Turkiye · TOUR REVIEWS
One country, two seas and about eight hours of driving between the things everybody comes for. The 15 below are the days that earn their slot, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath when you want to go deeper.
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!!!”
Cruise Istanbul’s Bosphorus by day or sunset with landmark views, audio commentary, drinks, snacks, and optional dinner on a luxury yacht.
“The overall cruise experience was awesome, travelled about an hour each way, got to see a different view of the major buildings, voice over (english) would speak a little about each building as we got close to it. Free tea and coffee on the boat, food was offered too but I didnt eat anything. I saw other people have drinks too. There was seating inside and outside, 3 levels for the outside and 2 for the inside with good views wherever you were seated. It was a good experience, if you are in Istanbul for a short time or want to get your bearings.”
Cruise Istanbul’s Bosphorus by night with dinner, Turkish dances, live music, drinks, and illuminated palaces for about $34.
“We had a really good time onboard. Mert was really good and attentive.”
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.”
Save time at Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern with all-day fast-track entry, a multilingual audio guide, and atmospheric Medusa Head photo stops.
“Everything is beautiful and interesting, but the ticket prices are too high. For the same price, I visited the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, which was much more impressive.”
See Ephesus, the House of Mary, and Artemis with port pickup, entry tickets, Turkish lunch, and a guaranteed return to your cruise ship.
“Rose was our tour guide.. she is extremely knowledgeable and gives a literal ton of information and history both at the sites and on the roads there.. that is the 3 stars part of the tour.. I am only giving 3 stars because she took it upon herself to detour our tour from leaving the carpet making school to having us go into a room to be upsold rugs and jewelry.. after that she took us to a leather factory and had us watch a fashion show where they after tried to sell us jackets.. I don’t pay money to go to locations to be pressed to purchase things I…”
Royal Balloon Cappadocia review with sunrise views, hotel pickup, breakfast, basket sizes, flight options, safety, price, and booking advice.
“One of the most amazing things we have done, the views were spectacular and the crew was very professional. Well worth the money, we did the 6AM flight which was cheaper than the earlier launch - we loved this, when we took off there were already 50+ balloons in the sky and it was stunning.”
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…”
Visit Hagia Sophia in Istanbul with skip-the-ticket-line entry, upper-gallery views, mosaics, audio commentary, and an optional history museum.
“Emre was a great guide, with so many facts and jokes that 3 hours went very fast! This experience really makes you enjoy Istanbul even more”
Float above Cappadocia at sunrise, watch balloons rise over fairy chimneys, and enjoy hotel transfers, snacks, champagne, and a flight certificate.
“Everything was simply wonderful. They picked us up exactly at the time they said , took us to their office for breakfast before the balloon flight, and then we went to the flight area. Our pilot, guide, and ground crew were very friendly and helpful. Everthing was perfect and unforgettable. We added another item to our bucket list. ❤️ Thank you to the Discovery Balloon family for these wonderful moments. ☺️”
Watch Istanbul’s solemn Mevlevi Sema ceremony in a restored Ottoman bath, with live music, whirling dervishes, and an informative exhibition.
“It was a very good dervish dance show that showcased this culture in the most beautiful setting.”
Spend a full day swimming at Suluada’s clear bays, enjoying a fresh boat lunch, and soaking up Mediterranean views from Antalya or Kemer.
“I really liked the activity. The sights were beautiful. The itinerary was very nice. We could do a lot of things without rushing. I highly recommend this trip!”
Enter Topkapi Palace and its Harem with skip-the-line access, a smartphone audio guide, and time to explore Ottoman treasures at your own pace.
“The guide was very clear at communicating and efficient in getting a large group of us through the main entrance and into the Harem where we could continue on our own. It was a fantastic place to visit, with lots to look at and good information. Highly recommend Topkapi Palace and Harem.”
Cruise Istanbul’s Bosphorus on a 16-person yacht with palace views, snacks, fruit, tea, and a choice of daylight or sunset sailing.
“awesome experience! great view with even greater service. our guide, tuba, was very accommodating and friendly. she took nice photos, and offered us blankets so we were able to sit at the front of the yacht comfortably in the cold weather. super recommended~”
Pick a coast, a ruin, or a room full of steam.
