I'm sure you get a lot of photos but you might want to check these out.
There are three sections and the third one is Cappadocia. If you click on the Cappadocia section and then click on play slideshow you get the music also.
www.picturesque.phanfare.com
David Chesluk
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May 2010
I'm grateful to Middle Earth for the beautiful trip: everything was ok and it's on my mind to came back for a little bit more of Via Licia and, may be, Cappadocia.
Thank you again and...ciao!
rita
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May 2010
Dear Deniz,
I just want to say thank you for you and the middle earth travel for a nice trekking arrangements. I really enjoyed my trip and my mind is still there.
Thank you ever so much.
Best regards,
Helena
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May 2010
Dear Atil,
We are writing to thank you all for the excellent arrangements which you made for our accommodation and tour. We were able to see a great deal of the highlights of Cappadokya.
Thanks to Abbas, who helped two 'oldies' up and down the slopes and steps, discussed all the historical features and looked after my food allergy so carefully. He was patient over my photography when I was slow using a new camera - but it was worthwhile, we have many excellent reminders of our holiday!
By the way Atil, we met your daughter 'walking' down the road from your office. Perhaps she will work there eventually.
We shall certainly recommend Cappadokya, and particularly Middlearth to our friends,
Best wishes,
Derek & Audrey King
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May 2010
Middle Earth Travel
I want to thank you for your helpful tolerance of my changing plans during my trip to Turkey last month. The initial trek (Seven Capes) was as wonderful as advertised, and Uraz and Ilhan were excellent guides. When I decided to skip the second trek in order to focus more on the Lycian sites, you made those arrangements easy for me. And I ended up with Ilahn as a guide, who was knowledgeable, articulate and, most importantly, very interested in the early history of Turkey. It couldn’t have been a better experience, and I’ll recommend Middle Earth to anyone, whether they are interested in mountain trekking or archeological tours.
Alec Fisken, Seattle
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April 2010,
Hi Koray,
Did you survived at your trip with your 8 nice, young, good-looking italian ladies??? J
Could they catch a plane for Italy at the end of the week? Maibe you are still ‘entertaining’ them, waiting for a plane or a boat…
Here in Belgium everything is ok, the kids had one more week of holidays and now started school on this Monday. The first days after we came back were very hard for us… it was like if we came back from a trip of 1 month. It was so hard to come back to our usual life here…a very strange feeling.
Our thougts went to Turquie all the time… we were thinking: now Ilhan is going to “our” secret beach with the other group, and how would it be with Koray?
Pascaline wondered if we leaved the flag we made with “pretty little Belgium”… and they wondered i fit was Mega Toby that went again with the other group…
A funny thing I have to tell you, in the first week when we came back: I was in the car with Xavier and we were listening to the news on the radio: they were speaking about the big ship wich caused some trouble to one of the biggest reefs, a reef in french is called: “barrière de coraille”, if you read this it sounds like “Koray”, and suddenly he said: “mammy they spoke about Koray at the radio!!” J
Also when he hurted his finger, he told me that “Koray always called him “sterke man”” (probably “starke man” in German, but he understood it! In Flemisch they say “sterke man”) .
Julie is still wearing your blue eye!
He’s still playing with the arch (how do you say in English: “pijl en boog” in flemisch or “arc a flèches” in french) you made for him!
With Caroline we said a lot of times that we were very Lucky to make the trip on the first week of april (instead of the second one), having you both for making this trip was so nice, it was really a great great pleasure for us to meat such wonderfull persons, we enjoyed everything: the fact you loved the children as much as we do, you told us so much interesting things about the history of your country, and it was nice to feel your proud for your country too.
I’ll send you some pictures from our trip, but as i’m not a “computerfreak” I can only send them two by two, otherwise the computer doesn’t send them… they are to heavy.
A big hug from all of us,
Bénédicte, Nicolas, Pascaline, Julie and Xavier
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April 2010,
Dear Ilhan and Koray,
Here is the firt pictures. I will send you some others during the next days.
We once more wanted to thank you for the great holiday! We are back in
Belgium, back to reality but with really great memories of Turkye and
dreaming of a next holiday in Turky!
I hope Koray that you have fun on the Lycien way with the Italian "girls"
and that Ilhan will have fun with the Belgium families. Now he can sing with
them "pretty pretty Belgium".
