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Trail Travel

Trail Travel is the right choice for travelers who prefer to pursue the less-taken paths during holidays. We craft your holidays carefully, because we want you to enjoy moments full of genuine encounters: On the way you’ll be meeting with local people, savoring the best cuisine and relish beautiful landscapes. Blending cultural and historical heritage with mesmerizing natural scenery, Trail Travel assures you a unique holiday in Turkey.

Trail Travel is part of the following groups: Turkey Travel Agents

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Recent Trip Reviews for Trail Travel

This was our first time using KimKim and I ha...
Turkey | Sep 2 - Sep 13, 2025

Jennifer
Jennifer K.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Sep 15, 2025
This was our first time using KimKim and I had my fingers crossed that everything would run smoothly. Our trip to Türkiye was amazing! It started off wonderfully with Yigit waiting for us at the Istanbul airport after our 13 1/2 hour flight. He was so friendly and welcoming and we were driven to The Bank Hotel. A great first impression! Exhausted from our travels, they invited us inside and handled all of our luggage and immediately served us a drink of our choice in the lobby while they... Read more

This was our first time using KimKim and I had my fingers crossed that everything would run smoothly. Our trip to Türkiye was amazing! It started off wonderfully with Yigit waiting for us at the Istanbul airport after our 13 1/2 hour flight. He was so friendly and welcoming and we were driven to The Bank Hotel. A great first impression! Exhausted from our travels, they invited us inside and handled all of our luggage and immediately served us a drink of our choice in the lobby while they finished readying our room and ushered our bags up stairs. This level of service continued throughout the entire trip.

Our guide, Volkan, met us in the hotel lobby the next morning and while we sat he gave us a 45 minute brief historical introduction to Türkiye. We loved this! We really wanted to learn on this trip, and I wish we could have had Volkan as our guide for the entire trip. Not only was he knowledgeable, but he did a beautiful job of balancing guiding and directing us and talking with also giving us some time to wander and explore the sites at our own pace. When it came to the food, we would have been lost without him. He gave suggestions and there were many opportunities to try the various foods. We weren't quite prepared for the amount of hills and walking we would be doing in the city, but in hindsight it would be challenging to tour Istanbul by car, and we are so glad to have done it this way. Volkan also was familiar for good picture spots and invited our family to pose while he took several pictures of us with our camera. We really enjoyed him teaching us while we toured Topkapi palace so we could learn about the life of the sultans. The mosques were incredible and beautiful. Be prepared for motorcycles driving on sidewalks! :-D Volkan was very aware of his surroundings and did a great job guiding us through the busy places. We also bypassed the long lines because we had a guide with us. Super!

Berat and Murat communicated with us daily on our trip. This was so reassuring. The day before they would provide us with driver names, vehicle license, phone number, and times for each pickup. I was impressed at how everyone was on time and we were not left waiting. When we had a small bit of trouble at one hotel, Murat contacted them and smoothed things over, and the hotel even had wine and snacks waiting for us that day!

Our favorite place to visit was Cappadocia. After the masses of people in Istanbul, it was refreshing to see those views, and lunch at The Dream Spot took my breath away. What a way to start off Cappadicia! When we visited the Underground City, Volkan asked us if we had claustrophobia, and I told him I was mildly affected, and I didn't want to be trapped in the tunnels. He did a great job of making sure the tunnels ahead were cleared of people before having us walk through, and that made it very enjoyable with no moments of panic bent over in a passage waiting for people ahead to move. The hot air balloon ride was unlike anything we have ever done, and we were so glad the weather cooperated.

