Matiana Travel Turkey :: Luxury Travel Services :: Travel Agency Turkey :: Travel Turkey

Footsteps of Legends

2011-08-17T13:27:00.002+03:00

Matiana Travel invites you to follow the footsteps of legendary people in Anatolia, walk in the same paths they had walked and see what they had seen....

Alexander the Great

He had his aim, to reach the “ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea” and marched on the world to get it. He is the father of Hellenism, stretched between Ionia to Himalaya’s. His courage, intelligence and desire made him one of the endless resources of art and inspiration for many world leaders. The world was not sufficient for him and now his legend is still living among us and makes him immortal...

St. Paul

Earth is the biggest temple for God and from the beginning, we all seek his existence. But some of us reach out a different recognition and try to call people to follow them in their path to reach the Lord. St. Paul is one of those who born in Anatolia and travelled to change the world to a better place. He lost his life on that way but his words are still echoes in the crowds...

Mimar Sinan

He was the king of domes and minarets in Ottoman period and even today, his amazing structures are standing for revisiting. Before he close his eyes to this world, he had built 92 mosques, 52 small mosques , 55 madrasah , 7 darul-kurra (special madrasah for Kur’an reading), 20 tomb, 17 alms houses, 3 hospitals, 6 aqueducts , 10 bridges, 20 caravanserai , 36 palaces, 8 cellar and 48 Turkish baths.

Why Private Tour?

2011-08-17T13:26:00.000+03:00

This is the essential question for all guests. Why? Private tours are expensive then group tours, even they do the same programs why you should spent more? Those are very logical questions you should ask but you must continue to asking those type of questions and find out if you need private tour or not?

What if you want to spent 5 minutes more in some places, will you be able to do it?
What if you change your mind and want to see something else, is it possible to re-shape tour?
Is it possible to start and end up your tour as you wish?
Is it possible to add new places along your route?
Is it possible to have not regular lunch but special one?
Is it possible to skip the place that you didn’t want to see?
Is it possible to drop you off in a place where you want?
Is it possible to ask as much as you can to your guide and speak about some places as much as you want?

Answers of those questions will let you the chose the best for yourself. Vacations are generally once in a year rewards and it must be the best time of the year...

New York Times Travel Show

2011-02-02T11:02:00.009+02:00

Matiana Travel Team will participate in New York Times Travel Show that is held between 25th to 27th February in Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York (655W 34th Street). We will be deligthed to see you in our boothnumber 466, opposite of the Turkey Stand.

New York Times Travel Show

2011-02-02T10:58:00.003+02:00

Istanbul Shopping Fest

2011-02-02T10:56:00.003+02:00

Istanbul Shopping Fest, is an annual festival of shopping, culture and entertainment which will be between March 18 and April 26 2011 lasting for 40 daysThis period also includes Passover, Easter and Newroz feasts celebrated in neighbouring countries and in Turkey.

Istanbul Shopping Fest will welcome thousands of visitors during the festival with activities all around the city, shopping malls and stores, as well as grand opening and closing ceremonies. Istanbul will become the one and only entertainment center of its region for 40 days with various street carnival groups, concerts, toys and games for children, parties, contests, fashion shows and performances.

The goal is to bring shopping and entertainment together by offering tourists and İstanbul shoppers advantegous shopping opportunities in a non-sale season. Istanbul Shopping Fest aims to create attraction to bring 1.5 million tourists in 2015 to İstanbul and by doing so, to contribute to the target of “10 million tourists in 2015”.

Click details; http://www.istanbulshoppingfest.org

Some of Our Testimonials

2010-05-06T16:17:00.020+03:00

Mr. Ufuk,

We thank you for the excellent job during our travel to Istanbul/Izmir. The outstanding guides you selected (Neslie and Ender) made our time well used and their tips for shopping and dinning were great. The selected hotels were at a convenient short walk to shops, restaurants and so on and reached our expectations. If anyone asks me, I’ll tell them to have Matiana’s assistance while visiting Turkey! By now, goodbye… I think we’ll meet again very soon.
Márcia & Paulo Tominaga
December 2010

Dear Ufuk,
We wish to thank you and Matiana Travel for enabling our stay in Turkey to be so memorable. From the greeting at Cairo Airport to seeing us on to the bus at Antakya to travel to Aleppo, the organization and execution were excellent. Nothing was too much trouble for our drivers and guides. The accommodation was generally very good, food very good and we were not expected to start too early in the mornings. We would particularly like to thank our excellent driver, Ibrahim. He is such a good driver and always so considerate. A real gentleman. Yeliz, our first guide was very obliging and filled our minds with lots of information in addition to answering our many questions. She was delightful. Gonja was good fun and helpful. We thought Hakkim in Antalya, was especially good and we were sorry to only spend one day with him. Your office in Goreme easily changed our arrangements from a night in Konya to Antakya. It was so much easier than we expected that we have decided travelling with a driver is the way to go in future. Thank you again for all your work and could you please ensure the enclosed photos reach the subjects with a big thank you to them all.
Regards
Lym and Ken Fraser
December 2010

Dear Owner of Matiana Travels,
We are very pleased with our travel arrangement via your company. We have Ozlem to thank for this as she worked very speedily and effectively at a very tight deadline. In addition, the tour guides in Istanbul and Cappadocia, Belgin and Ramazan (I hope I have got the names correctly) were professional in their work, experienced and gave us very good insight into your country's rich culture, both past and present. The meals were delicious and choice of hotels were excellent. We did not know what to expect when we came but now that we have been there, we know that we will be back to explore other parts of Turkey.
As a testimony to your good service, I have spoken to Ozlem and am recommending a good friend of ours to your company. We hope you will take care of her as you did us.
All the best to you and your company.
Best Regards,
Mrs Arvind MathurAnyway
Novemver 2010

Dear Ozlem,
We had such a wonderful experience in Cappadocia, thanks to you and your colleagues. It was beyond our expectations. We have been telling our family and friends about it and of course sharing how delighted we are with Matiana services. Regards,
Sophia Bate
Novemver 2010

Dear Ufuk,
Today is my last day in Cappadocia..in a few minutes I'm going to Istanbul to stay one more day and them I'm going to Rome and finally I'm going back to Rio.
t was a very nice trip, but Turkey was a special chapter in my trip! The little piece of the country (Istanbul + Capadocia) was enough to show me how is fascinating your people and culture. Here in Cappadocia we've a great time… including the 1st Balloon flight...it's very peaceful in the air...it's a little bit hard to describe in a few words. I met a lot of nice people here and for sure some of them will be present in mind for a long time and in my pictures for the rest of photo memory! Thanks a lot to help me in this trip!
The Museum Hotel is more then perfect.. it's a little piece of the paradise.. I travelled for a long time, for my luck I'd opportunity to stay in some top hotels, but I can assure that's in one of my favorites..it's very charming and the people .. specially in the restaurant are very polite and friendlily.. and of course very professional.. the Maitre has a very good energy and do the same with his team!
Thanks again I hope to see you in Rio some day!
PS: Ms Ozlem thanks for your support! The Dervishes was very nice!
Marcelo Portella
November 2010

Dear Mr. Ufuk,
Anyway I'm back from vacation. I'd like to thank you the attention and affection that my husband and I had of the entire staff of Matiana when our visit to Turkey. Everything was perfect on our stay. I'm sure we will make a good partnership going forward. Thanks again and see you soon.
Best Regards,
Lucia / Rodolpho
October 2010

Thank you for your offer of assistance. We had a wonderful time and will be sure to use Matiana on our next trip to Istanbul.
Jane and Mel
October 2010

Dear Ramazan,
I just arrived home from our wonderful trip through Greece and Turkey and wanted to drop you an email while the trip was still fresh in my memory. Our time in Cappadocia was outstanding thanks to your company and our guide, Ramazan. From the time we landed on Tuesday morning until the time we left Friday morning the efficiency of your company and the knowledge and helpfulness of Ramazan, made our trip a memorable one. Ramazan imparted his love of the area to us and made Cappadocia come alive.
Joy Licht
October 2010

Dear Ms. Mutlu,
My wife and I would like to start this email with the biggest TESEKKUR EDERIZ we can send to your company and to you personally for the attention and care in the delivery of the tour we contracted with your company. We specially want to thank you for making yourself available to us anytime ( day or night ) before and during the tour.

We had an absolutely fabulous time and the tour went without a hitch. We were specially pleased with our tour guide, Mr. Ibrahim and with our driver, Mr. Mikail (spelling?!). Sorry for not retaining their last names, however, we bonded so well during our trip that we were simply on a first name basis, just like old friends.

Our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable, very tunned into our needs and wants and always informative with an extreme sense of humor and care. He loves his job and it shows. He is passionate, well informed, sensitive to every client need and extremely supportive. Mr. Ibrahim's English is impeccable and his delivery is very amusing, while very informative. He chose some outstanding local restaurants for our lunches and gave us excellent recommendations for dinner. Our only complaint is that we sample so many of the authentic dishes of Turkey that we gained some weight.

