Kimkim Trip Reviews for Turkey

We visited 2 places in Türkiye.
Our guide Ismael was very knowledgeable and helpful during our time in Istanbul.
Cappadocia was a surreal experience it was beautiful, the landscape balloon rides fairy chimneys and caves . Everything was amazing! Our guide Jannan was also amazing !!
Our trip was well planned the accommodations and transportation were perfect.

Worked with Emrah who helped link our trip together. My wife and I booked our own hotels in Istanbul , bodrum, fethiye and Kas. The Kim Kim team helped organize seamless private transfers and guided tours in Istanbul and other stops along the way . The guides we met were very knowledgable and went out of their way to show us a good time and gave us some great local experiences and shopping advice that were more quality and less mass market . Overall had a great experience and would recommend using their services.

Thank you for everything. Overall, everything was very well organized, and we had a wonderful trip. My family really enjoyed the experience, and it was truly one of the nicest and most unforgettable trips we have taken.

I just wanted to share a few comments that may be helpful for future trips.

Cappadocia:
We felt that three days in Cappadocia was a little too long. The third day was very short and there was not much scheduled before our evening flight. It may have been better to leave Cappadocia earlier that day and travel to Bodrum, or leave even a night before

We also would not recommend the Turkey Night show in Cappadocia. Unfortunately, we found the show boring and the food was not very good It seemed as though the food had been prepared much earlier in the day usually we love the turkish food ,
We left early and ended up having dinner at the hotel instead. Perhaps this type of experience could be arranged in another location or replaced with another activity.

The Utopia Cave Hotel was also a disappointing experience for us. The air conditioning was not working properly on the first night. We changed rooms, but unfortunately the air conditioning in the new room was still not working well. The breakfast and dinner options were also quite limited and simple. I would recommend considering other hotel options in Cappadocia in the future.
Based on our experience, I would suggest keeping Cappadocia to a maximum of two nights.
My family actually kept saying that they wished they had stayed longer in Bodrum.

Things We Loved:
The hot-air balloon experience was fantastic, and the horse riding was amazing. The tour guide was also one of the nicest guide we have ever met and made the experience even better.
Istanbul:
I know I selected the Marmara Taksim Hotel, and the location was excellent, but in our opinion it did not feel like a five-star hotel. In comparison, the Barceló Istanbul and Le Méridien Bodrum were perfect and met our expectations very well.
We also really enjoyed all of the tours in Istanbul. The guide was excellent, and everything was very well organized.
Overall, we truly enjoyed our trip and appreciate all the work that went into organizing it. These comments are simply intended as constructive feedback that may help improve the experience for future travelers.
Thank you again for everything!

Activity Reviews

Turkish Night Show in a Cave Restaurant

Cappadocia

Food

Transport

Horseback Riding at Sunset

Cappadocia

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bosphorus Dinner Cruise

İstanbul

We loved it

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

Mustafapasa Village Tour

Cappadocia

We enjoyed the lunch there

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Two Continents tour with Dolmabahce Palace

İstanbul

We enjoyed it

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

South Cappadocia Tour

Cappadocia

No much difference from the day before

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

North Cappadocia Tour

Cappadocia

Amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Best people we met in this trip

Transport

Old City Tour with Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace

İstanbul

We loved it

Istiklal Street Food Tour with Galata Tower

İstanbul

Very food , but was early morning, we started it just after the breakfast, so we could not try the food options May Was better if you make it after the blue mosque tour

We had wanted to visit Turkey for a long time. Berat put together a wonderful two week trip for us, two people in our mid 70s. The sites were amazing, especially if you are interested in ancient Greek and Roman ruins. We also had some rest time in Kas and Bodrum, both beautiful seaside resort towns. We were a little hesitant about participating in the Hot Air Balloon ride in Cappadoccia, but we are glad we did. It was an amazing experience that everyone should enjoy. All of our guides were smart, engaging, and knowledgeable. We could not have enjoyed the trip more. This was our sixth Kim Kim trip, and we plan to continue to have them plan future trips for us.

Working with Berat was so helpful! She planned an amazing trip that our family loved!
Our favorite part was the guides! They were knowledgeable and so helpful!

A friend and I had a very enjoyable time during our visit to Turkey. We were both surprised by the modernity of the country as a whole, but in particular Istanbul. The people we met on the street were always very friendly. we felt safe. Kimkim and Unison did not let us down. Our local specialist, Burcu, could not have been nicer or more helpful. She promptly answered many questions from us, made reservations and was just very responsive and helpful no matter what the issue was. We had three guides that were all very knowledgeable of their areas and were with us the whole time each day. Our favorite place that we spent time in was Cappadocia. It was fascinating to see how people created by hand their cave homes and lived successfully for millennia in the area. My overall impression of the trip was that it was enjoyable well executed and memorable. Highly recommend Kimkim and Unison for travel to Turkey.

