The well-preserved ancient theatre explored on our Western Turkey Tour

Expert-Led Private Turkey Tours

Meet Your Archaeologist Guide

Experience the ultimate private Turkey tours, where history is not just seen, but unearthed at your own pace.

Most journeys through Turkey only scratch the surface, treating ancient wonders and sacred grounds as mere photo stops. But to truly appreciate this land, you need to read the layers beneath the stone. I am Aykut Altınışık, a professional archaeologist and licensed tour guide. After years of academic study and extensive excavation fieldwork across Anatolia’s major historical sites, I founded Go Private Turkey Tour. Today, I lead private Turkey tours and bespoke journeys designed to bypass tourist traps, connect you with authentic local culture, and bring the ancient world to life at your own pace. Let’s make your journey through Turkey truly unforgettable. I love nothing more than sharing a fresh perspective on ancient worlds and introducing you to the authentic, living culture of my homeland.

Discover Ancient Turkey with Custom Private Turkey Tours

Every traveler is unique, and your trip to Turkey should be too. My expert-led private tours, deep-dive study journeys, and biblical tours are fully customized to blend archaeology with your personal passions. I don’t just take you to the famous sites; I bypass the long museum lines and connect you directly with local communities and the living history of this incredible country. From solo history buffs to families seeking comfort and depth, I design tailor-made experiences that resonate long after you return home.

What Makes Our Journeys Special?

Authentic Cultural Connections, Not Just Landmarks

Tours blend academic archaeology with local culture by visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites, staying at family-run boutique hotels, dining at insider-recommended restaurants, and engaging with artisans.

Archaeological Expertise: Uncover Turkey’s ancient marvels with local archaeologist and licensed tour guide.

Tailor-Made Private Turkey Tours: We offer multi-day touring with well-planned itineraries that are efficient and allow for cultural experiences. We skip the bustle and avoid the rushed stops in pursuit of more meaningful encounters.

More than a tour: Explore beyond the typical ruins through the lens of the local culture, enjoying local cuisine and accommodations at family–run boutique hotels. Let us help you plan a truly remarkable Turkish odyssey.

Authentic Dining: No tourist traps. Handpicked local restaurants with vegetarian/vegan options

Turkey private tours reviews

*We spent 12 days touring western Turkey with Aykut and it was a wonderful experience. Aykut is extremely well informed and professional. He put together a special itinerary that includes all of the best sites and museums in Turkey. As we had asked, we stayed in family-run hotels in central locations and enjoyed the best of Turkish food. He didn’t just offer us a tour; he gave us a new way of looking at history. Dr. Anish K., Singapore

*I recently had the pleasure of joining a tour led by archaeologist Aykut and it was unforgettable. His deep knowledge of the region’s ancient civilizations brought each ruin to life. The tour was well-organized, with a perfect balance of guided exploration and free time to wander. I highly recommend a tour with archaeologist Aykut to anyone interested in history and culture. The Miller Family, USA

Turkey Travel Guide: https://goturkiye.com/

REVIEWS

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 86 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   charles borg 
 
 
 
 Verified 20 idyllic days touring Turkey.
Over 20 days with Aykut and his driver Dursa Ali opened many doors to far more than the typical big 5 or 10 of Turkey's archaeological treasures. The Gulet trip and related shore doors were very special as were the "special events" Aykut offered up as the tour progressed. As we were a family of 6 and the tour covered thousands of kilometers, safety was a high priority. I must commend Aykut and his driver for their adherence to safe driving protocols at all times. Our guide often went over and above the typical guide duties and even worked through the nite to recover a lost iPhone from one visit sites visited earlier in the day.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Loloma D 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing Turkiye Sojourn
My wife and I recently undertook a 13 day tour of southern Turkye with Aykut. We were originally going to join an organised tour but found him on this site and decided he could offer the ideal tour including all places we especially wanted to see. We flew in from Barcelona and he met us at the Izmir airport and we began a truly memorable trip of a lifetime. We are not archeologists nor historians. We are just two people who wanted to see the many ancient sites and beautiful beaches in the area. Our bonus with Aykut was his tremendous knowledge and enthusiasm which opened up the experience for us. Accommodation was always clean, small boutique style hotels, 3 to 4 star equivalent, offering great Turkish breakfasts and we opted to have a number of other meals in Aykut's company and his knowledge of local restaurants was of significant benefit. My wife is 65 and I am 73 with a history of bowel cancer so the need to have access to facilities was a factor in our choosing a private tour over group travel and Aykut took this into account with the regular stops in his itinerary. All in all the tour cost was less than a group tour and very much more comfortable and informative than a group tour would ever have been. I have no hesitation in recommending Aykut to anyone who wants a great, independent and very informative trip through Turkiye's amazing ancient sites.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   gheffner 
 