Hugs from us all
Caroline - Vincent - Thaïs - Thibaut - Alec
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March 2010
i have decided to write seperately about our guide Ilhan.
here is what we told him...
'we have returned safely after a long flight (3 seperate flights).
when we woke up this morning we were not quite sure where we were!
what an amazing trip. we are still trying to take it all in.
we cannot express in words how fortunate we were to have you as our guide; and better yet, now as a new friend.
thank you for your knowledge, patience, understanding, and friendship.
Lynn will e-mail you seperately; i know she was very sad to say good-bye. she will enjoy sharing new books with you!
we already are discussing dates for next year.'
His enthusiasm and knowedge of Turkish history enabled us to better understand the Turkish people and their background.
As we walked through small villages, Ilhan was able to establish a rapport with the people which enabled us to truly experience Turkish life-style, including seeing the small children in their uniforms as they went to and from school, observing the women making 'syrup' and other goodies over open fire, and watching the residents enjoying tea in the village 'centrum'.
there also were several times when Ilhan went out of his way to help us, including finding a cobbler to fix 1 of my hiking boots, lending us his camera when we ran out of memory cards, and introducing me to the wonderful Turkish barbers.
Middleearth is very fortunate to have him as1 of your guides. i cannot imagine a more knowledgeable, friendly person to have as a guide. best of all, as we told him, he began as our guide, and now has become our friend.
Thank you.
Lynn and Gary |
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November 5, 2009
Hi Atil
Just a short note to say how fantastic Ilhan was yesterday. Certainly the best tour guide I have had the pleasure to meet.
Regards Greg
Hi Atil
I fully endorse Gregs comments
A wonderful guide who made our day unbelievably enjoyable.
We will have no reservations in recommending Ilhan and your company to our friends.
Regards
David Payes |
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November 5, 2009
Dear Atil,
We would like to thank you again for the perfect tour in October. It was the best holiday we have ever had. Thank you very much for your efforts.
Sincerely, Elena and Andrey. |
Sept. 7, 2009
Hi Deniz
Thank you for a very nice, safe and good organized Ararat climb, I will keep my good memories through the photographs I took, of which I am sending you one.
With kind regards,
Han Willems |
Sept. 7, 2009
Hi Deniz
Well I survived and and also thoroughly enjoyed the 'tour.' Well done MET for excellent organisation.
Double marks for ensuring the weather was ideal notonly for the Trek but also my stayover in HEvet. I must compliment Uraz and Gemel for ensuring it all went well and provided such good company. As one of our group said Uraz provided leadership and comradeship as well with considerable skills in guiding a group in at times difficult terrain. Gemel culinary efforts ensured the days efforts were further enjoyed in camp. Lastly the mules. It was a pleasant surprise tofind 7 mules doing duty. I alonedidn't read that into the website. The handlers also were superb in entertainment ie dancing lessons and a spit roast. So again well done and thanks. I'll now set off sailing withthe privilegeof seeing more of Turkey than the average sailor. Also with some nice watercolours done in the last days.
All good memories.
The best DAvid sv Sahula |
Sept. 7, 2009
Hi Atil
i wanted to let you know, what a wonderfall trek i had last week with Uraz Jamal and the group it was realy... wonderfall |Uraz was very patient warm and proffesional gave freedom and gave security was very sensitive and proffesinal also when i was scared to .. too much we were all very happy also the hotel was good the organization was very good as well thanks alot for every thing please also tell Uraz that Ersurum is much more religious then he and us could imagine. all the city is in Ramadan and you can not find chai or coffe or food until 19:00 pm. i went all town, as well as to the university but nothing hot to drink. it is good to know that in advance, i think. also Ersurum peaple didnt know that it is so. interesting. anyway, thaks a lot i had so much fun. ... i am still happy and in the sky .. thanks alot and see you in the future
Noa |
May 15, 2009
Our recent trip
Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our walking holiday in Cappadocia. Ozgur and Ilhan were superb - they not only organised the walks really well but told us a lot about the country and the area. They were very flexible and went to a lot of trouble to make sure that we did what we wanted. Also thanks to the drivers who were all excellent. Any time if you need a review posted please let us know and we will do that. Best wishes
Diane and Gordon Diane Bennett
Editor DesignaKnit Link, the newsletter for all DAK owners
http://www.dbknit.co.uk |
February 17, 2009
To all at Middle Earth.