The only place we could have skipped was Izmir... it's a modern city. We think it was probably a necessary connection point for our travel day where we flew from Cappadocia back to the west coast. We met Ozan as our guide for Izmir, Ephasus, and Sirence. He was knowledgeable and friendly. We loved the mussels stuffed with rice that we sampled from a street vendor! I honestly didn't think I would like them, but I'm willing to try just about anything. When he found out we ran a math learning center, he took us to a summer camp/school/univercity in Sirence! This was an unexpected surprise, and it was the first time Ozan had been there as well. My only wish is that Ozan gave us a bit of time to explore on our own. At the museums he was excited to have us see certain things, but I would have liked a little unstructured time to view things at our own pace as well without being overly directed.

Our private boat tour in Bodrum was beautiful! I thought 6 hours might be too long, but with four stops for swimming (we were only promised three) and lunch served, it was a relaxing day towards the end of our trip. Bodrum was also wonderful for walking in the evenings.

A few notes below on our lodgings:

The Bank Hotel - amazing. Gorgeous architecture and this family loved the complimentary chocolates! The breakfast was so good. No complaints.
Hotel Taskonaklar Cappadocia - How exciting to have a hotel built into ancient ruins! Gorgeous accommodations. Our daughter's mattress had springs pushing into her and she ended up sleeping on the couch. When I found out, I flipped her mattress and all was well the second night. Be prepared for quite a few stairs outside. Again, the breakfast was amazing.
Mövenpick Izmir - nothing of note. Nice modern hotel.
Nisanyan Houses - This was a visual treat. The hospitality was wonderful and the food was so good, as was the view. The artistry in the rooms was lovely. All that said, we were glad we only spent one night here. The large bed had an uncomfortable, flat mattress, and my husband had to climb over me to get into and out of bed with the way it was framed and oriented against the wall. It was lacking in linens and only had a flat quilt (not a duvet) to cover us. The second bedroom had two beds. Our daughter had the larger bed and she said it was comfortable, but the other bed was only big enough for a child. Our 6 foot tall son and to sleep on the couch downstairs. The spiral staircase was treacherous without a handrail, and I was worried I'd accidentally fall into the sunken shower when using the bathroom during the night, so I left that light on. I attempted to make coffee, but when I turned the dial for the counter-top plug-in stove, I got an electric shock. The toilet ran non-stop, and we switched the water off between uses. (There was no phone to contact the lobby, and I didn't feel like navigating the walk up the stairs to tell them, so we waited until we left to report it. ) The stairs on the grounds were also very challenging with rough-hewn stone and no hand rails. It was a hike to get to the pool. It was a beautiful place for photos, visually delightful, and the owner was so nice I hate to say anything critical, but not somewhere I'd stay again. They could improve it by taking care of some of these issues, such as adding handrails.
Divan Bodrum Palmira - Very comfortable hotel! We ran into a few minor issues, but they were taken care of.

We would definitely use KimKim again for planning a trip like this to an unfamiliar country!

Hotel Reviews
The Bank Hotel
Istanbul

The Bank Hotel - amazing. Gorgeous architecture and this family loved the complimentary chocolates! The breakfast was so good with many selections. No complaints. Great location for walking tours of the city.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Taskonaklar Cappadocia
Nevsehir

How exciting to have a hotel built into ancient ruins! Gorgeous accommodations. Our daughter's mattress had springs pushing into her and she ended up sleeping on the couch. When I found out, I flipped her mattress and all was well the second night. Be prepared for quite a few stairs outside. Again, the breakfast was amazing. Incredible views.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
We had to flip a mattress, and there were also two different leaks we reported. It took a while to get the AC to cool everything down and dehumidfy everything.
Nisanyan Houses
Selçuk

