References

Dr. Ben Witherington, III

Amos Professor of NT for Doctoral Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY; Doctoral Faculty, St. Mary's College, St. Andrews University, Scotland

I have led a plethora of tours over the last twenty five years, and I can honestly say that when it comes to leading a tour to any one of the Lands of the Bible there is no one I would rather work with than Tutku Tours and its many wonderful guides.

Mark Wilson

D.Litt. et Phil., Director, Asia Minor Research Center, Antalya, Turkey; Associate Professor Extraordinary of New Testament, Stellenbosch University

Tutku Tours is a world leader in Biblical and Classical Tours. Its excellent service combined with affordable prices make it the agency of choice for colleges, universities, and seminaries. Its owner Levent Oral uses personable guides who are experts in the field. I would highly recommend Tutku Tours for your next tour to Turkey or to the eastern Mediterranean.

Jim and Heather and 24 happy students!

Westmont College, CA

Dear Levent,
We are writing somewhat belatedly to express our very real and sincere thanks to you, Özcan, and all your team for the fabulous tour which you organized for us.
We particularly liked Tutku's work because:
1. the tour itself was very well constructed with a perfect amount of time at each location
2. the accommodation was flawless
3. the administration was extremely efficient and it has been very easy to deal with all your team
4. Özcan was knowledgeable and highly conscientious and very likable
5. The home stays were a fabulous treat and hugely appreciated by the students (although they must have put a large burden on your team)
We will most certainly use Tutku Tours again and will recommend you to others. With our sincere thanks, once again,

Kyoshin Ahn

Associate Secretary at North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists

Dear Levent,
I would like to thank you for your help and kindness in making my group tour successful. The whole trip went very well. My group returned to the states, and, before returning to the states, they all expressed their appreciation toward Tutku Tours.
Zafer was kind, friendly and flexible. Our driver was also kind and smiley.
I hope you and your company will continue to be thriving.
Blessings,
Kyoshin Ahn

Karen H. Jobes, Ph.D.

Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis, Wheaton College

Dear Levent,
What a wonderful time we had visiting your beautiful country May 7-28 with Dr. Mark Wilson and Dilaver Oncu. This was our first visit to Turkey, and the trip exceeded our best expectations. Dilaver is an excellent guide, and the drivers were very professional. We couldn't have accomplished our travel goals without Mark, Dilaver, Erdugan, and Tamer, and of course Tutku Tours.
Sincerely,
Karen H. Jobes

Julia Galloway

Director, School of Art, College of Visual and Performing Arts, The University of Montana

Dear Cenk,
Thank you for a wonderful tour of Turkey. What a beautiful country and I appreciate your knowledgeable insight about the Turkish culture and all the places we visited.
Best regards,
Julia Galloway

Joel L. Pless, Ph.D.

Department Head – Theology, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Dear Levent and the entire Tutku staff:
We are safely back in Wisconsin, USA after our study tour to Malta, Sicily, and Italy. Once again, Tutku lived up to its reputation and exceeded it. Thank you for all the detail work you people did in making the trip a success.
We will all work together to make the planned January 2019 study tour to Turkey a complete success.
Your loyal customer,
Joel L. Pless, Ph.D.

Dr. Ed Hindson

Founding Dean & Distinguished Professor, School of Divinity, Liberty University

Turkey is one of the most amazing and beautiful countries in the world. No one shows it off like Tutku Tours! Their gracious hospitality and informative guides make the sights and sounds of Turkey come alive for today's visitors. Their tours are informative, inspirational, and absolutely incredible.
Dr. Ed Hindson
Founding Dean & Distinguished Professor, School of Divinity, Liberty University

Charles Nienkirchen

Down Ancient Paths travel study program, Ambrose University College

Hello Levent... Our travels thru Greece and Albania went superbly well and the guides (and hotels) in both countries were great. I really appreciate all you and Erin did to make this itinerary work on the ground...the services were excellent!
Charles Nienkirchen
Down Ancient Paths travel study program at Ambrose University College

Jeffrey A. D. Weima, Ph.D.

Professor of New Testament, Calvin Theological Seminary

Hi Levent:
Now that the Turkey portion of our study tour is over, I want to say thanks for the fine job that Tutku Tours did in arranging our tour. Everything went smoothly in terms of bus, hotel arrangements, Cenk's involvement, etc. I am also thankful for you "going the extra mile" and arranging the visit to the cave of Paul and Thecla.
Jeffrey A. D. Weima, Ph.D.

