In Istanbul, every travel agency can “organize a tour.”
The real question is: who will actually take care of you—like a human being, not a booking number—from the moment you land to the moment you’re dancing at a meyhane at midnight because the night got too good to end on time?
That’s the difference between a standard agency and The Other Tour.
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The Other Tour Approach: We Don’t “Run Tours.” We Host You.
The Other Tour exists because we were tired of the template.
We’re Istanbul’s human-first travel agency—the one that doesn’t treat tours as a product, but as a relationship. We believe The Other Tour delivers the most personal, flexible, and intellectually rich experience in Istanbul—and we’ll explain why. Our style is multi-layered:
We start the fun immediately (yes, at the airport)
For many guests, we don’t “meet at the hotel lobby at 9:00.”
We greet you at the airport, help you settle in, and get the good times rolling from the very first moment you arrive.
Intellectual Curiosity Dictates Our Pace
Our tours are flexible in a way most agencies simply can’t be. We change itineraries on the fly based on what you’re curious about that day.
- If you suddenly fall in love with a neighborhood? We stay longer.
- If you’re tired? We adjust.
- If you need a breather? We’ll take you back to the hotel for a quick siesta—then get back on the horse refreshed.
This isn’t “extra service.” It’s our default.
Typical Pitfalls
If a guide expects a shopping stop (carpets, leather, jewelry, “special factory outlets”) and realizes you’re not buying… the energy can change. Sometimes you’ll even see the day shortened with a convenient excuse.
On top of that, communication matters. There are brilliant guides out there—but many tours suffer because the guide’s English simply isn’t strong enough to tell Istanbul’s story with nuance, clarity, and confidence. A city this layered deserves better than broken sentences and recycled anecdotes.
That’s why the agency matters more than the itinerary.
Because we protect your time, your budget, your comfort, and the quality of your guiding.
We go all-in—literally
Our founder and lead guide Fethi Karatas (aka Monti) is very attentive to all his clients and even if we have 6 different tours on a particular day, Monti makes sure he goes and meets all his clients. While doing that, he also checks up that day’s guide to see if they are performing.
And in most cases we become friends with our clients.
We go into Turkish baths with our guests.
We take guests to our homes for meals.
We’ll sit down with you for dinner, order properly, translate properly, and make the night feel like you belong.
And here’s the part our clients mention constantly:
Where Time Becomes a Generous Companion
Perhaps the most telling sign of our approach is how we view the clock. A published finish time is merely a suggestion. It is not uncommon for a day that begins at 9:00 AM to unfold organically into the evening.
This is never due to poor planning, but rather a deliberate generosity of time. When conversation is flowing, a discovery is unfolding, or a moment simply deserves to be savored, we do not cut it short.
We believe the richest experiences are not rushed; they are allowed to breathe and conclude naturally, often long after the official schedule has ended. For us, this is the privilege of hosting, not just touring.
And the prime example is, of course, our flagship centerpiece classic itinerary ‘The Other Tour‘ which is a 14-hour guided experience in Istanbul.
We Support Every Part of Your Trip (Not Just a Tour Day)
Most agencies in Istanbul are built around “tour hours.” You meet a guide, you do the route, you get dropped off, and you’re on your own again—figuring out dinner, figuring out a bath, figuring out the evening, figuring out whether that “local shop” was actually fair.
That’s not how we work.
With The Other Tour, guests lean on us for the parts of a trip that actually make it feel effortless: the transitions, the timing, the trust, the little decisions that can turn a day magical—or quietly stressful. We don’t just plan a tour. We host your Istanbul.
And here’s a key reason we can do that: our boss doesn’t sit behind a desk. Fethi Karataş is in the field. He’s out there with the pro guides—listening, shaping, troubleshooting, elevating. The storytelling stays alive with the guide, but the invisible magic is often Fethi: tickets already sorted, the driver exactly where he needs to be, the pacing adjusted without you even realizing it, and the day flowing like it was always meant to.
Hands-On & Every Moment Counts
This is the “behind-the-scenes” work that most travelers never see—because when it’s done right, it feels like the city is cooperating with you.
It’s also where the fun lives.
Sometimes a sunset cruise is quietly arranged as a surprise. Sometimes an extra scenic drive is gifted because the light is perfect and you’ve got the energy. Sometimes the plan shifts because you said one sentence—“I love rooftops” or “I want somewhere locals go”—and suddenly you’re clinking glasses above the Golden Horn, laughing too loud, staying out too late, and feeling completely safe doing it.
Our style is simple: good times, done properly.
Safety handled. Logistics handled. And the experience stays human: profound conversations, big laughs, great food, flowing drinks (if that’s your vibe), rooftops enjoyed, and the kind of care that makes you feel like you’re traveling with friends who know exactly what they’re doing.
Wide Range of Services
Our clients rely on us for everything that shapes a great Istanbul experience:
Dinner reservations (the right place for your taste, mood, and location)
Turkish bath experiences (authentic, clean, non-touristy)
Yacht rentals (done properly, with the right timing and expectations)
Nightlife (from a classic meyhane like Galata Meyhanesi to a real nightclub)
Fishing days, ferry days, spontaneous detours
Shopping—only if you want it, and done ethically
Shopping, the right way
If you want to shop, we’ll take you to authentic places with fair prices, where quality is real and pressure is zero.
For example: we work with Kirkit Rugs. Their commissions are so minimal that guests don’t mind it—because you can feel the difference in the pricing. The goal is never to “sell.” The goal is for you to leave happy and never feel played.
Because yes—this is rare. So rare that we often have to protect clients from the typical tour ecosystem.
That’s our promise: not on our watch.