This was a visual treat, and I want to give it a higher rating, as I think some people would love it here. The hospitality was wonderful and the food was so good, as was the view... the view was truly unmatched. The artistry in the rooms was lovely. All that said, we were glad we only spent one night here. The large bed had an uncomfortable, flat mattress, and my husband had to climb over me to get into and out of bed with the way it was framed and oriented against the wall. It was lacking in linens and only had a flat quilt (not a duvet) to cover us. The second bedroom had two beds. Our daughter had the larger bed and she said it was comfortable, but the other bed was only big enough for a child. Our 6 foot tall son and to sleep on the couch downstairs, and there were no extra linens. The spiral staircase was treacherous without a handrail, and I was worried I'd accidentally fall into the sunken shower when using the bathroom during the night, so I left that light on. I attempted to make coffee, but when I turned the dial for the counter-top plug-in stove, I got an electric shock. The toilet ran non-stop, and we switched the water off between uses. (There was no phone to contact the lobby, and I didn't feel like navigating the walk up the stairs to tell them, so we waited until we left to report it. ) The stairs on the grounds were also very challenging with rough-hewn stone and no hand rails. It was a hike to get to the pool. It was a beautiful place for photos, visually delightful, and the owner was so nice I hate to say anything critical, but not somewhere I'd stay again. We did not have a chance to enjoy the wonderful bread and jams they put in the fridge for us, but that was a lovely added touch. They could improve it by taking care of some of these issues, such as adding handrails and putting in a new mattress and enough linens. With handrails and a more comfortable bed and a safety barrier rail added to the shower, I would love to visit again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Uncomfortable beds and treacherous stairs. It was very clean, but not comfortable or safe.
Activity Reviews
Food Tour in Istanbul
Food Tour in Istanbul
İstanbul

We can't really fit a food tour all in one day, because you can only eat so much! Volkan did a wonderful job of spreading this out and including it during our three full days in Istanbul.

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
İstanbul

Another world! So much character and history. Just hearing the calls to prayer was so different for an American. The palace was fascinating, and the mosques were beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Volkan was the best! We couldn't have imagined a better guide. He really does a wonderful job of ensuring we had a full experience, but also gave us time to explore on our own and meet back up with him.
Transport
Istanbul Archaeological Museum Tour
Istanbul Archaeological Museum Tour
İstanbul

How was this museum not packed with people! So much to see an learn.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
İstanbul

This was a lovely change of pace after some tough walking tours of Istanbul. Just the right length boat tour.

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Sep 17, 2025

Dear Jennifer,

We greatly appreciate your detailed feedback and so glad to hear you had a great time with us!

We took notes of your review and will forward it to our local suppliers.

Thanks so much for choosing us as your travel companion and we look forward to hosting you in Turkey again.

Best,
Berat

Amazing Istanbul Trip
Turkey | Jul 12 - Jul 18, 2025

I
Irfan L.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 19, 2025
Thank you Berat for planning a wonderful trip. We enjoyed our stay in Istanbul. Everything went smoothly. We had an excellent guide and a nice hotel. Read more

Thank you Berat for planning a wonderful trip. We enjoyed our stay in Istanbul. Everything went smoothly. We had an excellent guide and a nice hotel.

Hotel Review
Armada Hotel
Istanbul
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Explore the Dolmabahçe Palace
Explore the Dolmabahçe Palace
İstanbul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Crossing between Continents: Explore Kadıköy and Moda
Crossing between Continents: Explore Kadıköy and Moda
İstanbul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
İstanbul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul
Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul
İstanbul
Quality of Experience
I’m
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
İstanbul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Jul 20, 2025

Dear Irfan,
Many thanks for this positive review! We appreciate your valuable feedback and are happy to hear you had a great time in Turkey.
Thanks for choosing us as your travel companions and we look forward to hosting you here again.
Best,
Berat

Great city to visit
Turkey | Jun 2 - Jun 5, 2025

Nicole
Nicole P.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 16, 2025
Wonderful city and great to have things well planned in advance. With just two days, we were able to see the main sights plus a mosque that is off the beaten path. With Berat, we were able to have flexibility in our schedule which we appreciated. We loved this visit and will likely come back! Read more

Wonderful city and great to have things well planned in advance. With just two days, we were able to see the main sights plus a mosque that is off the beaten path. With Berat, we were able to have flexibility in our schedule which we appreciated. We loved this visit and will likely come back!

