Turkiya

The Basilica Cistern offered an incredibly stunning experience; it's hard to imagine such a magnificent ancient reservoir hidden beneath the city. The skip-the-line ticket was a lifesaver, saving us from long waits under the scorching sun, and the entry process was smooth. With the audio guide, we learned about the history of its construction and the stories behind it. The tall stone columns were neatly arranged, and the lights reflected on the water, creating an absolutely captivating atmosphere. The Medusa column is a classic highlight here, both mysterious and unique. Walking through the damp corridors, a profound sense of ancient history enveloped us. The overall pace of the tour was comfortable, feeling both fantastical and awe-inspiring, full of mystery. It's a must-see attraction when visiting Istanbul.

Visiting Hagia Sophia was the main purpose of this trip. It was a shame that both the exterior and interior were under renovation. Nevertheless, it was truly wonderful to experience the profound historical significance of this cultural heritage site, with its frescoes and even graffiti from when it was used as a mosque after being an Orthodox church, all preserved as they were. Although there's a mobile Japanese audio guide, I had to infer a lot because many parts of the AI voice's Japanese were incomprehensible. The speaking speed was also slow, so I set it to 1.5x speed, which made it sound normal. Still, I believe you can't talk about sightseeing in Istanbul without seeing Hagia Sophia. I'm glad I went.

Ang hot air balloon guide ay napakagaling! Punong-puno ng enerhiya sa buong biyahe, at kahit na ito ang una kong beses at medyo kinakabahan ako, ang kanyang kasiglahan at kumpiyansa ay nakatulong para mawala ang aking kaba. 10/10 irerekomenda at sasakay ulit! Napakagandang karanasan para sa magandang presyo noong Hunyo!! Ang flight ay mahigit 1 oras at sulit na sulit talaga. Salamat Skyway para sa napakagandang karanasan. Irerekomenda ko ang provider na ito para sa inyong hot air balloon ride. Gawin niyo na lang.

The palace is definitely worth visiting and I recommend it to everyone. It was very easy to book the tickets on Klook, but you need to keep in mind that the skip the line allows you to skip the ticket line only, not the first security check line. When I went, for the ticket office the line was very short, just a few people, while the security line was very long, all the way to the street. 📸 If you want to take a photo with the sea gates, do not stop at the first one if there is a huge line, you can walk along the iron fence and you’ll find four more sea gates. I saw many people lining up for the first gate, but the other ones had 1-2 people taking photos.

Napakagandang biyahe sa ferry. Hindi ko inaasahan ang ganitong antas ng ganda mula sa isang simpleng biyahe sa bangka. Para sa mga gustong maranasan ang panig ng Europa at Asya, ang biyaheng ito ay para sa inyo. Ngunit magdala ng jacket dahil napakahangin. Sa pangkalahatan, NAPAKAGANDA!

Ang mga tagapagsanay ay mahusay, napakabait at matulungin. Ang kabayo kong si Sultan ay isang malaking kulay-kape na babaeng kabayo, ngunit siya ay mabait at dahan-dahang lalakad para sa akin. Bagama't medyo nakakatakot ito para sa isang baguhan, sulit ang karanasan. Tinulungan kami ng mga instruktor sa buong biyahe at kinunan kami ng mga larawan at video. Sobrang sulit. Salamat kina Yasin, Ahmed, at Majeed sa lahat ng inyong tulong! Tumagal ito ng mahigit 2 oras kaya sobrang sulit ng inyong pera!!

Nasiyahan kami sa magandang tanawin ng Bosphorus Strait sa isang magandang lokasyon hanggang sa paglubog ng araw. Kitang-kita mula sa dagat ang Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Hisarı, at Maiden's Tower habang dumadaan sa tulay. Si Chef Ahmet ay naghanda ng mainit na tsaa at nagbigay ng kumot. Napakasarap din ng fruit at cookie platter, pati na rin ang idinagdag naming french fries at toast. May kasama ring inumin, kaya't ito ay isang tour na may magandang halaga at lubos kong irerekomenda. Mangyaring mag-order ng inumin o karagdagang pagkain! Maraming salamat din sa magandang magnet na regalo! Ito na ang ikatlong beses ko sa Turkey, ngunit ang cruise na ito ay ang pinakamahusay dahil nakapag-relax ako at nakinig sa musika. Salamat sa mahusay na serbisyo, Chef Ahmet!

