it’s the company…”
Review of Istanbul’s private Old City Turkish bath, with scrub, foam massage, sauna, steam room, optional massage, and practical tips.
“Everything was perfect from start to finish I would recommend a 100%, the staff was also really kind! think to bring your swimsuit if you are not comfortable naked!”
Review of a $99 Ephesus and Virgin Mary’s House tour from Kuşadası, with skip-the-line entry, expert guides, transport, and port return.
“Ephesus was absolutely incredible! The ruins are breathtaking, and the history came alive thanks to our tour guide. She was extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and made the experience unforgettable. I especially loved that our guide was a woman—it added a unique and inspiring perspective to the journey. We visited the Virgin Mary House, Ephesus itself, and the Temple of Artemis, which were all amazing highlights. We also stopped at a carpet shop, but there was no high pressure to buy, which made it enjoyable. She really tailored the tour to what we wanted to see, making the whole day feel personal and special.”
Review of a private Ephesus shore tour from Kusadasi, with flexible sightseeing, local guides, private transport, and reliable port return.
“Zafir was excellent! He was extremely knowledgeable and answered all our questions thoroughly. He pointed out some of the finer details that would be missed or not even mentioned on larger tour groups! Zafir was the best tour guide we have ever had!”
Cruise Istanbul’s Bosphorus by night with Turkish dinner, live dance shows, city lights, and optional hotel pickup for $30.
“Good set up very nice boat. Food was good. Very good. I can recommend and do it again. good music, nice staff.”
Private Istanbul Airport transfer to Fatih, Beyoglu, or Besiktas with airport greeting, air conditioning, family seating, and free cancellation.
“Not good. Paid for return journey. Did not arrive. Waited for company to send another driver. Contacted for information and no help.”
Explore Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, and Mary’s House from Kusadasi with a private guide, lunch, transfers, and flexible timing.
“When we booked we wondered why the price was so cheap. The answer is that they take you to endless tourist shops. We spent the majority of the tour in shops rather than at the sites. It was advertised as 4-5 hour duration and ended up being 7 hours. It would have been longer but we refused to go to the last leather shop they wanted to take us to. We didn’t get lunch until 4pm?? If you want a cheap tour and don’t mind visiting a lot of tourist shops then this one is for you. If not I would avoid. As usual you get what you pay for”
Explore Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, cave churches, valleys, and underground city on a flexible private tour with hotel pickup.
“Mustafa our guide and Burhan our driver were excellent, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and efficient. They were open to our suggestions as to what we were more interested in and the order in which we wanted to see the sights. The sights themselves were incredible! All in all a wonderful day despite the heat. There is no way we could have experienced as much of the historical and geological wonder of the region without this private tour.”
Explore Ephesus, Mary's House, Artemis Temple, and Kusadasi with a private guide, flexible timing, and guaranteed return to your cruise ship.
“Amazing tour with Ozzy and Halil who took us all over Ephesus tour, Virgine Mary’s house, Fashion show and so on. Many thanks for all the explanation, was very complete”
Review of Istanbul’s private Turkish bath at DoubleTree Sirkeci, with sauna, foam massage, scrub, optional facial, and full-body massage.
“The massages and treatments done by Meli and Juli were excellent and very relaxing. A perfect choice.”
Review Acemoglu Hammam in Istanbul, with clay mask, kese scrub, foam wash, private options, massage, prices, tips, and honest advice.
“It was a lovely experience and we truly enjoyed it. Our natır was exceptional — very kind, generous, and gentle. She was also extremely friendly and made us feel comfortable from the beginning, which made our experience truly special and memorable. Thank you very much!”
See Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar with a flexible private guide.
“An absolute wonderful experience. Our tour guide Zel was extremely friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable. She was superb. We packed a lot in one day- all at a very good pace. Highly recommend!”
Pick a coast, a ruin, or a room full of steam.
