We ensure that your trip is designed to let you discover Turkey through the lens of your interests and purpose.
Whether learning about the local ingredients and cooking techniques from a celebrity chef at her teaching kitchen in the olive groves of the Aegean coast, visiting a contemporary mosque with a private tour by its architect, or an early access to Istanbul Biennale accompanied by an art curator.
IDEE will create a curated experience of Turkey tailored for you.
Contact us for Travel & Lifestyle
BLUE CRUISE
The Turkish coastline is home to Blue Voyage. This idyllic cruise means sailing with winds, into coves, to the private beach of Cleopatra and over the seas and becoming one with nature. There are different routes including Bodrum, Göcek, Gökova, Knidos, Marmaris ports and Greek islands.
Crewed yacht charter for groups and Cabin Charter for individual travelers are offered by IDEE.
CULINARY
Sample Turkish culinary delights in the shadow of great historical monuments. Visit Roman Aquaducts, Byzantine Cisterns, Ottoman Palaces, and then prepare your own dinner from actual recipes used in the palace kitchens. Turkey’s leading culinary experts will introduce you to local tastes and techniques as you travel from bustling, cosmopolitan Istanbul through idyllic country villages along the Aegean coast.
ECO TOURS
We make tourism more responsible!
With a primary focus on experiencing natural areas and fostering environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation, we care about giving our clients a different kind of quality tourism experience.
Something really exceptional.
Have a real connection with the people, the landscape, the culture, the food and the environment.
We commit to offering our ecotours with environmental, economic and social sustainability always top of mind.
We developed three tiers of eco-tourism services:
Accommodation: We offer our clients accommodation in lodges, treehouses, eco-hotels and farm houses.
Tours: Our eco-tours typically combine activities such as walking, driving or cycling.
Transport: Depending on your itinerary we will work with you to plan the most carbon-friendly means of transportation.
MUSIC AND CULTURAL
Our custom-designed Music Tours allow you the freedom to relax and explore independently while offering the security of guaranteed reservations at fine hotels and tickets to the events and concerts you want to experience.
Enjoy Music Festivals, Jazz Festivals, Summer opera performances, private concerts at historical sites in Antalya, Bodrum, Istanbul and Izmir.
STUDY
Are you looking for fresh ideas and programs off the beaten track?
IDEE specializes in extended TURKEY tours offering experience and creativity to produce itineraries that really work.
Our tailor-made tours always have an individual touch and show an eye for detail reflecting the dedication and enthusiasm of our team.
We arrange professional visits and behind-the-scenes tours in a variety of areas.
All programs are competitively priced to allow you the best chance of successfully recruiting your group.
Your Project Manager will take you through the complete operational process from hotel selections to final trip delivery.
A selection of suggested tours and itineraries:
Agricultural visits;
Archaeological Tours;
Architectural Tours;
Art Tours;
Choirs;
Garden tours;
Roman-; Byzantine-; Ottoman Treasures Tours.
TRADE MISSION
Our proximity and long-term relationship with a large number of leading industrial companies contribute to our success in Trade Missions & Technical Tours.
VOLUNTOURISM
‘NOT-FOR-PROFIT-ONLY’
We started IDEE TRAVEL back in the early 1990's. With the vision and desire to make the world a better place, we later decided to add a philanthropic angle to our work by creating VolunTourism itineraries for our clients. VolunTours incorporate elements of voluntary service into the itinerary to strike a balance with traditional tourism.
We connect diverse groups of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, bankers, doctors, lawyers who are looking for meaningful experiences. We manage their travel programs in a responsible and sustainable manner, with a higher purpose.
While teaching your native language or other academic subjects, working with children, doing scientific work, environmental work or construction projects, you also experience the destination, TURKEY.
Customized Private Groups
Corporate groups, student groups, church groups, families and any groups interested in a customized Turkey VolunTour are welcome to contact us.
ACCOMMODATION
IDEE works with a variety of hotels ranging from deluxe-, hip-, boutique, eco-friendly, to family-run hotels in Turkey. Thanks to our high business volume, we are able to offer hotel accommodations at incredibly affordable rates that are hard to beat.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
We provide Transportation Services for individuals and groups throughout Turkey.