Volcan
The trip was absolutely amazing. The sites we saw were perfect and what made the two days in Istanbul was our guide, Volcan. We have had many guides over the years but we have never had anyone come close to how superior he was. He was so knowledgeable, personable and explained the history of Turkey so well and we came to love the city. Our excursions were to the
two famous mosques, the Cistern, private boat ride on the the Bosporus, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. We also flew to Cappadocia and saw the underground city which was incredible.

The planning that KimKim did in advance to make our trip so memorable could not have been better. A first class company that I would certainly use again and recommend. It was flawless.

Our experience booking through KimKim was exceptional from start to finish. The initial planning process was highly collaborative, and our coordinator, Zehra, was incredibly experienced, providing fantastic tips and suggestions. She went above and beyond by staying in constant communication throughout our trip, even checking in at odd hours to ensure everything was seamless. Zehra knew exactly how to structure our days to avoid the heavy crowds, and she ensured our family's allergen requirements were completely taken care of at every step.

The on-the-ground execution was flawless. We were met in person by a representative right at the airport when we landed, which made our arrival stress-free. Our daily guides—Eda in Istanbul and Kezban in Cappadocia—were absolutely fantastic. They knew wonderful tricks to keep our young children engaged throughout the tours, and they generously offered to let us contact them with questions even when they were off the clock. We highly recommend this team for anyone planning a family adventure!

When we were planning we changed our minds a lot about what we wanted to do and more importantly what we thought we could cope with due to medical conditions. Berat was very patient with us and helped us to plan the best itinerary. Our local guide Volkan was brilliant and we enjoyed our time with him. He was very knowledgeable and also kind and happy to go at our pace. He also made some excellent recommendations for places to eat which meant we had some very tasty food and a stunning view from the restaurant on our last night. Overall, really happy with the experience and glad we decided to book with Kimkim.

My wife and I visited Turkey in May 2026 having planned and booked the trip in two weeks, thanks to the team at Corciebo Travel, but special mention goes to Buse. We had the pleasure of working with Buse who was very eager to help us plan our vacation and immediately arranged a call to discuss our needs, where we would like to visit and also recommended some tours to consider. We visited Istanbul, where we were met by Ishmail (our guide for our time in the city). Ishmail's knowledge of Istanbul knew no bounds and we had a wonderful time touring the city and learning about the culture, history and food. Following Istanbul, we arrived in Bodrum, where Buse surprised us by securing an all-inclusive resort stay - perfect for us to unwind after 4 days of touring in Istanbul. We really wanted to sail the Turkish Riviera and this is where Buse's agility really helped in securing a gullet stay which my wife and I will remember for the rest of our lives. We sailed with FarOut Turkey, captained by Ahmet and his wonderful crew. My wife had done her own research and Buse was open to using a service provider we preferred, making the booking process so smooth. We wrapped up our Turkish adventure in Antalya and left Turkey with a full and happy heart. Thank you to Buse, Corciebo Travel, all the drivers who supported with transfers and the wonderful crew aboard Cheers (FarOut Turkey). We are already planning our next vacation in the beautiful Turkey.

We loved the special services of being picked up and brought to our lovely hotel, Armada in Istanbul then have our guide Zekiye meet us- she is awesome, so knowledgeable about the history and the stories shared about the places she showed us in Istanbul. She even recommended us to take a boat tour on the Bosphorus. We enjoyed spending two days with her. Then the guide for Cappodacia, Nihat was also equally knowledgeable and shared so much history about the area. We are becoming educated about this beautiful country, Turkey. We especially appreciate both guides’ flexibility to change some venues when we say we were more interested in architecture and visiting small villages to seeing more Christian paintings and churches in caves. We appreciate that. All in all the planning by KimKim’s team made our trip memorable and the transportation seamless.

Hotel Reviews

Kale Konak Hotel

It is a lovely cave hotel at the topmost part of Cappodacia. Our room was beautifully appointed and surprisingly very comfortable. Cool in the heat and warm at night. Plenty of lights as there are no windows. The only negative was the deep steps, as its an ancient site, the steps were difficult for us as older people to handle going up and down to get to our room.

Authenticity & Character

It is an authentic cave hotel, there is also a meditation/Turkish room with pillows for us to lie and read. Its lovely.

Location

It is located just across from the famous cave formation called the Castle.however pretty far from most restaurants in the area. We had limited choices where to eat in the evening as the hotel only served breakfast which were plentiful, sumptuous and very delicious. Luckily our guide would take us to nice restaurants before dropping us off for the day.

