Published on Jan, 2025

Sel was terrific. English was flawless. Knowledgeable, considerate and punctual. We enjoyed his well planed guided tour very much.

Published on Jan, 2025

A close friend of mine recommended Sel for our family trip to Istanbul. We had engaged him for a 3-day Private tour of Istanbul. From the moment we embarked on our Istanbul journey with Sel, it became clear that he is not just a guide, but a true connoisseur of Turkish culture, history, and the intricate tapestry that weaves through every corner of Istanbul. The depth of knowledge and passion that Sel brought for each day of the tour is palpable, transforming a simple visit into an immersive and enlightening adventure With nearly three decades of guiding travelers through the wonders of Turkey, Sel has honed an unparalleled expertise. Whether it’s navigating the bustling streets of Istanbul, unveiling the hidden gems of the Grand Bazaar, or recounting the stories of ancient empires at Hagia Sophia, every moment was enriched by a profound understanding of the locale’s history and significance. He had answers to every question that our family had. He crafted the itinerary for us, booked tickets for all major attractions. His food recommendations were great. Before entering the museums or places of interest, we would show us the picture or video of the attractions and tell us about the history of the attractions we should focus on. This helped us not to miss any key attractions and also stay on schedule. Through anecdotes, local interactions, and insider tips, he provided us a deeper appreciation of the contemporary Turkish way of life. From culinary delights to traditional crafts, Sel opened the door to authentic experiences that are often missed by the casual tourist. Had a wonderful time in Istanbul, thanks to Sel

Published on Dec, 2024

Our day with Sel was the highlight of our time in Istanbul; he curated a terrific day of seeing sites, learning about the history and culture of the city and the country, visiting museums, and experiencing the local food and crafts - rug weaving and ceramic making. We were traveling with our twin 16 year-old boys and Sel was great about engaging with them, finding topics of interest to discuss and involving them throughout the conversations of the day. He was incredibly knowledgeable and the level of detail and information was perfect for our family; we appreciated his insights and ability to connect history to today's world so what we were learning and discussing could be appreciated by our teens as relevant to their lives. Sel had a keen sense of when to do what throughout the day; he had created a great outline of a plan for what we were going to see but due to some inclement weather and unexpected long lines at one of our stops, he suggested we pivot and go to lunch and wait to see if the lines cleared up. Sel wisely provided us with three different options for lunch and we picked a kebab place,Galeyan, which was delicious and had a great vibe. His plan worked great and after a great lunch the lines were shorter and we were able to get inside quickly. Because of Sel's navigation throughout the day, we got to see everything on our "must see" list - even if it meant in a slightly different order than originally planned. We liked his "structure with flexibility" approach to the tour and the day and really appreciated everything he shared - and we learned. We would 100% use Sel again if we return to the city and highly recommend him to anyone looking for someone knowledgeable and personable to guide you while you are in Turkey.

Published on Dec, 2024

Fantastic tour! Guide was SUPER knowledgeable and able to answer every single question we had! He let us adjust the tour to our needs and on what we wanted to see. The lunch restaurant he suggested for lunch was one of the best meals we had the whole trip. He even helped us book Turkish Baths the following day. This was a great, comprehensive tour of Istanbul. Even my 9 year old daughter had a great time and learned a TON! Highly recommend!

Published on Dec, 2024

We had a great full day guided tour with Selcuk! He took us all around the old city to see all the major sights (the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar) and provided a lot of interesting historical and cultural information. He also took us to a fabulous Turkish lunch! He was also really good with our kids- 12 and 8 years old. We all had a fabulous time. We'd highly recommend taking a tour with Selcuk!