Airport transfers
Custom signage
Manifest management
Shuttle services
Unique transportation solutions, powered by IDEE:
Charter Services: Cruise Ship, Airplane, Seaplane, Helicopter
Deluxe Motorcoach
Executive Lounge Coach
Custom-designed van with on-board services
Limousine
Vintage car
Private Motorboat
CITY TOURS
ASIA
( Daily Afternoon Tour )
Length: Half day
Duration: 4 hours
Price: 55 € (per person)
Operated: Everyday except Monday
Guide in: English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
Hotel pick-up & drop-off
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Lunch daily (excluding beverages)
Guide and air-conditioned vehicle
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
We begin by driving across the first Bosphorus Bridge and head for the summit of Camlica Hill, which affords panoramic views of Istanbul, the Sea of Marmara and the Princes’ Islands. From here a short brings us to the Palace of Beylerbeyi on the shore of the Bosphorus. Perhaps the most elegant of the late Ottoman palaces, Beylerbeyi boasts six sumptuously furnished reception halls.
AFTERNOON BOSPHORUS CRUISE
( Daily Afternoon Tour )
Length: Half day
Duration: 4 hours
Price: 50 € (per person)
Operated: Everyday
Guide in: English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
Hotel pick-up & drop-off
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Guide and air-conditioned vehicle
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
We cruise the Bosphorus and from the deck of our cruise boat take in the sights and sounds of this legendary waterway, that is lined with historic villages , grand wooden mansions, imposing fortresses, like Anadolu Hisari and the Baroque palaces of the late Ottoman sultans. After our cruise, we visit the Spice Bazaar, a thrilling riot of colors, sounds and the rich smells of exotic spices.
OTTOMAN SPLENDOURS
( Daily Afternoon Tour )
Length: Half day
Duration: 4 hours
Price: 110 € (per person)
Operated: Everyday except Tuesday
Guide in: English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
Hotel pick-up & drop-off
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Guide and air-conditioned vehicle
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
We begin our tour at Topkapi Palace, which, from the 15th to the 19th century, was the principle residence of the Ottoman Sultans. We will visit the fabolous Imperial Treasury and the Baghdad Kiosk. Topkapi Palace is now a museum and has unrivaled collections of jewelry, including the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, the 3rd largest in the world, Ottoman court costumes and ceramics, notably one of the world’s finest collection of early Chinese ceramics, much of it gifts from other rulers. Interestingly, some of the ceramics have a special glaze that was said to change color in the presence of poison. We also visit the Imperial Armory, displaying centuries of Ottoman weaponry. But perhaps the loveliest features of Topkapi Palace are its courtyards with their ancient trees, and it is easy to imagine the sultan strolling here far from the cares of state and empire. The Süleymaniye Mosque is the largest and grandest of Istanbul’s imperial mosques. It dates from the 16th century heyday of the Ottoman Empire, and was designed by Sinan, the greatest architect of his day and originator of the Classical Ottoman style of architecture. Of the 2,000 structures Sinan designed, Süleymaniye Mosque and its complex of charitable institutions rank among the most important.
(Some sections of Topkapi Palace are under renovation)
THE PRINCES’ ISLANDS
( Daily Full-day )
Length: Full day
Duration: 7 hours
Price: 95 € (per person)
Operated: Daily between 15 April-15 Nov.
Guide in: English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
Hotel pick-up & drop-off
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Lunch daily (excluding beverages)
Guide and air-conditioned vehicle
Electiric cart & ferry boat fees
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
If you feel the need to escape from the bustle of Istanbul for a day, nothing could be easier. You simply join us aboard a ferry bound for the charming Princes’ Islands. Our destination is Büyükada, the largest of the island chain, but we will pass by four other islands on the way. All are famous for their mild climates, lush vegetation and ornate Ottoman houses, and on all of them cars are banned. The preferred means of transportation is the charming electiric carts known as the phaeton, which we will use on our circular tour of Büyükada, passing elegant mansions draped in brilliant purple bougainvillea. You will feel as though you have stepped back into a more leisured and gracious age, almost expecting grand 19th century ladies and gentlemen to come strolling down to the waterfront on an afternoon promenade. Lunch will be at one of the many excellent traditional fish-restaurants on the waterfront, gazing across the water at the Asian shore of Istanbul, so close though it feels worlds away.