Our driver was polite, attentive and excellent driver with safety in mind at all times. He anticipated when and where he needed to pick us up during various parts of our tour and throughout the day, always attempted to park the vehicle in the shade and have it ready for us with air conditioning so that we can board it in comfort.

We are already missing being with both our tour guide and our driver.
While the tour composition and length, the sites visited, the restaurant selection and the food, the tour guide and driver were excellent and exceeded our expectation. We believe the hotel is in an excellent location and is in the process of becoming an excellent boutique hotel. We found the personnel to be very carrying, attentive to our needs and very prompt in fixing items needed to be fix or helping us with the various questions and requests. Thank you again for the room upgrade - we received a mini suite that had a terrace with a great view and all the space and comforts anyone may require.

Once again, our many thanks for an excellent vacation. We thank Matiana Travel and to you personally for an outstanding tour and excellent value. We will refer you and Matiana to all our relatives and friends, who may be interested in touring Turkey and specially Cappadocia region and would be glad to serve as reference.

Best wishes to you and all at Matiana Travel,
Cornell Teoman,
September 2010

Dear Ufuk,
If I never told you – they had a fabulous time!! They liked everything you do – so congratulations!!
Diane Myers, Universal Travel/American Express
September 2010

Dear Ozlem,
Thank you so much in helping to make this such a special trip. The Museum Hotel exceeded our expectations. The rooms were exceptional as was the staff.
My husband and son enjoyed the hot air balloon ride, it was the highlight of their trip. The Cappadocia Complete tour was very professionally done. Our guide was patient and knowledgeable and spent much more time with us than we had anticipated. The whirling dervishes were a unique experience, glad we had the opportunity to see them in such a beautiful setting. The car rental afforded us some freedom to explore this region on our own. I would not hesitate to recommend Matiana, specifically to utilize your service at the agency. You helped to make our trip most memorable.
Thanks again,
Randi Pellmar
September 2010

Dear Ufuk,
I'm finally back home after a wonderful time in Europe. I need to say that we had a great experience in Turkey which is a beautiful country with very nice people. My husband and I enjoyed very much. Cem was exceptional and we had a nice day with him we were able to visit all the highlights and did a lot of things for one day! Thank you for your help and I’m sure I'll recommend your services to my friends. Turkey is now very popular in Brazil.
Kind Regards,
Carolina Opice, International Products Manager / HSBC Global Asset Management
September 2010

Dear Ufuk,
From the bottom of all 4 Fretz's hearts, we'd like to thank you for organizing the best trip that our family has ever taken. Eric and I started bringing the girls traveling when they were little because we wanted them to see that our world is full of different people, different ideas and cultures, yet we are all the same. Turkey was the epitome of diversity of culture, geography, sophistication and tolerance. The people were so friendly and proud of their country. We had such a wonderful time.
Matiana Travel made the trip effortless and seamless. The drivers were great, the guides excellent. In Cappadocia, I could have listened to Ali for weeks - he was such a wealth of knowledge- an historian, linguist, and philosopher- it was like taking a university course. We all had a special love for Cem because he was so friendly, eager and knowledgable.
Your choice of hotels was impeccable- I am very choosy- and I am happy to say that we share the same taste in accommodation! The highlights were the Museum Hotel (of course), the Manastir Hotel (they were so friendly and hospitable and the pool in the courtyard was idyllic), and the charming place in Sirince.
I would have changed nothing (other than stay longer and see more parts of your country.....but that is for next time....and I promise there will be a next time). I passed on your name/email/website to others already, so hopefully more Canadians will be coming your way.
Best to you and everybody at Matiana.
Michele Fretz
September 2010

Hello Ilke,
I want to thank you and Ufuk for our wonderful family trip to Turkey. The guides were wonderful, the history and ruins are amazing, the Turkish people were friendly and we loved the food. We were fortunate to have found a wonderful Turkish folk music café that we returned to the following night. The musicians, the singer and the audience who danced Turkish folk dances were enchanting. Unfortunately, we did not have time to travel to other parts of the country. Maybe next time. Regards,
Gail Auster
August 2010

Ozlem,
Thank you so much for your help with our trip! We had a wonderful time and hope to return again.
Kind Regards,
Dayne
August 2010

Omer and Ali,
Thank you much for your wonderful hospitality. Between you (Matiana Travel & Museum Hotel) and the Four Seasons we were able to see what a wonderful country you have, what brilliant, intelligent, hard working and kind people you have and how Turkey is poised for great success as the bridge between east and west…
Thanks,
Lisa and Candace
July 2010

Ibrahim was our guide while in Cappadocia. To say the least, he was one of the most genuine, nicest and knowledgeable guide I have had in a long time. We learned a lot from him and our 3 year old son, Kai, was treated by Ibrahim almost like his own son, playing, and carrying him all around. To this day, he remembers Ibrahim and mentions him every time we talk about Turkey and our great time there. Thank you Ibrahim!
William, Nancy, Kai Gaultier
July 2010

Dear Ozlem,
We would like to give you a feedback of Matiana's service, specifically our tourguide (Ibrahim) and the driver (captain - sorry we don't remember his name, but Ibrahim called him like that).
We have already travelled some times with private tourguides, but this was by far the best tourguide we ever had. Ibrahim is very well prepared. He knows everything about the sights we visited, local habits, cultures and 100 other things we would never find on guidebooks. Besides that, he also knows how to entertain and please his clients. Always pleased to help and give instructions. (Not to mention his English is much better than ours).
Captain (our driver) was also very kind, driving us safely all over Capadocia, inclusively picking us up for one day (off his working hours).
We can't forget also to mention the Chef from Museum Hotel’s Restaurant and his staff. They were very nice and made huge efforts to teach us some traditional ottoman recipes. The food came out perfectly and was the best farewell lunch we could ever have had.
Finally, we also have to thank you for the great assistance you gave us. From the beginning to the last minute (we won't forget the Turkish delight).
Matiana is a great travel agency because of all of you!!!!!
Kind Regards,
Andrea & Fabio Tichauer

Dear Matiana agency,
Last May 17th, 18th and 19th, we took advantage of the services provided by your agency in Cappadocia.
The team taking care of us was exceptional. We regret to ignore the name of the driver, he was very safe but not slow, obviously highly experimented. He had a real personality but was quite accommodating and flexible. He knew pretty well the region, made relevant proposals and accepted our specific wishes with perfect flexibility and good mood. The car was perfect.

Our guide, Ramazan Kacar, was the ideal guide we ever had. His culture was large and brilliant, but he did not insisted in giving explanations when we wanted to meditate silently, even for long periods. He sensed perfectly, without needing directions, what were our expectations, our mood, our desires. He made exactly the proposals adjusted to our wishes, but was not too directive and accepted with real pleasure our comments and directions. Our tours have been a complete success and delight because we were not stuck to a rigid program but allowed to introduce lots of variations accorded to our wishes. This allowed us in particular to evade crowds and tourist attractions loosing their charm and authenticity, and to focus on natural and human wonders as fascinating and much more touching.

Please accept this totally spontaneous comment, without any ulterior motive. You can make it public it if you wish, but please transmit our sincere thanks to the guide and driver who welcomed us so perfectly.
Best regards
Claude and Lucile CORNUAU

We'd like to thank you for all you did for us in Istanbul, for making the fabulous Cappadocia arrangements (booking our guide Ali, our stay at the Museum Hotel and the unforgettable balloon ride with the best pilot Lars), and for the helpful information you sent before we even arrived in Turkey. Your services were way beyond the call of duty - you made the city come alive for us in a very personal way. We especially appreciate how graciously you accommodated our minute-to-minute change of plans. We know this must have been a problem sometimes, but you never made us feel guilty! Thank you.
Julie Marshall

Dear Mr. Ali,
Now, we are back to Brazil again. Thank you so much for your attention and kindness to our group. You and your company are the best in Cappadocia. We hope see you soon.
Wilma e Andrea Turquino

Dear Ozlem,
We arrived home safely! Just wanted to drop a quick note to thank you (again) for the wonderfully arranged trip and the fantastic memories we now have of Turkey. Of course , who can forget the many friends we made along the way too!
Avon Neo

Dear Ufuk,
We want to take the opportunity to thank Matiana travel for the fine job they did with our organized tours in both Cappadocia and Kusadasi. Special thanks to our tour guide Ramadan and the driver who were both wonderful, my husband Nishith and I cannot thank them enough, they were extremely well informed, courteous and helpful throughout making our trip very memorable indeed.
Thank you
Suman Bhattacharyya

Dear Ufuk,
Istanbul is an amazing city, but it was you, Ufuk, that made our visit unforgettable. We were only there for a couple of days and yet somehow you managed to send us home with so many invaluable experiences, interesting stories and rich impressions of the city. You made a great program for us, combining the famous touristic sites with a more personal tour of the city. When we booked a guide for our stay in Turkey, we were expecting a "tourist guide". You were so much more for us, perhaps something like a very 'enthusiastic, professional, devoted, local friend'. Perfect!
Anneke & Asher ALTMAN