Staff

The hostess is a lovely young lady who made sure our breakfast was served promptly as soon as we arrived. She was very warm and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very clean and the room made up daily.

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

Wonderful location, ease of access via walking to the historical areas of Istanbul. Breakfast spread so much variety and delicious

Authenticity & Character

Love the antique pieces shown in the lobby around the hotel. Its quiet and clean. Love the view from the hotel terrace- awesome view of the waterfront and the Blue Mosque!!

Location

Perfect location, near the waterfront near the historical district and so many restaurants, also close to a well known hammam

Staff

Very nice and helpful, helped us with our bags too

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room, the lobby area and the restaurant.

Activity Reviews

Ihlara Valley: Hiking along the Melendiz River Until Selime Monastery

Cappadocia

It was a very hot day, we asked if we can forego this activity instead our guide took us to the village of Ayvali and Mustafapha which are very, very special and well worth our time. We visited a traditional Turkish restaurant, had a lovely lunch and met the owner who knew sign language. It was fun to converse with him and with his Deaf aunt via videophone. We also got to watch a small village election for a mayor. The changing of the flags for each party, etc It was fascinating to watch for a while. We also asked for a few hours on our own. We went browsing among the shops near our hotel. We got to watch a master Tuff carver create beautiful formations like we see in the landscape. We enjoyed chatting with some shop owners, learned about Zultanite stones, wow. And just sit in a cafe, and enjoy the views.

Quality of Experience

We chose what we wanted to do and our guide was flexible to find alternatives which we appreciate.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We liked the fact that our guide began our tour after arriving from the airport with light and easy visits viewing the Upchisar valley and so on. It was not fast paced and we appreciate that.

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

Wow, just wow! Imagine people having to live underground for days!! I do have a phobia of small spaces so I am proud of myself for forging ahead and visit. It was worth it! Learned so much and how ingenious people back then were in creating a living space for their animals, themselves, making wine, kitchen and even a church. How they close those spaces with those heavy circular rocks!! I am very impressed. I am also impressed with myself for being able to navigate through those narrow tunnels!!

Quality of Experience

So unusual and different!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Wine + Romance in Cappadocian Valleys

Cappadocia

The set up is so romantic. Enjoyed the red Turkish wine, so smooth and delicious and the snacks really complements it. This trip was for our 45th wedding anniversary so it made it all the more special. Love the views too. Then we noticed the sky darken, true enough it started to rain suddenly, we all ran into our van. It was so funny. We never got to see the sun set but it emulates our wedding. it rained heavily the morning of our outdoor wedding. We went ahead and then it stopped raining and the sun came out when it was time for our wedding. Wow, we see it as a sign of good luck. So, when it rained on our wedding anniversary romantic sunset event, we see it as a good omen that good days are ahead. Smile.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glad the driver did not go far so we were able to make a run for the van.

Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys

Cappadocia

Love visiting and seeing the landscape and the formations for the first time- I was in awe!! I could not believe my eyes and had to keep looking to see new formations, shapes, and the impossible concept of a heavy rock balanced on a precarious top. It is otherworldly! I was also fascinated to see a police station inside one of the formations! So cool!!

Quality of Experience

It is awesome to see what nature has formed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide's explanations in how the rocks came to be, he is so knowledgeable also about the flora too. Enjoyed that very much.

Transport

Wonderful, he is a skilled driver, I never felt nervous while in his van.

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Love everything about this wonderful magical experience! Nothing can compare to this. Seeing how its done to being inside the hot air balloon to seeing the wondrous sights of the landscape and all the other balloons! So very special. Our pilot likes to navigate among the pillars, that was a bit scary but fun too.

Quality of Experience

A 100+ experience!!! Our first time and its really magical!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pick up was on time, service was streamlined and easy

Transport

Pick up was on time, service from bringing us to the "office" where there was a light breakfast to bringing us to the hot air balloon site, to dividing us and assigning us to the balloons- all streamlined, even after bringing us back to our hotel.

Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Saruhan Caravansarai

Turkey

We have never seen anything like this so it was so fascinating to watch the dancing. I am truly impressed that they were able to twirl continuously and in sync with each other with closed eyes!! I did try and oh boy, was I dizzy and off balance, especially when trying to close my eyes too. It takes years of training and skill!! We enjoy learning about different traditions, culture, clothing, food and customs etc. this one fits the bill. We enjoyed learning about the history of this place too and visiting the room with the beautiful lamps, so magical.

Quality of Experience

the skill and ability of the dancers

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I appreciate the fact that they are willing to share a bit of their tradition with us. Our guide sharing about the history of the caravanserai- part of a trading post on the silk road- wow, we are standing on a bit of history!