BOSPHORUS CRUISE
( Daily Morning Tour )
Length: Half day
Duration: 4 hours
Price: 50 € (per person)
Operated: Daily
Guide in: English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
Hotel pick-up & drop-off
Private boat or ferry boat
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Guide and air-conditioned vehicle
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
We begin with a brief visit to the 17th century Spice Bazaar one of Istanbul’s most colorful and bustling attractions. Next, we take an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the majestic strait that runs through Istanbul, linking Europe and Asia.From our cruise boat, we view the dramatic sights lining the Bosphorus’ wooded shores: mosques, a bridge that for a time was the world’s longest and the massive Rumeli Hisari , a fortress built by Fatih the Conqueror in just three months as he prepared to take Istanbul. Also noteworthy are the 19th century mansions of the Ottoman elite and the Sultan’s fanciful gingerbread palaces and hunting lodges.
HIGHLIGHTS OF OLD ISTANBUL WALKING TOUR
(Daily Mornnig or Afternoon)
Length: Half day
Duration: 4 hours
Price: 40 € (per person)
Operated: Daily
Guide in: English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
Hotel pick-up & drop-off
Guide and air-conditioned vehicle
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
Enjoy an exceptional opportunity to take in the highlights of this magnificent city strolling through the squares, mosques, and palaces of Old Istanbul on a small group tour.
Taking in all the major sights of Old Istanbul and the Historic Peninsula, including the majestic façade of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque with its six lofty minarets, Hippodrome Square where chariots once thundered through the afternoon and important monuments like the Milion Stone, erected in the 3rd century BCE as the center point of the Byzantine Empire, the German Fountain, the Sultan Ahmet III Fountain, as well as Hagia Eirene and the Outer Courtyard of Topkapi Palace, followed by the bustling Grand Bazaar, this half-day walking tour with an experienced professional guide is the perfect way to orient yourself in the city and decide which sites you will want to visit in detail.
Please note that all sites are seen only from the exterior and admissions to sites are not included in the tour. The Highlights of Old Istanbul Walking Tour is available as both a morning and an afternoon tour.
BURSA & CUMALIKIZIK VILLAGE
( Full day )
Length: Full day
Duration: 12 hours
Price: 235 € (per person)
Operated: Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays
Guide in: English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
Hotel Pick-up & drop-off
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Lunch daily (Excluding beverages)
Guide and Air-conditioned Vehicle
Cable car & Ferry boat fees
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
We travel by ferry to Yalova, then by luxury coach to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and one of the great treasure houses of Islamic architecture. We will visit the Green Mosque and the neighboring Green Mausoleum, both world-renowned for their superb tile decoration, as well as the late 14th century Great Mosque and the Koza Han, which for centuries was the center of the silk trade. After enjoying a cable car ride up the slopes of Mount Olympus ( Turkish Uludag ), we drive to the village of Cumalikizik. This is one of the best preserved Ottoman villages in Turkey with scores of picturesque houses built in the traditional style. Lunch is at one of Bursa’s finest Turkish restaurants, the Darüzziyafe, where we will enjoy the finest Ottoman cuisine in a historic setting where Sultan Murat the Second once dined.
EPHESUS
( Full day )
Length: Full day
Duration: 9 hours
Price: 490 € (per person)
Operated: Daily
Guide in:
English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
All transfers
Guide and air-conditioned transport
Return flight ticket
Lunch at a local restaurant
Entrances and parking
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
We catch an early flight to the city of İzmir on the Aegean coast, then drive south to the antique city of Ephesus. This is one of the world’s richest and most rewarding archaeological sites with impressive ruins dating from the Classical Greek, Hellenistic, Roman and early Byzantine period. It is also closely associated with the beginnings of the Christian faith. In addition to being the city to which the Letters to the Ephesians were written, St. John and St. Paul both visited the city and the Virgin Mary herself is said to have spent her last days nearby. Among the highlights of our tour of Ephesus will be the antique theatre, the famed Library of Celcius, the brothel, the vast Basilica of St. John, the Mosque of İsabey, the Temple of Artemis ( one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World ) and a group of recently excavated early Byzantine mansions that feature incredibly well-preserved floor mosaics and frescoes. At Ephesus, the past comes to life in a pageantry of architectural and artistic marvels the like of which can be found almost nowhere else in the world. Finally we will make a short pilgrimage to the House of the Virgin Mary, which stands high on a mountainside overlooking the Aegean Sea the Greek island of Samos.
