Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Impossible to say: Aya Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul; Cappadocia; the Roman ruins at Aspendos, Thermissos, Aphrodisias and of course Ephesus (especially the terrace houses); some of the exhibits in the museums at Aphrodisias and Antalya; the ruins of Hieropolis and the travertine steps at Pamukkale - all were memorable highlights of the holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, as noted above.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No. Everything was as you would expect. At the time of year for our tour (April) it is as well to prepare for both cold times (we visited a frozen lake and were in deep snow) and warm (we swam in the sea). Also, if you have Euros they are widely accepted, prices often (irritatingly) being quoted in Euros.

Suggestions

The only disappointment was the poor breakfasts in every one of the hotels - always terrible instant coffee, watery fruit juice, no fruit, little cerial (and often no cold milk for it!).  Although there was a good spread of olives, cheeses and cooked meats, these did not appeal to an Englishman's early morning palate!

Most Inspirational Moment

I am afraid I can't name just one inspirational moment but for me there are 3.  Climibing the top of a mountain to look upon a almost undisturbed Roman ruin with a complete theatre that hangs over the edge of the mountain and sits on the clouds was inspirational.  Capadoccia's eerie landscape and underground cities and churches were inspirational and of course Istanbul.  What can I say about Istanbul. A beautiful city with so much to see, so much history to immerse yourself in and a true feeling that you are standing upon the cross roads of the world.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kymet was a excellent leader.  She spent time getting to know everyone including their needs and tried to cater as much as possible for each individual. It is evident that she loves her country, that she loves history and that she loves her job as a tour leader and it makes the entire tour fun and interesting for all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My only advice would be to prepare for long drive times.  You travel over 3000 kilometeres in 12 days which is hectic but Kymet tries to make everyone as comfortable as possible and is especially happy if people need regular comfort stops so don't be afraid to ask.

Suggestions

In Turkey there is literally a WC everywhere and most are in good condition. It is also cheaper than you think it will be.  Most meals were around 50 lira for my partner and I which is about £20 depending on the exchange rate. Admitedly by the end of this tour you probably won't want to see another ancient city for a while but the journey to that point is so much fun and you learn so much that you feel it has all been worth it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to pin-point; as a lover of landscapes, i really loved walking bare foot on Pamukkale the naturally occurring terraces of carbonates deposited by hot springs (even though it was damp and over-cast, in fact for me that made it special); there were some really beautiful sunsets by the coast; and the eroded tufa landscape of Cappadocia is mind boggling (as are the homes past and present built in them). And some of the ruins are breath-taking, in particular the theater at Aspendos, the theater at Termessos shrouded in mountain cloud, the dizzy height of Pergamon, and the very intact stadium at Aphrodisias, i couldn't believe it. Then there are the beautiful mosques, the Byzantine mosaics, the impressive museums. And finally modern day treats of shopping in the baza and relazxing in a hamman. All fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I thought she was really nice, and very impressed with her knowledge both local and historical considering we went to so many places and Anatolia was peopled and governed by so many different cultures over the Millenia. She very rarely said 'I'm sorry I don't know' despite our many questions. Also this was my third trip with Exodus and this was the first time a group leader gave me a language lesson (an a4 sheet of numbers, useful phrases etc) and how to the pronounce them, it went a long way. She proposed very good restaurants for our meals, all the sub standard meals (3) that i had, i sourced myself!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes - pack a light waterproof mac, hat/ scarf / gloves and at least one warm jumper as there are sometimes thunderstorms and it gets cold. Food and especially drink were quite a bit more expensive then i'd anticipated. Buy a string for your sun glasses to hand round your neck you're always putting them on and taking them off! If you get travel sick make sure you bring tablets as some long days driving (fine though plenty of great landscape to see out of the window). Make sure you bring enough camera memory, on the last day i was having to edit to make room for new photos! Also unlike other trips there was no reading material on the bus, so make sure you have something.

Suggestions

I fed back to Exodus that my only disappointment was that there wasn't an option to hike in Cappadocia, even for an hour or two, which I would have loved. Perhaps they'll address this if enough people request it! Despite that I would still rate this trip as 5/5.

Most Inspirational Moment

The hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia was magical - I've read some reviews saying it was expensive but I think the cost compares well with similar flights in the UK.  Also, seeing Pamukkale at sunset was a sight I'll never forget, but I would have liked longer there.  And the Turkish Hamam experience is something that will stay with me for life - probably for all the wrong reasons!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Funda was brilliant - her knowledge and enthusiasm for sharing her country and culture with us was faultless. My only criticism is that, being so small she needs to find a better way to identify herself at the airport as she got lost in the crowds and was very difficult to locate. Praise too to our driver Takim - glad it was him and not me negotiating that Friday evening traffic back into Istanbul. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

As others have said - take plenty of anti-diarrhoea tablets.  Euros seemed to be the preferred currency in some areas.  Be careful in Antalya where most of us got ripped off in one way or another.  Note - the two hour boat trip in Antalya is exactly the same as the one hour trip but is done at half the speed (and costs twice the price)

Suggestions

The hotel in Kusadesi is very disappointing - totally out of keeping with the rest of the trip - this review would have earned 5 stars were it not for the 'mass tourism' experience there.  And remember that this is a highlights trip - it is not advertised as an in depth tour of all the archaeological sites the country has to offer so, in many cases, you don't get time for more than a quick taster and overview of their history - if you want to spend hours and hours at Ephesus and Aphrodisias book some other trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Blue Mosque and the Haga Sopia, both in Istanbul were not to be missed, Cappadocia caves and the underground City of Derinkuyu, with seven levels of tunnels, made this holiday a trip, not to be missed by anyone.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The Turkish Tour Guide, Funda, made this holiday run smooth and she seemed to go that extra mile to make your holiday marvelous.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you have been to Turkey before and just experianced a beach holiday....... you have not seen the real Turkey.