May Cathie and I thank you for a very enjoyable holiday last week 'snowshoeing' The hotel Kelebek was first class, all meals excellent and programme great - despite no snow in Goreme that didn't matter, we managed the two days - Hasan Mt.and Erciyes which was fine for us. Finally, what can we say about 'Ozgur', a wonderful guide and companion for our trip (my wife has gone off me now) He is so very knowledgeable and we both thank him sincerely for making our holiday most memorable. Thank you David (Gordon) and Cathie Wood |
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A wonderful experience
Dear Atil......now that we're back in the States I just wanted to let you know what a fabulous time we had hiking the Ihlara Valley with Ozzie a week ago. The weather was great, the trail was fine and Ozzie (Ozgur Ozmete) was super!!! He has a fine touch and it felt like he knew instinctively just what was needed......not necessarily an easy task with a foursome which, although good friends, ranged in age from 34 to 71. And we also appreciated your own grace in dealing with Barbara and me as we tried to sort out our travel needs. Hopefully, you've not heard the last of us. Please send Ozzie our regards. Thanks....
Norton Garber |
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Dear Atil, Gaya, Yunus & Denitz:
Thank you again for a wonderful tour. The sightseeing in Istanbul was very enlightening to us especially thanks to your expert explanations. It deepened our appreciation for the Byzantine and Ottoman cultures and histories. We really enjoyed freely mingling with the Turkish people during the Ramadan celebration in the ancient hypodrome area and found their dishes delicious.
The trek on the Lycian Way is unforgetable as a beautiful blend of nature and ancient cultures. Gaya was a wonderful guide, showing us wonderful hidden beaches and spectacular Hellenistic and Roman ruins.
We will never forget this tour and highly recommend it to anyone interested in a more in-depth exploration of Turkey's beauty and history.
We are looking forward to joining you oin another Turkish adventure.
Gule, Gule:
Gerard & Marja VanderBeek
Glenwood Springs, CO. |
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Hi Yunus have just returned to South Africa. I did sent you an e-mail to thank you from Germany, but I did not have your e-mail address, I think I sent it to Gaya. Hope you did get it. If not, I want to thank you once again for putting that fabulous trek on just for me . Really I am very impressed with your company and I will advertise for you as much as possible. A big thank you also for the tour to Termessos, I could not have had a more experienced guide
Regards Ursula |
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It is a pleasure to recommend Middle Earth Travel's excellent operation under the fine leadership of Atil Cuce and Yunus Ozdemir. My hiking group of 18 women were privileged to enjoy a splendid hike/adventure with the two of them in the Fall of 2007. We began the trip in Istanbul and were overwhelmed with the extensive City Tour they planned and the intellectual, political, and cultural depth of their knowledge. Under their thoughtful guidance, we experienced an exceptional insight into one of the world's most interesting and exotic cities. Our actual hike took us more inland and led us from village to village along a portion of the Lycian Way. Over the years, Middle Earth has carefully established and tended close personal relationships with key villagers along this long distance trail and consequently, hikers enjoy a unique window into the lives and homes of Turkish villagers. The hospitality and the food we were served during our home stays and along the trail made for an incomparable experience and exposed us to intimate settings and opportunities that we could never have organized on our own. Travelers with Middle Earth benefit not only from the vast historical and archeological knowledge of the principals of this company, but from their keen sense of customer service. They are incredibly well-organized and sensitive to the custom needs of their clients and are a dream to work with in the pre-planning aspects of the trip as well as on the trip itself. Any endeavor involving 18 different personalities requires infinite patience, flexibility, support, and skilled leadership and Atil and Yunus gave us far more of these qualities than we have ever seen on any of our other international hikes. Their love for their country and knowledge of its history runs deep and as passionate ambassadors, they offer their customers a rich, rare, and forgettable understanding of their fascinating country. I recommend Middle Earth's staff's successful blend of experience, knowledge, and service to you with no reservation - only with applause to you for connecting with such a premiere organization and with best wishes for your future endeavors with this young and exciting company. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or for additional information. |
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September 2, 2008
My wife and I had the pleasure of using the services of Middle Earth Travel to provide us with a guided 15 day tour of Turkey in late May, 2008. We still speak about with good time we had on our unique vacation with Yunus Ozdemir
our guide to Turkey . We appreciated his professionalism, knowledge, energy and friendship in providing us with an introduction to the amazing archeology and history of Turkey as well as to its food, scenery and contemporary culture. Middle Earth Travel arranged for our hotels, meals, internal transportation and entry into the numerous museums and archeological sites we saw along the way, all of which were handled professionally competently and with sensitive anticipation of our needs.
