Escorted tours of Turkey range from very cheap coach circuits to fully private journeys, and two itineraries that look identical on paper can feel completely different on the ground. After thirty years of running tours in Turkey, these are the questions we would ask before booking with anyone, including us.
1. Is the agency licensed?
Every travel agency in Turkey must be licensed and registered with TÜRSAB, the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, which publishes each agency’s document number. Ask for it, and check it on TÜRSAB’s website. KAMPA has been licensed since 1996 under TÜRSAB number A-3235.
2. What exactly is included?
Compare the full list, not the headline price. A complete price usually covers hotels for every night, domestic flights, airport and inter-city transfers, site and museum entries and a professional guide. Check which meals are included, and what is optional: balloon flights, boat trips, the Antique Pool at Pamukkale or certain sites are often extra. International flights are normally not included.
3. Which hotels, and where?
Ask for named hotels or at least their category and location. A central hotel in Istanbul saves hours in traffic; a cave hotel in Cappadocia is part of the experience; a hotel far outside town is often the hidden cost of a cheap tour.
4. How long are the drives, and how many nights per stop?
Turkey is large. Look for at least three nights in Istanbul and two in Cappadocia, and for domestic flights on long legs. A tour that changes hotel every night spends its days on the bus. Our 7, 10 and 14-day itineraries show realistic pacing.
5. Are there shopping stops?
Many low-cost tours are subsidised by long visits to carpet, jewellery or leather shops. A short visit to a carpet workshop or a pottery atelier can be genuinely interesting, but ask how many stops there are, how long they last and whether they replace sightseeing.
6. Who is the guide, and in which language?
In Turkey, tour guides are licensed professionals. Ask whether the same guide stays with the group for the whole journey and whether they speak your language natively or fluently. We run our tours with English- and French-speaking guides.
7. Group size, or private?
Ask for the minimum and maximum group size. Small groups move faster and get closer to the sites; private departures let you choose the dates, the pace and the hotels. Every KAMPA itinerary can run privately for a family or a group.
8. Why is there no price on the page?
Some agencies, including KAMPA, price each departure on request, because the cost depends on group size, hotel category and season. A serious agency should then send a firm, detailed price quickly; we reply within 12 to 24 hours. Ask for the deposit and the cancellation conditions in writing.
9. When does the tour run?
Check that the departure dates suit the regions you want to see: the coast in summer, Eastern Turkey in spring and autumn, Istanbul and Cappadocia all year. See our guide to the best time to visit Turkey.
Our escorted journeys
Our tours combine these principles: Turkey: Off the Beaten Path, 13 Days of Eastern Turkey, Highlights of Turkey + Antalya, Highlights of Turkey in winter, Six Days in the Heart of Istanbul, From Istanbul to Athens, The Blue Tour and The Turkish Riviera. Send us your dates and we will answer every question on this list for your trip.