Suggestions

When being guided on holiday, there is nothing to compare with local knowlege.

Most Inspirational Moment

Balloon flight over Cappadocia mountanis that was amazing but not cheap whole area is great. but experince of life time event. Troy was susurprising good and istanbul Hagia sofia  is terrific  . aspensis theater intact was amazing. Ephesus is all cracked up to be. but hotel in kusadsi is so un exodus it felt I was on package holiday it was no good and hotel in istabunal could been better but hotel in old antalya was amazing owner was charecter  to

Thoughts on Group Leader

our leader was great very helpful driver was great glad i did not drive into Istabunal on peak friday night traffic it was experince . gave us bags advice which we took for most eating places and they were spot on. although want hassle can fine few resturant of your own. take boat trip when in Antalya is worth it but go on  small one and haggle as they lower price lot and do not beleive big group coming on as they never appear when he told us . when went on boat ride in istabunal do not let unknown person lead towards boat that did not exist. as i was not happy and did not go telling others not to. which in end they did not

Advice for Potential Travellers

makes sure got money for water as you drink lot there. do not leave anything valuable in your case as one bags was looked through. someone had camera stolen on tram in istabunal so keep all items hiden and tied to belt or yourself

Suggestions

Its amazing huge and friendly country. people nice . just be careful in cities as cities any where can be dangerous.in danger of over developing west will exodus do east as that not as developed. we been with exodus 3 times and hoope to go on another when we can afford it

Most Inspirational Moment

Istanbul's cleanliness despite the 17 million who live there.Fantastic food.The fact that all Western civilisation started from there, including all of Christianity.The gentleness of the Turks, including that of our driver and guide. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Could not have been better.  Difficult to find such a well-informed, gentle and helpful leader, who made our stay super-enjoyable.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes.  Two advices. 1. Do not do Termessos!  Not worth the climb, except for the excercise!2. Try and chose your own restaurants where possible.  It's fun and exciting and worth all the hastle!  Try and eat where the Turks eats and not the majority of tourists. 

Suggestions

Yes.1..Take off Termoessos from the tour.2. Chose a better hotel in Kusadasi. 3. Suggest, rather than 'impose' restaurants. 

Most Inspirational Moment

The best part of the trip was the balloon ride in Cappodocia, which was such an incredible experience as there were around 30 balloons in the air that day. We saw the amasing sights of the volcanic landscape from a privledged point of view, and I really enjoyed it. But learning about the history of the ancient ruins and seeing these mystical places was also an inspiration for me, which Termessos captured effortlessly in its secluded magnificence.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Phylis was incredibly knowledgable about the sites, reciting the history from memory. She is a good guide

Advice for Potential Travellers

I think this is a good trip to go on, and certainly shows you so many different aspects of Turkey which you weren't expecting. You are a long time on the coach at times, but that is the price you have to pay for seeing so much of the country- and it is worth paying. Turkey has so much history and so many different aspects, which this trip gives a good snap shot of.

Most Inspirational Moment

seeing and walking the ruins. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Arzu was FANTASTIC!!!!! She was great! Knew what she was talking about, very knowledgable, inspiring, and i would love to take another trip with her!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do everything offered!! Even the small, little side things that didnt seem important were!!

Suggestions

The driver, Mustafa was excellent!!The hot air balloon ride was phenomenal!! And the driver was amazing!!!! 29 years experience made me feel soo safe!!I thought the last night may have been a little more special, instead of a smoky, loud bar, and i couldnt talk to anyone.In Celcuk, the Hitit hotel was TERRIBLE!!!!!!!! Worst hotel We staying in, by far!!! Dirty sheets, birds nest outside the window, no fire precautions, bathroom door didnt shut, nor did the toilet flush.. other than that, i had a GREAT time!! 

Most Inspirational Moment

Istanbul was exiting, Cappadocia ,Efesus and all the Sites were wonderful to visit. It is fantastic to see how much has been excavated. We were in Efesus 30 years ago and it is amazing how  much has been uncovered since then.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Arzu Tutuk was our group leader. She is a first class leader, very knowledgeable,took great care of everyone and always happy.  Mustafa Akdag, our driver did also a very good job driving us  savely these 3500km!

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is our first trip with Exodus and all the informations we got from them were good. If one reads their instructions well before taking off one will be save with them. One advice is: Always wake up every morning in a good mood knowing that that the day will be an exciting one and forget beeing grumpy about small things ect. and your day will be a wonderful one!! Have a nice trip with Exodus!! 

Suggestions

Enjoy yourself!