THE IMPERIAL TOUR
( Daily Morning Tour )
Length: Half day
Duration: 4 hours
Price: 75 € (per person)
Operated: Everyday except Friday and Sunday
Guide in: English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
Hotel pick-up & drop-off
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Guide and air-conditioned vehicle
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
We begin our tour of the Sultanahmet district, the heart of old Istanbul, at Hagia Sophia. Built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD, this church is one of the marvels of world architecture. Its massive dome dominates the skyline of old Istanbul. It is famed for its mosaics, including glittering portraits of emperors and empresses. Next we visit the Blue Mosque, which owes its name to the exquisite tiles adorning its interior. Dating from the 17th century, it is the only imperial mosque with six minarets.The Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire. Of these, an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi survive. The Grand Bazaar, was the commercial heart of the old city and its 4,000 shops are full of treasures – including carpets and kilims, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons, and leather goods. Wandering through the Grand Bazaar, indulge in some shopping, Ottoman style.
TROY AND GALLIPOLI
( Full day; upon request )
Length: Full day
Duration: 12 hours
Price: 660 € (per person)
Operated: Daily (min. 2 persons)
Guide in: English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
Hotel Pick-up & drop-off
Guide and Air-conditioned transport.
Ferryboat fees
Lunch (Beverages excluded)
Entrances and parking
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
Early departure for Troy, scene of Homer’s Illiad, the story of the Trojan War and the first great work of Western literature. Here Achilles, Hector and Agamemnon performed their heroic exploits in their attempts to recapture Helen, whose face launched 1,000 ships. Today, Troy is the subject for a major Hollywood film, starring Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom. The site dates back to the very early Bronze Age (2500 BC) and was discovered by the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in the late 19th century. The city was destroyed and rebuilt many times, with the result that the site consists of many layers, one city atop the other. To the layman, perhaps the most impressive feature is the massive ramparts. After visiting the site, we then drive to Canakkale and cross the Hellespont to explore the First World War battlefields of the Gallipoli peninsula. This was the scene of the world’s first modern amphibious landing, planned by Winston Churchill, and one of Turkey’s greatest military victories of modern times, but it was won at the cost of enormous losses on both sides, particularly among the heroic ANZAC troops.
CAPPADOCIA
( Two days )
Length: Full day
Duration: 9 hours
Price: 650 € (per person)
Operated: Daily
Guide in:
English, German, Italian, Spanish, French
What is Included?
All transfers
Guide and air-conditioned transport
Roundtrip flight ticket
Lunch at a local restaurant
Entrances and parking
V.A.T. (%20 sales tax)
Highlights of This Tour:
On our way to Cappadocia, we fly to Ankara or Kayseri and drive south to Uchisar in the midst of Cappadocian heartland, where we will be staying at one of Cappadocia’s unique boutique cave hotels. Cappadocia is a region unlike any other. Its extraordinary landscape is composed of soft volcanic stone that wind and rain have sculpted into fantastic clusters of multicolored spires and pinnacles. What is more, the softness of the stone encouraged the medieval Christian inhabitants of the region to carve out of the living rock literally hundreds of churches, monasteries towns and villages. A trip to Cappadocia is a magical experience you will never forget. On our way to Uchisar we will stop off at the magnificent 13th century Selcuk Caravanserai known as Agzikarahan, at one of the region’s famous ‘ underground cities’. These go down many storeys into the earth and are among the marvels of medieval engineering. Once in Uchisar, we will visit the great rock-hewn citadel that looms over the town. On our second day we will visit the open-air museum of the Göreme Valley, which contains the region’s highest concentration of painted churches. The frescoes are among the masterpieces of Byzantine art. A short distance beyond Göreme lie the villages of Avcilar and Cavusin, both of which have many cave-dwellings, and the dramatic Zelve Valley.