Christmas Turkey - 12 day tour

We picked this tour because of the name Christmas Turkey. Neither of us had been to Turkey before and were interested to find out about the country that is often in the news for the wrong reasons. We were very pleasantly surprised as despite there being a bombing just before we left we felt perfectly safe in the country and everybody we met was very helpful. Turkey is really suffering because of bad press. Tourism is down 80%. Turkey is a fascinating country so rich in culture and history. Having travelled around a large part of it we could see why so many nations wanted to invade it. For us Ephesus, Pamakkale and Cappadoccia ( and our snowman built on Xmas Day ) were the highlights and we felt we only scratched the surface and so intend to return. We both came home feeling thoroughly enriched by the experience and empowered.

The government is investing hugely in the economy building big highways to link the west to the east , tunnels under the Bosphorus, a huge water pipeline under the Mediterranean sea sharing water from Turkey with Northern Cyprus.Recep was an excellent guide and prepared to answer any question the group posed. He made sure the whole group was catered for and consequently everyone gelled very well. It was a very special way to spend Christmas 2016”

This tour was fantastic, exactly what I wanted to get in terms of learning some history and culture of Turkey. Recep was very knowledgeable, he provided enough information and background for us to understand what we were looking and needed to look. The driver worked hard and often had to drive a long time to reach the sites. I really enjoyed this holiday. ”

This was one of my best Christmases ever, even though it was spent with complete strangers miles from home!

The group worked really well, just the right number of people and mix of personalities, but above all it was our fantastic guide Recep who made the trip for me. His knowledge, enthusiasm, patience and timings were excellent.

I was well looked after from the moment I landed in Istanbul, with nothing to worry about or organise because everything was taken care of.

I was on my own yet it didn't feel like that at all, everyone was so friendly and kind to me within the group.

The hotels we stayed in were far better than I expected. A few had pools, all had WiFi, which are things I wouldn't have expected.

There was so much information to take in on the trip and the sites we visited were out of this world. Ephesus was the highlight for me! I would love to go back to Turkey and learn even more about the history.

The pace of the tour was busy but I have still returned home feeling relaxed and slightly more knowledgeable than when I left!

This is my 3rd trip with On The Go and I would highly recommend this particular cultural trip and our brilliant guide Recep. ”

Having returned from our trip, we'd like to share some of our thoughts and feedback regarding the Christmas Turkey Tour with On the Go.

This was our first tour experience together and were not certain what to expect. The full itinerary was enticing and we were intrigued by Turkish culture and Anatolian history, but had no familiarity with the format or standards of tour guides and tour groups.

After nearly two weeks with our traveling group, I have to say my wife and I have walked away from the experience thoroughly impressed by our tour guide and driver. Recep was incredibly knowledgeable and shared his knowledge with eloquence and humor. He was accommodating and gracious, happily amending the itinerary for the requests of our small group without impacting our overall timeline and subjecting any of the tour members to unwanted inconveniences.

We visited many historical sites with Recep and always walked away with far more fascinating history than we could retain. His lectures were always filled with interesting tidbits and there were no questions of relevance that Recep could not answer. We were a curious group with many questions as well and Recep was patient with each of our questions.

Above all, Recep was very warm and friendly. This was a personal touch that made our trip incredibly memorable. His approach helped set the tone of our group dynamics and we all walked away with new friends spread around the world. I believe this is what truly separates our On the Go tour experience from all other options. We are extremely happy and very grateful to have had Recep as our tour guide.

Even with limited English, our driver Yusuf was funny, endearing, and very helpful. He was ALWAYS on time, but usually early so we were always able to rely on his presence. Yusuf did an excellent job in navigating us through difficult mountain passes and rough Istanbul traffic with speed and safety above all. We were never lost and always made it to our destinations diligently and with surprising punctuality. The bus was always clean and reliable and we never had to be concerned about missing a bag. He did not say so, but I believe Yusuf had learned to recognize each of our bags and had a count of how many belonged to the group. Sometimes he would hand our bags specifically to the owners, knowing which bag belonged to whom. Yusuf was a reassuring presence throughout the tour and we could not have asked for a better driver. Again, please extend our heartfelt gratitude to Yusuf. ”

We found this tour to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable tours that we have ever taken. Our guide Recep was wonderful in balancing information and levity so that we were always enjoying ourselves whether in the van or on the ground. Also, the driver Yusef was absolutely the best and very personable. We could not have asked for a better team than Recep and Yusef. Whenever we are asked about this trip in the future we will always add that besides the amazing places we visited we were blessed to have one of the best tour guides who not only made the trip memorable but also made it personal. Please acknowledge Recep for his fine work as I am sure the other 8 members of the group will do so also. I can't imagine taking a tour in Turkey and not having Recep as my guide. Thanks On The Go for another fabulous tour and thanks Recep for making our trip to Turkey a memory that will last a lifetime.”

