Kimkim Trip Reviews for Turkey

The two weeks I just spent in Turkey was immersive in the country’s rich history and culture as well as its modern day life. Berat provided an excellent itinerary that exposed me to some of the best Turkey has to offer. She booked us into boutique hotels, many of which had a rich history of its own, and the service and locations of each one was exceptional . At several, we were the only American guests, which was refreshing. As for our guides, my friend and I were lucky enough to have 3 diverse yet terrific guides. In Istanbul and Cappadocia we were beyond lucky to have Volkan Akoluk as our guide. He shared his passion for and knowledge of his country’s history and culture in a way that was more like telling us a story than merely reciting facts. He never rushed us through any site and was very astute to when we needed a break or a cup of coffee or tea or ice cream. It was more like walking with a good friend and not a tour guide. Alp was more stoic and reserved but always had his hand out to help maneuver a climb up or big step down when climbing to see the ancient fires and walking among the ruins of Myra.. He did at times tell us more history than one can absorb in a day or two. Ozan, on the other hand, was so excited about each day and each site we visited that it was hard not to be excited as well. He was like a kid seeing the sites for the first time, be it Ephesus or the blue pools in travertine of Heliapolis, and his enthusiasm was contagious making the heat, crowds and humidity bearable. He too shows such passion for his host country. Seeing Turkey through the eyes of 3 different guides with 3 distinct personalties and approaches, and the people we met through them, made this trip overall one of my best travel experiences.

Hotel Review

Gül Konaklari Sinasos (Rose Mansions Sinasos)

Nevsehir

This was a lovely hotel located in a small village, a bit remote from the hubbub of Cappedocia. It had lovely grounds and the rooms were clean, spacious. However, my one complaint is that having arrived in the dark there was no light on in the room nor was I escorted into my room nor advised there was a platform once you step into the room. Thus, I fell into the room while trying to find a light switch. Having just had hip replacement surgery several months prior, this could have ended badly. Luckily, only my ego got bruised.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore the Basilica Cistern

İstanbul

Incredibly fascinating the engineering involved to create this water system. Beautiful art installed as well which creates a juxtaposition between history and modern times.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I cannot express how much of a good time I had in Turkey. Although I did get a bad cold half way through it proved even MORE how great the arrangement with KIMKIM was. My guide and driver took exceptional care of me for which I am so thankful. My guide was so knowledgeable, personable, patient, helpful. I asked his several arcane questions and he had a very good answer ever time. His level of knowledge was as remarkable as his hospitality. In case you cannot gather from my review I had a WONDERFUL TIME. KIMKIM has been EXTRAORDINARY in planning and execution of my Turkey vacation. The profile picture shows my guide: Mr. Yigit, me: Nolan Warner and the driver: Mr. Cumali

This was our first time using KimKim. In fact, it was the first time we had used any travel planning agency. There were times in the planning process that I felt a bit anxious there I gave the planning and booking experience only 4 stars. That said, the itinerary and arrangements that Zehra put together for us far exceeded our expectations! I had originally told Zehra that we wanted to see Troy, Pergamum, Ephesus, and Cappadocia. I later added Pamukkale to that list. Zehra expanded the trip to include Gallipoli, Aphrodiaias, Hierapolis, and Konya to that list. We knew of Gallipoli but the last 3 were places we had never even heard of and all turned out to be fascinating and memorable.
The guides Zehra hired were fabulous. Okan made the battle sites of the Gallipoli Peninsula come alive. We finished that day with an understanding of the importance of the geography of that peninsula and the important role it played in 20th century Turkish history. Okan also guided us patiently and carefully through the ruins of ancient Troy and Pergamum. He went beyond his role of tour guide by recommending an excellent fish restaurant for dinner and arranging a late lunch stop in Çanakkale so we could eat gözleme.
Senem gave us a very good understanding of the importance of Ephesus and took us through the excavation of the “mansions “ near the agora that are now open to the public at a small additional fee.
Rafet is a fabulous story teller! He entranced us with his telling of the Greek myths and their connections to the ancient cities of Aphrodisias and Hierapolis. He also found us good local eateries for lunch!
Gökhan gave us very clear explanations about the geology of Cappadocia and also about the role that the early Christians played in that area. He also steered us expertly through the crush of tourists in the Underground City.
Our itinerary was a private 11 day road trip with a car and driver. Okan, Rafet and Gökhan were each with us for more than one day and all 3 were also very good traveling companions on the drives from one site to another.
KimKim and Zehra truly put together a remarkable trip for us.