Transport

driver and guide were always timely and got us there always on time.

Ceramic Tradition in Avanos + Light Hiking in the Love Valley

Cappadocia

We loved trying our hand at creating pottery at the wheel. The guide at the pottery shop explained the process and also the famous ring wine of the Hittites. We loved learning about the history of this art and seeing all the beautiful ceramics. We immensely enjoyed the time spent there. We visited Love Valley and walked a bit, took some pictures then had delicious pistachio coffee for the first time. We sat and enjoyed the view from the cafe. I enjoy seeing the colored ceramic jars decorating the trees instead of "love locks" these are "jars of love and wishes" makes great and fascinating travel pictures.

Quality of Experience

Love seeing the natural formations, it continues to give me awe when I see them, I could stay and stare at what nature made.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The flexibility of our guide to follow and let us be.

Transport

The flexibility of our driver to get us to places. He was mostly inconspicuous out of respect but I kept asking him to join us. He was so sweet too.

Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)

Cappadocia

It was interesting at first but then seeing more sacred art in different caves became a bit tiring also, it's all uphill on a very hot day. We opted to stop sooner and did not see the rest. I realize we are not Christians and do not feel much affinity toward the paintings. But for Christians and those who love sacred art, seeing these in unusual places, the caves and the fact that these exist for your viewing is spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

When asked our guide we want to stop and not continue, he was flexible and took us to other interesting small villages. We ate lunch at a favorite restaurant of our guide. The Turkish food was excellent, what a coincidence, the owner's aunts and grandfather was Deaf and he signed with me. I was able to chat a bit with one of his aunts via videophone. It was so cool.

Transport

Our driver was sweet and took us through small roads and to see interesting sights like the potato depots, an abandoned village, and a sweet little village where we had lunch. It was wonderful.

Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul

İstanbul

Loved visiting the spice and the Grand Bazaar. I liked that our guide took us to the spice market the first day as its smaller and to acquaint us to “bazaars” then the Grand Bazaar which can be a bit overwhelming with its size but we only chose a few “streets” as we had specific things we wanted to buy. We also visited the oldest Turkish delight candy store, visited Rustum mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, and went on a boat tour on the Bosphorus to see both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul which fascinated us. It was a wonderful ending to a lovely tour to just sit on the boat, relax and drink tea seeing the sights. Highly recommend to end with that as we were a bit foot weary by then.

Quality of Experience

As explained above, we get to see bits of history in the places we visited, we even had lunch at the famous Pudding House, delicious food- very authentic Turkish which we appreciate. We even visited an old notable cemetery. Fascinated at the different approach to burials. Fascinating

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was amazing navigate us to places on the route.

Transport

We took the tram then walked back to our hotel. Not a complicated route. Our landmark was The Blue Mosque which is nice.

Explore the heritage of the wonderful Topkapi Palace + Harem

İstanbul

It was an interesting and beautiful palace. We learned so much about palace and harem living and dispelled some myths originally thought. We did not visit all the museums but saw most of it as we were tired and a bit hungry by then. We appreciated our guide being flexible. We did watch the palace guards band which was a nice way to see a sort of reenactment as it was in the olden days.

Quality of Experience

Seeing how the people worked and lived, including politics, harem living, guards’ responsibilities etc.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Zekiye is as usual amazing. We walked to the palace from our hotel- it was not very far which is nice.

Explore the Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia

İstanbul

The Blue Mosque is a beautiful building. I kept staring at it. I have so many pictures of this mosque during the daytime and nighttime. Hagia Sophia has an interesting history we learned from our guide, Zekiye, also the Hippodrome, the scupltures in the area and some buildings have an interesting history. We also visited a carpet store and learned how they made rugs. Fascinating too.

Quality of Experience

So much interesting history shared about Turkey. We learned so much.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All were prompt and ready, the guide was very knowledgeable about the history and her stories fascinating which is most appreciated.

Transport

We walked and used public transport which was seamless.

Berat was very pro-active in ensuring our trip was well planned and that we were happy with the upcoming trip.

Hotel Reviews

The Marmara Pera

Istanbul

I only gave this 4 stars, because it lacked the authenticity and charm of the previous two hotels. Its a nice hotel for modern standards.

Authenticity & Character

From the first two hotels, it lacks character.

Location

Lots of restaurants and shops within walking distance.

Staff

Staff was great, had an issue with lights in one of the rooms and was addressed quickly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We stayed on night and it was clean and comfortable.

Kale Konak Hotel

Met the owned and had a great conversation. It was like staying at an old friends home. The hotel had a historic feel yet clean and comfortable. Location was the best for the area, set next a iconic tourist attraction famous in the region.

Authenticity & Character

Authentic to its core.

Location

Best in all of Cappadocia.

