We had a fantastic 15-day (almost 3000 km) cultural trip from Trabzon to Gaziantep with Fatih and Overland Travel. There were many things to see, natural wonders, ancient cities, archeological sites and amazing museums. The people were kind friendly and helpful. We skirted the borders of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Syria on this trip.
I can't thank Fatih enough for making this experience not only so wonderful, but also so easy. Communication during the planning stages was painless, he was very responsive to questions and flexible. He is very trustworthy. From airport pick up to drop-off, the tour was seamless. Hotel choices can be challenging in this region (limited infrastructure, a lot of smokers), but he chose what we felt to be the best and most convenient locations. We also had a home stay experience in Van where we were able to interact with the locals in a more personal way. Fatih is a very knowledgeable guide - not only with regard to architecture and history, but also the local culture.
We felt very safe during the entire trip. There were many checkpoints especially in the border areas, but it did not bother us one bit.
Special shout out to our driver, Recep - even though there was a language barrier, we thoroughly enjoyed his company. He was warm, funny and knew where to find the best food. The food that we ate on this trip was top-rate and mostly inexpensive.
We highly recommend Fatih and Overland Travel and Tour of Eastern Turkey.
Fatih and Overland Tours was simply incredible.
Due to time restraints we did a 6 day “highlights” trek of the Lycian Way, most days takes taking short transfers by car to a starting point then hiking from 3-6 hours each day. We left a lot of the decisions up to Fatih and that certainly did not disappoint. Not only is he an expert with route planning (he always knew which direction to go for the better route, which sections to avoid, etc.), he was incredibly knowledgeable about the history, mythology, and even local flora. He took the time to point out interesting things that we would have certainly missed if we attempted to hike the trail alone, which made it all the more worth it to have a guide. Even the pensions we stayed at and the restaurants we ate at were hand-picked by Fatih, and each one was different and charming in its own way. We really felt like we got the full Lycian Way experience.
Fatih was also very attentive the entire trek, and often went out of his way to help other hikers we met along the trail. He seemed to us like a great ambassador for the trail, making sure everyone— not just us— had the best experience possible.
We really can’t recommend Fatih enough and are so grateful for our experience.
As an Ancient History university student, it was amazing.
Firstly, Tolga (our guide) was funny, spoke impeccable English, and had a vast inventory of knowledge about the sites. He spoke so engagingly about the sites while keeping the information accessible to me as well as my family and girlfriend, who were less familiar with the content.
In terms of the locations, they were so much better than I thought with alot still remaining for you to see.
He spoke to us about Lycian language, showed us their tombs as well as early Christian basilicas. The sites all together had 3 intact amphitheaters, a bouletarion (parliament building), tombs, baths, the remains of three temples, as well as the reconstructed lighthouse of Nero (all of which you can go into while Tolga explains all the intricacies - except the lighthouse of Nero as it is still under construction).
Moreover, not only did Tolga have impressive knowledge on the locations but also all the wildlife and animals that you see along the way. In addition to the historical aspect of the tour, you also eat food at a local restaurant, which was fantastic and affordable, while also finishing the day at one of the longest beaches in the Mediterranean for as long as you want.
You would not be able to find a negative thing to say about the tour.