Dear Ufuk,
Thank you for your follow-up note. We did indeed have a wonderful time in your beautiful country. It was truly a pleasure working with the Matiana team. From our first contact with you, we felt we had the best advice possible. Matiana made arrangements for us that resulted in a visit we will remember always.
We especially appreciated the ways the Matiana team went the extra mile in helping us. These kinds of help with the unanticipated challenges of travel are what set your team apart from most travel companies. We really appreciated it. For example, when we encountered complications with the visa documents of one of our party, it was enormously reassuring to have an immediate response from your team about our options for addressing those problems. We felt like we had a friend in our corner when we were half-way around the world and needed help.
The accommodations were superb and it was very helpful to have the benefit of your experience in choosing them. We loved the Museum Hotel. It was spectacular. It is one of the finest and most distinctive hotels we have ever visited. Your teams help with flights and airport transfers, including transportation on our tours, made travel very pleasant. It also allowed our 92 year old with mobility problems to get the most out of the trip, including the special cruise--another case of your team going the extra mile..
The guides on the Matiana team were extraordinarily well-informed and personable. It added immeasurably to our enjoyment to have such excellent sources of information and insight. Again, we felt that we had made new friends that we will long remember.
Please know that we would love to return to Turkey and be assured that we will definitely call on the Matiana team to assist us.
Best regards,
Margaret Dise, Mikol and Rebecca Dise and Susan Wisely

Dear Matiana Travel,
Thank you for the wonderful trip I've just completed in Turkey. Your Operations Manager Ufuk helped me with kind advice from the beginning. Thank you Ufuk for the interesting itinerary. I feel that in a short time I was able to get to know some people, your rich culture and proud heritage. Ufuk and Ali provided excellent guiding and deeply felt personal insights to everyday Turkish life. Mr. Tosun it was a great pleasure meeting you, and thank you for your patient guidance with choosing a carpet that will always remind me of the great times I've spent in your wonderful country.
Judit Mandi

Ufuk,
Gaby and I can't thank you enough for all your planning and organization for our recent trip to Turkey. We surely got the most out of our 8 days in country. Starting with the wonderful hotels we stayed in, the sights we visited and the guides you provided made this trip very special. Based on your recommendation, I even took my first hot air balloon ride. Seeing the Cappadocia landscape from the air was amazing. Thanks for suggesting that.
We would not have seen so many wonderful historical places without your planning.
We would definitely recommend your services to others.
Thanks again for a great trip!
Rich Sulpizio

Dear Ufuk,
We are home again after our holiday. We've had a wonderful holiday in Turkey. We especially liked Cappadocia and Istanbul. We're sure we'll return to Cappadocia again. We want to thank you for your efforts to give us a wonderful holiday in Cappadocia. We really appreciated your phone call when we were sheltering in the thunder storm. Thank you again for your efforts regarding the gluten-free diet of my son. We found that the restaurants were very helpful.
I wish you all the best.
Kind regards,
Coby van Zaal

Dear Ufuk,
I should have written to you and Ibrahim to thank you very much for everything you did for us. It was one of my best vacations in my life. We loved the days in Istanbul and Cappadocia. We loved the Museum Hotel and made some friends in the neighborhood. I will be back soon, you can be sure of that.
Francisco Lima

Hello Ufuk
Hannah, Peter and Emily all say hello!!
Your excellent pre trip suggestions and customization allowed us to carefully coordinate and create a relevant and timely itinerary.
Traveling as a Dad with three inquisitive but of varied interests teenagers who have had passports since they were each six months old can be daunting at times.
You created the perfect daily mix of culture, religion, history, daily life, culinary delights and of course some shopping.
Your teaching through stories and anecdotes rather than mere fact telling made the history come alive for us and gave my kids a stronger basis of understanding.
You were a charismatic, knowledgeable, articulate and wonderful ambassador and guide of your country.
Regards
The Bozians

Dear Ufuk,
We really felt Matiana was so very professional, responded quickly to our correspondence via email and most of all - listened to our requests and supplied all the greatest guides one could hope for. The hotels were very satisfactory. The best was The Museum Hotel in Cappadocia which I found independently.
Lewis Clan

Dear Ufuk,
Overall a fantastic trip! We’d love to return to Turkey, largely because Matiana Travel made our experience so pleasant. We would highly recommend Matiana Travel services to anyone planning on going to Turkey. Ufuk demonstrated great patience, attentiveness, and thoughtfulness during the planning of our trip – especially with all our many changes. He made sure that our trip was everything we wanted – and more.
Warmest regards,
Lloyd and Darcy Campbell

Awh Ibo!!!!! We miss you already! Thank you so much for giving us 150% all day everyday! This trip was truly, the best ever, largely do to all of your efforts and wonderful attitude! Don’t ever change! We will never forget you or our wonderful experience there with you. I wish all the best for you.
MJ Day, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2009 Photo Shots Cappadocia

We traveled to Turkey in March 2009 with our 14 year old son. We wanted to experience the culture and history of Turkey during Spring Break. Matiana Travel put together an absolutely delightful and interesting tour for us. We experienced different types of hotels, the uniqueness of the culture, the wonderful history, and amazing topography. I would readily recommend Matiana Travel to anyone planning a tour of this beautiful country.
The Barker Family

I have been meaning to write to you and thank you for organizing such a tremendous holiday for us, but we enjoyed ourselves so much and came back in such a rested state that I have put a lot of things on a long to do it and just relaxed.
However our life is now returning to normal and we are catching up on our promises.
Firstly planning such a specialized holiday is very time consuming but with your expert help it was a very enjoyable one.
My wife Maire is an archaeologist and has a keen interest in Geology and so as a present for her special birthday I had the idea that a visit to Catalhoyuk, the oldest known city in the world be a fitting present and to find that it was so close to other great archaeological sites and the geology of Cappadocia, would be a great present.
We wonted an independent tour as there are no tours available that suited our needs and finding Matiana travel was a gift from the Gods.
You were very patient and helpful. It must have appeared strange to you that we kept changing our minds so often, we were so unsure of what we wanted. With your help it turned into one of the holidays of a lifetime.
Looking back there is only one thing that I would have organized differently, To have flown into Konya on day 1. instead of flying into Ankara, and visiting Geordon on the last day. That said it was great to see the fertile plain between Geordion and Konya.
You provided us with a great guide/driver in Ali. Such a helpful intelligent and knowledgeable guide we have rarely encountered. At ever stop he was able to strike up a rappore with the local caretakers and they gave us a guided tour which may magic with Ali's translation.
He also surprised us when he brought us to the museum in Corum. It is a hidden treasure housed in a beautiful building.
We got to visit the archaeological sites in Gordion, Catalhoyuk, Kultepe+ Karum and Hatusa-Yazilkaya. See the wonder Cappadocia , stay in the best hotel room that we have ever been in in the Museum Hotel actually in a cave room with windows looking over the wonderful landscape that is Cappadocia. We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary in the best honeymoon hotel room in the world. The food in the hotel was of the highest order.
Last night we saw a documentary on the television about the Hitites and their capital of Hattusas. It brought back memories of our visit and gave us a very warm feeling.
We hope to go back to Turkey in the next few years to visit the better known sites in the West.
We consider ourselves to have been extremely lucky to have seen such a beautiful part of the world before it becomes better known and full of tourists.
Again thanks for all your help.
David and Maire

I hope everything went fine at the weeding day.
I make Ana's words my words and I would add that you really WOW us as you propose on your website. Matiana really made the difference in our trip!!!
We got very much positively surprised with Turkey and moreover to the organization of every detail of our trip. We could experience different facets of the country and I hope I can go back soon to find some others and without any doubt I will contact Matiana.
With such a nice experience, the least we can think, like Ana said, is to partner with you here and foment the business in this niche.
Attached please find the form completed.
Kind regards,
Silvia

