Hidden Gems in Istanbul Tour

Ali was fantastic . He was very knowledgeable and patient. There was no pressure to make a quick decision or to buy a carpet from a particular dealer. We both purchased carpets and we feel that we got very good quality at a reasonable price. Ali also spent extra time with us and took us to a few shops in and around the bazaar. A challenging task made so easy. Thank you Ali. Debbie & Rita

Ali’s understanding of Istanbul’s deep history and his ability to relay it to us in a realistic storytelling manner was exceptional. At all times he was aware of our understanding and needs on this personalised tour. A remarkable tour which gave us a much greater understanding of this extraordinary city. Thank you, Ali, for a wonderful experience.

WOWOWOWOW!!! Ali was absolutely FANTASTIC! So knowledgeable--and not just about Istanbul: I really appreciated how he put info in a global and time-relevant context. Our sons--18 and 23--both related to him, as well. He really knew his audience. Besides history and context, he offered insights to modern Istanbul, so we felt like we learned so much more than facts! We would definitely recommend Ali!

My wife and I were very excited about visiting Istanbul, We did not know what to expect since this would be our first time and thought that investing in a knowledgeable guide would be the best way to learn about the city. We were lucky to have Ali as our guide. He is very personable and it was like touring the city with someone we had known for a while even though we had just met. We learned so much about the city, the culture, the food, historical buildings and institutions. We would recommend touring with Ali for a great introduction to an amazing city. Contact him and we are sure you will enjoy a great experience just like we did.

Ali took us on a private tour which included the Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern and the Spice Bazar. We have a particular interest in Turkish history and politics and Ali did a superb job of explaining the significance and background to the important moments in history but also, and I think slightly unusually, was able to put them into the context of world events at the same time allowing a fascinating insight. I had the sense that we only skimmed the surface of Ali's knowledge and when we return to Istanbul we will be sure to look him up. As it was just the 2 of us and Ali we took our time which which meant we were able to contemplate and discuss further at the various sites and we parted ways feeling like we had a much better understanding of Istanbul today and in the past. Thanks for your great tour Ali.

Ali’s understanding of Istanbul’s deep history and his ability to relay it to us in a realistic storytelling manner was exceptional. At all times he was aware of our understanding and needs on this personalised tour. A remarkable tour which gave us a much greater understanding of this extraordinary city. Thank you, Ali, for a wonderful experience.