Who We Are
Who We Are
Who We Are
Guides first, travel designers second — that is our story, and your advantage.
Who We Are
Istanbul Private Tour is not an ordinary tour service.
It is a perspective one that understands the soul of the city, notices what others overlook, and designs a distinct experience for every guest. It is an approach built on personalized discovery, elegant guidance, and hospitality rooted in trust.
A strong, consistent brand builds trust. And trust is the foundation of being chosen.
More Than 25 Years of Excellence
Our founders' journey in tourism began over 25 years ago long before Istanbul Private Tour existed. As working tour guides, they walked these same streets, told these same stories, and spent decades learning firsthand what makes a journey unforgettable.
Istanbul Private Tour was founded in 2012 to bring that experience into one dedicated brand but the expertise behind it is far older. It's knowledge earned over a quarter century, not assembled from a brochure.
Turkey makes this work a privilege. Few places on earth have stood at the crossroads of so many civilizations, or paired that history with landscapes this striking. We simply help you experience it the way it deserves with depth, with ease, and with people who've spent their lives getting to know it.
Journeys Designed Around You
Every guest arrives with a different rhythm, a different curiosity, a different idea of the perfect day. That's exactly how we plan not from a fixed itinerary, but from a conversation about what matters to you.
Whether it's a slower morning at Hagia Sophia before the crowds arrive, a private balloon ride over Cappadocia, or a boat of your own along the Aegean coast, we shape the journey around your pace, your interests, and your time starting right here in Istanbul, the city we know best. No two itineraries we design are ever quite the same.
This is what sets Istanbul Private Tour apart: Not simply showing you Turkey, but designing the version of it that's made for you.
Tell us your pace, your passions, and your time. We'll take it from there.
A Company You Can Trust
Istanbul Private Tour operates as a fully licensed Turkish tour operator under TURSAB licence no. 7707, held by Tessera Tourism, and is bound by the same regulatory standards that govern every reputable travel company in Turkey.
Behind every warm welcome is a professional operation built to protect your experience at every step: licensed, professionally trained guides who know their subject in depth; fully insured vehicles maintained to a high standard; hotels, drivers, and local partners chosen and vetted over years, not booked on short notice; and transparent pricing with no hidden fees or last-minute surprises.
This is what quiet reliability looks like the details you'll never have to think about, because we already have.
Meet The Team Behind Your Adventures
A team united by a love for travel and a commitment to excellence.
"A licensed professional tour guide since 1999, with over 25 years of experience in the tourism industry, he has hosted thousands of guests from around the world and has led the design of personalized, high-quality travel experiences across Turkey. Beyond tourism, he has a strong interest in the arts and maintains a serious and carefully built collection. His cultural and aesthetic perspective naturally informs the content and narrative approach of the tours he develops."
Erkan Kasaköse
Founder & Travel Advisor & Tour Guide
"His career in tourism began in 1989 as a tour leader, working with travelers across a wide range of destinations. In 1996, he moved from guiding into operations management and has since managed travel operations across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Caucasus. With decades of experience in the field, he brings a broad regional perspective and extensive operational expertise to every program."
Yavuz Salataci
Business Advisor
"A cultural designer with a History degree from Istanbul University and a master’s in Ancient History. Founder of MythosLogos, creating thematic tours and educational programs that blend academic insight with contemporary travel narratives. A jazz enthusiast whose creative work is shaped by rhythm, curiosity, and cultural depth."
Dilek Tutan Poyraz
Managing Director
"Graduated from Istanbul University in Ancient Greek Language and Literature and completed his master’s in Ancient History. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Ancient History at Istanbul University. He also translates from Ancient Greek and works as an editor. A devoted Beşiktaş supporter and long-time season ticket holder, he enjoys discussing football as much as classical studies. Passionate about the history of Istanbul and the civilizations of Anatolia."
Emre Poyraz
Co-Owner - Tour Guide
"A graduate of Istanbul University’s Faculty of Economics with more than 20 years of experience in the travel and hospitality field. Combines analytical insight with operational precision, contributing to the design of seamless travel experiences across Türkiye. Passionate about nature—particularly hiking, photography, and birdwatching—which shapes his grounded, observant, and detail-oriented approach to his work."
Emre Bilge
Travel Advisor
"With 25+ years in digital business and a background as the founder of an online travel agency, I help tourism brands grow through smarter strategy, stronger brands, digital experiences and better products. I turn travel ideas into businesses that perform."
Banu Hasbora
Company Advisor
"With more than a decade of guiding experience across Türkiye, he now focuses particularly on his hometown of Kuşadası and the surrounding Aegean region. Over the years, he has developed a special interest in the ancient Ionian cities of Ephesus, Priene, and Miletus, alongside the culinary traditions of the Aegean. His tours bring archaeology and local food culture together, offering a perspective on the region shaped by both its ancient past and its living traditions."
Julide Coşkun
Travel Advisor
"She holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Turkish Language and Literature from Istanbul University and has a master’s degree. She is interested in multidisciplinary work that blends traditional narrative forms with modern approaches. Her morning routine is not complete without bullet journaling accompanied by a cup of plain Turkish coffee. She is the favorite human of Rüstem, one of the office cats."
Esra Toker
Travel Advisor
"With a background in Graphic Design and Visual Communication Design, she works across visual identity, social media, and digital content. Her practice also extends to photography and video, bringing different forms of visual storytelling together to create clear, engaging, and purposeful work."
Berke Geyik
Graphic Design
"A professional tour guide since 1997, he has guided extensively throughout Türkiye, with a particular focus on Istanbul. With a background in law and a strong interest in history, cultures, and religions, he has also studied Byzantine and Ottoman legal traditions to better understand the everyday life of these societies. His tours combine years of experience with this historical perspective, offering insight into both the monuments and the people and cultures that shaped them."
Hüseyin Aydın
Company Lawyer - Tour Guide
"Mother and two sons. They own the office, rule the office, and use us as pillows sometimes."
Gofret, Rüstem & Osman
Our Masters