Should I begin this with my childhood song: "Anne, ma soeur Anne, ne vois-tu rien venir?" It would be fitting, as I am looking forward to you helping us prepare our next Turkey chapter.
The survey envelope came back with us, because the guy at the Nena Hotel Desk would not take it, and our transfer drivers that day did not speak any English. It is a good thing because it forces me to keep in touch.
*Should you ever need someone in the US to give you a reference, please do not hesitate to contact me or Patty at anytime.
*In the early 80s I was a Tour Operator, and we were really good. The quality of your pre trip services and your attention to details were the best I encountered in the industry. The best bar none.
*Our tickets for Bejart at the Ataturk Cultural Center in Istanbul could not have better if we had ordered ourselves.
*Your courteous approach to my demanding and exacting requests was met with grace and a helpful eye.
*Your knowledge of Turkey is primo.
*Ali, our guide was funny and helpful. We all enjoyed his company and would probably want to organize a tour of tour Ottoman era and Mosque and other purely Turkish historic sites, based on Ali being our guide.
*Our driver was excellent and patient. Too bad we did not know a rudiment of Turkish to communicate with him.
*Omer's brief review of carpet making and what to look for in acquiring a tapis or rug was so short. The man is so knowledgeable we wanted more, more and more time with him, and would have definitely drunk more tea just to learn. Together we purchase a few rugs. Patty and I got 2.
*The first night at the Nena was special, really special. I want 2 of their plush towels. And a permanent seat at the balcony to look at the Sultanahmet in the evening.
*The only hotel we found a tad bit too rustic was the hostel in Egirdir, but the view of the lake and an opportunity to watch the sun come up on the lake made up for the cold water shower. Brrr.
*Still need the name of the village up the road and would appreciate Ali telling us via email.
*Overall you get a momo (my nickname) SUPERBE, MAGNIFIQUE.
Now on a few things not related to the survey.
*The hotel in Izmir is on our list of place to return to. These ladies are absolutely graceful.
*The hotel in Bursa is on our return to list.
*Ilke was truly cute and helpful. Please tell him that I went to Ayan Ebru and purchased some natural pigments. Also tell him that his mother replied to my request and my response to her is my next email. I will be coming to Antalya to study with her in the next year 2008.
*The food in the villages was unequalled. We purchased seeds at the Spice Market to try growing the Turkish vegetables in our garden, particularly the tomatoes and the eggplants.. Unfortunately we cannot make yogurt like the one we purchased on the boat toward the last stop of the Bosphorus cruise. *I came to Turkey for: rugs, photography, and the fairy chimneys, I fell in love with the people and left too soon.
*Turkey is our 2010 vacation destination. Not sure you are interested, but when my photos are on flicker, I will send you a link. And I hope you are willing to help us with our next Turkey trip. Again, Merci d'avoir partagé votre connaissance de la Turquie avec nous et surtout merci de votre galanterie. Sincèrement;
Monique

I can't thank you enough for the wonderful vacation you planned for us. You are definitely five star. You understood what we wanted almost as if you knew us. There was no pressure and it was a pleasure dealing with you.
We have wonderful memories of every destination. All of the hotels have a special flavor in their own way.
The Sultanhan was very hospitable; the staff could not do enough to keep us happy. We had a wonderful brunch there even though it was between hours; they fixed up a special meal with tea on our arrival. Our dinner there was exceptional. Food and service as well as ambiance was wonderful.
Kalkan was amazing, what a beautiful village. The sea was exceptional. Villa Mahal was definitely 5 stars. Beautiful room and grounds, great food, breathtaking views. It was a very relaxing place. Good way to start the vacation as we were very tired. We fully charged the batteries there.
Fethiye was another beautiful village, almost a city really. We loved the marina area as well as the sights and ruins we visited. Paradise Garden was warm, friendly and very accommodating. Grounds were beautiful and the view of Oludeniz was spectacular we felt as if we were guests at a relatives home.
They learned that we loved Latino music and prepared a special Latino theme evening of dancing starting at 9:30 PM at the pool bar. Music and much guest mingling proved to be a party till 4:00 AM! Our first day there, the chef drove us to the Oludeniz lagoon and later picked us up. It was as if our uncle was taking us! Our last night we ate in Fethiye because we had shopping to do and were running late. We got back to Paradise Garden around midnight to find our friends waiting for us to have a night cap and mingle. Although we had not packed and were leaving early in the morning we stayed and of course got to sleep at 3:00 AM, but it was worth it. Robert was crowned "Eniste" in Fethiye!
Istanbul, my favorite city in the world never disappointed us. Ciragan Palace was excellent. The room was beautiful and it was hard to leave the terrace with the views of the Bosphorus. Beautiful ships, boats, sail boats, ferries all added to decorating the magnificent Strait. Our only disappointment was the Tugra restaurant. Food and service did not hold up to what it was 13 years ago. It seemed rushed and the taste of the food was not the excellent Turkish food we had had there.
The transfers you provided us with were always on time and professional, thank you.
Korfez was excellent.
Feriye restaurant was amazing. I went there 3 times with my aunt and niece; each night was more enchanting than the one before.
My only regret is that I did not get a chance to meet you. I was really rushed with visiting family I had not seen in 13 years.
Hopefully the next trip. I am attaching a picture taken in Kalkan (Trio Restaurant); we can sort of meet this way!
Thank You So Much. From beginning to end you and your staff were so pleasant to work with and you made possible a vacation that we will remember forever. It was perfect!
I'll keep the Boutique Style reference, although I can't imagine anyone coming close to the experience we had with you.
Sag ol, we will keep in touch. Best regards to Ufuk and Ilke as well.
Fulya Ziegler

We returned to India last night.
I must thank you for your planning and assistance for our stay in Turkey. Everything went off well and we had a very enjoyable trip.
I must compliment you on your quick responses and attention to every detail and query. Both the tour leaders were very good, especially Fatih in Istanbul. Finally the itinerary and hotels worked out very well.
Thanks again
Vivek

Thank you all very much for our recent trip to Turkey. This was our second trip to Turkey within a year. Our first trip was a general and wide ranging tour of a large area. On this trip we went back to the areas we enjoyed the most. Those areas were Istanbul and Cappadocia.
All of our travel arrangements were executed on time and professionally. You did not miss any details.
Our guides were excellent. We enjoyed Cem in Istanbul. He was knowledgeable and fun to be with. He took us shopping for some household items such as a Turkish double boiler tea pot on the street in Istanbul that sells tea pots to locals. We can't buy that type of tea pot in the US and the online shops wanted three times as much. Ali in Uchisar was excellent. He is very "laid back" which was perfect for this trip where we were visiting the areas that we did not see on our first trip. I particularly enjoyed the walk down the Ihlara valley. We wanted to obtain some kitchen items and Ali took us back to the pottery shop we went to last time in Avanos. We compared prices before we left and found that we could purchase items hand crafted in Avanos for less that factory patterned in the US.
The hotels were very good. The Museum Hotel was excellent again in both service and atmosphere.
We visited Omer and the Indigo Gallery. Omer is much more pleasant to deal with than the carpet dealers in the standard tourist stops. The quality of the inventory is better as well.
Our second trip was different in that we knew the country and the people a little better. We knew what to expect. We knew at least a few of the tourist scam vendors and avoided them. Once again the best part of Turkey is the people. Those who have ever traveled in Europe will be astounded to find a country where the people seem to actually want visitors. I don't just mean those in the tourist industry, I mean the general population.
At the current time we are mapping out some ideas for our next trip which will most likely be to the Black Sea and eastern Turkey region. We will spend some time doing research and when we have a general idea of what we want to do and when we will contact you again.
Thank you all
John and Karen Le Neve

Hope you are both doing well. I would like to thank you for helping me arrange a wonderful & a very memorable trip. It was nice meeting you.
Ali – we had a wonderful time with you in Cappadocia, thank you for an entertaining tour & the interesting conversations that we had during our stay there. It was nice meeting you.
Thank you once again for making our trip very special and enjoyable.
Sincerely,
Pinakin & Karishma

I would like to thank you very very much for your PERFECT organization!! Everything of our beautiful holiday in Istanbul has been absolutely perfect! The driver was very kind and polite; Mr. Ufuk was very precise and very polite and the guide was very well prepared and professional.
Should other of my friends decide to come to Istanbul, I will recommend them to contact you!! Thank you again for everything and many compliments for your professionalism!!!
Kind regards.
Laura Mucci

Words cannot describe the holiday that my mother and I had in Turkey. We both had a magnificent time and it was all thanks to you and your professionalism with putting the whole trip together which left us to enjoy a hassle free holiday. My favorite part of the trip was the cruise. The food was to die for and the staffs were amazing. Most importantly though; my mother had the holiday of a lifetime. I told her on our last night that I had bought the trip as a present for her and she was thrilled (and a bit cross that I had kept it from her). I wouldn't have changed a thing about the trip and return with NO complaints! I am indeed singing your praises. Thank you once again for a memorable journey through Turkey.
Kate Harrod

We just got home and we are still recovering from the long trip home. We can say without hesitation that our visit to Cappadocia was a wonderful and a most enjoyable experience. We were delighted with the style and comfort of our stay there. Our guide’s knowledge about the area and all the information that he conveyed to us made for a very memorable trip. We were very pleased with both the driver and the guide. We thank you and your team for taking such good care of us. Many thanks again to all of you.
Best regards,
Lynn and Meir

The service provided by you and your colleagues at Matiana Travel and the Museum Hotel was exemplary. The highlight to our trip to Turkey was most definitely in the Cappadocia region. A special thanks to our guide and the tours organized by Matiana Travel, with your assistance. I will recommend your services to anyone who asks.
Best regards and happy holidays,
Adam Schmidt

It does feel good to be home. However, my trip was extraordinarily successful. I loved Turkey. Cappadocia was a fascinating and unique experience. I think your services were perfect, exactly what I expected. We were treated very well. If your guide and/or driver felt there was any problem, it was not in any way under their control. I was extremely tired on Thursday and suffering from a sudden allergy attack. If I seemed less than enthusiastic about the day's activities, it was because of that and not anything else.
Emily Tannen

