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Berat Ornek

Having worked in the museum sector for quite some time, I have honed my skills in creating valuable experiences for visitors who want to explore a new collection of artifacts, a cultural site or a yet-to-be-seen urban landscape. At Trail Travel, I am interested in creating stories that make travelers enjoy their visit to Turkey, by integrating different elements of cultural heritage in Turkey, gastronomic explorations, and custom-made routes that respond to the needs of customers.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"At Trail Travel, we specialize in adventure traveling, tailor-made tours on the cultural landscape of Turkey, and creating meaningful experiences for travelers. We are the right company to choose for anyone who'd like to see Turkey with a team that ensures quality, excellence and expertise. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"During my MA studies in Archaeology and History of Art, I had the opportunity of touring around Turkey with knowledgable art historians. During that time I was lucky enough to see excavation sites, out of the ordinary places that made me realize I'd like people all around the world to see and appreciate the beauty of Turkey. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I will never forget the first time I saw a Hittite monument called Eflatunpınar, near Beyşehir in Turkey, on an off-track road that one wouldn't expect to find something historically amazing. Eflatunpınar dates back to the 13th century BC, and is a rectangular shaped pond fed with the waters from a nearby spring. I remember that the sound of water that was still running from the same source since centuries, the quiet and serenity of the site filled me with a sense of peace and awe at the same time. Turkey is a country filled with these kind of special gems in unassuming places. You just need fresh eyes to appreciate the things you see and let yourself be surprised. "

Berat is part of the following groups: Turkey Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Berat

Such an extraordinary trip....
Turkey | May 4 - May 12, 2024

J
Jacqueline M.
Singapore | Reviewed on May 14, 2024

Such an extraordinary trip made possible by our local specialist, Berat - who was exceptionally flexible to our changing needs. Thank you Berat.

Our guides Betul, Ozan and Sumer were knowledgeable of the areas, with interesting suggestions and anecdote stories to delight. They ensured the trip was comfortable, exciting and catered to our needs. Thank you.

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on May 15, 2024

Dear Jacqueline,

Many thanks for your review! We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your trip with us.
Thanks for choosing us as your travel companion.

Kind regards,
Berat

Beautiful Turkiye - Exploring the beauty of Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale
Turkey | May 4 - May 12, 2024

A
Alicia G.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on May 13, 2024
Dear Berat, Sumer Sumerli, Ozan, Betul, and the wonderful team of drivers! I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the absolutely incredible trip my companions and I experienced under your guidance. Each of you played an integral role in making our journey through Turkey an unforgettable adventure filled with awe-inspiring sights, rich history, and cherished memories. Sumer Sumerli, your expertise and passion for Cappadocia truly shone through as you led us through... Read more

Dear Berat, Sumer Sumerli, Ozan, Betul, and the wonderful team of drivers!

I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the absolutely incredible trip my companions and I experienced under your guidance. Each of you played an integral role in making our journey through Turkey an unforgettable adventure filled with awe-inspiring sights, rich history, and cherished memories.

Sumer Sumerli, your expertise and passion for Cappadocia truly shone through as you led us through the enchanting valleys and museums. Your knowledge and enthusiasm illuminated every corner, allowing us to immerse ourselves fully in the beauty of the region.

Ozan, your dedication and warmth touched our hearts during our exploration of Sirince, Ephesus, Pamukkale, and Hierapolis. Your meticulous planning and eagerness to share your wisdom enriched our experience beyond measure. Your efforts to arrange for a priest to bless our spring water reflected your exceptional care and attention to detail, for which we are profoundly grateful.

Betul, your impeccable organization and flexibility ensured that our time in Istanbul was both efficient and enjoyable. Your ability to keep us on track while accommodating our desire to savor every moment of the city's beauty and history was truly remarkable.

To all the drivers whose names I didn't capture, please accept my heartfelt thanks for your professionalism, accommodation, and, above all, your commitment to our safety throughout our journey. Your efforts did not go unnoticed, and we are deeply appreciative of the role you played in making our trip seamless and secure.

And finally, Berat, your patience, expertise, and unwavering dedication were instrumental in crafting the perfect itinerary for us. Your attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our trip exceeded our expectations did not go unnoticed. We are endlessly grateful for your guidance and support throughout the planning process and during our travels.

In conclusion, I cannot thank each of you enough for your contributions to what was undoubtedly the most extraordinary trip of our lives. Your passion, professionalism, and kindness have left an indelible mark on our hearts, and we will forever cherish the memories we made under your care.

Thank you all so much!

Alicia Gonsalvez

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on May 13, 2024

Dear Alicia,

Thank you SO much for this lovely review. I'll forward this to our team for sure - we thank you for the recognition of the hard work we put into the trips we organize and are very happy to hear you had a great time in Turkey.

