Reviews

I had a great time on this tour. We packed so much in, there was always something else to do next. I've never slept so well at the end of each day! There was so much going on I've already forgotten half of what we did until I looked again at the itinerary just now.

The sights were amazing, from the cisterns to the cave houses, ruined temples to caravanserais. The boat trips were fun and relaxing, and exclusively for our group so tons of space, the battlefields were a fascinating opportunity to really appreciate the terrain and the tactics, and the Dervishes - although not what I'd been expecting - were mesmerising.

The guide, Ali, was really knowledgeable about so many different aspects of the country from the geology to the politics (we were never bored on the coach!), and our driver Jemal was great at getting the coach (which he kept pristine) as close as possible to where we needed to be.

We had the right amount of time everywhere and didn't feel rushed. I could have spent a lot longer in the underground city and generally grubbing about exploring caves/passageways along the walks we did, but that was just me - for the group as a whole, some of whom had mobility problems, it was plenty.

I enjoyed the food, and it was interesting to appreciate the variations in the staple dishes - lentil soup, kofta, salads - across the different towns. (The dessert buffet in Konya was amazing, despite being more "international" than Turkish.) It's also a great country if you like random friendly cats.

We had to queue for a couple of the main attractions in Istanbul, but this was apparently due to the arrival of several large cruise ships at the same time which was said to be unusual so it oughtn't to happen to you! The only other busy site was some rock churches which I didn't personally think were worth the wait (because the draw was that they had old Biblical murals/frescoes, which aren't really my thing. My recommendation, if you feel the same way, is to scoot over the road to explore the abandoned cave dwellings etc over there instead - I had it all to myself). Everywhere else was lovely and quiet.

Word of advice for the similarly-unseasoned traveller thinking they'll spend their remaining lira at the airport: other than the food (and you won't be hungry after two weeks on this tour) it's all priced in Euros! Go to the supermarket on the last morning and get all your take-homes from there.

A wonderful, although intensive, trip around Turkey. Amazing history visiting many iconic sites. Particularly the two visits to families in villages for authentic lunches and to experience Turkish hospitality. Not to forget the amazing scenery in Coppadocia.

Very easy to navigate the site and to book online. This will be my first trip with them.

Excellent. The itinerary was busy but that meant you saw a great deal and experienced so much of what Turkey has to offer. Our guide was very knowledgeable, informative, approachable and kind. Our group was made up of ‘seasoned travellers’ so everyone was aware of being on time which was important given the number of hotel changes on the tour. Would definitely recommend and use Wendy Wu as a tour operator again if this trip is representative of their experience and organisational skills which were first class.

Interesting and historic places to see. Very well organised trip.

Saw a lot enjoyed the visits to Turkish homes got a good idea of what the country was like

The itinerary was packed and I travelled around a huge area of Turkey taking in archaeological sites and amazing scenery. No two days were the same.

The first 2 days in Istanbul were packed full as there was no much to see. In fact, the whole holiday was very much on the go with many activities as well as sightseeing. I particularly enjoyed the lunch with a local family who made us very welcome and provided an excellent meal. The boat trip on the Bosphorus, was enjoyable and interesting. Cappadocia was fascinating with unusual rock formations and houses built into the rock. I enjoyed the visits to various UNESCO Heritage sites and it was good to see places that I had only read about in books. Our guide was helpful and knowledgeable and had a good sense of humour. Overall, I would not leave anything out of the tour as it was all an enriching experience.
This was my first holiday with Wendy Wu and there are some aspects on which I was not impressed. On arrival at the hotel from the airport, there was no information about the Welcome meeting and the person who met me at the airport did not know either.. The hotel receptionist obtained part of the information from Karavan Travel. Subsequently, the meeting was held later briefly as the Tour Guide had been at the airport meeting other members of the group whose flight had been delayed.
I am not happy with Wendy Wu's policy of placing individuals onto different flights. I was the sole individual on my flight from Heathrow for this holiday and yet 2 other couples also came from Heathrow and had 2 different flights from one another. The same applied of course on return flights to the UK. This scattergun approach stretches the resources of the travel company carrying out the tour on behalf of Wendy Wu as they need to meet each arrival and arrange transport to the airport for the return flights. When we arrived at the airport for our return flight, we were not accompanied into the terminal to show us where to check-in etc. All other holiday companies provide this.

A very comprehensive tour with a lot of different experiences. Istanbul was busy with many tourists visiting the main sites. The tour of Gallipoli was very well laid out and the information boards and the words of our guide brought it all to life.
The historical sites of Ephesus and Hieropolis were very good and well preserved. The highlight was Capadocia and the hot air balloon ride from which you got a fantastic view of the landscape. Pamukkale was also a great place to visit although very busy.
Be prepared for long coach journeys and sometimes having lunch and dinner quite close together without checking into your hotel until later.
A very good but exhausting holiday.

A very well organised tour as expected from Wendy Wu. We enjoyed a wide variety of experiences and learned a great deal. Our guide, Erdal was always helpful and informative and Mustafa, our driver, was a real star.

Was as described in the brochure and the Tour guide was excellent. A good knowledge and practical when dealing with any issues. Not a relaxing holiday but very interesting and visited a large number of different venues including Troy, Ephesus and Cappadocia as well as other sites of interest.

A fantastic tour visiting some breathtaking sites.
Wendy Wu organises everything so you can thoroughly enjoy the experience without worrying about practicalities.
The tour guides knowledge and experience was infectious.
Accommodation was generally of a high standard.
We happily recommend this company and this tour.

Excellent tour with a wide variety of experiences including visiting local homes and private boat cruises. Quite a lot of walking though including uneven steos and unmade paths.

Another successful WendyWu holiday, excellent guide (Ilhan) with great knowledge of the places visited on the itinerary. Lovely hotels & good variety of food from many different sorts of restaurants.
Coach driver Mustafa's patience driving group safely around the sights of Turkey was second none.

As always very friendly and helpful. Also efficient and explained costs. Gave me my VIP discount without me asking