Reviews
What a wonderful trip and experience you provided! This is my third trip with gate One, I have high standards, and you continue to exceed them with every trip. From the fantastic guide that we had, Ender, to the accommodations and diversity of experiences, I can see how hard you work to deliver a full and well-rounded experience. Turkey is a vast country and of course there is more I wish I could have seen and things I would tweak on this itinerary, but overall, it was just such a wonderful experience. Also, I want to credit our driver, Recep, with skillful and calm demeanor in congested traffic and tight narrow streets. Excellent! One of my favorite things about your tours is that it's like going back to high school history class, but you're on a field trip the entire time and the history is so much more meaningful when you're physically there and living through it, if that makes sense. The experience is so much more three-dimensional this way. Great job!!!
Laurie D.
My tour guide, Ender, was exceptional throughout my Turkey journey with Gate 1. His deep knowledge of the country's history, culture, and traditions made every site come alive, and his organization kept the entire trip running smoothly from start to finish. Ender's warmth, professionalism, and genuine passion for sharing his country made the experience even more meaningful. I left Turkey not only impressed by its beauty, but truly grateful for the guidance and care he provided. Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with my Gate 1 experience and would highly recommend traveling with Ender to anyone visiting Turkey.
Roberto R.
The trip was wonderful, it exceeded my expectations! Our tour director Aykut was great. He's very knowledgeable, energetic, very accommodating making everybody in the group comfortable, worry-free and engaged. He kept the tour running smoothly and always on schedule. Everybody loved him! It was my first time travelling with Gate1 and definitely not my last. Looking forward to travelling with Gate1 again!
Maria E.
I wanted to give our praise to our tour leader Namik. He was an incredible leader. So very knowledgeable, interesting and entertaining. He managed the group with ease. We were all eager to hear his commentary each day. He and the trip were outstanding!! Also wanted to thank him for arranging golf carts for us at Hierapolis in Pamukkale. Our group would not have made it through the site without it.
Karen R.
I estimate I have taken over 50 Gate 1 tours. Our Tour Manager, Cengizhan, was superb in every way- one of the very best! He is a superb representative of all the wonderful Gate 1 employees!
Kerri R.
We decided to visit Turkey for our honeymoon, and after a great deal of researching various options, we settled on Gate 1's tour based on both the value and how it went to most of the sites we were interested in. We had heard good things about Gate 1 from friends but didn't know anything beyond that. Our experience was far beyond anything we imagined. The tour was chock full of every kind of incredible sight and once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Faruk handled the complexity of the tour effortlessly and made sure that each one of us had the best experience possible. He especially pulled out the stops for us as he wanted us to have a great honeymoon. On our first night's orientation in Istanbul, we were the only couple who were on a Gate 1 tour for the first time. Having gone through one, we now understand why everyone else there was a repeat customer. We will absolutely be taking more Gate 1 tours in the future (already looking at Italy and Greece) and have already been recommending them to our friends and coworkers. Thanks to Faruk and the Gate 1 team, our honeymoon was everything we hoped for and more.
Maximilian P.
Most notably, our Tour Manager, Ender, was excellent in every way. As you know, he is highly educated and has many decades of tour guide experience. Obvious from his delivery of information, Ender has done his own research in depth, with respect to Anatolia's ancient, and Turkey's contemporary, history, art, geopolitics, social, economic, and cultural aspects and influences. He is highly skilled with respect to organization and people management. He communicates with clarity, patience, warmth, humor, and enthusiasm. He shared excellent suggestions for free time activities, restaurants, and things to look out for and notice. Gate 1 is extremely fortunate, as was I, to have Ender as a Tour Manager. Consistent with my experience of other Gate 1 trips, the overall value was excellent, as was the quality of food and hotels. Transportation, drivers, and assistance provided were also excellent. Finally, the itinerary was fantastic, and, as a plus, our group was compatible.
Marilyn R.
