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Us+1 770 783 0167
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Turkey+90 507 027 2794
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Sojourn is a group of people that love people
Chris & Angela
This power couple duo is the mastermind behind Sojourn and their mission is to see dreams come true, spread smiles and obscure simplicity.
Sojourn Turkey is a fully licensed Travel Agency (Tursab License A-5626) based on the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya, Turkey. Our focus is operating customized tours that maximize opportunity for cultural exposure, Biblical and Classical sightseeing, and unique experiences of local customs and arts. With over 20 years of experience in Turkey, we offer our customers the best of both worlds — local operators with connections to the best tour packages plus the benefits of American ownership, intuitively understand your western tastes and standards. We are a travel company that seeks to understand your implicit trip needs and respect your expectations. And we take pride in being experts at bridging the gaps so you have a wonderful travel experience in Turkey. We have developed a reputation among our customers for a high degree of flexibility, personal service, planner creativity and trustworthiness.
Meet the team guiding you to your dream tour
Yasemin
MICE Sales Director
We call her our “Queen of Conferences.” With great attention to detail and professionalism she serves meeting and event planners from start to finish. She specializes in taking excellent and personal care of thousands of event guests every year! Her enthusiastic spirit and highly competent mind are treasured by both our clients and our team.
Having lived and studied abroad throughout her life, she brings a valuable international perspective to our office. She and her husband have two adorable kids that keep them on the move.
Elif
Tour Operations Director
Elif leads our staff and guides to ensure that your tour is beautifully designed and operated. She works closely with our travelers before and during tours to take care every detail and request. She has an amazing ability to coordinate each aspect of the experiences we design.
Elif has been working in the travel companies for over 20 years and has experience working with English, Dutch, And Turkish speaking companies.
With her strong support as their mom, her son is now studying in North America and her daughter is an accomplished gymnast.
Kaan
Tour Operations Assistant
Right hand to Elif in all matters with your reservations and communications, he works to be sure every detail is arranged perfectly for your tour.
He has super dad status in our eyes as he partners so gracefully with his hard working wife to raise their daughter.
Umay
Accountant
Umay manages Sojourn's funds, accounting, and every other financial detail for you with great care and honesty.
She is a wonderful mother to her teenage son. Umay is a loving and caring person who helps remind all those in her life that people are more important than tasks. And her smile can be read through her emails.
Nazli
Executive Assistant
I was born in Kayseri, which is near the very popular Cappadocia region. In 2012, I successfully earned degrees in Ancient Greek Language and Literature from Akdeniz University, as well as International Relations from Anadolu University.
My professional journey began as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) assistant in the field of hospitality and tourism. Through dedication and growth, I have advanced to my current role as an Executive Assistant. I take great pride in being an integral part of the dynamic realm of Sojourn. My deep affection for the city I call home further fuels my enthusiasm for my work.
Ümmü
Office Services
Ümmühan is our deep Turkish culture expert. She makes sure all of our office visitors and friends are culturally greeted and provided with tea, coffee, and refreshments. She keeps the team well hydrated and healthily fed. She is the smiling face of hospitality to our office visitors. She has three kids, one of whom is studying to be a nurse. She has been part of training our interns in Turkish culture and connecting them with the local culture.
Tuğba Kucukomer
Sales Assistant
I was born and raised in Antalya. I graduated from the American Studies department at Hacettepe University. Now I enthusiastically create and organize captivating tours that showcase the rich culture and historical landmarks of Turkey. I have developed a particular love for music from various countries and languages, finding inspiration and joy in its diverse melodies. My interests extend beyond the realm of travel, as I am deeply passionate about books, movies, mythology, and art. Constantly seeking new avenues for exploration and growth, I strive to create memorable experiences for those eager to discover Turkey's heritage.
Nuriye Yarar
Sales Assistant
I was born and spent my entire childhood in Hatay, a city that has hosted many civilizations and is considered sacred by three major religions. Relocating to Antalya for college, I studied Gerontology and graduated from Akdeniz University. It was during my time in Antalya that I realized my passion for working in tourism. I thoroughly enjoy communicating with travelers and learning about their cultures from their perspective. The Sojourn Turkey team focuses on preparing perfect fit itineraries that satisfy our guests' exact needs and desires, and I am proud to be a part of it. I enjoy organizing many details and continuously learning new things as I carefully consider every single detail to ensure each traveler’s itinerary is perfect.