Carl Rasmussen, Ph.D.

Emeritus Professor of Hebrew Bible, Bethel University; Author of the Zondervan Atlas of the Bible

After ten years of leading university and adult trips to Turkey and Greece I began using Tutku Tours as our agent. This has been a very positive experience for us. Levent Oral and his colleagues have been very helpful in arranging all aspects of our travel including itineraries, hotels, site visits, and guides. In my experience Tutku has always actually provided more than what was expected—they consistently "go beyond the call of duty" and are a pleasure to work with.
Carl Rasmussen, Ph.D.

Mark R. Fairchild

Prof. Bible & Religion, Huntington University

Tutku Tours is at the top of the list for tours of Turkey. They specialize in Biblical tours and their expertise is evident in all aspects of their trips. Tutku Tours is able to negotiate accommodations at excellent hotels and yet keep their prices extraordinarily competitive. I most highly recommend Tutku Tours.
Mark R. Fairchild, Huntington University

Glenn L. Ward, Pastor

Acton Baptist Church

Dear Levent,
Please accept my sincere gratitude for your guidance and assistance in planning for our recent trip to Turkey and Greece--our trip was a tremendous blessing! I cannot thank you enough for the privilege of working with Cenk--he is a great man in every way!
Blessings to all,
Glenn L. Ward, Pastor, Acton Baptist Church

Rene Schlaepfer

Twin Lakes Church

Dear Levent,
I simply can't find the words to thank you all enough for the phenomenal time our Twin Lakes Church group had in Turkey and Greece. Tutku Tours will always receive my absolute highest possible endorsement.
Yours most sincerely,
Rene Schlaepfer, Twin Lakes Church

Clinton E. Arnold, Ph.D.

Dean, Professor of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

Levent, thank you again for putting together such an outstanding tour for us. It was truly excellent in every way. Everyone is speaking so positively about their experience.
Warmly,
Clinton E. Arnold, Ph.D., Dean, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

Ward and Laurel Gasque

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Tutku Tours is the leading provider of educational and historical tours of ancient and modern Turkey. They have been our partner in several study tours and have provided us with the service that one would dream of. We recommend them without reservation.

Dr. David J. Lull

Professor of New Testament, Wartburg Theological Seminary

Levent and Erin (and Sema and …), I can't thank you enough for making this tour such a wonderful success! Karen and I especially want to thank you for arranging our extension at the Patara Prince. It was incredibly lovely, as we expected. Thank you!

H. Wayne House

Distinguished Research Professor of Theology, Law, and Culture, Faith Evangelical College and Seminary, Tacoma, WA

I have done nearly thirty tours throughout the Mediterranean over the last fifteen years, including a number with Tutku Tours in Turkey. Without reserve I can testify that Tutku Tours, owned and operated by Levent Oral, provides first rate service at a reasonable price. I have never been disappointed. I heartily recommend Tutku to anyone who wants to travel to Turkey.

Barbara Rossing

Professor of New Testament, The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

"Thanks to Tutku Tours for making our first Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago pilgrimage to Turkey a great success. We appreciated Tutku staff's flexibility in shaping the itinerary within a budget, producing a beautiful brochure, and handling logistics and arrangements for our group of 44. Our guide, Macit Sascade, was outstanding. This trip truly brought the Bible to life. We will use Tutku again."

Todd M. Johnson

Director, Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"Tutku Tours provided my wife and I with one of our most memorable experiences as we toured Biblical sites in Turkey for our 30th wedding anniversary. Their professional, knowledgeable staff showed us true Turkish hospitality while providing a fascinating, informative narrative as we walked among stunning archeological sites from Pergamon to Laodicea to Ephesus."

W. Edward Glenny

Th.D., Ph.D. Professor of New Testament and Greek, University of Northwestern

I have led two undergraduate study trips to Turkey and Greece with Tutku Tours, and each time it has been a wonderful experience. Levent Oral and his staff at Tutku Tours are professionals, who are passionate about satisfying their clients. I recommend Tutku Tours to anyone traveling to Greece and Turkey!

Assoc. Prof. Owen Doonan

Director, Sinop Regional Archaeological Project, Art History Program, California State University Northridge

Dear Levent,
Tutku Tours supported the Sinop Regional Archaeological Project during our summer 2010 field season by providing us with a large van. We have been impressed with how well Tutku arranged everything. We have Tutku Tours to thank for ten new sites that have been found in the Sinop highlands.
Sincerely,
Assoc. Prof. Owen Doonan

Karl P. Donfried, Dr. theol.