Hotel Review
Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul, Curio Collection by Hilton
Fatih Istanbul

We enjoyed this unique hotel perfectly located around the main sights to see. The staff were helpful and the room was great.

Authenticity & Character
Cute houses
Location
Perfect for a short stay in the city centre.
Staff
Everyone was very courteous and helpful for restaurant recommendations.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nothing to change. Keeping doing what you are doing.
Activity Reviews
Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
İstanbul

We really enjoyed being on the water and learning more about the land, the location of things, the buildings and history around the water way. We were somewhat surprised by the size of the boat for the private tour. The boat was amazing but we're not sure if there were smaller options available for private tours. Certainly felt like luxury :)

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

It was great to see the bazaars and learn more of the ottoman period. We are not big shoppers but our guide was able to point out high quality, specific places of interest to us.

Explore the Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia
Explore the Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia
İstanbul

Berat was very informative and efficient to get all spots in yet not feeling rushed or crowded. The history was particularly interesting.

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Jul 20, 2025

Dear Nicole,
Thanks so much for this great review!
It was a joy to host you and we are glad to hear you had a nice time in Turkey.
Kind regards,
Berat

all of our guides were great - very knowledge...
Turkey | Jun 1 - Jun 12, 2025

L
Lynda G.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jun 30, 2025
all of our guides were great - very knowledgeable and on time and respectful and the transportation arranged was ideal! Read more

all of our guides were great - very knowledgeable and on time and respectful and the transportation arranged was ideal!

Hotel Reviews
Pera Palace
Istanbul

great location history and a very accommodating and friendly staff

Authenticity & Character
the breakfast included was excellent - very authentic and over the top in selections and quality of food
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
the rooms were great and the common areas lovely in every way.
Hotel Taskonaklar Cappadocia
Nevsehir

great location - great views and super fun to be in this cave hotel

Activity Reviews
Cappadocia E-Bike Tour - Full Day
Cappadocia E-Bike Tour - Full Day
Cappadocia

Guides were great - bikes were great- super fun day!

Wine Pairing Dinner at Revithia Cappadocia
Wine Pairing Dinner at Revithia Cappadocia
Cappadocia

this restaurant had a great view and the staff was super friendly but the food didn't feel super authentic and was a bit fussy. that said, the plates, bowls and the serve ware was very artsy and amazing!

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Jul 01, 2025

Dear Lynda,
Many thanks for your review, we appreciate it! So glad to hear you had a great time in Turkey with us. We look forward to hosting you in the future for a second round!
Best,
Berat

Fantastic trip!
Turkey | May 25 - Jun 8, 2025

Corinne
Corinne S.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jun 16, 2025
This review is from Corinne. I did not receive the email asking for a review so Susan forwarded it to me. It was an amazing trip. Turkey is such a beautiful country, so much history and some of the most hospitable people I have ever met. For a two week trip, Berat set up a schedule that allowed us to see so many places and enjoy many experiences. I got a taste of Turkey, and want to go back eventually to see the places that time just did not allow. Our three guides, Volkan, Alp and... Read more

This review is from Corinne. I did not receive the email asking for a review so Susan forwarded it to me.

It was an amazing trip. Turkey is such a beautiful country, so much history and some of the most hospitable people I have ever met. For a two week trip, Berat set up a schedule that allowed us to see so many places and enjoy many experiences. I got a taste of Turkey, and want to go back eventually to see the places that time just did not allow.

Our three guides, Volkan, Alp and Ozan were incredibly knowledgeable and were able to answer all of our questions. While they had very individual styles, it was clear that they loved their country and were happy to share their knowledge and impressions with us. They were very attentive and helpful. And the drivers also deserve praise--they drove some very long distances, maintained good attitudes and were quite helpful.

In summary, Berat planned a wonderful trip and everything went very smoothly. Thanks for a great time!