 
 
 Verified Excellent Tour!
My wife and I traveled to Turkey for the first time in April. We were a bit weary about our inability to read the signs that were in Turkey as well as driving in a foreign land. Aykut was recommended by my brother-in-law Glenn Carberry (the Travelin American). We contacted him about the trip a few weeks beforehand. He responded promptly and provided us with a lot of excellent suggestions as well as a written itinerary and pricing. We flew from Istanbul to Izmir where he met us and picked us up right at the airport. For the next 5 days, he took us everywhere we wanted to go. He shared his excellent historical knowledge guiding us through each of the sites, but also made sure we had enough free time to enjoy on our own. He recommended hotels and restaurants that were good choices. He was always prompt and courteous as well as a good driver. We saw much more than we would’ve without him. If you want to learn a lot about Turkey and have safety and security on your trip, Aykut is an excellent choice.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Jen D 
 
 
 
 Verified Excellet trip to Sagalassos
Aykut is a consummate professional and a wealth of archeological knowledge. We did a day trip to Sagalassos from Antalya and it was enriched with Aykut as our guide to the ruins. He is patient, friendly, and clearly passionate about Turkey's history. He even helped us choose a delicious place for lunch. You cannot go wrong with him as your guide. A top highlight of our trip to Turkey!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Etienne 
 
 
 
 Verified Excellent private guide
Aykut is very knowledgeable and accommodating. One of the best guide experiences I've had and would recommend having him as a guide!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Andrew Lim 
 
 
 
 Verified Excellent Tour to Pammukkale due to the exceptional Tour Guide Aykut
Went on a private tour to Pamukkale on 16 November 2019 with Aykut as the Tour Guide. Hee was very informative in telling us on the things to see and the history behind the tourist sites being visited. Additionally, he also told us of the attractions in the other parts of Turkey since he is also a tour guide for the whole of Turkey. This prepares us very well in our next stops in Epphesus and Cappodocia. He also told us what to expect during our tour in Turkey. I would highly recommend any person who needs to tour Turkey to contact Aykut immeidately in order to have a very memorable tour which will exceed your expectations.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Lynette Townrow and Wayne Warring 
 
 
 
 Verified Classics of Turkey tour.
We cant say enough about the er at wonderful knowledge, kindness, and professionalism shown by Aykut, our guide on this tour. His historical knowledge was wonderful and he was happy to share it with us and answer our many questions. He organized an endless supply of bottled at very little cost, helped us to use the ATM at our request, assisted us with carrying parcels, and helped with language difficulties. The only negative on the whole tour was a small group of negative fellow travellers who never stopped complaining and made Aykuts life very difficult. We really felt it was totally undeserved, and disrespectful. Thankyou Aykut. Lynette Townrow and Wayne Warring from New Zealand.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Philip B 
 
 
 
 Verified Perge and Aspendos.
Spent a brilliant day with Aykut touring Perge and Aspendos. He was very accommodating and the tour was rich and interesting. I would highly recommend a tour with this knowledgeable local historian.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Saminsing 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing Day with Aykut Perge, Aspendos & Side
My husband and I were lucky to find Aykut on Trip Advisor at the last minute for a next day Tour of Perge, Aspendos and Side. He was flexible in adapting to our interests and provided a wonderful day. Aykut’s knowledge and high energy delivery is impeccable. He went above and beyond continuing to stay in touch during our following week in Turkey, providing invaluable tips on places to visit (or avoid) from ruins to restaurants and local food! We discovered manti (Turkish ravioli) and our favorite salad thanks to him! Would highly recommend a day with Aykut.

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Turkey Tours with local Archaeologist

TRIP ADVISOR REVIEWS