Murat Ornek
Thanks to my Turkish and Guatemalan family spread around the world, when I was younger traveling was all about visiting relatives in different countries. Since my early 20s I have been doing trips in search of the good food, history and hiking trails.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"Specializing in adventure and experience-based travel, we do tours all around Turkey. We are the right address for those who want to pursue the less-taken paths and look for authentic experiences. Be it a lunch with the nomads after hiking, a road trip covering ancient cities as Troy and Pergamon, or simply get lost in Istanbul chasing the best street food."
How did you get involved in travel?
"Previously I had a job related to loyalty programs and direct marketing in travel industry. I used to spend long hours extracting and analyzing traveler data or working on travel promotions. Later realized that I definitely wanted to create travel experiences and spending more time out from the office. By the end of 2011, establishing a travel company specialized in active travel and elaborate cultural tours became my dream. Since 2013, I am lucky enough to have worked with some pioneer tour operators of the industry and designing customized tours for travelers around the world."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"I still cannot forget the trip that I made to Morocco when I was 21 years old. It was a life changing road-trip with four other friends, where we slept in the desert, trekked and meditated in Dades Valley, discovered the amazing cities and got to know a climate of desert, snow and tropic in a single day."
Featured trips & expertise
Highlights of Cappadocia - 5 Days
See a different side of Turkey on a 5-day visit to Cappadocia, one of the most incredible regions in the country. Located in the plains of Central Anatolia, it's known for beautiful valleys dotted with unique rock formations and cave dwellings. You'll see it all on valley hikes, tours of ancient underground cities, and even a hot-air balloon ride where you can marvel at the entire region stretched out below you.
Wine Tour & Highlights of Istanbul - 5 Days
Do Turkey a little different when you discover its less-heralded yet world-class wine region of Thrace. This sweet spot in the northwest of the country, bordering Europe, has been known for wine-making for thousands of years, and you'll get to taste the top varietals borne of this fertile terroir. In addition, you'll wind down the trip to Istanbul with tours of its historic Byzantine and Ottoman monuments.
Highlights of Turkey - 5 Days
Even in as few as five days, you can see two highlights of Turkey in two distinct regions. First, you'll tour the historic streets of Istanbul, visiting Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks and browsing massive covered markets. Then it's off to central Turkey and the lunar valleys of Cappadocia, where you'll walk in underground cities and fly high over the plateaus in a hot-air balloon.
Explore Historic Turkey - 10 Days
Experience the full breadth of Turkey's deep history on a 10-day adventure through multiple regions. It begins in Istanbul, where you'll visit incredible Byzantine and Ottoman monuments. Then, after touring World War I battlefields, you're off on a road trip to see ancient Greek and Roman sites like the city of Troy and Ephesus. The trip finishes at the incredible lunar landscapes and "fairy chimneys" of Cappadocia.
Highlights of Turkey - 10 Days
Over 10 packed days, you'll experience the highlights of Turkey, from the Ottoman and Byzantine monuments in Istanbul to the lunar valleys of Cappadocia. It's an itinerary that includes adventurous hot-air balloon rides and explorations of ancient city ruins. Plus, you'll have time to relax in a natural spa between the fun city tours and outdoor excursions.
Turkey Off the Beaten Path: Adrasan, Pamukkale, Urgup & More - 10 Days
Forgo the major cities and focus on Turkey's natural beauty and historic landmarks. This unforgettable 10-day adventure combines hikes along the famous Lycian Way with tours of ancient ruins and road trips to natural wonders like the thermal pools of Pamukkale and the lunar valleys of Cappadocia. It's an active adventure that showcases a side of Turkey most tourists never get to see.
Recent trip reviews for Murat
Unforgettable experience
Turkey
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Nov 20 - Nov 27, 2022
This experience was amazing. We have traveled to many places before, but it was the first time we used KimKim. Murat did great putting our schedule together and helping us to make reservations to great restaurants. Our local guide Andy (Onder) was wonderful. Always on time, and ready to make recommendations on trustable shops. His historical knowledge of all the places we went was just great. It is so difficult to pick just one favorite place from our visit to Turkiye. I choose all of them.... read more
Hi Jose,
Thanks for your kind words. I look forward to host you here again.
Best regards,
Murat
Best of Turkey highlights tour!
Turkey
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Nov 12 - Nov 17, 2022
We initially planned this trip pre-pandemic and had to postpone until Nov 2022 so it has been a long time coming. Murat, our local specialist, has been very accommodating throughout this whole period and we were finally able to make it happen! Communication and coordination leading up to the start of the trip were only slightly delayed but everything turned out great. The final call(s) to touch base put everyone on the same page and was quite helpful.
Our local guide, Onder (Andy), was... read more
Hi Ploy,
Thanks for this review. It’s great that you guys finally made it.