First I would like to thank you again for handling all of my requests so swiftly. I absolutely loved Istanbul! It was such a wonderful trip and I feel like you are partly responsible for that. I didn't even think to request a female guide and I thought it was extremely considerate of you to think of this. I had no real knowledge of Istanbul or Turkish history or architecture before this trip and I cannot believe how much I learned. Her English was amazing and she was so nice... I really felt like I was sightseeing with a friend! The trip was truly wonderful and I felt very safe and well looked after the entire time. I will most definitely pass your name along to friends who are visiting Turkey because I felt you provided such a good service. Many thanks again... I look forward to my next visit!
Tesekkur ederim,
Kristina Sekula

I wanted to pass my traveling experience on to other travelers about the wonderful time we had under Matiana Travel’s care while in Turkey. It was truly a special experience and it wouldn't have been possible without the Matiana team working so hard for us! Every person we came in contact with was friendly, professional and very helpful. They have an excellent network!
Joe De Lise

I wanted to say hello and thank you for all your help. We were very pleased with the whole arrangement- the hotels were nice, the service was excellent and we were happy to be in Turkey for a week.
Janet Nenkova

Thank you for arranging a lovely holiday for us we really appreciated it very much, We especially thank you for putting us into the lovely little hotels that we so like home, the people were so friendly and kind to us and pampered us to the extreme.
Mary Owen

Excellent service, great guides, wonderful hotels. The tailored itinerary was perfect, Matiana arranged for us to see everything we asked for. Definitely a wonderful experience.
Pam Harris

http://www.matiana.com/travel_testimonials.htm

Matiana Incentive

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MATIANA INCENTIVE offers you an unique destination for your seminars, management councils, business trips, parties and events :

ISTANBUL the only city in the world where the Orient and the Occident fuse together into one fascinating mélange of sights and sounds, majesty and energy.

Our international local team is constantly locating, visiting and testing new places and services we are offering you.

From private seminars of small groups in exclusive board rooms to bigger congress visitors, Matiana Events find the best venue and create the best work environment for your meetings.

Istanbul offers numerous meeting rooms highly modern and comfortable for a productive day of work. Istanbul surrounding also possesses original spaces as Yali (villas), mansions or overlooking workroom or terraces full of character, offering high technology equipment and very often a large ground to arrange activities.

Congresses, Meetings & Seminars Services

Gala dinners & Events

*Dinner cruise

*Oriental delights

*A taste of the Bosphorus

Catering

Your stay and events in Turkey would not be truly complete without the experience of High Turkish cuisine.

We can of course adapt and create an ambiance according to your theme and to your communication message, and will gladly help you choose all elements to make your event beautiful and very special.

Transportations

Our range of transport means is extensive :

*Deluxe coach services,

*Deluxe car and limousine services,

*Vintage cars and vintage coaches,

*Horse carriage,

*Helicopter or private plane,

*Boats,

*Train services...

Accomodations

Matiana Events is the ideal partner to find your hotel all over Turkey. We support you in arranging the best stay for your party, according to your demands and your budget.

We offer different categories of hotels-from Deluxe to Castle accommodation-from modern style Resorts to character Mansions.

In the city center or in a quiet area in the country-Matiana Events will find the best hotel for you.

Group Incentives

Group travel offers many advantages:

*You have control over the experience-you can reinforce your company brand and message

*With all your winners in one place company meetings and seminars are easily arranged

*Group travel experiences can build great camaraderie between team members and between participants and senior management as well

*Group travel programs can be very cost effective as many participants are sharing the organization and management expenses.

UNIQUE IDEAS

Are you looking for something very special? Then, you are in the right place. Matiana Team is ready to design your incentive program with the most unique ideas, real adventures and unchartered outdoor activities.

http://www.matiana.com/incentive_turkey.htm

Festivals & Events - 2010

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Local / International Culture & Art Festivals in Turkey (Organizing Every Year)

JANUARY

Aydin Karacasu Afrodisias Culture and Art Festival

Tokat Culture and Art Festival

Ankara Wrestling Festival

Agri Bards Festival

Aydin International Camel Wrestling Festival

Izmir Camel Wrestling Festival

Japanese Films Festival, Istanbul

International 1001Documentary Film Festival

FEBRUARY

!f istanbul AFM International Independent Film Festival

Aydin Camel Wrestling Festival

Nigde Darbogaz Cherry Festival

Rotary Short Film Festival

International 2nd Hand Film Festival, Ankara

MARCH

Istanbul Turkish Theater Festival

Ankara Single Play Festival

APRIL

International Children Festival

Ankara International Music Festival

International Istanbul Film Festival

Izmir April 24 Menemen International Feast Festival

Istanbul International CRR Child's Festival

Kocaeli April 24 Children's Festival

Aydin 32th International Sultanhisar-Nysa Culture and Art Festival

Manisa Traditional Manisa Mesir Festival

Istanbul International Istanbul Film Festival

Ankara International 24 April Children Festivity

Ankara International Ankara Film Festival

Ankara International Ankara Music Festival

MAY

Youth and Sports Day (19 May 2010)

Mardin Cherry Festival

Burdur Tobacco Festival and Art Activities

Isparta Rose, Carpet, Culture and Tourism Festival

Usak Esme, Touristic Kilim, Culture and Art Festival

Usak Sivasli Strawberry Festival

Mardin Antep Hazelnut Trees Vaccination Festival

Ankara Tulip Festival

Bingol Culture Spring Festival (Hidirellez)

Aydin Strawberry, Agriculture, Culture and Art Festival

Ankara Sumer Festivals

Kayseri Sumer Festivals

Yozgat Sumer Festivals Culture Feast

Antalya Beymelek, Bahar (Spring) Festival

Eskisehir Yunus Emre Culture and Art Week

Izmir Strawberry Festival

Marmaris-Mugla Marmaris Yacht Festival Week

Sanliurfa Hermit ibis Festival

Ankara International Ankara Cartoon Festival

Mus Tulip Festival

Izmir Narlidere Youths and and Flower Festival

Istanbul International Istanbul Theatre Festival

Icel International Silifke Culture Week Music and Folklore Festival

Giresun International Aksu, (Black Sea) Festival

Kayseri Akkisla - Gomurgen Yogurt Festival

Artvin Murgul and Environs Traditional "Bullfight Festival

Izmir Cherry Festival

Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival, Ankara

JUNE

Bolu Mengen, Traditional Cooks & Cookery and Tourism Festival

Ardahan Ardahan Honey Festival

Sivas - Gurun Trout Festival

Isparta Seyyid Veli Baba Sultan Bards Night and Rice Festival

Tokat Zile Cherry Festival

Ardahan Gole National Cheese Festival

Ankara Gudul Cherry Festival

Mugla Mentese Municipality Yerkupe, Bespinar Wrestling - Culture and Tourism Festival

Tekirdag Culture and Art Festival, Circumcision Feast.

Artvin Kafkasor Culture Tourism Art Festival

Antalya Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival

Ankara Bicycle Festival

Icel Mut, Apricot Festival

Rize Rize cay (Tea) and Tourism Festival

Izmir Cherry and Sapling Festival

Balikesir International Birdparadise Culture and Tourism Festival

Bartin Strawberry Festival and Culture Tourism Activities

Edirne Enez, Fish Festival

Eregli-International Blacksea Ottoman Strawberry Culture Festival

Istanbul International Istanbul Music Festival

Ankara Flying Broom Women Film Festival

Adana Sumer festivale

Cankiri Haci Murad-I Veli's Commemoration Week, Cherry Festival and Traditional Wrestling

Ankara Haymana International Spa and Culture Festival

Duzce - Bolu International Folk Dances and Tourism Festival

Bursa International Bursa Festival

Afyon Mermer (Marble)and Culture Festival

Ankara Bilkent International Theatre Meeting

Istanbul International Bogazici Festival

Izmir International Selcuk-Efes Culture Art and Tourism Festival

Izmir International Izmir Festival

Elaziğ Gezin Strawberry Festival

Malatya Yesilyurt Cherry Festival

Corum corum Hittite Fair and Festival

Isparta Traditional Wrestling and Cherry Festival

Cankiri Maruf Village Wrestling Festival

Ankara Picture Festival

Adana Cherry Festival

Ankara Kutludugun Pancake, Ayran, Culture and Art Festival

Adiyaman International (Nemrud) Commagene Festival

Ankara Egriova Highland (Yayla) Festival

Afyon Sandikli-Termal-Culture-Art-Sports and Tourism Festival

Kutahya Pazarlar Golden Cherry and Black Cherry Festival

Finike - Antalya Finike Festival

Kas - Antalya International Kas¸-Likya Culture and Art Festival

Izmir Alacati International Child and Youth Theatres Festival

Ordu Hazelnut Festival

Sivas Kangal Shepherd's Dog Sheep Culture and Art Festival

Mugla Dalyan Tourism Caretta Caretta Festival

Hopa - Artvin Hopa Culture and Art - Sea Festival

Kocaeli Zuhtu Muridog'lu Wooden Sculpture Symposium and Hazelnut, Culture Art Festival

