Elvan Ozbay was our incredible guide for a 10-day family trip in Turkey in September 2022 that took us to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Aphrodisias and Pamukkale. Elvan wowed us with her encyclopedic knowledge of everything Turkey, from ancient history to the best local restaurants. She was creative and nimble when we encountered obstacles like a delayed flight. She paid attention to the moods and desires of our group and anticipated when one or more of us needed a little change-up to the itinerary. If someone expressed interest in a site, shopping or food, she switched gears and made it happen - effortlessly.
I booked the trip through Lale Aran, SRM Travel. I am a devoted Rick Steves fan and, although I have never been on one of the tours, I use the guidebooks for all of my European trips. I have booked his recommended guides in many European cities. As such, I requested a senior level guide from Lale who booked us with Elvan. We were so fortunate that she was available.