We had a wonderful 9-day trip to Turkey thanks to the efforts of Berat at Kimkim travel, and the knowledgeable guides she arranged, Volkan and Ozan, in Istanbul and Izmir.

My son and I wanted to do a history focused tour for this first trip to Turkey and with just that high level guidance, Berat produced an itinerary that covered successive periods all the way from Ancient Greek and Roman sites (Pirene, Ephesus) to Istanbul’s layers of empires (Roman to the Ottoman) and the after effects of the Turkish-Greek population exchange in Cyprus in 1923. We saw the main sights (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque etc), but also some unexpected gems with interesting side stories (observed Sunday mass at the seat of the Orthodox Church near Balat).

(It turns out tour-guiding is a major in college in Turkey, combining history, geography, art history, communication, archaeology and more. It totally makes sense: the serious focus produces high quality guides who lead tours for visitors to Turkey as well as Turkish groups visiting other countries.)

Towards the end of our trip, we wanted to see more modern art and our guide helped us fit in the Istanbul Modern, various artsy places in Kadikoy (Asian side) and art galleries back on the European side.

Hotels, planes, taxis and even metro rides were included in the trip cost, but lunch/dinner and guide tips were not paid ahead.

The trip was on the expensive side, but this was a solid introduction to Turkey and we left wanting to come back soon.

Thank you Berat for this memorable trip.

I highly recommend KimKim as a travel service. We received amazing individiualized attention to all of our travel needs during the two and half weeks in Turkey. Murat and Hulya provided overall management and were immediately responsive to issues that came up as well as providing detailed directions and communication at every stage of our trip. We had some concerns regarding cleanliness and suitability of the hotel room in Istanbul and Murat helped arrange for an upgrade the next day. The communication piece was really outstanding. She provided detailed information about drivers and tour guides and even checked us in on flights. All of this made our experience so comfortable when the logistics of travel can be overwhelming and confusing especially when you have multiple destinations as was our case. We were picked up and dropped off by dedicated and professional guides and drivers. We had three different guides; one for Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Izmir/Ephesus. All of our guides were friendly, responsive, punctual, interesting and most important, knowledgeable about the area toured, Turkish history and the sites visited. In Istanbul, Betul was clearly very experienced and knew the city extremely well. She took us to all of the important sites and we loved learning about the culture, city and especially the food from her. She even made a dinner reservation for us. In Cappadocia, we had an amazing guide, Esin. She was really awesome; her knowledge of the region and history was truly illuminating. Just a lovely human being who was flexible to our needs and enthusiastic and passionate with her guidance. For the last leg of our trip from Izmir to Bodrum, our guide Ecem provided clear information and was very helpful and accomodating. One of the advantages of this trip was that we were picked up and dropped off every day at our hotel and all travel was just so well coordinated. Thank you for all that was provided.

We had a wonderful time in Turkey and Berat and team made it seemless and easy. Working with Berat to plan the trip was easy as she gave great suggestions, had timely responses, and was there to help when needed. The focus of our trip was Istanbul and Cappadocia and the tour guides we had in both locations were stellar. Informative, bringing historical perspective to life, not overwhelming us with too much information, and helpful in recommending local places to visit, we really enjoyed our time with the guides. In Istanbul the highlights were the various mosques with historical context from Andrew and in Cappadocia the balloon ride was special as was the cooking class and walking tours through the various rock formations. Highly recommend this trip to others!

Hotel Reviews

Amira Hotel

Istanbul

Great location with very responsive staff. Breakfast was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millstone Cave Suites

Loved this location and the embiance! Another great breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

A must do and Andrew was a fantastic guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Urban Hiking Tour: Strolling around Old City Walls, Fener + Balat

İstanbul

Really liked exploring this neighborhood. A more hip and modern side of Istanbul.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class in Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver from and to airport were great. Hotel was nice but not many workers spoke English especially at the bar and restaurant. Had to use Google translate, surprising since most of people who stayed there were from US, Canada or Britain. Overcharged us for alcohol,a glass of prosecco was $30 and red wine was $20.