This was our first guided tour ever and it was with Gate 1. We were so pleased with every aspect of the organization and flow of all activities and all the beautiful experiences along the way. But most importantly the guide and bus driver were exceptional. Yucel, our manager/guide for the entire trip was exceptional. I don't know if you realize when you have such a knowledgeable person on your team, he is it! He is a walking encyclopedia, incredible commentary and able to explain the complexities of Turkish history in a way for us simple folk to understand!! Absolutely, superior guide! And Shakir, our driver, was friendly, very professional and reliable as well. They were the dynamic duo for the length of the trip. Thank you for a great first experience. The bar for future trips has been placed very high!
Sharon M.
I'd like to give additional props to our tour guide, Murat. He was exceptional in every way - I marveled at how he was able to corral 40 people, make everyone feel "at home", keep us organized, and make it look absolutely effortless- incredible! In addition, his extreme knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm for our tour history and subject matters was truly unparalleled. I (and everyone on the tour), learned so much about Turkey and Greece from him. This, combined with his welcoming personality and delightful humor, just wrapped it all up to be an amazing experience!
Grace C.
The trip was very good. Damil, our tour guide, was wonderful. He was kind, considerate, funny, and extremely informed about Turkey's diverse history, cultures, and so many topics concerning Turkey. As always, Gate 1 trips were filled with many interesting places to see and things to do. We enjoyed discovering the different areas of Turkey and meeting the pleasant people who were part of our group. We found Turkey to have a large cosmopolitan appearance, extremely clean cities and towns, and a country which cares for it's citizens. A bonus pleasantry for us was to hear the call to prayer throughout the days as it added to the sense of an exotic surrounding.
Kathleen S.
Metin was fabulous! His knowledge of Turkey (history, culture, traditions, geology, architecture, archaeology) is amazing - he is naturally gifted as a teacher and easily connects and intersects all aspects of the Turkish experience. All of this is quite remarkable, BUT at the same time, he is organizing arrivals at different scheduled sights, comfort stops, restaurants and hotels while keeping his engaging George Clooney persona intact. I never thought I'd meet another guide to compare to Sharif in Egypt but both are just the best and obviously love what they do - tour managers of this quality solidly complement and enhance the reputation of Gate 1 Travel.
Jayne S.
Our Turkish Treasures Trip was excellent! We enjoyed the trip very much! Our guide Khan was very good! He taught us a lot about history, he was kind, very friendly and helpful with suggestions for leisure time and shopping. We had a great time with balloon ride in Cappadocia and loved Antalya for the resort vibe! The entire trip was awesome, inspiring and very educational! We all had a great time! We would definitely return!
Sandra J.
Commend our tour manager Aykut as being the best TM of our 27 gate 1 trips Aykut was extremely flexible and accommodating in meeting the individual needs of each one of the 13 travelers on the trip. Special thanks to him for making my birthday special.
Maria S.
My husband and I had a wonderful trip! Turkiye is beautiful from the coast to the mountains. Having lunch with the local family was quite an experience and the balloon ride in Cappadocia was priceless! Our tour guide, Oguz was beyond exceptional. I have been to several tours with different tour companies such as Globus & Cost Saver and never had a tour guide as good as Oguz. He always asked us if we had our passports, cell phones and charges before we leave. He gave us detailed explanation of everything, history, background, culture, economy, etc. He even told us the menu of the restaurants or cafeteria we are going too and familiarize us of the local food so we would know what to expect and have idea of what ingredients are in the food. He made sure that we got what we ordered and would not eat until he is sure that everyone got their food. He was patient and kind which made our trip enjoyable.
Carmencita T.
I just want to compliment Dominique for her excellent planning skills and her attention to details to make the entire trip very pleasant and stress free for customers.
Thuy M.