Thanks for choosing us as your travel companion and we look forward to hosting you again soon!
Best regards,
Berat

We had a fantastic ten days in Turkey. All o...
Turkey | May 1 - May 10, 2024

A
Alex P.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on May 13, 2024

We had a fantastic ten days in Turkey. All of the hotels and transfers that Berat organized for us were great, and she gave us excellent advice regarding where to go to maximize the time we had. Our guides (Betul in Istanbul, Ozan in Ephesus, and Hatice in Ushisar) were wonderful. The highlight of the trip was certainly Cappadocia, and Berat's suggestion to stay in Uchisar, not Goreme, was spot-on.

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on May 13, 2024

Dear Alex,

Many thanks for your positive review. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your trip with us and we thank you for choosing us as your travel companion in Turkey!

Kind regards and all the best from our team,
Berat

An absolutely amazing experience - couldn't be better
Turkey | May 1 - May 10, 2024

Elena
Elena I.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on May 12, 2024
I would like to give 5 star + review for the KimKim agency for our recent nine day trip in Turkey. Prior to booking this trip I have engaged several travel agencies; the experience with Kim Kim was markedly different. I am particularly grateful to Berat, our local specialist. Before I booked this trip, Berat worked diligently and tirelessly with me to figure out our itinerary, lodging, excursions, flights, transfers etc. This is A LOT of work which differentiated Barat from other travel... Read more

I would like to give 5 star + review for the KimKim agency for our recent nine day trip in Turkey. Prior to booking this trip I have engaged several travel agencies; the experience with Kim Kim was markedly different. I am particularly grateful to Berat, our local specialist. Before I booked this trip, Berat worked diligently and tirelessly with me to figure out our itinerary, lodging, excursions, flights, transfers etc. This is A LOT of work which differentiated Barat from other travel agents I was communicating with. The trip was absolutely fabulous. Everything went as planned, there were no any issues. We liked all the hotels; our guides were personally pleasant and very knowledgeable, all car transfers were on time, the were no issues whatsoever with any of the airline flights booked by Kim Kim. During the itinerary planning process, I had some ideas but Berat also had suggestions and I'm very happy that I took her suggestions because they were absolutely fabulous. She really knows what she is doing and can go out of her way to make things happen.
I can highly recommend Kim Kim and Berat in particular, it is a great value for money.

Hotel Reviews
Sirkeci Mansion Hotel
Istanbul

Very good experience, nice room and outstanding service

Authenticity & Character
Location
Couldn't be better
Staff
The staff was very helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was super clean, well updated every day, the breakfast is very good
Millstone Cave Suites

This is a highly recommended hotel. The location is absolutely perfect with amazing views on the valley and the hot air balloons. The hotel had one of the best breakfast I ever had

Authenticity & Character
Our room had a great character, was very comfortable and clean
Location
Very convenient location, amazing views from the hotel
Staff
The staff was attentive and accommodated all our requests
Cleanliness & Comfort
The place is spotless clean and extremely well maintained
The Bank Hotel
Istanbul

The hotel is very conveniently located, very close to restaurants and other attractions, the staff was very helpful and accommodating

Authenticity & Character
This is an old 19 century building, well updated and has a Victorian Era charm
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Gullu Konaklari Sirince
Izmir

The hotel and the grounds looked very nice. Unfortunately, we had very limited time staying there. I wish we would spend more time and look around

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum + House of Virgin Mary
Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum + House of Virgin Mary
Turkey
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
İstanbul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys
Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys
Cappadocia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul
Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul
İstanbul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
İstanbul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus
Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus
Turkey

This place is a must. It is an amazing experience and our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the region and was showing us things that we would otherwise miss

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ozan is absolutely amazing guide
Kaymaklı Underground City + Light Hiking at Ihlara Valley + Selime Monastery
Kaymaklı Underground City + Light Hiking at Ihlara Valley + Selime Monastery
Cappadocia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)
Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)
Cappadocia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Avanos: Discovering the Ceramic Tradition and Light hiking in the Love Valley
Avanos: Discovering the Ceramic Tradition and Light hiking in the Love Valley
Cappadocia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on May 12, 2024

Dear Elena,
Thank you for this detailed review!
We are very happy to hear you had a positive experience in our beautiful country. Thank you very much for choosing us and for taking the time to write this review - much appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you again in the near future.
All best regards on behalf of Trail Travel team,
Berat

The itinerary was well thought out , allowed ...
Turkey | Mar 11 - Mar 25, 2024

Lilian
Lilian T.
Singapore | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2024

The itinerary was well thought out , allowed us to have diff experience and cuisine.