Sebil, our tour guide was good except walked fast and didn't check to see if we were always behind her. She also didn't always know answers to questions we asked about historical times.

Overall had fun with old college friends. Loved exploring the streets in the evening. Loved Turkish tea, coffee and sweets

Hotel Review

The Galata Istanbul Hotel - MGallery

Clean rooms but most workers didn't speak English. Wouldn't recommend restaurant, food on menu is not what you were given. Waiter didn't understand we were vegetarian and kept bringing us shrimp. Asparagus risotto didn't have asparagus. Overcharged for alcohol.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to tram, stores, restaurants

Staff

Speak English

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was walking fast and didn't always make sure we all together on streets of Istanbul

Transport

Explore the Dolmabahçe Palace

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

Boat was late, many of us slept on tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Zeyrek Cinili Hamam: Relaxing Turkish Bath + Beautiful Museum

İstanbul

Amazing experience, highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We spent 14 days touring Turkey with KimKim We had never done a privately guided trip before and found it to be very worthwhile. Zehra did an excellent job in suggesting an itinerary which included all the highlights of the country. She selected hotels in each locale, diverse and well located, each a different experience.. Our guides in each locale were excellent and knowledgable and adjust the schedule to avoid the crowds in the busy destinations. Lunches were in local restaurants highlighting the local cuisine . We would like to recognize Betul in Istanbul, Gozde in Cappadocia, Senem in Ephesus and Uraz in the southern coast and Antalya. Each provided a great tour in their respective locales.
In country travel, including 3 flights and transfers, was dependable and on schedule and Zehra quickly responded to questions during the trip.
Our trip included 3 days in Istanbul (we would recommend the Street food Tour and a visit to an Hammam), 2 days in Cappadocia (we would recommend the Hot air balloon ride and underground city tours), 2 days in Sirince with a tour of Ephesus and Pamukkale. Two relaxing days on the beach near Fethiye. A guided trip along the coast to Olympos and a day in Antalya.

Let's begin with the positives. Berat was prompt in her communication throughout the planning process. All scheduled transfers went off without a hitch, which we appreciate.

A special shoutout to our guides—Irfan in Cappadocia and Ozan in Izmir—for their deep knowledge, enthusiasm, and patience as they walked us through incredible sights. They were the highlight of the trip. On the other hand, Emir in Istanbul took a more by-the-book approach. His style felt rigid and lacked the warmth and flexibility we experienced with the other guides.

That said, I rarely write negative reviews—but our experience with Trail Travel (via Berat through Kimkim) was so egregiously underwhelming and overpriced that I feel compelled to warn fellow travelers. We paid an astronomical $$$$ for what was marketed as a premium 9-day private tour of Turkey, and what we got was mediocrity at prices that would make even luxury brands blush.

It all started when I realized our itinerary originated from Istanbul and ended in Izmir, despite clearly sharing that our international return flight was from Istanbul. This left us to book and pay for our own return. Having traveled widely across Europe and Asia, I expected more foresight—especially at this price point.

I first used Kimkim back in 2018. Now, at 60 and retired, I value ease and peace of mind while traveling, so my wife Sangeetha and I returned to the platform. Trusting Berat's 4.9-star reviews, I paid the quoted amount without hesitation. But after that Izmir-to-Istanbul surprise, I started scrutinizing the package—and realized we were charged approximately 1.5 times the market rate. My independent estimate was based on the premium rates for the same accommodations and services included in our package based on reputed travel portals and discussions with tour operators.

When I politely requested clarification about this price mismatch, instead of transparency, I received corporate doublespeak about "bundled services" and "personalized planning." Unprompted, a Kimkim rep was brought in to convince me about the professional planning, time savings, and support throughout the journey.

For our three nights in Istanbul, we followed an itinerary that involved walking in circles around Sultanahmet. The program conveniently avoided attractions requiring car transportation despite the premium we paid for a "private tour." A car service in Istanbul was too expensive to be included in our $$$$ package.