Konya (Lake) Dudengolu Culture and Art Festival

Tunceli Cemisgezek Mulberry and Cheese Festival

Bitlis Tatvan East Anatolia Festival

Ayas - Ankara Traditional Ayas¸ Mulberry Festival

Dikili - Izmir Blue Sea Green Dikili Culture and Art Festival

Manisa Melon-Watermelon Festival

Yalova Golden Plane Tree Festival

Yalova International Folk Dances Festival and International Yalova Golden Carnation Folk Dances Competition

JULY

Buldan - Denizli Buldan Yenicekent Sultaniye Seedless Grape Festival

Ardahan cildir-cildir Lake Festival

Cide - Kastamonu Cide Rifat Ilgaz Culture and Art Festival

Rize Agriculture - Stockbreeding and Milk Festival

Konya Nasrettin Hodja Festivities

Hatay Iskenderun Culture and Tourism Festival

Afyon Cherry Festival

Edirne Traditional Kirkpinar Oil-Wrestling Festivities

Isparta Mulberry Grape Molasses Festival

Istanbul International Istanbul Jazz Festival

Karabuk Music and Wrestling Festival

Alucra - Giresun Alucra Ekin Festival

Afyon Black Cherry Festival

Izmir Plum and Okra Festival

Kars Apricot Festival

Yalvac - Isparta Antiocheia Culture, Tourism and Art Festival

Kutahya Kutahya International Culture and Tourism Festival

Duzce - Bolu International Akcakoca Tourism, Culture and Hazelnut Festival

Kuyucak - Tokat Kuyucak Culture and Handicrafts Festival

Aksaray Aksaray Ihlara Tourism and Culture Festival

Siirt Karakucak Wrestling Kebap and Entertainment Festival

Devrek - Zonguldak Devrek Walking Stick and Culture Festival

Denizli Yes, ilyuva Shoemakers and Friendship Festival

Samsun Culture - Art Festival

Adiyaman Mulberry Culture and Art Festival

Hatay Antakya Tourism and Culture Festival

Kayseri Sariz Kilim Festival

Fatsa - Ordu International Cinar Culture, Art - Music - Mt. Jeep Safari and Tourism Festival

Unye - Ordu unye Un festival

Arhavi - Artvin Arhavi Culture and Art Festival

Izmir candarli Kaleici Culture and Art Festival

Cesme - Izmir Cesme - Sea Festivity and International Song Contest.

Artvin Aros Festival

Amasya Kaba-Oguz Villages' Highland Festivals

Yozgat Kazankaya Canyon Culture and Tourism Festival

Elazig Baskil Apricot Festival

Artvin Highland (Yayla) Festival

Siirt Traditional Ayancik Culture - Art and Linen Festival

Balikesir Film Festival

Balikesir Altinova Golden Beach Blue Sea Clean Environment Festival

Ulubey - Ordu Ulubey Culture and Art Festival

Tunceli - Munzur Munzur Culture and Nature Festival

Canakkale Sardine Festival

Adana, Beyaz Yunus (White-Dolphin) Culture-Art-Music and Sports Festival

Aydin, International Milet - Apollon Science Festival

Balikesir, Kucukkoy- Sarimsakli Sand Festival

Aksaray, Saratli Culture and Art Festival

AUGUST

Mugla Datca Culture-Art Festival

Burdur Carrot-Agriculture and Culture Festival

Artvin - Sidere Festival

Kahramanmaras Red Pepper, Tarhana and Ice cream Festival

Tokat - Resadiye-Bereketli Golden Ram Festival

Kirikkale Delice Grape Festival

Izmir Mordogan Summer Festival

Kutahya Black Cherry and Cherry Festival

Tekirdag Wine Festival

Bursa International Folklor Festival

Mugla Yatagan Traditional Knife Festival

Mugla Kavaklidere Culture, Art and Sports Festival

Cankiri - Kizilirmak Melon Festival

Kirklareli - Babaeski Agriculture Festival

Icel - Tasucu Nature Festival

Artvin - Macahel Kafkas Bee and Honey Festival

Ankara - Bilkent International Anatolia Music Festival

Icel Culture, Tourism, Banana, Strawberry Festival

Nevsehir International Haci Bektas Veli Memorial Celebrations

Canakkale - Truva, (Troy) Festival

Rize - cayeli Culture and Art Festival

Ardesen - Rize - Ardesen Atmaca (Hawk) Festival

Balikesir - Erdemit - Akcay Oilland Festival

Erzincan Cheese, Honey, Tourism and Culture Festival

Rize cagirankaya Highland (Yayla) Festival

Rize - Pazar Culture Art and Sports Festival

Kilis Anniversary Celebrations of Mercidabik Victory Kilis Grape and Culture Festival

Istanbul - Kartal International Culture and Art Festival

Adiyaman Honey Culture and Art Festival

Sivas - Zara and Villages Honey and Culture Festival

Trabzon Yilantas¸ Culture Tourism and Art Activities Festival

Afyon Victory (Zafer) Festival

Balikesir Altinoluk Antandros Culture and Art Festival

Kocaeli Yogurt Circumcision-Bicycle Festival

Denizli - Acipayam Culture Festival

Cankiri - cerkes¸ Culture and Stockbreeding Festival

SEPTEMBER

Kocaeli Fair International Street Theater Festival

Diyarbakir International Watermelon and Culture Festival

Kirikkale Sulakyurt Melon-Watermelon Festival

Gumushane Kusburnu Pestil Tourism Festival

Ordu Golden Column Honey and Culture-Art Tourism Festival

Pamukkale - Denizli International Pamukkale Music and Culture Festival

Tokat - Turhal Culture Festival

Ankara Anatolian Days Festival

Kocaeli Yesil Ihsaniye Apple Festival

Bursa Fig Festival

Tunceli Pulumur Honey Festival

Ordu Gelinkaya Culture, Art and Tourism Festival

Giresun Tirebolu Hazelnut Festival

Manisa, Liberty Celebrations and Javeline Festival

Izmir Fair International Folk Dances Festival

Istanbul International Istanbul Biennial

Kahramanmaras Afsin District Karakucak Wrestling Festival

Zonguldak - Alapli Hazelnut, Culture, Art and Sports Festival

Sivas Traditional Akincilar Melon Festival

Mugla Turkbuku Culture and Art Festival

Denizli - Akalan Melon - Watermelon Festival

Denizli - Soke Festival

Edirne - Ipsala celtik (Rice) Festival

Manisa Alasehir's Independence day - Alasehir Congres Anniversary week, Grape Festival

Balikesir - Gonen Embroidery Festival

Aydin Traditional Golden Fig Festival

Nevsehir Avanos International Tourism and Handicrafts Festival

Izmir Liberty Celebrations and Fig Festival

Kayseri Grape Festival

Ankara Traditional Melon Festival and Culture Ceremonies

Siirt Hazelnut Pormotion Competition and Honey Festival

Izmir - Karsiyaka Festival

Erzurum Honey, Apple and Wrestling Festival

Isparta Miryakefalon Victory Fest and Apple Festival

Erzincan - Refahiye Culture and Honey Festival

Erzincan Oglanaga Grape Festival

Denizli - civril Culture and Apple Festival

Karabuk Golden Saffron Film Festival

Adiyaman Besni Education and Culture Festival

Kayseri Yemliha Aubergine Festival

Kahramanmaras Goksun District Karakucak Wrestling Festival

Nigde Ulukisla Grape and Culture Festival

Karaman - Konya Apple Festival

Corum Aycicegi (Sunflower) Festival

Yozgat-Aydincik Onion, Culture and Art Festival

Rock'n Coke

OCTOBER

Antalya 38th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival

Kirsehir Kaman Walnut Festival

Bolu Koroglu Culture,Art and Tourism Festival

Kirikkale Hasandede Culture Festival

Sanliurfa International Ataturk Dam Water Sports Feast.

Alanya - Antalya, Alanya International Culture and Art Festival

Corum - Bayat, Culture and Walnut Festival

Corum, Oguzlar Culture Art And Walnut Festival

Kastamonu International Taskopru Culture and Garlic Festival

Bitlis Culture Feast and Walnut Festival

Eskisehir, International Eskisehir Festival

Nevsehir, Grape Harvest Festival

Corum, Demirseyh Traditional Cabbage Festival and Karakucak Wrestling

Izmir, Sirince Grape Harvest and Wine Festival

Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa International Culture and Art Week

Bilecik Pomegranate and Fig Festival

Kahramanmaras¸ Karakucak Wrestling Festival

Ardahan Goose Festival

NOVEMBER

Istanbul, International CRR (Cemal Resit Rey) Mystical Music Festival

Ankara, Ankara Theater Festival

DECEMBER

Istanbul, International CRR (Cemal Resit Rey) Piano Festival

Demre - Antalya, Demre International St. Nicholas Memorial Celebrations

Karabuk Hindi (turkey) Festival

Konya, Mevlana Memorial Celebrations

Aydin, Traditional Camel Wrestling Festival

For detailed information please visit; www.whatsonturkey.com

http://www.matiana.com/events_festivals_turkey.htm

Useful Links

2010-05-05T16:57:00.001+03:00

Ministry of Culture & Tourism

www.kulturturizm.gov.tr

www.tourismturkey.org

www.goturkey.com

Associations

www.tursab.org.tr

www.historicalandboutique.org

www.boutiquestyle.net

Airlines

www.turkishairlines.com

www.flyturkish.com

www.onurair.com.tr/onurair

www.flypgs.com

Turkish State Railways

www.tcdd.gov.tr

Specific City Sites

www.ibb.gov.tr

www.istanbul.com

www.timeoutistanbul.com

www.izmirturizm.gov.tr

www.antalya-ws.com

www.cappadociaonline.com

www.gocappadocia.net

Other Companies of Indigo Group

www.indigo.com.tr

www.museum-hotel.com

www.indigogallery.com.tr

www.boutiquestyle.net

www.travelagencyturkey.net

www.select2travel.com

Online Event Booking in Turkey

www.whatsonturkey.com

www.biletix.com

http://www.matiana.com/usefullinks_for_turkey.htm

Did You Know About Turkey?