Emre Can Yıldız
Sales Assistant
I was born and grew up in Balikesir in the northwest of Turkey. I am a Tourism Management graduate from Akdeniz University. My passion lies in curating exceptional travel experiences and fostering meaningful cultural connections. During an enriching internship at a prestigious hotel in America, I gained valuable insights into guest services and international tourism dynamics. I enjoy indulging in movies, video games, basketball, and exploring diverse cuisines. I am deeply committed to sustainable and responsible tourism practices, aiming to leave a positive impact on both travelers and local communities.
a few of our guides
Feray Kocabaş
Tour Guide
Fluent in both English and German, Feray pursued a profession as a certified tour guide. With a career spanning collaborations with various travel agencies and tour groups, she joined Sojourn four years ago. Having lived in Antalya for 17 years, her love for the city has grown immensely. As a parent of two children, a boy and a girl, she prioritizes quality time through activities like trekking, swimming, and exploring new places. She finds the art of communication particularly fascinating and she loves sharing stories about travel and history. Guiding others throughout Turkey brings Feray immense joy, and given another opportunity at life, she stated, “she would unquestionably choose the same profession again”.
Belgin Yurdagül
Tour Guide
Studying English throughout her education, Belgin graduated from Ankara University with a degree in Dutch Language and Literature. Subsequently, she continued her studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, focusing on Dutch studies. Upon returning to Turkey, she pursued a career as a tour guide by completing a course organized by the Ministry of Tourism. Married with two children, she takes great pleasure in sharing information about famous destinations and Turkey’s rich culture with visitors. Since 2001, she have been conducting tours in both English and Dutch languages for tourists visiting Antalya.
Rabia Öznalbant
Tour Guide
With a degree in Travel Agency Management and German language specialization from Mersin University, Rabia brings extensive experience from various travel agencies. Her passion for culture and history led her to study Tour Guiding at Ege University, obtaining a professional license in 2006. For 15 years, she has been a proud part of Sojourn, finding joy in sharing her knowledge with diverse tourist groups. As a dedicated parent based in Kusadasi, she enjoys the region's natural beauty and has embraced a new adventure on a small farm since the pandemic. As a pastime she engages in tours with colleagues to explore more of Turkey to provide you with the best experiences possible on your journey to Turkey.
Fuat Kocabaş
Tour Guide
Graduating from Selcuk University with a degree in Tourism Guiding in 2004, Fuat built his career in tourism and relocated to Antalya the following year. Since then, Antalya has become his home as he passionately works as a tour guide. He is dedicated to creating joyful experiences for people. His expertise lies in cultural tours and leading hiking expeditions along the stunning Lycian Way that traces through Turkey's Mediterranean region. Assisting and witnessing the happiness of tourist groups brings him immense joy. Fuat further explained that “being part of the Sojourn team has not only brought happiness but also allowed him to make friends from all corners of the globe”. Fuat is happily married and is the proud parent of two little "monsters," a girl and a boy. It's a wonderful experience for him to contribute to people's happiness in Turkey and witness the joy reflected in our tourists eyes.
Dicle Gündem
Tour Guide
Dicle is a seasoned local guide proudly associated with our team here at Sojourn, she is a native of central Turkey with a degree in tourism management. With over 21 years of experience, she has had the privilege of guiding diverse groups, primarily from North America, in both English and French. Her passion for guiding goes beyond profession; it's a deep commitment to showcasing the beauty of her homeland. Certified for biblical tours, she provides a comprehensive and enriching experience for visitors. Dicle looks forward to welcoming you to Turkey in the future.
Proud Members of
Our History
The company was originally established in 2000 in Izmir, Turkey and was subsequently sold to four partners who established the tourism arm. It then received the Turkish government travel agency license as SOJOURN TOURISM, granting legal approval to package all aspects of tourism. In 2007, the company moved its office to Antalya, Turkey, where the owners reside.
During these years, through our many trips we have developed networks with tourism service providers throughout the country. We have relationships with researchers, professors and archeologists that oversee Biblical site excavations throughout Turkey. These contacts also extend as far as local families and farmers in original rug weaving villages who enjoy hosting our tour guests.
Our Mission and Vision
Our mission is to provide our clients and our host country suppliers with tourist interactions that maximize positive experience, cultural understanding, value, profit and quality.
Our vision is to:
- provide our customers with a high quality, close-up experience of Turkish people and culture.
- tear down walls of misconception and build bridges of understanding between foreign tourists and Turks leading to increased mutual understanding and respect.
- to demonstrate Turkish culture revealing the positive aspects to foreign tourists.
- offer fairly priced custom tours that have the added value of deeper cultural exposure.
- operate in a way that balances the desires and well being of both tourists and locals.
- function in ways that minimize negative impact on historical, cultural and environrmental resources.
- continually improve our performance and position by responding to the customers’s pre-trip and post-trip requirements.
Sojourn’s team is composed of travel loving cultural specialists, knowledgeable and experienced with the range of options in Turkey and skilled at guiding our clients into the most rewarding cultural interactions. Our unique advantage is that we see our clients as valued partners, and we aim to achieve the highest quality packages in custom designed tours.