The hotels where we stayed were barely of 3-star quality:

The Istanbul Armada Hotel featured birds eating from the breakfast buffet (enjoy avian flu with your morning coffee!)
Our room at Kale Konak smelled of sewage
Basic, disappointing breakfasts throughout

The most detailed communication we received during the entire trip was a lengthy message about how much we should tip the guides and drivers, which we honored to the best of our abilities.

Turkey is a beautiful country. Hopefully, other reputable tour operators in Turkey will not treat your vacation budget like their personal ATM.
One star is too generous, but it's the minimum the review system allows.
A friend familiar with Turkish travel commented, "For this amount, you could have been chauffeured in a Rolls-Royce and stayed in a palace once owned by the Sultans."

Hotel Reviews

Kordon Hotel Çankaya

Çankaya, Konak, Izmir

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kale Konak Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Avanos: Discover the Centuries-Old Ceramic Tradition

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia

İstanbul

Discover the Historical Bazaars in Istanbul

İstanbul

Highly touristy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the heritage of the wonderful Topkapi Palace

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum + House of Virgin Mary

Turkey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Basilica Cistern

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Weather Gods were not kind to us

Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Saruhan Caravansarai

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Volcanic Valleys of Cappadocia: Zelve, Pasabag, and Avcılar

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus

Turkey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Berat was outstanding! Very professional and timely with her responses. She gave excellent recommendations and provided alternative solutions that we enjoyed.

A whirlwind five day trip to Turkey made possible by the organisational efforts of Berat and company. All activities and transfers went smoothly and the accomodation was of a high standard. The highlight was the Hot AirBalloons over Cappadocia, a magical experience and a definite bucket list tick. Shout out to our guides, Hatice in Cappadocia and Volkan in Istanbul, for the depth of their knowledge and patience in guiding us through the wonderful sights. We really wish we had more days to explore this beautiful country and are grateful for an introduction, hopefully we can see more in the future. Tesekkur 🙏

We recently returned from an incredible trip to Turkey, organized by Kimkim, and it’s safe to say it was a journey we will cherish forever. We traveled as a family—my parents, my sister, her husband, and myself—and explored the rich history and vibrant culture of Turkey, visiting Cappadocia, Bodrum, Pamukkale, and Istanbul.

Cappadocia: A Historical Wonderland
Our adventure began in Cappadocia, a region known for its surreal landscapes and rich history. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, we couldn’t experience the famous hot air balloon ride, which was disappointing. However, the historical sites more than made up for it. The highlight here was a visit to the underground city, an architectural marvel. While my dad and sister, feeling a bit claustrophobic, opted to return after exploring the second floor, the rest of us continued the guided tour. The guide provided by Kimkim (Sumer) was exceptional—knowledgeable and passionate, making the experience both informative and enjoyable.

Bodrum: Relaxation and Pamukkale’s Surreal Beauty
Next, we headed to Bodrum, where we had some free time to relax and explore at our own pace. On our final day there, we embarked on a day trip to Pamukkale before flying to Istanbul. Pamukkale was mesmerizing, especially the Hierapolis ruins and the stunning white travertine terraces. Walking through the ancient city felt surreal, and once again, Kimkim’s guide impressed us with their depth of knowledge and insights.

Istanbul: The Crown Jewel of Our Trip
Our final destination, Istanbul, was undoubtedly the highlight of our journey. We spent five incredible nights exploring this vibrant city that seamlessly blends history and modernity. The energy, culture, and sheer beauty of Istanbul left us spellbound.

What truly elevated our experience, however, was our guide, Oze. His deep knowledge of the city’s history and culture brought every site to life. From the Hagia Sophia to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and a delightful food tour on Istanbul’s Asian side, Oze curated an unforgettable itinerary that captured the essence of this magnificent city. Beyond being a guide, he felt like a friend, sharing personal insights and stories that made our time even more special.

Oze also went above and beyond, recommending excellent dining spots and local hangouts, and even joining us for an evening of fun and conversation. His warmth, professionalism, and passion for Istanbul made our experience truly unique. We found ourselves wishing we had more time to soak in the magic of this city, and much of that credit goes to Oze, who made Istanbul feel like home.