Staff

AMAZING

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well taken care of

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

Was a great location. Every day we would walk to our tours. The hotel was very responsive of our needs. Rooms were spacious and bright. Close to small stores for obtaining needed supplies, mostly water.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the decorations in the lobby.

Location

Walking distance to everything.

Staff

Very helpful and polite.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was cleaned daily.

Activity Reviews

Sunset Wine in Cappadocian Valleys

Cappadocia

Ive only seen the prep and presentation like this in the movies, 5 stars. It was the perfect setting and experience to the end of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Couldn't have ask for anything more.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sschbnem and Mustufa were great and happy to share our experiences with them.

Transport

Mustafa was the best.

Ceramic Tradition in Avanos + Light Hiking in the Love Valley

Cappadocia

Loved the history of the potters family. I enjoyed again the interaction the people.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys

Cappadocia

So much ancient history in this region. Wonderful learning experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Beautiful Red Valley + Çavuşin

Cappadocia

Ever enjoyable.

Cooking Class in Cappadocia

Turkey

I loved it. The chef hosted this in her home and she allowed me in the kitchen I tell you this because my wife won't. Again eat way to much. We really appreciated Schbnem he guide and Mustuf getting enjoy this a well. It felt like family having a Sunday dinner where everyone is involved.

Quality of Experience

Great food and great company.

Food

Oh, I believe my stomach could answer that better then my words.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Family

Transport

The best.

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

I learned that what i knew about this was completly wrong. Thank God for Schbnem and her knowledge. I feel more informed with a better understanding.

Quality of Experience

Not panicking

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

I've been in a hot air balloon before, but what made it great was how they dipped into the valley at tree top level. As I was video taping it reminded me of drone footage, but personal. The ballon operator was great.

Quality of Experience

Everything stood out, if you don't do this you will miss out.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Saruhan Caravansarai

Turkey

I bought a picture over 20 years previous to this trip. Spent 3 hours in this little shop talking with the owner and he explained the whirling Dirvish to me and getting to experience live brought that time speaking with the shopkeeper back to life. Truly enjoyed the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)

Cappadocia

I kept finding the history every unique and flashing to the American southwest Indian trips and how they used the valleys for protection and building their communities. Same security concept, but different way to leverage the land and building materials.

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

It was amazing that you you could see the continents of Asia and Europe in the straight. The appreciation of the boat trip was delightfull.

Quality of Experience

Relaxing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was spectacular.

Transport

Walking

Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul

İstanbul

Was kind of disappointed in the grand blizzar, felt more like a shopping mall. However; once in a shop, the people made the experience enjoyable and authentic.

Quality of Experience

People interaction.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Schbnem, is the best guide ever. Here respect amoung here piers was something ive never seen. Everywhere we went the guides knew her and respected her. They praised her knowledge.

Transport

Walking during this.

Food Tour in Istanbul

İstanbul

The food was everything I remember from my previous trips to other parts of Turky. I love the food!!

Quality of Experience

Yummy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The best.

Transport

Walked on this part of tour.

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Very enlightening. I found the guides information very helpful. It helped me gather details that were lacking from my own research. It also provided ensight to the important this region played in world history.

Quality of Experience

Interactions with shopkeepers.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of them and speaking with locals. The sharing of common likes and desires of family.

Transport

Top tier. The buses were the best. Made me feel conformable and relaxed.

Turkey is working to make the country a welcoming place for tourists. Kim Kim asked if as a couple what we wanted to do. They were responsive to changes we requested as we jointly planned this 7 day trip. The cost was reasonable and highly personalized. Our guides were flexible, well educated about Turkey, with adjusting scheduled activities and daily itinerary. That meant a lot to us both. Could not have been a better trip!

Hotel Review

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

The stay at Armada Hotel in Istanbul was fantastic. The location was ideal, placing us right in the heart of the activities, and it felt very comfortable and safe. Everything was well-established, making it easy for us to get around without any issues.

Activity Reviews

Ceramic Tradition in Avanos + Light Hiking in the Love Valley

Cappadocia

The ceramic tradition experience in Avanos was delightful. The opportunity to sit at the pottery wheel and try it ourselves made the experience personal and engaging. Watching the artisans at work was a pleasure, and being involved added a unique touch.

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

The hot air balloon ride was undoubtedly the highlight of our trip, attracting people globally. It was something Brenda always wanted to try, and it did not disappoint. The experience was unique and thrilling, offering stunning views that we'll cherish forever.

