Fethi Karataş – The Visionary Behind The Other Tour
Meet Fethi Karataş, the mind behind The Other Tour—redefining travel across Turkey with meaning, intellect, and curiosity.
Soner Dursun, co-founder of The Other Tour, has been shaping its unique approach since 2011. With a strong background in hotel management, he ensures seamless operations and top-tier hospitality, bringing a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of guest satisfaction. Born and raised in the Black Sea region, he carries its renowned resourcefulness and charm, making every experience with The Other Tour feel warm and welcoming.
A lifelong football enthusiast, Soner’s passion for the game matches his energy for crafting meaningful connections. Whether on the pitch or sharing stories over tea, his competitive spirit and love for teamwork shine through. His lifelong friendship with Fethi, built since childhood, is the foundation of their collaboration. Together, they have grown The Other Tour into a travel agency known for organizing unique tours in Istanbul and across Turkey, driven by authenticity, adventure, and Soner’s vibrant leadership.
Meet Fethi Karataş, the mind behind The Other Tour—redefining travel across Turkey with meaning, intellect, and curiosity.
Shop handmade Iznik ceramics in Sultanahmet and join authentic workshops at TESTI Quartz—a living legacy of Ottoman artistry.
Explore Istanbul from Galataport with private, cultural shore excursions—historic sites, local life, and flexible itineraries.
Discover stroller-friendly tours, parks, and transport in Istanbul — plus gear rental and full support for families with babies.
Wheelchair rental and accessible tours in Istanbul — delivered to your hotel, guided with care, and designed for immersive travel.
Discover the history and artistry of İznik tiles, Ottoman masterpieces celebrated for their intricate designs and vibrant colors.
Explore İznik, the ancient city of Nicaea, known for its Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman heritage, and stunning İznik tiles.
Embark on a 12-Day Turkey Tour: explore Istanbul’s historic wonders, Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, Ephesus’s ruins, and Pamukkale’s terraces.
Explore Istanbul’s rich Christian heritage with us! Discover Byzantine cathedrals, hidden Orthodox chapels, and active Armenian churches.
Explore Istanbul’s synagogues, from historic gems to active houses of worship, and uncover the rich Jewish heritage across the city.
We offer a unique, immersive travel experience across Turkey — not just Istanbul's lesser-known corners, but also the valleys of Cappadocia, the ruins of Ephesus, and the coastlines of Antalya and Bodrum, engaging guests in cultural activities like local home visits, market explorations, and Bosphorus cruises.
What we specialize in, above all, is matching each client with the right professional guide for wherever they're headed in Turkey — though if we're being honest, our roster is still concentrated mostly in Istanbul. As of July 2026, that roster stands at fifty guides, each one personally vetted rather than pulled from a directory. Most of what we arrange are daily and multi-day private tours, guided primarily in English, with guides available in other languages on request.
We also provide a full range of wheelchair-assisted guided tours, custom itineraries, and specialized tours covering historical, cultural, and niche interests like Jewish heritage, vegan spots, and bird-watching — now paired with a guide roster that reaches Ankara, the Black Sea, and the wider Mediterranean region. We also offer transportation services with professional guides for a more personalized and flexible experience.
The Other Tour is an immersive way to experience Istanbul and the rest of Turkey, led by licensed local guides who take you beyond the tourist spots into the lived culture and quiet corners of Cappadocia, Antalya, Ephesus, Bodrum, and the Mediterranean. We also build personalized travel planning, private tours, and custom itineraries — crafted around what you’re actually curious about, in any region of the country.