A More Academic Narrative
Most tours run on confident anecdotes and recycled legends. We don’t. Our storytelling is built like a good investigation: claims supported by sources, context, and what can actually be verified on the ground.
That mindset isn’t accidental. Fethi Karataş comes from an engineering background, and his elder brother Murat studied Physics, Mathematics, and Statistics—so the “scientific method” is part of our DNA. We aim for a narrative that’s clear, rigorous, and sophisticated—without ever losing the joy of discovery.
That’s why professors, researchers, and CEOs often tell us the same thing: they didn’t expect this level of intellectual exchange on a tour.
We keep a more evidence-based, research-driven narrative—and we’re obsessive about staying current:
restorations and conservation updates
archaeological excavation news and discoveries
new museum openings, closures, and access conditions
scholarly reading and internal team note-sharing
continuously joining other tours (yes, even in Turkish) to sharpen what we do
And we don’t shy away from Istanbul’s real complexity.
We take on the “touchy” topics—with respect and backbone
Most agencies in Istanbul keep the narrative safe and surface-level. Not because they don’t care—because it’s the easiest way to avoid friction. If you never go deeper than monuments and “fun facts,” you never have to navigate sensitive history, living identities, or the complicated questions guests inevitably ask.
But that’s exactly where Istanbul becomes Istanbul.
At The Other Tour, we don’t shy away from backbreaking topics—we have a knack for them. We thrive on challenging ideas, taboo conversations, and the uncomfortable (but rewarding) luxury of expanding your mind—sometimes even changing it. We’ve always tried to break boundaries, shatter stereotypes, and travel in a way that deepens your understanding of the world rather than smoothing it into a postcard. We do:
deep Jewish and Greek heritage routes
the kind of museum and synagogue visits where relationships matter, trust matters, and your behavior matters
We’re also expanding into dozens of new concepts and minority communities:
Alevi culture-focused experiences
Roman Catholic heritage in Istanbul
collaborations with NGOs, schools, and community groups that use travel as a force for human development
- We organize birding tours with ornithology professors.
- Cat tours with actual cat-owner guides.
- Geology, flora, fauna, art, food, music—all of it.
And yes, we’ll take you somewhere like Yarımburgaz Cave—because we love Istanbul enough to explore its Paleolithic and Neolithic past, not just its postcard present. A cave inhabited for at least 200,000 years? That’s not a footnote. That’s a mind-blower.
Accessibility Isn’t an Add-On for Us — It’s a Skill Set
In 2025, we ran dozens of accessibility-assisted guided tours.
We don’t just say “accessible.” We do it:
multiple staff members supporting wheelchair movement all day
accessible routing choices that still feel rich and meaningful
logistics that remove stress without removing the city
That level of care is operationally hard. Most agencies won’t do it. We do.
Behind the Magic
The Other Tour isn’t one person—it’s a culture of curiosity, hospitality, and precision, led by our founder/manager Fethi Karataş, and powered by an outstanding team:
Signature Itineraries
Bohemian Rhapsody of Istanbul
The Sultanate of Women
Full Extent of the Bosphorus
Judeo-Christian Heritage
Architect Sinan's Footsteps
Roman Era Istanbul Tour
“Everyone Gets 5 Stars”… But These Reviews Tell You Why
We are really blessed to have the clientele that we do. More often that not, we simply click. And sometimes we click hard!
The 4 Other Istanbul Agencies We Recommend
This matters: Istanbul has great players. We don’t believe excellence belongs to one company.
Guided Istanbul Tours — The Network Powerhouse
They’re strong because they have a great network of guides—which can be a huge advantage for:
language needs
specific topics
availability in peak periods
multi-day coordination across sites
Best for: travelers who want options and capacity with reliable guide access.
Kırkıt Voyage — Boutique, Polished, Thoughtful
Kırkıt Voyage (kirkit.com) brings that “boutique operator” energy—careful planning, curated experiences, and a real sense of taste. And the name says it all: in traditional weaving, a kırkıt (kirkit) is the comb-like tool used to beat down and tighten the weft, locking everything into place—an apt image for the way they craft journeys with intention and precision.
The two owners, Ahmet Diler and his wife Tovi Diler, are the kind of people who make travel feel personal again.
Ahmet isn’t just a carpet expert—he’s someone who reads the language of kilims with real care and curiosity, and he’s shared that knowledge with the world through his book The Symbolism of Kilim. Alongside him is his Australian wife Tovi and partner of 30 years, bringing warmth, perspective, and that easy generosity you remember long after a trip ends.
Together they feel like true hosts: grounded, thoughtful, and genuinely lovely—people who don’t just arrange journeys, but help you understand the stories, symbols, and human connections woven through a place.
Before Travel — Partner Team Led by Metin Çobanoğlu
Metin is the kind of operator you want in Türkiye: calm, capable, and guest-first. We’ve seen the care and professionalism firsthand—this is why they’re a valued partner.
Best for: travelers who want dependable planning and clear communication with a strong local operator.
Imperial Travel — Osman Delivers
Osman does a fantastic job—solid execution, strong coordination, and the kind of reliability that matters when trips get complex.
Best for: travelers who want smooth logistics and a classic, well-run experience.
Conclusion: Contact Us Now
Plenty of agencies can sell a tour. But if you want:
airport greeting and immediate warm hospitality
true flexibility (including siestas, detours, and spontaneous magic)
ethical shopping guidance and protection from commission-driven pressure
deep heritage storytelling grounded in evidence—not hearsay
accessibility expertise that’s proven in the real world
a team that reads, researches, shares notes, and keeps evolving
…that’s what The Other Tour does, every day.
And that’s why people don’t leave with “we saw Istanbul.”
They leave with: “Istanbul became one of my favorite cities.”
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