I just want to say that our guide, Ahmet, was exceptional. He had excellent historical and current commentary on the places we visited, and a genuinely friendly and helpful attitude. If I knew which tours he would be leading, I would consider them above others. All Gate 1's guides were good, but Ahmet stood out. I really enjoyed this trip!
Caroline P.
Our trip was excellent. Overall experience was amazing!!! We are very pleased to have Ilhami Konya as our tour manager. He was very knowledgeable, and very intelligent in every aspect of the tour. He answered all our questions, very organized and made everyone feel included. His passion for the City, History was awesome. He made our trip to Turkey truly memorable and fun experience.
Raksha V.
The excellent marks that I gave our tour manager, Serdar, were very well deserved. He is a top notch tour manager in every respect. There are many reasons I will travel with Gate 1 again, but top among them is providing a great tour manager like Serdar. That is what truly makes a fantastic tour.
Gregory T.
The Turkish Odyssey tour was magical; I have tried to spread the word on social media and with my friends and family how wonderful it was. Turkey is a beautiful, diverse, country full of history and unique sites, and I felt very safe there when I was walking around by myself. Aykat is one of the best tour guides I have ever had. He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and funny and he was an important reason for my appreciation of the tour. His enthusiasm was contagious. Even though he had no doubt seen the places we went to repeatedly, he made it seem as fresh as if it was the first time. He promoted other Gate1 tours of Turkey, and I am very tempted to sign up for another, especially if I am lucky enough to land on one of his tours again. I also want to say a few words about Sezgin, our driver. He was clearly very skilled as he handled the occasional heavy traffic and obstacles in narrow roads. I was very impressed with the way he loaned out umbrellas to anyone who had forgotten theirs on one rainy day.
Regina S.
Our tour manager Ilke was an amazing wealth of information on all things Turkish and was an exceptional ambassador for her country. Her enthusiasm and smile were constant, even on the long travel days. Throughout the tour she went above and beyond to make sure all guests' questions were answered (and we had a lot!) and our needs were met. Even after the trip she helped me connect with the balloon tour operator to get assistance with downloading the photos they took of our balloon flight. Traveling with Ilke made me want to return to Turkey to see and learn more of this beautiful country!
Catherine M.
The Eastern Turkey trip was fantastic. I have recommended it to several people I've met on other trips. Excellent food! The itinerary was very well thought out and interesting. Our guide "Oz" was knowledgeable and organized.
Lynette B.
The trip was amazing. Our tour guide, Yucel, was very organized and had so much information to share. I learned so much about the history and culture of Turkey. Our group of 16 became like a family. I loved the balloon ride, the welcome wine event in Cappadocia and my all-time favorite was the boat ride and swim in the Aegean. I would give our tour guide and the itinerary the highest rating possible.
Debra M.
My wife and I would express our most sincere gratitude and admiration to our tour manager Aykut. From the very start to the end, he was friendly, understanding and very kind to all of us. He created great harmony in our group and all of au admired him. Usually, Gate 1 employs local guides with some trips, but this time Aykut was with us during the whole trip. His profound knowledge of everything was very impressive. He treated us all as his family. We would love to have hm again as our tour manager. We travelled many times with Gate 1, and all guides were very good. But Aykut was the best of all of them.
Leo G.
This Trip was a Bucket list trip that exceeded my expectations. Our team of Driver, Muti, and Tour Manager Aykut was a perfect pairing. They were kind and sensitive to our individual travelers without compromising the enjoyment of the whole group. Not an easy task, but they accomplished it seamlessly. Aykut has an encyclopedic knowledge of Turkish history, inspiring me to do more research into Turkey and its evolution. The amount of the country that we were exposed to would have been impossible in the amount of time we had were it not for Gate 1 and the team. The highlights were many, but the lunch in the village at Izmir was especially beautiful, what wonderful gracious people they were. The people of turkey and the beauty and cleanliness of the country make me a strong advocate for Turkish travel. If I have a chance, I will return!
Julia S.