Traveling was painless and the guides were very helpful and attentive to our needs and requests .

Berat has done an amazing job !

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Apr 07, 2024

Dear Lilian,
Thanks so much for your review - we deeply appreciate it! We are happy to hear you had a great trip in Turkey. We look forward to hosting you again soon.
All best regards on behalf of Trail Travel team,
Berat

Seamless and extraordinary Private Tour Turkey
Turkey | Feb 29 - Mar 9, 2024

Armando
Armando T.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Mar 10, 2024
With limited time and intervention from our part, Berat created a private tour and executed seamless for us, she listened to our preferences and we had a 9 days terrific experience, with little to no concern at all. The guides across Turkey were knowledgeable and were able to put in context all the points of interest we visited or we asked about it. The transportation was better than expected, the hotels were of good value, but the tour guides were the ones tha made the difference, thanks... Read more

With limited time and intervention from our part, Berat created a private tour and executed seamless for us, she listened to our preferences and we had a 9 days terrific experience, with little to no concern at all. The guides across Turkey were knowledgeable and were able to put in context all the points of interest we visited or we asked about it. The transportation was better than expected, the hotels were of good value, but the tour guides were the ones tha made the difference, thanks Vulkan - Istanbul; Irfan - Capadoccia and Hita in Sirince & Pamukkale. This was my first experience with Kim Kim, for sure is just the beginning.

Hotel Reviews
Dosso Dossi Hotel Old City

Not a great value, is the only location that I would not repeat.

Authenticity & Character
Not impressed
Location
Location is the only good part of hotel
Staff
I mentioned a terrible noise in the room. From the moment we arrived and we had to have a bad night to make a room change.
Cleanliness & Comfort
There are better options in the surroundings
Kale Konak Hotel

Location, uniqueness of the hotel, breakfast quality and service staff, good value hotel

Authenticity & Character
What better than a hotel in caves.
Location
A few meters from the Palace.
Staff
Personable and help
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nisanyan Houses
Selçuk

Not easy to get in, but the hotel is a gem, the rooms, furniture and views makes this a very likable hotel, romantic with excellent food especially dinner and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Just keep in mind no wheelchair or persons with limited mobility.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Signature Hotel & Spa

Nicely located, modern construction, nicely done. Rooms could be a bit noisy, food just average. Very good spa and massages.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ansen Suites
Istanbul

Location is great, room is ample and comfortable. The day left there was no electricity and elevator not working, had to bring down baggage’s on my own.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Not much contact with them or even necessary
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
İstanbul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Mar 12, 2024

Dear Armando,
Thank you for this great + detailed review! We are very happy to hear you had a positive experience in our beautiful country. Thank you very much for choosing us and for taking the time to write this review - much appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you again in the near future.
All best regards on behalf of Trail Travel team,
Berat

Excellent guides in Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Ephesus.
Turkey | Dec 26 - Jan 5, 2024

M
Mike G.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Jan 06, 2024

Our guides Volcan and Hattice were superb. History, culture, sightseeing, and cuisine were all very well explained and experienced.

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Jan 09, 2024

Dear Mike,
Thank you for this wonderful review!
We are very happy to hear you had a positive experience in our beautiful country. Thank you very much for choosing us and for taking the time to write this review.

All best regards on behalf of Trail Travel team,
Berat

Great highlights tour of Turkey - Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus
Turkey | Dec 26 - Jan 5, 2024

Elizabeth
Elizabeth C.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jan 06, 2024
We had a fantastic 10 day trip to Turkey seeing the highlights in Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus/Sirince. We loved our guide in Istanbul, Volkan, and the sights were amazing; Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, the Cistern, and the Bosphorous cruise. The hotel in Old Town was excellent! Cappadocia lived up to the hype with the amazing hot air balloon ride, cave frescoes, and exploring the valleys. Staying in a cave hotel was a unique experience! Our guide Hattice was excellent with our son!... Read more

We had a fantastic 10 day trip to Turkey seeing the highlights in Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus/Sirince. We loved our guide in Istanbul, Volkan, and the sights were amazing; Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, the Cistern, and the Bosphorous cruise. The hotel in Old Town was excellent! Cappadocia lived up to the hype with the amazing hot air balloon ride, cave frescoes, and exploring the valleys. Staying in a cave hotel was a unique experience! Our guide Hattice was excellent with our son! Ephesus was amazing and we enjoyed exploring the town of Sirince. The boutique hotel on the hillside over Sirince was so traditional and the restaurant was amazing. We enjoyed the cooking class we did with the chef!