Elizabeth A. Woodson Professor of Religion and Biblical Literature Emeritus, Smith College

Dear Levent,
I did want to take a moment to thank you for all your extraordinary assistance in making our time in Turkey such a very valuable learning and positive personal experience. From our first to our last dinner in Izmir with you, your concern, graciousness and meticulous planning were very evident and for this we are most grateful.
Kathy, Helen and I are all very deeply grateful to you for your many kindnesses.
Karl P. Donfried, Dr. theol.

William F. Clark

Canadian Association of Tour Operators

We recently had the pleasure of visiting Turkey and being provided individual tour services by your company, and in particular, by Ms. Eser Sedef. My wife and I can only comment in the extreme positives as to the manner and professionalism exhibited by your company.
William F. Clark, Canadian Association of Tour Operators

John W. Humhprey, Ph.D.

Professor of Greek and Roman Studies, University of Calgary, Canada

For two weeks over New Years 2008/2009, I led a group of 20 undergraduate students on an Archaeological Study Tour of western Turkey. All the arrangements were arranged with impeccable care by Levent Oral and his colleagues at Tutku Tours. I have been leading Academic Tours to Turkey for over 30 years, and this was easily the most successful. I cannot recommend a better agent in Turkey than Tutku Tours.

C. Patrick Hotle

The John A. Sperry Endowed Chair of Humanities, Associate Professor of History, Director of Study Abroad Office, Culver-Stockton College

I would strongly recommend Tutku Tours to professors, like myself, who plan and lead Student Study Tours. I found the staff and guides extremely knowledgeable, experienced and eager to craft the tour to the class objectives. I plan on using Tutku Tours again for my next study trip to Turkey.

Don Westblade

Hillsdale College, Dept. of Religion

After four month-long trips with students through Turkey arranged by Tutku Tours, I am completely sold on Tutku's services and recommend them to anyone planning tours in its region. Tutku's expert staff impresses me every year with their friendliness, professionalism, and efficiency, combining the royal treatment with such an affordable price.

Daryl & Alicia Deklerk

Barrie / Ontario / Canada

Cenk,
It was a pleasure to have you as our tour guide on our recent trip to Turkey. We fell in love with your country and hope to come back one day. Thank you for taking such good care of us and giving us insight into the Turkish people. We enjoyed it tremendously.

Mansoo Yu, PhD

Associate Professor & Director of the PhD program, School of Social Work, University of Missouri

Dear Levent,
The students learn a lot from all sites that you arranged for us. I believe that this program is a huge success! Thanks much for working with me and Kelly. All assistants, guides, and drivers are excellent.
Sincerely,
Mansoo Yu, PhD

Paul Schrodt

Director of the John W. Dickhaut Library, and Research Professor of Historical Theology, Methodist Theological School in Ohio

Dear Levent and Yesim: As president of the American Theological Library Association I recently published in our bimonthly Newsletter a letter suggesting a trip to Turkey. We were very happy with all the arrangements you made, and I will speak most approvingly of Tutku Tours.
Paul Schrodt

Ed and Pat Sutarik & Friends

Palatine, IL - USA

Levent - THANK YOU for an incredible "10-star" experience in Istanbul, Ephesus and Athens. In every city, our small group of four was met by an energetic, interesting, knowledge-filled tour guide. Our journey with Tutku Tours was a wonderful, impressionable, long-lasting and memorable journey through history.
With sincere appreciation,
Ed and Pat Sutarik & Friends

Bob Livingston, Pres.

Living Tours International LLC, Omaha, NE

Dear Levent Oral, We have returned to Omaha, Nebraska after our tour of Turkey. We deeply appreciated having Husnu as our guide and Ayhan as our bus driver — both of them were outstanding. We look forward to working with you again in the future.
Bob Livingston, Pres.

Milton Moore

(Private Turkey Tour) Newspaper Article from "The Day - Connecticut"

My long-simmering urge to visit Turkey took shape last winter when I saw a flier from the College Art Association advertising an art tour of Turkey. I contacted the tour company - Tutku Tours - and via email we set up a two-week ramble for the start of October. The low prices in Turkey were part of the appeal, but looking back now, the enduring appeal is the people.
Read the full story: theday.com