Should you book excursions in Turkey through your tour operator or a local guide, and what do popular tours cost?
Based on 2 discussions with 8 participants · Last activity: 3 days ago
TL;DR
Excursions booked through major tour operators (like Pegas Touristik or Onlinetours) cost more but are more reliable, often with card/QR payment options; local guides can be cheaper but prices vary widely and can spike for popular trips like the Green Canyon or pirate ship cruise.
What the community said
Before buying, clarify the exact route and total price — the same excursion can be priced very differently depending on the seller.
3 days ago
Be cautious with guide recommendations from chat groups — some local guides charge twice as much as a tour operator for the same excursion.
3 days ago
Two of the most popular excursions are the Green Canyon trip and the pirate ship cruise; check current prices in advance as they tend to rise regularly.
3 days ago Green Canyon, pirate ship cruise
The tour operator Nowa Lief reportedly offers cheaper package deals compared to other companies — worth comparing before booking.
3 days ago Nowa Lief
Onlinetours sells both its own tours and tours from the operator FanSan — check which one you're actually booking.
3 days ago Onlinetours, FanSan
Pegas Touristik lets you pay for excursions via QR code at an exchange rate of 75, but their excursions tend to be pricier than other sellers.
3 days ago Pegas Touristik, rate 75
You can check current excursion prices directly on the tour operator's website (Pegas Touristik's site prices match what you actually pay) — pricey, but considered worth it.
3 days ago Pegas Touristik