I wanted to highly recommend our tour manager, Ender. He was simply outstanding! We have had multiple Gate1 trips and Ender was by far the most erudite and knowledgeable, and at the same time patient and caring for all the travelers. The day after the introduction, he knew the name of each group member. He was always approachable and respectful with a ready sense of humor and went out of his way to make each person comfortable and happy. His depth and scope of knowledge of each topic and place we visited was simply amazing! He made my trip really memorable and informative. I will be highly recommending Ender and Gate1's Treasures of Turkey to all our family and friends. Our driver, Moslem, was a perfect complement to Ender. The bus was super comfortable and clean, and Moslem drove smoothly and efficiently both within and across cities.
Sumit J.
My husband and I had our first travel experience with Gate 1 Travel, and we are so happy about it! Everything was great! It was fantastic to feel the professionalism of this travel agency. Bravo! Sayat, the tour manager, was outstanding. So knowledgeable and so considerate for the entire group, giving each one the feeling that it was of utmost importance that he be comfortable and happy. The highlight of the trip was being able to visit a family living in a cave house in Capaddocia: a wonderful experience that I would never be able to do on my own. Thank you, Gate 1 Travel, for including such a visit in this odyssey. I believe I learned more on this trip than I would in two semesters of history classes. Turkey is now a valuable discovered treasure that I will cherish after this splendid trip.
Agnes C.
I just completed the 13 Day Turkish Treasures last week and wanted to pass along how fabulous the Tour Manager Gokhan as. First, he was one of the most knowledgeable tour managers I have ever had -- and there is a massive amount of history in Turkey! He was so friendly and pleasant every day and always so happy. I was amazed at how he kept such a high energy level with a great smile during such a very busy trip with early starts and long days. He also shared laughter and wonderful stories with us, making it even more personal for us. Our group was large at 39 participants, and I was amazed at how he managed to keep everyone together --and on time! He has an excellent command of the English language and communicates exceptionally well. He was always concerned about our safety and willing to assist us in any way. I have always been very pleased with my previous 12 Gate 1 Tour Managers --which is why I continue to travel with Gate 1. But Gokhan stands out above all of them. He loves what he does, and it radiates everyone in the group. We ALL loved him! Also, our Driver was exceptional - traveling 3700km for this trip -- safely!! Both of them are #1 in my book. Thanks to them both for a successful and very memorable trip!
Cynthia P.
The trip was wonderful! I was expecting a good trip before I went, but it was much better and beyond my expectation. The itinerary was well set; the accommodations and food were great choices. The tour manager Yucel was the best tour guide/manager I have ever traveled with. He was very helpful and very knowledgeable for the history and culture of Türkiye, which made the trip not only enjoyable for the beautiful sceneries and historical sites, but also a history lesson about Türkiye and Turkic people. Thank you so much for your help when booking the trip. This trip is my first trip with Gate 1. It is really worth it. I am sure I will travel with Gate 1 again in future.
Shu L.
Our "Absolute Turkey" trip was fantastic! Our guide, Akyut made our trip very special. He had an amazing knowledge of the history of past civilizations of Turkey and was able to explain it all so well. Aykut had a great sense of humor and enhanced the cohesion of the group. He made sure that all of the needs of each participant were met. The trip had lots of variety, and the attractions included were all very interesting. We very much enjoyed the wooden boat cruise, which was an optional tour. The hotels were of a high standard, so we had comfortable stays each night.
Ian B.
Our tour director was Oguz. I just can't say enough good things about him. His tour knowledge was comprehensive and accurate; his group management skill was commendable; and he just never wore out! The guy has energy all day long and it never quits. He's open, friendly, likable, helpful and gracious. And he has great hair! You know how important a tour director is to the experience - he was the best I've even seen. We will be looking at Gate 1! for future trips based on our experience with Oguz. Thank you!
David R.
