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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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Dear Yunus & Volkan
Thank you again for your great job making my Turkey Tour a memorable one.
Though I paid big money for the trip, it was worthwhile to do so for I gained a lot in terms of my searching in human conditions. I now got a very rich filling for my short story writing (course assignment only, not for any profit making). They also inspire me to add the beauty of human nature into my study when I am on my future travel in another country. In fact, I did like those people I met. For example, Adem, Burak, Mrs. Bayram Ali, Nuray, Türkan, your sister, your girl friend, your uncle, your schoolmates ………
In addition, I like the hike for it covered the visit of 4 ancient sites, and they are the most significant attractions to the highlight of my trip. I like all the ancient sites for they have their individual uniqueness. When I was at the hill overseeing the Patara site, it was a beautiful seaport. Pinera was atmospheric and peaceful. Xanthos was remarkably defended by the natural location. And I like the scenic setting of Roman bath at Tlos.
Since I have traveled to more than 30 countries, I now would like to put Turkey instead of Iceland on the first place of my favorite trip. For I experienced are not only the landscape and people. The best part is its history.
However, it is a pity that I got only one friend who was so interested to hear from my trip. Most of my friends in the city are very unlikely to have a holiday like mine. To be honest, the majority in this city is likely very skeptical and snobbish. And this is the reason why I would like to grow old in New Zealand rather than in the place I was born. Please don’t remind me my country,
I regard myself as rootless.
Nevertheless, please don’t be disappointed that I am not able to highly recommend your designed tour for I just don’t want to make an empty promise. I wish you keep your enthusiasm and plan your tour more appealing to your clients. Who knows, one day it might ……………………
Wish you happy and be positive as always.
Cheers, Rogine
P.S. When I finish my short story writing, you will be the first one to read it. Also, I will send you the photos when they are ready.
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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
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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 Christmas 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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