A Few Challenges
While the trip was fantastic overall, one downside was the amount of walking involved, which proved challenging for my parents, who are in their 60s. A bit more consideration for mobility needs would have made the experience even better for them.

Final Thoughts
Kimkim did an excellent job organizing our trip, and the knowledgeable guides played a significant role in making it a memorable experience. Despite a few challenges, Turkey’s history, culture, and warm hospitality won us over. We hope to return someday, especially to spend more time in Istanbul!

The trip to Turkey was such an amazing trip and exceeded all my expectation. My initial planning was with Murat. He was very patient and responsive to all my questions. My dates had not finalized yet and he was very patient throughout the process. I then got a chance to work with Berat who was amazing with all her recommendations and planning. She was very responsive to all my questions and was very accommodating. There was an issue with travel plans but she was very patient and made all the necessary changes needed which was greatly appreciated. While in Turkey, all the suggested tours, guides and drivers were amazing. The hotels were great and I feel like the itinerary showed the best of Turkey. Special shout out to both Hatice and Oguzhan who were both great guides and very informative as well as very attentive. The trip was so amazing because of this. Thank you so much. I would highly recommend Berat and her team to anyone.

This was my second booking with KIMKIM and it didn't disappoint. Both times I have used this service I have been blown away. Our guide was amazing (I must start there). Hatice traveled with us for the entire 11 days and she was absolutely fabulous. She was knowledgeable, friendly and wonderful. She was like part of the family before we left. We shared meals, met her family and had just an incredible time. She made reservations at restaurants, knew the best times to visit each attraction and treated us like she knew us forever. It was an incredible experience. Of course, Berat and her team did an amazing job with all the arrangements. The hotels, food and locations were exactly what we wanted and needed for our vacation. Turkey is a magical safe place that everyone should enjoy at least once in their life. You will see amazing historical places, eat too much (watch the ice cream) and love living life there.

Berat was very available for any changes that we made along the way. She was easy to contact and always followed up in a timely manner. I t was a very good expereince. Thank you
Gina Suozzi

Wow! Kimkim did a wonderful job putting together a trip tailored to our specific interests and needs. The guides made Turkey’s fascinating history come alive and exciting. Kimkin’s accommodating our last minute requests for a hot air balloon ride and cooking class was especially appreciated.
The only suggestion I have is to rethink the “sunset wine tasting.” Because it was too cold, we had to move that activity indoors. Rather than the alternate location chosen you might consider a venue other than an enclosed space without windows. Maybe the courtyard of Murat’s hotel?
Overall, Kimkim made this a great vacation and provided seamless service. Thank you!

Basat at museum was amazing , started us planning next year in Turkey from Troy down coastline.
Erat in cappadoncia was excellent; so knowledgeable and adjusted tour to our every need.
The last hotel in Istanbul was not up to standard, service was sub par and any questions asked we got different answers from each staff.
Their first response was no to most everything.
Check in was unnecessarily long , crowded and we were told to sit , and then forgotten while they checked in a group that arrived after us
The wine tasting was also a disappointment, we did not have sunset due to windy conditions but then we did it in a lobby with no view no explanation of the wines, the woman conducting the tasting poured and disappeared.
Only 2 wines poured . For this we could have ordered at our hotel with a spectacular view and had a bartender explain the wine

KimKim and Berat provided an outstanding vacation in Turkey for us. It was particularly helpful that whenever we had a question or needed a suggested activity, we could always contact Berat. She always promptly responded, often with specific suggestions such as excellent dining choices and places to go.

When there were huge lines for the mosques in Istanbul, KimKim's guide suggested an alternative, the cisterns, as a place to start. Not only did that provide an memorable sight, by the time we finished, the mosque lines were completely gone allowing us to walk right in.

All the travel logistics were in place -- people to pick up us and reservations in place.

For anyone considering a vacation in Turkey, we highly recommend booking it through KimKim. This was our second KimKim vacation. Now that we're back, time to start thinking about the next trip with them.

Hotel Reviews

Pera Palace

Istanbul

Charming, well located, hotel responsive to some plumbing issues.