I am writing to express our heartfelt thanks for the exceptional experience we had on our recent trip to Turkey with Gate 1 Travel. From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized-from the itinerary and accommodations to the transportation and guided tours. We would especially like to recognize our outstanding tour manager, Serdar. His deep knowledge, professionalism, and genuine care for each traveler made a significant difference. His passion for Turkey's history and culture brought every site to life, and his attention to detail ensured a smooth and enjoyable journey for all of us. This trip was truly unforgettable, and much of that is thanks to Serdar. We are already looking forward to planning our next adventure-and we sincerely hope to travel again under his guidance.
Amit V.
Just wanted to give the highest positive rating possible to our exceptional tour manager, Ilke Duru. We had 39 people, an almost unmanageable number, but her calm demeanor and positive attitude along with her obvious experience made leading the group look easy. She provides an incredible amount of information and can answer any question effectively. She is a true professional and a credit to the Gate One family. She was instrumental in my overall very positive review of this trip. I will seek her out as a guide when I return to a turkey.
Maureen M.
Thanks for asking. it was absolutely wonderful. Myself, my 2 sisters and friends LOVE every second. Our adorable, super knowledgeable, caring, loving tour guide Jazemine is the best. Our group of 36 people love and admire her. The driver was excellent. We really are very pleased with everything.
Vergi V.
I absolutely LOVED this trip. We couldn't have asked for a better driver and tour guide. Both are very good at their jobs. There wasn't a single moment where I felt unsafe and the entire trip more than exceeded my expectations. Erdal did such a great job as our guide. I cannot believe how much information is in that head of his!! I learned so much about Turkey and it was just all so fascinating. I've only been on two Gate 1 trips but have been so impressed by everything they offer and how smooth the trips are. I will definitely be using Gate 1 for most of my travel needs! Thank you so much for making these amazing trips available to people and for having the amazing staff that you have. Highly impressed with everything! A million thanks!
Kara P.
Our bus tour of Western Turkey was fabulous especially with Kadriye as our tour leader. She was very knowledgeable, kind, patient, hospitable, and understanding; a great spokesperson for her country as well as an asset to your company. We love her dearly and miss her already.
Oswald L.
I just returned from the 13 Day Affordable Turkey trip, and I have to let you know what a fantastic guide we had. Dalim was so friendly, fun, patient, caring and knowledgeable. I can't say enough good things about him! This was my 12th Gate 1 tour, and I have never had a guide keep my attention with everything he said. Even when I sat on the last seat on the bus! With a group of 39 people he treated us all with patience and respect and in turn this group of diverse people got along well, and we were always on time. He even sang to us at the farewell dinner. The hotels were above standard and the recommended spa treatments were phenomenal. It was a great trip and I can't wait until the next G1 tour!
Lisa A.
Our tour guide Sayat was excellent. He was very educational and informative as he knew what he was saying and took time to explain everything in depth. Our group was vegetarian and at every meal he came over and asked how the food was and if we had enjoyed it or would like other options, very caring that he took time for us! Further, we could see he was very passionate about his work as it took time to answer every question anyone in our whole group had. Was very impressed with him when he took care of ordering a beautiful chocolate cake in Kusadasi for my husband's 68th celebration, he arranged it beforehand. It took time to give us options for sightseeing if on our own, restaurants and grocery stores and more. Very soft talker and caring in nature. Gate 1 travel is blessed to have such great people working for them.
Neeta J.
Absolutely loved the Turkey trip. I want to let you know what a great job Seder the TM did. He was very knowledgeable about every place we went. He offered suggestions for our free time. Made a list of where to buy things to bring home. He made sure we always had our essentials when we left the hotel each day (passports, valuables.). Audi the driver was great. The bus was always clean, and he drove in a very safe manner. These guys really made the trip over the top and amazing!!
Tamara P.