I just wanted to write to express my gratitude for the incredible tour I recently completed with On the Go in Turkey. I was a member of the 2015 Christmas Turkey group and while I was already excited to do the tour based simply on my own knowledge and the description in the brochure, the reality far exceeded my expectations.

To begin with the tour arrangements and route were well chosen and provided a fantastic opportunity for us to see the incredible variety of landscapes, cultures and historical influences which shape the Turkish identity. The timing of each visit allowed for us to gain a good sense of each place while also enabling a wide range of locations and sites to be covered.

Our driver Yussef was great. He was reliable, very steady and friendly and made the travelling aspects of the trip stress free. He was also commendably attentive to details such as knowing who belonged to which backpack when it came time to unload the bus at the end of each journey.

Finally, and perhaps one of the most significant factors which contributed to the experience was our tour guide: Recep Aydin. Recep was knowledgable not only about the sites we visited (and on those his understanding and ability to explain was second to none), but also about Turkish culture, politics and history and he really went above and beyond to address any question members of the group had. He was organised and very efficient, ensuring the smooth running of the tour, but whilst doing all of this he was also able to create a sense of calm, relaxation and time for us to explore sites at our leisure. Recep was able to facilitate quite a diverse group of people on the tour, fostering positive relationships and a really lovely sense of connection between the members of the group, making it feel like a group of friends travelling together rather than strangers.

I have travelled on organised tours before and would happily say that this experience was far superior to those. I would enthusiastically recommend both Turkey and On the Go to others and in particular, owe much of my positive experience to both the structure of the tour itself, but also to our wonderful tour guide, Recep. ”

We would just like to send our appreciation for the wonderful Christmas Turkey tour. The whole tour went without a hitch and it was the most enjoyable tour we have undertaken. Our guide, Recep, ran the tour like a conductor bringing everything together at the right time without fuss. His knowledge of the subject was magnificent, providing not a standard general explanation of the parts but a detailed history of each place and then placing it within the larger context was just right. I was particularly impressed by his knowledge of the early Christian era so it was possible for those bible stories to become more relevant. He also seemed never to be stuck for further information when we sought more detail. We benefited greatly from his knowledge of the politics, general and social aspects of Turkish life and individual communities.

The tour participants bonded very well making it a particularly fun time with the group size being about right.

Our driver, Yussef, was very steady and sure so that we never we were never concerned with anything in the, at times, crowded roads. His bright and happy personality stood out.

A thoroughly enjoyable tour to an amazing country and we have hesitation in recommending On the Go Tours, and Recep, in particular, for a wonderful tour we will remember always. Will be providing feedback to the travel agent on our return.

We will be back for more. ”

Dear On The Go Tours,

We have just completed the 2015 Christmas Turkey Tour, and we wish to commend the Tour, and the Tour Guide as being exceptional. As a destination, Turkey far exceeded our expectations, and we relished the richness of the culture, and the history.

The organisation of the tour was flawless. Transport, accommodation and meal arrangements were all available on time, and met the expectations set in the brochure.

The tour guide was Mr Recep Aydin, who was unbelievably good. Recep's deep understanding of both historical and cultural matters were delivered in a compelling narrative, as we travelled through the tour. Recep's blend of history, culture, and a bit of fun made the tour both interesting and entertaining. Visiting the Church of St Nicholas, and having Christmas Dinner in Turkey added a special significance to this tour.

We cannot recommend this tour more highly. Thank you for an enriching experience.

If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,

Rob & Amanda Gillis

(Sydney, Australia) ”

The Tour was fantastic. There was some discrepancy in the standard of hotels (Marina Hotel in Kusadasi was tired and generally substandard). We also had issues with no assistance with luggage at the Hilton Hotel in Konya (surprising for a Hilton hotel not to have a bell boy!). Our driver was very good and we felt safe at all times. Our Guide, Esra, was exceptional. She had excellent knowledge of the history of all sites and managed the group extremely well. The only disappointment for me was that we spent very little time in Antalya. I know others in the group would have liked more time there, too. Overall, I thought the tour was terrific and will not hesitate to recommend it to friends, family and clients.”

The trip was fantastic in absolutely every respect.

1.The organisation of the trip was faultless,right down to the last detail.

2.The tour guide Kemal was friendly,knowledgeable and competent,and ensured we all left enriched and happy.

3.The food and accomodation was better than expected,and was excellent.That is a big ask as there were a lot of meals.

4.We saw and did more than the itinerary indicated.

5.The bus and its driver were of a very high standard.The driver went to the trouble of ensuring the windows were washed at least once a day,and they were so clean you could take photos through the glass.

6.The price was an added bonus.There is no way one could do such a trip independently for even double the price.

7.I am not a "tour" person, and like to travel 5 star and in style. The toilets were of a very high standard.The food was lovely fresh healthy standard.The hotels were all really excellent,many with gyms,heated pools,views,hammams etc.

I would not hesitate recommending On the Go as well as Turkey as a destination. ”