Earlier this year, I had read an article about how İstanbul, Türkiye was the world’s most visited city last year in 2023 and it got me very intrigued! I started watching videos and did some research as to what there is to see and do. Both my hubby and I love to travel but have not ventured towards this part of the world yet so we thought we’d give it a go. We immediately turned our attention to KimKim for guidance. We were assigned with Berat who has been such a troOper for helping us plan...
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Earlier this year, I had read an article about how İstanbul, Türkiye was the world’s most visited city last year in 2023 and it got me very intrigued! I started watching videos and did some research as to what there is to see and do. Both my hubby and I love to travel but have not ventured towards this part of the world yet so we thought we’d give it a go. We immediately turned our attention to KimKim for guidance. We were assigned with Berat who has been such a troOper for helping us plan the perfect itinerary. She was able to tweak the details in a timely manner and made the planning process so seamless. Our hotels were all centrally located with so much history and amazing architecture. Once our trip was finalized, she assigned us our drivers and guides, and then the fun begins!
Since we had some very early and long travel days, we were either yawning or dozing off in the car, our tireless drivers were able to get us from point A to point B safely and on time, not to mention the crazy terrain they had to endure. Hubby and I don’t like to drive and so we tend to take ride share more than necessary. Please note your efforts were most certainly not unnoticed.
We have a lot of praise for our guides. We had a handful of days when we were on our own and would tell each other how nice it was not having to wait in line for anything.
Our first guide was Mr. Şafak Emre Kılıç. He was able to squeeze all the major attractions in one day even tho we ran into some major downpour. He was very considerate and only proceeded with the tour once we were comfortable so that we wouldn’t get sick from the rain. It was a great balance of time with him as well as giving us space to stroll around on our own. What a great introduction to our trip.
Our next guide was Mr. İrfan Olmez. He was super helpful and offered additional sightseeing options during our road trip. We didn’t partake at the time because we were still pretty jet lagged but I think it’s important to point out his thoughtfulness on sharing new sights with us. Whenever we take road trips ourselves, we do enjoy making multiple stops to break up the drive so we do appreciate him for sharing those options. We really enjoyed talking with him during our rest stops. Learned a new perspective regarding the industry of tourism which was very eye-opening. It was so wholesome when he pointed out his village home where he grew up. We were trying to squeeze another activity into our two-day trip at the last minute and he was very accommodating in helping us make it happen.
Our last guide was Mr. Ozan Tokcan. We were with him for three days so you can only imagine I have quite a bit to share. He started off by mentioning we should get a hat and I’m so glad I did because hubby was a mess by the end of each day, haha. He also reminded us the importance of staying hydrated before each tour which we didn’t always follow; we really go to town on our beverages at the end. He was also very caring in making sure we were standing in shade since it can be brutally hot during the summer season. He shared with us local cuisine which is something we strongly support back home. At one point, the restaurant owners even asked my hubby to try making the foOd with them. Can’t beat that. I noticed he will sometimes touch the historical sights to be in sync with history which is just such a fun idea as I found myself (and my hubby) doing it as well. My hubby would ask a question and then he would check if his question was answered which I found very appreciative. You can tell he’s passionate about his career and loves his home. He’s willing to learn from us as well, such as finding out the water in a Şirince town can be drinkable. His upbeat personality is infectious and we feel truly honored to have crossed paths with him. Such a beam of light. He will go far in life.
This has been the trip of a lifetime. We only visited for two weeks and still got to see so much and yet have barely scratched the surface of what this country can offer. There are excavations still ongoing which means future generations can see even more. The people of Türkiye are insanely hospitable and we want to thank each and every one of them for making this trip a success. Hoping more and more people can take time to visit this beautiful country and experience the wonderful culture <3
Hotel Reviews
The Marmara Pera
Istanbul
Doğa Thermal Hotel & Spa
Denizli
Activity Reviews
Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Pamukkale
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Discover Priene: A beautiful ancient Ionian town
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Şirince: A Guided Stroll in a beautiful Aegean Village
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Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum
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Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus
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Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys
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Flight from Istanbul to Ankara + Road trip to Cappadocia via Lake Tuz
Turkey
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
İstanbul
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
İstanbul
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Berat Ornek