KimKim travel and their local specialist Burcu helped me make the most of my short time in Istanbul. They crafted an itinerary that combined traditional sight seeing with hands on experience ( mosaic lamp making, cooking class, food tour). The food tour with Bhari was outstanding. Not only did we taste local flavors he shared stories about the buildings and neighborhoods while we wandered. And unexpected bonus, everyone in the group left with tips for places to try that were in the neighborhoods they were staying. The lamp mosaic experience was also pleasant surprise and resulted in a souvenir on my desk. This is my 3rd experience with KimKim Travel. They consistently help me make the most out of my time and budget. Their support is amazing and they add that extra level of confidence while travelling knowing they are there. This trip I had to postpone, but KimKim and Burcu helped me rebook everything when I had the new dates. I can't say enough about the care they put into helping travellers get the most put out of their trips whatever the length.

Hotel Review

Dosso Dossi Hotel Old City

Well located. Easy walk to sites and restaurants. Staff is friendly. Breakfast has a lot of options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bosphorus & Two Continents Tour - Full Day

İstanbul

My knowledgeable guide Furkan showed me the spice market, provided a histical back drop as we toured the Bosphorus by boat and then we went to the Asian side of Istanbul including stops fir wonderful vistas. Oir lunch break even included trying a local snack.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class in Kurtuluş, Istanbul

İstanbul

A great way to taste local flavors andtake some recipes back with you. The chefs were funny and made every step feel easy. It was interesting to see and use some special knives. And the reward at the end is a lovely meal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop

İstanbul

The team presenting the workshop we're terrific. They explained each step of the process. They're we're lots of colors to choose from and they provided guided patterns as well. Plus they offered tea.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to the Princes' Islands

İstanbul

On the boat ride out to the islands the guide shared a lot of history about Istanbul, the islands and various sites usable from the water. We went to 2 islands and had free time at each to explore.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Istanbul Street Food Discovery: Istiklal & Galata

Turkey

Bhari was amazing. As we wandered tasting local flavors we also learned about the neighborhoods. An amazing bonus we all left with notes about places to try in the neighborhoods where our hotels were.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Zehra was amazing. Very quick to deal with our requests and answer our questions and she kept an open dialogue with us throughout the trip ensuring we had all the contact info on all our guides and drivers.
Our guide Eda in Istanbul was very good. She showed us how to you the transit system and sent us directions for our outings on our free day.
a tip for other travellers - air flights in turkey only allow 15kg checkin whereas international is 23kg. We had to pay extra on every flight.
Pera Palace Hotel was excellent. In Cappadocia, Alan and I were in a small room much Lower Than the rest of our group and little space for our luggage. The 2 at the higher level had separate rooms with fireplaces and plenty of room. We ended up upgrading 2 level and they gave us a complimentary upgrade to be at the same level as our friends. Otherwise you had to wait for golf carts to get back and forth. The room we were given was amazing. Also the pool was heated. The hot air balloon was amazing. I would recommend it to everyone!
Our guide in Antalya, Fatih Babaoglu, wasn't sure what he was supposed to show us until I showed him our writeup. It was a long day visiting the Roman ruins which made a very late lunch.
The boat from Olympos to feithye was a disappointment, partly because it was so rough and cool we weren't really able to swim. We could barely move around the boat when it was moving. We couldn't get into Blue Lagoon. Secondly the food was not great. There was very little protein in the meals so we were hungry sooner. Very basic meals, little variety and desert really only 1 night. Also no power outlets in the cabins so my husband could not use his sleep apnea machine and had to store his insulin at the bar (making it easier for him to forget it). Cabins were extremely small and not well laid out. My husband and I had a double and single in our room so had to crawl over each other to get in and out of the bed.
Bodrum was great. The Marmara Hotel was great and the views awesome. It would have been great to have had a heated pool as it was chilly. As it was up in the mountain we needed a taxi to get back up but it wasn't too expensive.
We really needed a full day in Pamukkale . It had some amazing sites but we didn't arrive til around 1pm and had to get lunch before we toured the main attractions. We ended up taking a golf cart to see the Roman ruins (which I think might be the best way as they are really spread out). We would have liked to have gone in the Cleopatra pool as it was open again but we didn't have time and we couldn't go in the limestone laden springs as it was too slippy. It was still wonderful to see. The Richmond Pamukkale Thermal Pool was not up to the standard of the rest of the hotels on our tour. It was a very worn resort hotel and catered to huge groups. Even the dinner wasn't great - too crowded too many people and buffet style!

Hotel Reviews

Richmond Pamukkale Thermal

Denizli

it was set up for large groups of tourists. Not our style. The pool wasn't heated. lightbulb needed replace and a napkin stuffed in the smoke detector. Maintenance took a photo of it but didn't remove.

Authenticity & Character

Location

isolated.

Staff

Buffet not great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Marmara Bodrum Hotel

Muğla

Beautiful hotel. Beautiful views but very isolated. Pool not heated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Isolated but taxis reasonable to get to old town.