2010-05-05T16:54:00.001+03:00

» UNESCO declares Istanbul, Pamukkale, Mt. Nemrut, Great Mosque of Divrigi, Hattusa, Safranbolu, Goreme Open Air Museum, Hierapolis, Troy, Xanthos and Letoon as World Heritages.

» The four bronze horses of San Marco Cathedral welcoming the guest today in Venice, were taken from Istanbul

» The biggest Open - Air temple of Ancient world found in Urfa - Gobekli Tepe.

» In the Middle Ages, Istanbul had more than 1400 public toilets in the city meanwhile there weren't any even at the palaces in France and other European cities.

» The first landscape picture of the world found on the wall of house at Catalhoyuk, depicted erupting volcano (Mt. Hasan) in Neolithic times (6,500 BCE).

» The First University in History is in Harran, Turkey

» Istanbul, the precious queen of Turkey is the only city on the world spread in both Asia and Europe

» The oldest known human settlement in Turkey is Catalhoyuk (7th Millennium B.C.)

» Hereke which is in the world carpeting literature with the quality of the wool and silk rugs is in Izmit (Kocaeli) Turkey.

» The first church built by man (St. Peter's Church) is in Antioch (Antakya)

» The Hittites sold Abraham the cave where he buried his wife Sarah, when the Israelites came to Palestine.

» The oldest sculpture on the world found in Urfa remains from 13 century BC.

» Kasikci diamond (86 carats) one of the greatest pieces of the world and is displayed in Topkapi Palace.

» Noah's Ark landed on Mt. Ararat (Agri Dagi) in Eastern Turkey.

» The last meal on Noah's Ark, a pudding of sweet and sour taste (Asure), is still served throughout Turkey.

» Tarsus is the birthplace of St. Paul the Apostle.

» Crystal flakes can seen with bare-eyes in Erzurum-Kars region

» The First Ecumenical Council was held in Iznik, Turkey.

» Female goddesses dominated the Central Anatolian pantheon for thousands of years before these supernatural powers were transformed to male gods.

» Ankara cat is famous with two colored eyes and white fur.

» Alexander the Great cut the intricate Gordian knot at the Phrygian capital, Gordion.

» Angora wool derived from Ankara Goats and Rabbits.

» The most valuable silk carpet in the world is in the Mevlana museum in Konya.

» Central Anatolia was home to the capital cities of 3 major empires: the Hittite Empire at Hattusa, the Phrygian Empire of King Midas at Gordion, and the Seljuk Empire at Konya.

» The Million stone at Sultanahmet square Istanbul was the zero point of the world once upon a time.

» Wine was produced in the Cappadocia region as early as 4,000 BCE.

» Three of the 10 remaining mobile mosaic icons of the world and according to the belief of Orthodox, Jesus Christ's cross which he was crucified are in Greek Orthodox Patriarchate

» Sarcophagus of Alexander, First peace treatment of world are exhibits in Istanbul Archeology Museum.

» Hagia Sophia was the biggest cathedral on the world for thousands years and still it is the 4th biggest one.

» First bridge of Bosphorus made by ships tied each other in Persian Invasion at 4th century BC.

» Constantinople was founded on seven hills like Rome.

» The world largest numbers of cave churches are in Cappadocia, many with in-situ frescos.

» The earliest domesticated wheat, Einkorn, can still be found growing wild in Cappadocia.

» Three of the greatest fathers of the Christian Church, Saint Basil, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, and Saint Gregory of Nyssa, were all Cappadocians.

» Pottery has been making in Avanos for 10,000 years.

» The most famous Dradon Slayer, Saint George was born in Cappadocia and the crusades spread his fame to Europe on their way back to home.

» The Cappadocia region has about 30 known underground cities that could safely hide 100,000 people in troubled times.

» St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Clause, was born in Demre, on Turkey's Mediterranean Coast.

» The Best preserved Roman Theater is located in Aspendos , Antalya.

» Virgin Mary's house where she spent her last days, situated on the top of Bulbul dagi (Ephesus), is considered as a holy place for all religions.

» Some oft he historic legends such as Homer (the poet), King Midas, Herodotus (the father of history) was born in this legend.

» The famous Trojan Wars took place in Truva town.

» Ephesus and Halicarnassus - two of the most famous places of the ancient world - are both in Turkey.

» Seven Churches of Revelation are all in Aegean Region in Turkey (Ephesus, Sardis, Tyatira, Pergamon, Philadelphia, Smyrna, Collosae)

» The Color "Turquoise" comes from the clean see color on the Aegean Cost in Turkey.

» The world's greatest amphora and glass collection is in Bodrum Museum in Bodrum Castle.

» Virgin Mary's House in Ephesus is visited by Pope the 6th Paul and Pope Jean Paul as well.

» Lydia which is one of the greatest civilization lived in Anatolia has still got some remainings around Salihli (Sardis) and it's the first civilization which coined money.

» The philosopher Aristotales lived in Assos for three years.

» Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated words, "Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered)" in North Anatolia when he defeated the Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

» On Black sea region has more then 100 un-named and 200 different endemic plants in flora.

http://www.matiana.com/didyouknow_about_turkey.htm

General & Practical Infos About Turkey

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The reasons for visiting Turkey are numerous. To begin with, this wonderful land is blessed by a lovely nature. Surrounded by seas on three sides, it is covered by mountains, forests, steppes and all sorts of land variations, all of which is of superb beauty. Indeed the greater part of the country is as lovely as a national park. The genuine friendliness and traditional hospitality of Turks towards visitors is justly renowned world wide. And then of course, the history of the land of Turkey, called Anatolia, is incredibly rich and long.

Turkey has hosted over the past 5000 years more than 36 civilisations .

The whole country is the reflection of this richness, through its culture, traditions, archeology, and still hosts many ethnic and religious minorities such as armenians, jewish, christians, old levantine families, and so on.

Its geographical location borders with Armenia, Iran, Syria, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia which all add to Turkey’s great influence.

As a fact Turkey is the cradle of our civilisations, harboring in its bosom an incredible blend of cultures, history, and archaeological sites.

SAFETY

At this very moment there's not a single reason not to go to Turkey. Regarding the average crime rate most foreigners will be even safer in Turkey than at home. The crime rate in Istanbul (about 12 million inhabitants) is far lower than in western countries and in non- tourist Turkey. It's virtually non existent. The risk that something is stolen from you by Turks is about zero.

RELIGIOUS ASPECT

It is a well- known fact to those who have already been to Turkey, which The Turkish Republic is a singular and unique country, totally different from all Islamic countries of the world.

It is indeed a modern, democratic, secular country, where everyone can openly belong to any religion of their choice. This is guaranteed by the Constitution itself. Although the great majority of the population is Moslems, there is total respect and tolerance towards other convictions, cultures and descent.

You need to be aware though that Turkey, some areas are still conservative and the values of Islam are widely respected. Very informal or revealing clothing can be seen as disrespectful, especially in small towns.

ATATURK : MUSTAFA KEMAL

Turkey is a democratic, secular republic that was established in 1923 after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The founder of Modern Turkey is Ataturk who led Turks in the 1919-1922 War of Independence. He went on to reform the education system and language, replaced the Koranic law with European codes and commenced the process of building a modern, industrial society.

In 1949 Turkey became a member of the Council of Europe, 1952 it joined NATO and played a vital role in the Cold War. And joined the Customs Union with Europe and has applied for full membership of the European Union. The military is seen as the defender of the Constitution and Secularism in Turkey.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

The new Civil Code, adopted in 1926, abolished polygamy and recognized the equal rights of women in divorce, custody, and inheritance. The entire educational system from the grade school to the university became coeducational. Ataturk greatly admired the support that the national liberation struggle received from women and praised their many contributions: " In Turkish society, women have not lagged behind men in science, scholarship, and culture. Perhaps they have even gone further ahead." He gave women the same opportunities as men, including full political rights. In the mid-1930s, 18 women, among them a villager, were elected to the national parliament. And Turkey had:

"The world's first women supreme court justice."

