Grand tour of Turkey

This was the best trip we have taken so far. We were blown away by the beauty of Turkey, especially Cappadocia. The people were so friendly and helpful, and the natural beauty is unbelievable . Our Guide Mehmet Cabulk really was the icing on the cake. He made everything come alive with his coments on what we saw and the history of the country. He was so nice. We really enjoyed this trip and hope to take more. Oh, and the food was wonderful. Shirley

Turkey Trip September 2012

Our tour director made the tour come alive as she had such a passion for her work & was so knowledgeable about the ancient cities & the ruins. The highlight of the tour was the hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, this is something everyone should experience. Experiencing the life & culture of Turkey was an education in itself, along with the food we encountered. We saw the old along side the new modern Turkey. I would highly recommend this tour to folks. There is lots of walking over sometimes quite rough terrain, but not something most people couldn't handle.

Journey Through Time & Culture in Turkey

Journey through 5,000 years of history and countless cultures on this terrific adventure - from Troy to modern bustling Istanbul. The itinerary is superb. Be physically fit to fully enjoy all the sites and take a few long bus rides. Take all of the optionals involving ancient sites - each is unique and special. Take the Bosphorus cruise to see the beauty and history of the port of Istanbul. The hotels were all good as were most (not all) buffet dinners. Some bus rides are long but I kept my camera at the window and have super shots of the gorgeous and varied scenery. The lunch stops were interesting. Make sure to take the Istanbul extension - there is so much to see in this great city: the hotel is well located on the very safe and efficient #1 tram line. Go to Istiklal Cadessi to meet the youth of Istanbul, tour Dolmabache Palace - a mini Versailles, visit the Kariye Church/Mosque to see stunning 13th c mosaics and walk back through neighborhoods and the avenue of bridal shops, tour the serene and eerie Sunken Palace - the cisterns of Constantinople. Our guide Mehmet loves his country and makes the ancient sites come to life; our bus driver Sinan was outstanding. Make sure to request ballooning over Capadocchia - spectacular. A few negatives: the group of 37 was way too big - couldn't fit into some sites like Goreme. Skip the Folklore Show - too much audience participation - dull. About 10 people unfortunately got very sick - flu - possibly from 1 person whose behavior was inconsiderate on a very crowded bus. Go Ahead - PLEASE limit to 30. We had a fabulous time and highly recommend this adventure.

Wonderful Tour Of Turkey

This was my second time to Turkey and enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Hotel accommodations were great as was the locations. Breakfast was buffett style and usually had a large variety. Dinners that were included were good, and enough variety that you don't get bored eating the same thing every night. The sights we visited were incredible and our guide Mehmet did an excellent job . He delivered an in-depth explanation or description of everything we saw peppered with a great sense of humor. With nearly 3000 miles of driving I send our bus driver Sinan a big thank you for all his hard work and dedication.

Turkey -- land of contrasts

I loved everything we saw and did on this tour. The people-watching in Istanbul was an added bonus - such a diverse mix of people everywhere -- many were tourists, just like us. From the cosmopolitin flavor of Istanbul to the quaint hilltop village of Sirince, we saw a lot of contrasts. Lots of archological sites, each one different and interesting, scenic Agean coastal towns and harbors, lush farmland, and dramatic Cappadocia with it's majestic and mysterious rock formations and dwellings. The food was fresh and delicious everywhere and the people very warm and friendly at each location. Our guide was very knowlegable and the tour group very congenial. It was a wonderful two weeks!

Grand Tour of Turkey

This tour was an excellant value. This was our third trip with Go Ahead and this was the best director so far. He made several changes to accommodate the heat and crowds and thus made the outings much more pleasurable. He was well versed in history and Turkish culture and his lectures were interesting and lucid.

Very Well Balanced Adventure

I loved how this trip had everything from structured sightseeing, museum visits, and shopping stops to flexible days where we could go to the beach, a spa, or explore the town on our own. Our days started early in the morning and were packed with adventure (no worries, we stops intermittently for short breaks and lunch stops) all the way until about 5pm. At that point, we were free to continue actively exploring or simply relax at the hotel by the pool or drinking wine at the terrace. Moreover, our tour director was very knowledgable, making this trip feel like a worry-free endeavor. He could answer any question regarding the country's culture and history or perhaps the best restaurants or sites to check out during our free time. I would have liked a bigger emphasis on Turkish music and dance, however the tangential focus on food and other local delights made up for what the trip lacked. Simply put, this was truly an adventure everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime!

WONDERFUL TRIP

My husband and I are in our 70's and have never enjoyed a trip as much as our Turkey trip. We learned so much about Turkey thanks to our remarkable tour guide and host. He was so knowledgeable and so caring about out group. He gave us the best knowledge of his country and shared insights to all the sites we visited so thoroughly. He arranged each step of our journey perfectly which made our long motor coach stretches so worthwhile. Our hotels and meals were great! The balloon ride was a thrill in Cappadocia! Loved Istanbul seeing the beautiful Mosques, and all the seaside towns we saw were well worth seeing. So much history, so many places to explore. Thank you GO AHEAD! David & Sharon

Grand Tour of Turkey

I love Go Ahead and their guides. However, I will be hesitate to book excursions in advance. On the Grand Tour of Turkey, the guide changed schudeling one day to include 2 excursions and the days tour. It was too much! I had booked both excursions and had to cancel one and lose the cost. I didn't appreciate the schedule change on day 8 that changed the tour of Pamukkale's to the dead heat of the afternoon, had a 5:45 wake up for the exursion to Aphrodisias (this I paid for and skipped) and the whirling dervish excursions right after the heat of the Pamukkale visit. The hotel was a spa with services available in the afternoon only. The change of schedule also compromised the chance of enjoying the spa. Bad day! Want to refund my excursion? All and all the trip was great!

Put this on Your Bucket List!

What a fantastic adventure! Turkey is a land both cosmopolitan and exotic. The sites were beyond expectations, the history mind boggling, it's people polite and welcoming and just as courious about us as we were of them. Sitting and having tea and lots of conversation with locals on several occassions was definately a highlight of adventure for my friend and me as we shopped. We were querried about geography, politics, education, and more in a very positive way. Our tour guide, Memhet, was as good as they come. He was friendly, humorous, knowledgeable, and seemed to know all the best places to eat everywhere we went. He was always working to make everything the most comfortable for the group, avoiding the heat of the day or the massive tour ship crowds. He made history come alive. I will definately recommend (already have) this tour to anybody willing to listen to me.