Convenience: It was easy to book, and using it was convenient too, as I just had to show the voucher code for immediate entry. Included Activities: It was great to experience a variety of activities, but I wish more passes were available for popular tourist areas like Cappadocia and Antalya. I used three passes: Basilica Cistern, Cappadocia Cave Dinner Show, and Pamukkale. If you choose the fast-track option for Basilica Cistern, you get in really quickly; the regular line was too long. Also, download the audio guide beforehand and listen to it at your accommodation. Even if you download it, once you're on-site, the data connection might drop midway, and it's too chaotic with so many tourists to concentrate anyway, haha. And the complimentary cruise was really good! However, for the unlimited drinks package, the seats are in the center, so you can't sit by the edge; those seats are reserved for people who booked with a meal. But I was satisfied because going downstairs to the first floor after the boat departed and standing outside was cooler, offered better views, and made for great photos.

An absolutely beautiful sunrise experience in Cappadocia! Watching the hot air balloons fill the sky while horse riding was truly magical and something we’ll always remember. The tour was well worth it and made for some unforgettable views and memories. A special mention to Atif from Afghanistan, who guided my horse. He was extremely friendly, helpful, and made the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cappadocia! 🐎🎈

Buying the Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern combo ticket this time was very convenient. Purchasing in advance on Klook saved time waiting in line for tickets on-site. Both attractions are well worth visiting; the lighting and overall atmosphere of the Basilica Cistern are especially unique, and walking through it in person is even more breathtaking than the photos. The Hagia Sophia is also magnificent and great for first-time visitors to Istanbul. Advance ticket purchase is recommended!

Since it was peak season and I was traveling with my mother, I booked a fast-track ticket for convenience. I usually explore museums and palaces thoroughly with audio guides even when traveling alone, so I booked the fast-track option (including an audio guide). However, I later found out it didn't include the Harem section. To add the Harem, it would cost an additional 1040 lira, which is about 35,000 won, purchased at the internal ticket office. In hindsight, it would have been better to buy a ticket that included a guided tour from the start. The palace is so vast and has so much to see that it took us three hours just to look around on our own, and we visited on a Sunday, so there were long lines at each section. I thought it would have been more efficient if a guide had pointed out the key locations and must-see items. Also, the audio guide included with this ticket is not the official palace commentary but a much more concise version. While the official version might be better for those with a strong academic interest exploring alone, on a day like ours, when we were simply enjoying the beautiful and rare artifacts, we didn't really listen to the commentary anyway. So, it wasn't an issue. The tickets are exchanged inside the meeting point (Bistro), and at the designated time, a host personally escorts you into the palace. It was nice to arrive a little early, have a drink, and wait comfortably. The host spoke English clearly and distinctly, which made me think it would have been even better to have an English guided tour. In conclusion, even a simple guided tour is better than none, and I recommend a tour that includes the Harem section if you're going anyway. However, I have no regrets about exploring freely, and I was truly happy because Topkapi Palace was so magnificent. With its panoramic views, architecture, and the artifacts and jewels inside, it's a must-visit attraction that I highly recommend, despite the expensive admission fee!

It was smooth, exciting, with the right amount of time to spend, as well as some given free time to explore the sites. The attractions are close together, which made the rides enjoyable. I liked that it wasn't a big group. My tour guide, Rabía, is great, professional, informative, and she always checked on us. I really appreciated her. The buffet-style lunch was fresh and tasty. Just one thing was out of the itinerary written here: we had a quick stop for a complimentary Turkish food and coffee tasting session at a store, which I didn't mind because I didn't feel any pressure to shop. It was lovely that they offered you a deal after the tasting and prior to your browsing at the store. The customer service team of this tour was good as well, and the response time was reasonably quick. I do encourage you to reach out to them first about the arrangement via the contact info they provided here.