LANGUAGE

The most difficult change in any society is probably a language reform. Most nations never attempt it; those who do, usually prefer a gradual approach. Under Atatürk's Leadership, Turkey undertook the modern world's swiftest and most extensive language reform. In 1928, when he decided that the Arabic script, which had been used by Turks for a thousand year, should be replaced with the Latin alphabet. He asked the experts: "How long would it take?" Most of them replied: "At least five years." "We shall do it," Ataturk said, "within five months".

Today, Turkey has major universities all over the country. Except for Europe and North America she has one of the world's highest ratios of university graduates to population. English and German are widely spoken in hotels and restaurants resorts and cities. In villages it can be difficult to find people who speak languages other than Turkish. But the natural friendliness of Turkish people will overcome many barriers. If you learn even a few basic words of Turkish you will be rewarded with an enthusiastic response form the people.

WHAT TO PACK

Turkey has a diverse range of climates. The coast is generally mild in winter and hot in summer. The interior is warm in summer and cold in winter so you will need to bring clothes according to the season. Turks are generally informal in their choice of clothing and so there is little need to bring formal wear.

Turkey is also a country for walking either to enjoy the scenery or visiting the rights. Good footwear, hat, sun protection are advisable.

Turkey uses a 220volt electricity, 50cycles, 2pin European plug system, so you will need to bring an adapter if your electricity system is different.

http://www.matiana.com/general_infos_about_turkey.htm

For Travel Agents

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Working with Matiana is the perfect way to outsource your requests to a company that delivers personalized luxury travel services in Turkey. Matiana will work with you directly to design a perfect trip that fits with your client’s travel expectations; we will precisely take care of all of their travel details from the moment they arrive to the moment they depart from/to Turkey! Matiana will provide a particularly planned travel experience that includes unique destinations, great accommodations, impeccable transfers, and exciting activities, while giving them the freedom they need to relax and fully experience Turkey.

Utilities of Matiana:

* Fully customized itineraries

“Each guest is special and different.” This is the bottom line of the Matiana Travel and for that reason we are not restrict our guests with regular programs. All our programs customized by our Travel Advisors to fulfill your guest’s requests. For that reason we create new programs for each guest reflecting their style and needs.

* 7day/24hr personal care

Matiana Travel is not only agency but also a friend of its guests who take care about them. I am the Operations Manager of the Agency and personally I meet with my entire guests who step in to Istanbul. Having breakfast, lunch or dinner is casual thing for me. Besides, while they are traveling in and out Istanbul, I contact with them in several times, during their stay. Moreover, my mobile phone is given to the guests for emergency contact in case of they want to ask something and I am giving service 7 days/ 24 hours for my guest.

* Best hotel and room suggestions for the value

All hotels that we recommend are best in their regions. While we are choosing them, most important thing is our guest comfort and nothing can come front of it. Location, closeness to center, view etc. are the important steps of our selection-process.

* Room upgrades

Sincerity is important key of our work. For that reason signs on the paper is not important then the handshaking. Because of the personal contacts, we are able to upgrade our rooms on availabilities of the Hotels.

* Unique dining suggestions for the clients’ taste

Food is inextricable part of the culture and we are very sensitive on that issue. Because of our Gourmet programs, we already have good suggestions as a result of our researches and we like to share our knowledge with our guests. As you know that some good restaurants have great service but if you don’t know the locations of the table, you can’t get the %100 of satisfaction. In this point, choosing a table is very important and while we are advising restaurants, we indicate their specialties and makes reservations with that concept.

* Free Concierge services

Finding restaurant for the dinner, getting information to visiting places for your free day, directions of the important centers… to have this information, you and your guest will not need to go anywhere but us. Our entire guest, with their emergency number, they can get this service whenever they want.

* Quickest access to Advisors of Matiana via email, blackberry, toll-free or Gsm

Matiana Travel Advisors gives swift service. We think all possibilities and choose the best service for you before you ask so. To reach these unique services, you can use different communication items such as e-mail, Mobile or normal Pone.

http://www.matiana.com/for_travel_agents_turkey.htm

Responsible Tourism

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Having been involved in tourism for almost 30 years, our travel agency was created to offer our visitors an “off the beaten track” experience and a meeting between cultures.

In keeping with original cultures of the region, we invite our guests into village houses where they are able to share precious time with the local population, who directly benefit monetarily from this experience which assists them in supplementing their otherwise very modest incomes. We are ’hands-on’ with various social and cultural projects in the area. We employ people from the nearby villages, and also support the youngest ones in their studies.

All of our programs are completely respectful of the inhabitants and of the natural beauty. We do not utilize mass tourism hotels but only use family run boutique hotels, and all of our service provider work by this principle also. We have been very successful with this approach. We love our country and in keeping with this, we do not sell any clichés, but only genuine experiences, being considerate of both the locals and our guests.

As we are natives of Cappadocia, which is an amazing and unique region protected by UNESCO, we are very aware of the importance in caring for our environment.

Not only for our ancestral and cultural inheritance, but also for the magnificent natural wonders, out of which the population’s main sources of living are derived. Indeed, although over the years many locals became involved in tourism, agriculture remains the premiere resource, and one can see villagers tending the fields in the morning and then opening their shops at noon.

In this region, we have a unique Boutique ‘cave’ hotel, in which each stone has been carefully selected and hewn from local ruins, in order to perfectly compliment the natural rock-hues of the area. We (Indigo Group) also operate Cross Golf in Cappadocia which is the one of the best Responsible Luxury in Turkey.

Matiana Travel Member of;

*The International Ecotourism Society

*Sustainable Travel International

http://www.matiana.com/responsible_tourism_turkey.htm

Travel Services

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UNIQUE HOTELS

Our choices are based on quality, originality (architectural, decoration) character and personalization of services. We want to each of our guests to feel special and be taken care of.

UNIQUE DESTINATIONS

We want you to have a personal experience along your trip. Therefore we choose as much as possible to take you “off the beaten track” as much as possible and into the local life so you can enjoy the finest, reknown hospitality and warmth of Turkish people.

TOP GUIDES

Depending on the type of trip you are planning, (cultural, religious, educational travel, etc…) we offer the services of specialized guides, some being reputed and recognized in their own domain.

DYNAMIC SERVICES

Our motto is “Experience the Difference” and our entire team is dedicated to give you the best of their expertise to make your trip one of the unforgettable times of your life.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Deluxe coach, Deluxe car and limousine, Vintage cars and vintage coaches, Horse carriage, Private Helicopter or Plane, Boats

UNIQUE ACTIVITIES

Hot air ballooning, Cross Golf in Cappadocia, Horseback riding, Whirling dervish performance, Turkish dinner and night entertainments, Lifestyle walking tours, and more...

COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES

Guides, Translators, Catering, Waiter Service, Bodyguards, Baby sitting, Nurses

24hr/7day PERSONAL CARE & CONCIERGE SERVICES

Personal care and customized services continue while you travel in Turkey. Please do not hesitate to contact us anytime (24hr/7day) at 1 866 978 6360 (Toll Free) or +90 533 705 80 73 (GSM of Ufuk Gokdeniz, Operations Manager).

http://www.matiana.com/travel_services_turkey.htm

Meaning of Matiana

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Matiana is one of the few names of Goreme district in Cappadocia, where the Matiana Travel was born.

Story about “Matiana” name is;

“Once upon a time, an old Orthodox-Christian lady was living in Goreme district and she was very famous about her holy personality. She was every time positive and everyone who has some questions, they like to apply her for her positive advises. Her name was “Mati” and people called her Mati-ana, which means “Mother Mati” because she was kind hearted to everyone just like all mothers. Her big heart and her positive energy became so popular that people while they are going to visit this neighborhood, they respond to people who asked “Where are you going to?” as “I am going to Mati-ana” and then this name remains as a name of the district.”

We all, Matiana Travel Team, are just keep alive her legacy and treat well to our guests and taking care about their request and find the best solutions as like she did.

http://www.matiana.com/meaning_of_matiana.htm

About Us

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Matiana Travel is a part of a trilogy called INDIGO, the personal work and investment of Mr. Omer Tosun, well- known textile and antiques expert over the world. A native from the amazing region of Cappadocia, and involved in tourism for over 38 years, Mr.Tosun decided to share his experience and the result of his own personal quest of the wonders of Turkey and its finest representations of culture.

Matiana Travel is found in 1998, based in ISTANBUL and CAPPADOCIA to provide the best travel opportunities. 100% guest satisfaction, high quality service and sincerity are our main subjects. For that reason we welcome personally all of our guests at their arrival, ensuring that your first steps in our country are the beginning of the dream.

Our way of thinking is "Responsible Luxury Tourism" and our team is internationally diverse (world travelers), dynamic, curious and always seeking out “the new and the unique”. We like to take each request as a challenge, and our motivation comes from the fact that none of our tours duplicate one another. We create unique and personalized travel services responding to your needs, your interests and your way of traveling.

From transportation, hotel booking, event and activity organizing to full all-inclusive programs, we will propose to you a step by step itinerary including a selection of items you will be able to choose from.

We offer you the convenience of arranging your travel requirements through the internet from your home coupled with the security of completing your reservation directly with a Turkish based company

http://www.matiana.com/about_matiana_travel.htm