Best regards,
Murat
Turkey - highly recommend! Both the country and Murat’s team!
Turkey
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Aug 6 - Aug 14, 2022
It was a one of the best organized trips I had been on.. from the hotels, car pick ups, tour plans to sight seeing it was a very well organized and very thoughtfully done. It was a customized tour plan and since I was a single traveler Murat and team made sure I was always taken care and never felt unsafe.
From Volkan, hatice to Murat himself were very good hosts and excellent travel buddies.
Istanbul - hotel, food everything was good. It’s a vibrant city and should be seen only on... read more
Thanks Itee, it was great meeting you!
We really had a great time in Istanbul and Ca...
Turkey
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Aug 8 - Aug 13, 2022
We really had a great time in Istanbul and Cappadocia. Overall the Kim Kim Did a good job in helping us capture the authenticity that we wanted in this trip. The people were amazing, the sites were wonderful, and the food was great.
There were some small glitches. Firstly, after a long flight from the US, we didn’t have anyone waiting for us at the airport. Only after several texts and calls did someone finally come, but it did delay us significantly.
The facility in Cappadoccia, although... read more
Hi Naeem,
I am happy to read that you liked the way the trip was organized and had great time in Turkey.
I am still very sorry that due to a miscommunication on our side you had to wait at the arrivals. However, as a compensation you had a luxury van with driver at your service for the entire day in Istanbul, I wish you had mentioned that.
Glitches may happen in any hotel, in your case the rooms were changed and upgraded to a deluxe and queen suite immediately and you had complementary... read more
A memorable trip to amazing Turkey! Thank you kimkim for making it so special.
Turkey
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Apr 15 - Apr 25, 2022
A trip that was 2 year in the making due to Covid we had an absolutely amazing time in Turkey. Murat was very patient and considerate of all our questions and requests. The accomodation was special, namely Gil Konaklari in Cappadocia and Nisyanan house in Sirence. The Pan Thermal hotel in Pammakule was a bit disappointing.
Yunnus our guide in Cappadocia was excellent. He has so much knowledge to share and we enjoyed his stories of places and people. He is a good driver and made every effort... read more
Hi Madhavi,
Thanks for the review. I am so happy that you finally made it!
Hope to meet you the next time you come.
Bests,
Murat
The Best of Turkey in 9 Days
Turkey
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Dec 28 - Jan 3, 2022
The tour organized by Mr. Murat was enjoyable, interesting, and generally "smooth sailing". It was my first time in Turkey, but I now have good impressions of the country and its people. There are some other places I wanted to see and things that I wanted to do which did not fit my itinerary, but it will be a good reason for me to return.
The tour guides and drivers that were assigned to me - Mr. Aydin in Istanbul, Mr. Irfan in Cappadocia, and Mr. Onder in Izmir were very knowledgeable,... read more
Thanks for this wonderful feedback, Anna.
Hope to see you here again very soon.
First post pandemic trip to Turkey
Turkey
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Oct 12 - Oct 18, 2021
Though an avid travelled, this was my first trip post the pandemic and I was a little nervous at first. However Murat was so helpful and cooperative, I ended up having a wonderful trip. There were 1-2 glitches that could have been avoided but Murat did his best to remedy the situation. The 2 guides I had in Istanbul and Cappadocia were wonderful - Ibrahim and Ramazan - very flexible and cooperative. Murat’s property in Cappadocia is a piece of heaven I would highly recommend. The logistics... read more
Thanks Sharmy, it was a pleasure to have you and Nivi here.
Highest recommendation for Murat and Team: Magical Whirlwind tour of Turkey
Turkey
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Jun 29 - Jul 12, 2021
I have only very high and excellent praises for Murat and KimKim.
Murat has organized a well-tailored trip with must-do highlights of Turkey. He even helped arrange scuba diving at a couple of our destinations. His attention to the details are impeccable, and his communication is always timely.
I can't rave enough about how much of a gift to travelers KimKim is, especially with Murat's role in our much-needed vacation. He has been easily accessible for last-minute changes, and would go... read more
Thanks a lot for your words, Al'ai. I enjoyed designing and managing your trip. It was definitely unconventional and fun!
Hope to have you here again.
Turkey Road Trip
Turkey
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Apr 20 - May 3, 2021
Considering traveling during a pandemic, my trip organizer, Murat Ornek and guides Rdivan Uyanik and Alp Sancar were amazing. They knew how to deal with new covid restrictions while I was there to make the trip as seamless as possible. I highly recommend working with Murat in organizing your Turkish experience. Very accommodating person and I had the privilege in meeting his lovely, warm family. I have to as much as I loved Istanbul with its astounding mosques, beautiful landscape, and... read more
Thank you, Richard. It was a pleasure spending time with you!