The 13-day tour of Turkey definitely exceeded my expectations. I was especially impressed with our tour manager Sayat; his deep knowledge of ancient history and archelogy and his passion to explain Turkish culture and the beautiful ancient monument and historical events in a story like fashion. Thank you Gate 1 for choosing people like Sayat to manage your incredible tours. I intend to go back to Turkey for the discovery tour of Eastern Turkey in near future.
Jahangir D.
My wife and I have been travelling independently for the last 40 years, and this is our first time joining a group tour at the invitation of a personal friend. We are glad we did because most of the people that I know recommend Gate 1 Travel and now we know why! The tour is good value for the money, the accommodations are 4-5-star hotels, the driver is an expert, the tour bus is clean and in good condition and most of all my tour manager Dilek is excellent. She really took the time and effort to make our tour an informative and fun experience! She really took care of all our needs like we were family and at the end of the tour we were sad because we were going to miss her company! The group photos taken and keepsakes given to us by Dilek are a nice and sweet touch! Thank you, Gate 1 Travel and tour manager Dilek, for making our first group tour an unforgettable one. We can't wait to take our next Gate 1 tour because we are now hooked!
Alfredo E.
Aykut was by far the best tour guide I've ever had on any organized tour. His enthusiasm was contagious. He really helped bring everyone together as a cohesive group. Most impressive though was his knowledge. I walked away with an understanding of both ancient and current Türkiye in a way that I never would've guessed. As for the bus, it was by far the most comfortable bus I've ever traveled on. Tahir was excellent driver and a very kind person. The two of them were an excellent team.
Barbara S.
Faruk was the best tour director I ever had. Very knowledgeable about all the sites we visited, conscientious, organized, and ready to help. A real asset to your organization.
Sebastian L.
This was my 16th Gate 1 tour and I absolutely love Gate 1 and could easily be your marketing manager! I've encouraged 7 other people to take Gate 1 tours as well. While I've loved every tour, I must say that the Turkey tour was likely my favorite and our guide, Namik, was superb. Every guide I've had has been excellent but Namik was the best ever. His knowledge of history, his openness in sharing current challenges in Turkey, his humor, and his ability to share stories that shaped Turkey's history all were fascinating. Namik is a star. I'm already booked for another tour in India and will continue to book more Gate 1 tours for as long as I live. The value and quality provided by Gate 1 cannot be beat. I will keep promoting Gate 1 to everyone I meet!
Kenneth K.
Great trip, Dalim was a terrific guide, group was congenial and respectful, food was excellent, bus was comfy, Whisper worked fine, hotels were excellent. Itinerary was very full and comprehensive, airport transfers were flawless. I came home exhausted but happy. Thank you! Would definitely recommend!!
Donna S.
I just want to give an applause to our Tour Director, Faruc who is very good, clear in his instructions, knowledgeable in everything about Turkey which made our tour so memorable. He is most eloquent in his speech. Thank you Gate1 for always choosing the perfect tour director. That was our 6th tour with your company. Recep, our tour driver was also safe in his driving skills especially around Ankara and Istanbul. He is quiet but helpful.
Jennifer G.
We had a wonderful time thank you! Our guide Faruk was great! A very personable, knowledgeable man and always willing to help when needed. The accommodations and meals were exceptional. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!
Jeffery R.
The 13 day Turkey tour surpassed my expectations in every way. We had invited friends to accompany us for the first time on a Gate 1 tour and they were most impressed. Our guide Aykut was outstanding, professional, knowledgeable and fun to be around.
Sharon C.
Our tour guide, Dalim, in Turkey was superb. I really enjoyed his expertise, kindness and professionalism.
Kimberly B.
Trip went really well. The group greatly benefited from Mr Atik's broad knowledge of Turkey, and his willingness to help everyone in such a nice and professional manner. Thank you.
Berta B.
Trip was great- good group of people; great tour guide Yucel and driver Saysgin combined to make the tour flow seamlessly and Yucel was a wealth of information.
Tharu S.


