Best Guided Tours of Turkey

—Walking to and through Istanbul's most interesting sights with a small and congenial group of fellow explorers led by a friendly, knowledgeable guide.

—Strolling through a city's vibrant markets and haggling for the ingredients of a delicious Turkish meal that you will help—and learn—to prepare.

—Soaring over the moonscape of Cappadocia in a hot-air balloon.

—Jolly walks and meals with new friends, and a guide who can answer questions and tell stories that aren't in the guidebooks.

Joining a small band of other travelers on a common adventure means you don't have to make all those travel arrangements yourself; that if something goes wrong, others will fix it at no additional cost; that you have an advocate for special needs and situations; and that local experts will arrange experiences that you couldn't.

As for cost, a high-quality tour may be comparable in cost to the same arrangements made by you, because travel agencies and tour companies often negotiate discounted pricing on travel services.

So even if you're "the sort of traveler who doesn't go on tours," you should browse the tour offerings below. I think you'll be surprised at what you find.

Turkey has hundreds of tour companies and thousands of guided tours, from half-day tours of Istanbul to 21-day grand tours of the entire country. Here are some tips for your first trip to Turkey. It's important for you to realize that all tours are not equal. A tour from a good company will give you far more value than a tour from a mediocre company, even if their tour itineraries and prices are similar. Low price does not always indicate good value-for-money. Before you sign up for any tour, read Good & Bad Tours in Turkey.

Keep in mind that any of my recommended travel agencies can set up a custom itinerary for you, or you can hire a professional guide.