We do not hesitate to recommend Middle Earth Travel to anyone seeking knowledgeable and reliable assistance in arranging a trip to Turkey
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Dear Kerem,
It is one year agp that we wnt up the Kachkar Mountains under your inspiring guidance.
We left each other very abrupt in Erzurum and never had any contact since. We haven't forgotten that beautiful trio, it was special to all of us and, although this message is very late we want to thank you for all good cares and the extraordinary way you stole our hearts. None of us have been to Turkey since but we went individually into the Alps and other mountain sites this summer. As you might have noticed, this year's weather is pretty strange in the middle of Europe. We went up a mountain and on about 2300 mtr. We even had about 15 cm. of snow over night. As you might remember, we live in different places in Holland but we meet each other frequently and still talk about your tour.
We hope you'ıı once be able to visit us here and you are hereby invited to stay with us if you like to.
We hope your travelling agency is doing well and many more people are enjoying trips in the Turkish mountains.
With love from;
Elly, Clem, Lotus, Leo and Peter.
www.peterkrynen.nl |
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(Part of this is from the email I sent to Wayne from the group that was concerned about safety.) |
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Middle Earth Travel was the best way for us to see Turkey and the only way we would want to come back. Our guide's name was Atil, and he and the Middle Earth Travel team were fantastic to work with. They really know their stuff--everything from nature to politics to culture and history. Also, perhaps most importantly, they have great relations with the local villages and people. Everywhere we went, the locals were genuinely happy to see Atil and treated him as a real friend, which was proof to us that their relationship went beyond just a tour guide bringing customers to an establishment. Because of this, we had a fascinating cultural experience on top of the great trekking and majestic scenery. We learned more about Turkey and its people on our 5-day hike than we ever would have touring Istanbul or traveling on our own.
Debby and Joshua | |
I would be happy to let anyone know the lengths that Middleearth travel went to accommodate our rapidly changing estimated time of arrival (ETA). You were able to shorten our schedule one day and the ultimate accommodation occurred, Ibrahim, when you loaned my wife Dorothy your hiking boots, foamy, sleeping bag and day pack after hers were lost by BA Air.
The modified schedule was very effectively drafted to begin with a "proving" trip out of our little pension in Yayalar with the trips becoming progressively more adventuresome but interspersed with little breaks with a bath and a good bed in the pension. We were all very impressed with your technical knowledge of all aspects of the nature and the political history of this part of the world we were seeing for the first time.
We also noted your skill and warmth in your interactions with the many people we encountered on our two treks. We will have warm memories of your assistant, Barish and your muleteers for a long time to come. We deeply appreciated your patience with our 13 year old grandson, Jordan, coaching him in mountaineering and in cutthroat card games.
Regards
R. F. (Dick) Wilson
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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“Every end has a new beginning” (In Hebrew in sounds better)
Dear Kerem,
At start, as you know, we even didn’t want to take a guide. You know Israelies -they know all better. But as you already saw, we couldn’t have done a better desicion.
We want to thank you for everything, we had an amazing time with you. It was a big challenge and
a great adventure. We want to apologise for speaking Hebrew in front of you. Sometimes
because we wanted to talk about you, and sometimes just because we were tired of speaking English. Thank you for having a lot of pation for us.
So, thank you verymuch, and now we would like to see you in Israel...
You are always welcome!
Ata totach! (You are the best!)
Friendly,
Anat, Adva, Naama, Liron, Herut. |
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02/06/2006
Dear Atil,
We had a marvellous trekking. Thanks, with love, Stefan. |
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Hi,
Thank you very much for organising mountain trips. Special thanks to Gaye who did each minute her best to make this trip wonderful.
At the end, we get our airplane. To tell the truth, after the bus engine breakdown, I was not really optimistic. It was without taking into account the capability of Middle Earth Travel team to manage desperate situation. One more time, Thanks for all!