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Jun 18, 2025

Dear Corinne,
Many thanks for this positive review! We appreciate your valuable feedback and are happy to hear you had a great time in Turkey.
Thanks for choosing us as your travel companions and we look forward to hosting you here again.
Best,
Berat

Different guides, different perspectives
Turkey | May 25 - Jun 8, 2025

Susan
Susan G.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jun 10, 2025
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... Read more

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
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
Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Jun 10, 2025

Dear Susan,

Thanks so much for this great review!
It was a joy to host you and we are glad to hear you had a nice time in Turkey.
We appreciate your detailed comments on our great guides, we try our very best to offer a diverse group of excellent guides for a rich perspective in Turkey!
Kind regards,
Berat

Met and exceeded my expectations of what a great trip should be.
Turkey | May 21 - May 25, 2025

Nolan
Nolan W.
Canada | Reviewed on Jun 03, 2025
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... Read more

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

Hotel Reviews
Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul, Curio Collection by Hilton
Fatih Istanbul

If you are in Istanbul to see the major attractions this cannot be beat. My hotel room was very comfortable with a magnificent bathtub that I actually fell asleep in after a long day of being a tourist. And I do not fit most tubs comfortably. The shower was equally wonderful. The beds were huge and very very comfortable. The breakfast and dinner were 2nd to none. The view from the roof restaurant of the Hagia Sofia were spectacular. But the location was epic. I was between the Sultan Mehmet's wall and the Hagia Sophia backside. I was literally around the corner from the area between the Topkapi, Hagia Sofia, and Blue Mosque. and just a short walk to the underground Cistern. Easily one of my best stays anywhere/anytime. The employees were just as helpful and prompt as you would expect from the finest hotels. Excellent experience here.

Authenticity & Character
fit nicely into the surroundings. Not obtrusive.
Location
seconds of walking distance to my most desired points of interest.
Staff
never lacked for anything. from food service to collecting me and my luggage to and from the hotel.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bathtub was excellent. Very comfortable bed. Clean and comfortable room.
DoubleTree by Hilton Izmir - Alsancak

As with most Hiltons this was a very nice hotel and matched service with accommodations.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
DoubleTree by Hilton Çanakkale
Çanakkale
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Jun 04, 2025

Dear Nolan,
Thanks so much for this great review!
It was a joy to host you and we are happy to hear you had a nice time in Turkey.
We are sorry that you couldn't complete the tour due to your illness, we look forward to hosting you here again in the future!
Kind regards,
Berat

Iconic sights and knowledgeable guides for a history and art filled 9-day trip
Turkey | Feb 26 - Mar 6, 2025

Rohini
Rohini C.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on May 27, 2025
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... Read more

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.

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on May 28, 2025

Dear Rohini,
Many thanks for this positive review! We appreciate your valuable feedback and are happy to hear you had a great time in Turkey.
Thanks for choosing us as your travel companions and we look forward to hosting you here again.
Best,
Berat

I highly recommend KimKim as a travel service...
Turkey | May 7 - May 22, 2025

marcia
marcia f.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on May 27, 2025
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... Read more

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.

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on May 27, 2025

Dear Marcia,
Thanks so much for this great review!
It was a joy to host you and we are glad to hear you had a nice time in Turkey.
Kind regards,
Berat

Wonderful time in Turkey .
Turkey | May 5 - May 11, 2025

D
David K.
Springfield, MA | Reviewed on May 19, 2025
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... Read more

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
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
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
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
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
Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise
Cappadocia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kaymaklı Underground City
Kaymaklı Underground City
Cappadocia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)
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
Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys
Cappadocia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cooking Class in Cappadocia
Cooking Class in Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on May 20, 2025

Dear David,
Many thanks for your review, we appreciate it! So glad to hear you had a great time in Turkey with us. We look forward to hosting you in the future for a second round!
Best,
Berat