Hotel Reviews
Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul, Curio Collection by Hilton
Fatih Istanbul

Absolutely beautiful, great location, fantastic breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nisanyan Houses
Selçuk

Very unique boutique hotel obviously built with love and run by excellent staff. The terrace house was beautiful, and the tower house 3 room was fine, a little small for 3 people. There was a lot of work being done around the property given that it was the off season. Restaurant was amazing and the cooking class was a lot of fun! The hotel is not meant for people who don't like cobblestones or stairs.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kale Konak Hotel

Such a unique experience, staff did an excellent job mitigating some cleanliness concerns in one of the rooms, rooms are dark but that is to be expected, hotel facilities are very nice (Turkish bath, terrace). Some minor flaws, nail in the wood on the bed sticking out, dogs were somewhat agressive coming in late at night, dirt from the cave ceiling falling down).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cleanliness issues caused by the cave environment
Activity Reviews
Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul
Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul
İstanbul

A must do in Istanbul.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Saruhan Caravansarai
Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Saruhan Caravansarai
Turkey

Very authentic

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hattice was wonderful to keep Connor during the experience.
Transport
Avanos: Discovering the Ceramic Tradition and Light hiking in the Love Valley
Avanos: Discovering the Ceramic Tradition and Light hiking in the Love Valley
Cappadocia

We enjoyed the Ceramics experience; amazing work and it was fun that Connor got to try it. We did not do the hiking in the Love Valley due to timing and physical constraints.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul
İstanbul

Excellent overview of Istanbul and you hit the high points of the Old Town!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Volkan was an excellent guide!
Transport
Istanbul Archaeological Museum Tour
Istanbul Archaeological Museum Tour
İstanbul

Surprisingly good for kids.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise
Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise
Cappadocia

Flawless - must do

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys
Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys
Cappadocia

Beautiful

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Sinasos: The Pearl of the East
Explore Sinasos: The Pearl of the East
Cappadocia

I didn't really find this worthwhile. We only visited the church and it didn't seem particularly special.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kaymaklı Underground City
Kaymaklı Underground City
Cappadocia

Amazing

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
İstanbul

Very interesting experience and the boat was great!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discovering the Ihlara Valley and Light Hiking Along the Melendiz River
Discovering the Ihlara Valley and Light Hiking Along the Melendiz River
Cappadocia

Beautiful and great speed for my in-laws. The stop for pancakes along the river was fun.

Quality of Experience
O
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Food Tour in Istanbul
Food Tour in Istanbul
İstanbul

Would recommend doing this earlier in the trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus
Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus
Turkey

Can't miss.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)
Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)
Cappadocia

Amazing - recommend including visiting the Dark Church in the price

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wine Pairing Dinner at Revithia Cappadocia
Wine Pairing Dinner at Revithia Cappadocia
Cappadocia

Very nice, only snafu was over who was paying for it, but it was worked out.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum + House of Virgin Mary
Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum + House of Virgin Mary
Turkey
Quality of Experience
O
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Jan 06, 2024

Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you for this detailed review!
We are very happy to hear you had a positive experience in our beautiful country. Thank you very much for choosing us and for taking the time to write this review - much appreciated. We'll sure take into account all the valuable feedback you provided.
It was also so nice to meet you and your family in person!
All best regards on behalf of Trail Travel team,
Berat

Travel planning at its best!!
Turkey | Nov 17 - Nov 27, 2023

Hector
Hector M.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Dec 13, 2023

Travel planning at its best!!

Very happy with Berat and his group. The guides; Volkan and Hatice were incredible!!!! The drivers very professional, courteous and safe driving.

We are extremely pleased with the itinerary, guides, places we visited, communication. If I was to do it all over again, I would not do it any other way!! Berat and her team did a marvelous job!!

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Dec 14, 2023

Dear Hector,
Thanks so much for your review - we deeply appreciate it! We are happy to hear you had a great trip in Turkey. We look forward to hosting you again soon.
All best regards on behalf of Trail Travel team,
Berat

Great trip!
Turkey | Nov 17 - Nov 27, 2023

Gabriela
Gabriela G.
Houston, TX | Reviewed on Dec 13, 2023

Travel planning at its best!!

Very happy with Berat and his group. The guides; Volkan and Hatice were incredible!!!! The drivers very professional, courteous and safe driving.

We are extremely pleased with the itinerary, guides, places we visited, communication. If I was to do it all over again, I would not do it any other way!! Berat and her team did a marvelous job!!

Local specialist: Berat Ornek
Berat
Berat Ornek
Local specialist in Turkey | Replied on Dec 13, 2023

Dear Gabriela,

Thank you for this wonderful review!
We are very happy to hear you had a positive experience in our beautiful country. Thank you very much for choosing us and for taking the time to write this review - much appreciated.
We look forward to welcoming you again in the near future.
All best regards on behalf of Trail Travel team,
Berat