Authenticity & Character

Oldest elevator in the country.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kayakapi Premium Caves

Urgup / Cappadocia

Restaurants were amazing, especially the vegetarian tasting meal. Friendly waitstaff.

Akra Antalya Hotel

Antalya

Hotel was fine. Blaring music in one of the restaurants but the next night it was quieter.

Doğa Thermal Hotel & Spa

Denizli

Weird environment; smell from thermal waters. Only buffet dinner available which was just adequate. Not up to the standards of the other hotels on the trip.

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

Huge accessibility issues for anyone over 30 years old. Very rocky road from the reception desk to the room making the walk to meals treacherous. Layout of the rooms not idea with bathroom on a different level from the bedroom -- again an issue for older travelers. On the other hand, the staff were over the top friendly and accommodating. Meals, once you got the the dining room were very good.

Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul

ISTANBUL

Excellent location looking out over the Bosphorus, walking distance to many of the key sites, tasty Indian restaurant on site.

Activity Review

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Beautiful views, magical scenery, felt perfectly safe

I decided to use Kimkim in searching for itineraries to visit Turkey, after our plan for Greece was completed. From the very start, Berat scheduled every single aspect of our journey with care and detail, starting with Istambul, then Capadocia, Sirince, Pamukkale and finally Izmir. The itinerary was perfect, highlighting the very best that great country has to offer, amazing hotels, transfers and activities of the most gorgeous places on earth. Thank you Berat and your team of guides: Volkan, Harun and Fatma, so knowledgeable and kind sharing the best information and companionship throughout all our travels. We also had the fortune to meet Berat personally when passing through Capadocia, that was so incredible! Talking to her personally and sharing our experiences with her was so nice. This whole trip was an unforgettable experience, that otherwise would not have been possible, so for sure we will plan any other journey with Kimkim in the future!! Thanks to all! We loved Turkiye🇹🇷 ♥️ and we hope we come back and visit some more of this gorgeous country!

Hotel Reviews

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

Very nice traditional hotel in The old city near the best attractions -Hagia Sohia, Blue Mosqud and Topkaki Palace. Breakfast was absolutely delicious

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kale Konak Hotel

This is an absolutely beautiful cave hotel right in front of the Uchisar Castle, staff is so friendly and the hotel outside areas are beautiful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

There are not enough words to say how amazing is this place, the views, the room, the food and staff are absolutely wonderful!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doğa Thermal Hotel & Spa

Denizli

This hotel was great, specially for its thermal waters; the food is also very good!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kordon Hotel Çankaya

Çankaya, Konak, Izmir

Well located, nice and clean rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

During our (4) days in Istanbul, we were lucky to have Volkan as our guide, he gave us all historic background of every attraction in the city, while enjoying his company and conversations throughout our journeys. It was a pleasure spending all these days in his company, and made our experience unforgettable!!!,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the historical + modern hub: Pera, Karaköy and Beyond

İstanbul

During our (4) days in Istanbul, we were lucky to have Volkan as our guide, he gave us all historic background of every attraction in the city, while enjoying his company and conversations throughout our journeys. It was a pleasure spending all these days in his company, and made our experience unforgettable!!!,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

This Bosphorus boat trip was beautiful watching the Palaces over the waterfront. The Asian coast of Istanbul is vibrant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

H

Transport

Urban Hiking Tour: Strolling around Old City Walls, Fener + Balat

İstanbul

During our (4) days in Istanbul, we were lucky to have Volkan as our guide, he gave us all historic background of every attraction in the city, while enjoying his company and conversations throughout our journeys. It was a pleasure spending all these days in his company, and made our experience unforgettable!!!,

Quality of Experience

H

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Turkey. From start to finish our 10 days were well planned, with fantastic guides, and comfortable and safe drivers. We even had the opportunity to meet with our local travel planner, Berat. We made changes once we were in country that Berat handled seamlessly, easily taking care of each. We were also given fast recommendations when we had a need for medication due to an illness. Berat listened to our desires and needs, and planned accordingly.
Some suggestions:
- Make sure your personal email and phone number are included on all airline reservations that are made for you that you will need to check in for during your travels.
- Perhaps the guides could send a brief summary of each site visited, providing the history and culture in a written format.
We will be using KimKim again!