Staff

restaurant staff slow at dinner.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ruin Adalia

Antalya

Room was adequate.

Authenticity & Character

The Roman ruins could be viewed through glass windows on the floor.

Location

very central to Old Town.

Staff

Very accommodating even with a mix up on our tour. We had messed up but they helped us get our money back.

Cleanliness & Comfort

More options on pillows would have been nice.

Argos in Cappadocia

Nevsehir

Beautiful location but isolated!

Authenticity & Character

Omg - it was as if we were staying in caves!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pera Palace

Istanbul

beautiful central hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Pamukkale

Turkey

Long drive, short time for seeing the attractions of Pamukkale

Quality of Experience

drive took too long.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very good. He suggested the golf cart so we could see it all.

Transport

didn't like limo style car!

Olympos to Fethiye Blue Cruise - Day 1

Antalya

there wasn't that much for us to see and it was too rough when we were moving and food wasn't great.

Quality of Experience

Food

No real variety. Not enough protein.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Antalya & Historical Sites

Antalya

Long walk in the hot sun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

same comment re the limo style transportation. Half the group couldn't see.

Explore The Landmarks of Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Just amazing - all the rock formations, how the people carved them out and lived in them and the hot air balloon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

the limo style seating was bad as 2 of our group had very long legs.

I have been very fortunate to have taken my grandchildren on 3 amazing trips through the help of KimKim and their amazing travel specialists. This trip we were just on was to Istanbul and Cappadocia. Both places we stayed in were beautiful and our accommodations were excellent thanks to Burcu, my travel specialist. She also made sure we ate well in wonderful restaurants. We couldn't ask for a better and most knowledgeable tour guide, Cengiz in Istanbul, showing us the Blue Mosque, The Topkapi Palace, the Bazaar, taking us on a Food Tour and explaining the history of each place we visited, making the trip even more enjoyable. The Turkish Bath was the hit of our tour in Istanbul as the girls absolutely loved it. We flew into Cappadocia to do the Air Balloon which was cancelled due to poor weather conditions. This did not matter as their tour in the Underground City and the Perfume making made up for it. Not only that but our accommodations in the Kayakapi Premium Cave Hotel was incredible and the sun came out for the kids to enjoy the pool and a swim before flying back to Istanbul. This trip was absolutely wonderful thanks to Burcu, our drivers, and our tour guides. I only wish we were their a few more days to enjoy this beautiful city!

My husband and I had always wanted to travel to Turkey, but we were unsure how to navigate the country and fit so much into a 10-day trip. We booked through KimKim, and Berat, Murat, and Hulya took care of all the details for us. We spent four days in Istanbul, three days in Cappadocia, one day in Ephesus, and two days in Bodrum. It was wonderful not to worry about the logistics; everything from domestic flights and private transfers to hotel accommodations was arranged for us.

All three of our guides were amazing. Zekiye showed us around Istanbul for two days, providing interesting historical and local context along the way while being incredibly personable. From historic sites like the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace to a trip across the Bosphorus to Kadikoy, we were able to experience many different sides of Istanbul. Efe spent two days with us in Cappadocia and took great care of us, facilitating fun and engaging visits to Kaymakli Underground City, Goreme Open Air Museum, and a local pottery shop in Avanos. Finally, Ozan took us to Ephesus for the day and even showed us around a bit of Izmir near our hotel. He brought great energy to the Ephesus tour and was very knowledgeable about the site's history.

We would definitely recommend the KimKim team to anyone traveling to Turkey! Turkey is a beautiful county, and we are already discussing when we can return for another visit.

Zehra was amazing!
Very responsive and timely!