Olivier Bisous Améleé |
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Dear Team of MiddleEarth Travel,
We wish you a happy new year and all the best.
We send you some great pictures of our great trip to Kachkar mountains last summer. Please feel free to use the digital pics on the Cd on your website or for advertisement if you like.
We hope that you are all doing well and miss you.
We are looking forward to our next visit to Turkey. Maybe we could do the volcanoes and Aladaglar next time...
Best wishes, Alf & Sabine / 03-01-2005 | |
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I, a Dutch woman, walked 14 days The St. Pauls Trail in the mounth juni 2005 with Ibrahim Turgut. It was a pleasure to do this trail with him. Everything was good organized.
About the trail when we sleep in tents he was cooked the food and that tasted very well.
The walk was nice and the people on the trip friendly. When you think about to do this trip you will be in a good company.
Gina Ensing holland.
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In reference to the trekking, we think that it was a great experience to walk along the Ihlara valley together with our guide Ibrahim. It was amazing to get in touch with the nature, enjoying its flowers, walking along the river, climbing into the caves and after the effort connect ourselves with the hidden treasures of the culture and the past.
Besides, while walking we could meet local people, children enjoying their bath in the river, groups of young people, women with their typical clothes refreshing themselves in the river, sheep’s with their shepherds ….
Everything was excellent, interesting and without stress. Ibrahim´s company was very valuable and always a stimulus for knowing and discover the wonderful land of Anatolia.
Alicia Wohlgemuth / Argentina |
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It was my dream since a very long time to go on a trekking trip in Turkey.At Chrismas
time my best friend and I decided to get organized and we contacted Middle Earth Travel whose e-mail address we had found in a magazine. Within a few days our 6-day trekking tour was arranged. So far so good, only: who was behind Middle Earth Travel? What was to be expected? We didn't know these people, we just trusted. And we were right to trust because we had 6 fabulous days walking through fantastic landscapes, meeting marvellous people in the villages and experiencing the best of Turkish hospitality. We enjoyed our guide Atil, and benefited from his knowledge of Turkish history & culture and geography & nature, not to mention his enduring sense of humour and his perfect organization.
We have no reservation whatsoever recommending Atil and Middle Earth Travel very highly.
Thank you Atil, we will be back.
Marie-Claude and Erika | |
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Hi, Atil, We are happy with your agency and in particular with Ogün and the local guide. Please tell them they did a very good job; my comments were just to help you to make it even better in the future.
Best regards.
Ignacio Gómez Montejo / Madrid |
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Hello. All is OK. When we returned of eating the boots was in the hotel.
I want say you that the tryp has been magnificent and we has been very happy with Ogun. Thank you for all things. We can speak very well of yours.
Best regards to Ogun
Ruben Spain |
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Hello Atil;
I was just talking to a friend who just got back from a business trip to Istanbul. She loved the city and I took great pleasure in telling her about our wonderful trip to Turkey last summer. Our family does one major month long adventure every summer and the Anatolian experience was one of our best.
When we first came across your web site we thought your company only did trekking based holidays but were reassured by your prompt and detailed responses that you could handle all the elements of our land based itinery.Everything went like clockwork including visits to the Pontic tombs in Amasya, the Museum of Anatolian Civilization in Ankara, Hattusas, marvelous day hikes and touring in Cappadocia, trekking in the Taurus mountains, exploring the Sanliurfa area to Harran and visiting multiple ancient monumental sites such as Aphrodisias,Termessos and Pamukkale.
Your guiding and the informative narratives provided by your associates kept our attention and energy levels up even in the most wilting heat. The choice of restaurants was fantastic and we will always remember the broad range of delicious, fresh foods available. We felt safe and welcomed every where we went and even in the Southeast were comfortable and confident as we walked through the broad mix of neighbourhoods and market areas.
I will recommend you to friends who travel to Turkey. Your intimate knowledge of the country, its customs, history, politics and natural spectacle made for a unique, unforgettable journey. Thank you for your hard work as you secured all the flight and hotel bookings (I know some of them were difficult to get).
For independent minded travelers who want to travel with friends or family - Middle Earth is the only way to go in Turkey. The country is safe, beautiful and has a wealth of history, wonderful people, food and abundant sunshine. We will see you again.
Thanks again,
Dr. Brian McGowan, Sandra, Zoë and Sinead |
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