Turkey

Chevy created the perfect custom tour to Argentina and Chile!! He helped us once before for Croatia, Montenegro and turkey! This company will make the best vacations ever!

My partner and I recently had a two-week holiday in Turkey, organised through Encounters Travel. We wanted something tailored to our interests and availability, and Gavin at Encounters created a bespoke version of an existing tour for us. As we worked out what this tour might involve, it necessitated quite a few questions and answers going back and forth, as we refined our plans. Each time Gavin was very prompt to respond, did so in full, and very courteously. Encounters Travel liaised with all of the local agents and catered for everything we had asked for. We ended up having an absolutely fantastic (and wholly unforgettable) holiday, seeing sights that we would never have been able to fit in if we were trying to do it completely by ourselves. On the evidence of this trip, we would very strongly recommend them to others looking for an agent who'll help to take some of the hard work out of planning a holiday.

I bought a ticket thru living social at 3am when I couldn’t sleep and then said to myself “What did I just do?!” turns out what I did was make one of the BEST DECISIONS OF MY LIFE!!! The travel agency was easy to work with and always available via telephone (UK HOURS) I traveled alone for an additional few of 200 or something but they found me a roommate and I elected to take the roomie and get a refund on solo fee (another great decision..roomie was from Vegas and a great guy) I traveled from LA to Turkey and then to Cairo the planes were nice and roomie. They fed ya so much I was stuffed by the time I got to Turkey (tip: TURKEY AIRPORT SUCKS! It’s HUGE,all the gates are far apart and you are only guided by arrows and no one helps you,so move Swift if you have to meet a connecting flight) upon arrival to Cairo I was met by a sharply dressed man with a sign that greeted me in the traditional Muslim greeting and we were immediately friends! He walked me to get my visa ($20 American dollars cash) through customs and it was a breeze...with a guide it’s SPEEDY. We were met by a air condition car (IT WAS HOT) they took me to a hotel across the street from the pyramids and he checked me in. (Tip: Security is HIGH everywhere and you will be searched by security at all times entering and leaving.. you will never feel unsafe. Plan on seeing guards with machine guns in the street and hotels..you will grow accustomed to it) I was there for 10 days and EACH DAY GOT BETTER!! The food, hotels, monuments, experience and PRICE CANNOT BE BEAT!! I crawled inside of the Great Pyramid of Cheops, seen the Sphinx, slept overnight on a felucca on the Nile, took a sleeper train to Aswan, went to a Nubian Village for a traditional dinner, snorkeled in the Red Sea, toured the Cairo Museum,Sunrise Hot Air Ballon ride over the Valley of the Kings, stayed at a luxury all inclusive Sea Side resort in Hurghada, drove thru the Sahara Desert to monuments and witnessed the sunrise, toured downtown Cairo market, visited the Synagogue that Moses worshipped and the well he drank from, and so many things in between and I did it all for UNDER $1550 US dollars. No guess work, this company TAKES CARE OF EVERYTHING!! Our tour guide “Big Mo” was one of the most passionate and insightful people I have ever met. His expertise of Egyptian history and the culture of his people is undeniable. He even went water sliding with me in Hurghada!! I cannot express how fortunate U feel to have had this experience in my lifetime. I was humbled by the people and inspired to see people with my likeness etched in massive stone and in the walls of the monuments and tombs. I met some of the most beautiful people inside and out in this country. They LOVE AMERICANS and they desperately need your tourism. I cannot say enough about this package that Encounters Travel has put together. All vehicles, hotels, restaurants and amenities they took us to were clean and safe. They include some meals the guides can be trusted. Be sure to give them the best tip you can at the end of the tour in AMERICAN MONEY....they will have earned it!! Now the bad....but you can’t escape these; IT’S HOT...no matter when you go (it’s Africa for goodness sake!) you will sweat all the time..so bring something to wipe your face like a few dark hand towels for daily use, hand sanitizer AND A HAND FAN...trust me some air is better then NONE and you can shield your face when the guides talk to you out in the sun but I recommend a fold away umbrella too TRUST ME!!! Only other thing is the street merchants..the first two days you are sympathetic to the plight after that you just instantly become a rude American and ignore them lol. They will try to pressure you, place things in your arm (I opened my arm and let them drop), give you a “free gift” (be warned NOTHING in Egypt is free) and try to pull you away from the group, always consult your guide they will help you steer clear and will help you to not get cheated. Last but MOST IMPORTANTLY when in the monuments, temples and other places NEVER LET A FRIENDLY PERSON HAVE YOU CAMERA TO TAKE PICS OF YOU...they will demand money and try to intimidate you and tell you they work for the Govt and wait for you at the gates if you don’t give them what you want. Just be polite and keep saying “no thank you while walking away” when you get close to your guide they will get the hint and leave you alone. Other than that..go have the TIME OF YOUR LIFE IN EGYPT!!! You will NEVER REGRET IT!

What a GREAT experience! I was a solo traveler and a bit worried but everyone at the office staff answered all my questions promptly assuring me I'd be in an English speaking group. I even missed my initial flight Nd Travel Encounters was able to coordinate my new transfer pick up time in Istanbul. The tour itself was also simply amazing, especially if you like History! Great sites with plenty to do, great itinerary including Troy, Galipoli, Blue Mosque, Haggai Sophia, Ephesus, Artemis, Kayakoy, etc. had a great/same guide and driver for the duration of he trip and all 4 star hotels. Nicely arranged trip, at a nice price. :)

I can really recommend to book a trip through ENCOUNTERS TRAVEL. Stumbled across them by accident when i was searching the net for best prices. Being from South Africa with the weak ZAR they came out tops. Booked the 10 day Anatolian Adventure. All entrance fees was included. Thanks to Mariska for always getting back to me immediately. The tour surpassed my expectations and the accommodation provided was mostly 5 star. The tour guide Ilker (from Fez Travel) was amazing. He was very informative and not forgetting our good driver Irfaan. We had a small group of 10. Overall, a great trip. Worth every penny. Will definitely book my next trip through ENCOUNTERS TRAVEL