We had a very enjoyable and a deep dive into the fascinating history of Turkey. We appreciated experiencing the iconic sites of Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace (Harem), Haghia Sophia and Hippodrome. In Cappadocia to experience the Goreme Valley Monastery, Derinkuyu Underground city and the unique geological formations and balloon ride. In the Aegean region Urlice Vineyards, Ephesus, Aphrodisiacs, Hierapolis and Pamukiale. Experiencing the port city of Fethiye and while on the boat to visit Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz (Blue Lagoon), St Nicholas Island, Kas, Sunken City and Kekova. Around Antalya to visit Myra, Phaselis, Perge and the incredible theater in Aspendos. We enjoyed staying in the old town of Antalya.
Zehra, our travel consultant, was very knowledgeable and helpful in putting together the trip we wanted and getting us off the beaten path. Despite a few delays on flights the entire trip went smoothly, and we were in contact with Zehra at each phase of the trip. The trip was more costly than I anticipated but when you consider it was a private tour for 3 weeks, the vehicle travel and the days we were with guides, the cost is understandable.
All the guides were very knowledgeable and professional. I would point out that guides Uraz Nehir and Mustafa Sahun were exceptional. Good safe drivers are essential. Most of the drivers were very careful. The drivers in Istanbul were too fast for our liking and the one on arrival in Antalya was replaced after the first day because of his driving habits. Ahmed, our driver from Izmir to Fethiye, was exceptional. He was professional, very careful on the road and was very mindful of our well-being. He was also the only driver which spoke some English.
The accommodations were mostly lovely boutique hotels with hotel reception staff which were very friendly and helpful. The Richmond Pamukkale Thermal was the exception in being a massive tourist hotel that was not as pleasant as our other hotels.
The boat trip was great despite the occasionally cool and windy conditions. It was about the right number of days. The beauty and history of the coast was impressive. Something that we appreciated very much was the flexibility of the daily activities to meet our preferences. For example, Judi saw a poster with the cliff tombs of Myra. Our guide was receptive to seeing Myra and Phaselis when we disembarked from our boat trip on the way to Antalya.

Hotel Reviews

Ruin Adalia

Antalya

The location and layout in the middle of old town Antalya is impressive with the ruins under the courtyard. Rooms are large. Staff very helpful. The rooms are in need of some maintenance.

Authenticity & Character

Very impressive courtyard and ruins underneath it

Location

In the old town of Antalya

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very helpful

Marina Boutique Hotel

Mugla

An interesting but strange location in the middle of a ship yard

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Richmond Pamukkale Thermal

Denizli

Too big and impersonal

Authenticity & Character

Everything except the hot springs

Location

Next to Pamukkale

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

LaVista Boutique Hotel & Spa - Boutique Class

Kusadasi

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel was on a hill overlooking the ocean on the edge of the city.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fresco Cave Suites & Mansions - Special Class

Urgup

Very helpful staff, excellent breakfast, very interesting and unique hotel architecture.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sirkeci Mansion Hotel

Istanbul

Great location, very helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Interior and exterior of the hotel

Location

Staff

Very helpful on answering any questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exploring Antalya & Historical Sites

Antalya

Sites were amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Impressive guide

Transport

Fethiye to Olympos Blue Cruise - Day 4

Turkey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide is very impressive, driver was not

Fethiye to Olympos Blue Cruise - Day 2

Turkey

Cold and windy during the night

Quality of Experience

Good day visit

Food

Fethiye to Olympos Blue Cruise - Day 1

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat staff was great, very professional and helpful

Transport

Boat was beautiful

Explore Hierapolis & Visit Travertines in Pamukkale

Pamukkale

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Drive to Pamukkale via Aphrodisias Ancient City

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very Safe driver

Full Day Tour of Ephesus and Region

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was good but not as experienced as other guides

Transport

Visit Urlice Vineyards at Urla including lunch

Turkey

Great to talk to the owner and experience the wines with food

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exceptional driver

Visit to Derinkuyu Underground City & Explore area

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore The Landmarks of Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very impressive and knowledgeable

Transport

Safe driver

Cooking Class & Dinner in Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Nice to be with a family

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Istanbul Walking Tour

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Iconic sites

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very knowledgeable

The trip was a great experience, the cities and places were amazing. Burcu made a great job with recommendations, building my trip and the support during the trip. We faced a couple of unexpected situations and she helped me to fix them. I took several tours and they were great experiences and tour guides were really knowledgeable.

Hotel Reviews

LaVista Boutique Hotel & Spa - Boutique Class

Kusadasi

LaVista Boutique Hotel & Spa had an amazing view of the beach, and the sunsets and sunrises were particularly beautiful. The hotel was clean, and the rooms were spacious and met my standards. I appreciated the to-go breakfast they prepared for my early check-out.

Erboy Hotel Istanbul Sirkeci

İstanbul

Erboy Hotel Istanbul Sirkeci provided a wonderful stay. The breakfast served was really good, and they started serving early enough that I could enjoy it before my tours started. The location was convenient for exploring the city, too.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Ephesus Tour

Turkey

The Full Day Ephesus Tour was not quite what I expected, especially the Artemis Temple which was just a pillar. The site was crowded due to a national holiday with lots of domestic tourists. However, the guide was good, and overall it was an educational experience despite the crowds.

Bosphorus Cruise - Turkish Night with Dinner & Belly Dance Shows

İstanbul

The Bosphorus Cruise with Turkish Night and Dinner was a great experience. The dancers were really entertaining, and I was surprised by how many there were. However, the dinner service could use some improvement. There was only one waiter for our section, and he was quite overwhelmed, leading to a mix-up with my order. Despite that, the overall experience was enjoyable.