Angela’s travel journey began as a student at Georgia Tech, when a summer trip to Turkey sparked a lifelong love for cross-cultural exploration. Years later, she and her husband moved their lives there to start a new kind of travel company: one rooted in meaningful connection, local relationships, and high quality service. Now with decades of experience travelling Turkey, she keeps Sojourn’s focus on authenticity, hospitality, and excellence. As CEO, she leads a dedicated team committed to crafting immersive, story-rich travel experiences across the Mediterranean region. Outside the office, she is an efficient traveler, occasional karaoke singer, and firm believer that the best conversations happen over unhurried meals.

Chris’ lifelong enthusiasm for culturally immersive travel has only grown stronger since moving to Turkey and starting Sojourn with Angela years ago. He’s become known as one of the region’s most trusted travel specialists, leveraging his in-depth cultural and historical knowledge with decades of practical travel experience. Chris is driven by his desire to open doors to local people, places, and traditions that turn a great trip into an unforgettable journey. He personally vets the hotels, guides, and activities featured by Sojourn to ensure the highest quality experience. As founder of Turkish-Wine.com, Chris’ passion for highlighting Turkey’s expanding wine selections and world famous local cuisine is evident. When he’s not scouting local vineyards for the next groundbreaking grapes, you can find Chris riding his motorcycle along the coast, listening to audiobooks at 2x speed, or writing articles based on his freshly minted PhD.

Elif is a seasoned travel planner, having worked in the industry for over 20 years serving English, Dutch, and Turkish speaking clients. Her work is marked by her attention to detail and customer-first mentality that translates into magically crafted and custom tours for each client. Elif takes pride in ensuring all the logistical details run smoothly, so travelers can focus on soaking in the cultural experience without stress. Beyond her passion for her work, Elif is a dedicated wife and mother of two, and writes fictional short stories about characters inspired by the Sojourn team.

Yasemin serves as Sojourn’s resident “Queen of Conferences,” leading an energetic team that executes seamless events for thousands of guests each year. Her enthusiastic spirit and problem-solving mindset make the perfect combo when it comes to juggling the many components of large-scale events, and she balances it all with her trademark iconic laughter. Having spent much of her childhood living and studying abroad, Yasemin brings an invaluable cross-cultural perspective to everything she touches. Outside of work, she and her husband stay busy with their two adorable children and planning their next family adventure.

Kaan’s knack for staying calm under pressure and keeping a myriad of details organized makes him a valuable member of our operations team at Sojourn. He possesses a deep and abiding love for his home country of Turkey and thrives on helping travelers discover the vast beauty it has to offer. With an innovative mindset and creative streak, Kaan streamlines all the logistics so clients can sit back and enjoy the vibrant culture of Turkey. In his free time, Kaan enjoys cycling along the coast, jamming on the guitar, and spending quality time with his wife and daughter.

Starting at age 11, Umay studied in English-language schools and went on to obtain her university degree in Economics. Settling in Antalya decades ago, she dedicated her career to accounting and financial management for the tourism industry, a natural fit for her warm and hospitable spirit. Umay finds joy in supporting people with sincerity and a smile, something that shines through even in her emails. Beyond her work, Umay is known for being a doting mother to her son and the many interns that Sojourn hosts, spending hours chatting and laughing about life over a cup of Turkish coffee, and being the first to kick off team karaoke nights.

Born very close to the popular historic Cappadocia region, Nazli began her career as an Events Assistant on our team before advancing to her current role as an integral part of executive support at Sojourn. Her determination and commitment to getting the job done, no matter what it might be, makes her an invaluable teammate. Often described as a classic “people-person,” Nazli lights up every room she walks in with her energetic, can-do attitude, and organizes the best staff bonding activities for the Sojourn team.

Ummuhan is our resident Turkish culture expert, embodying the genuine hospitality that characterizes local traditions. Welcoming every guest with a glass of tea or coffee and ensuring all of Sojourn’s staff stays nourished, refreshed, and in good spirits is her favorite part of her job. Affectionately known by the team as Ummu, she thrives on being the friendly face that introduces culture in a heartfelt way to our interns and models the richness of Turkish life. Beyond her duties in the office, Ummuhan spends time tending to her grandson and large extended family, known for her dancing skills and being the life of the party wherever she goes.

Originally from Kazakhstan, Assem pursued a degree in Hotel Management in Hong Kong which ignited her passion for travel and exploring diverse cultures. A true event planner at heart, Assem’s warm smile and attentiveness makes every event a success. Meeting new people from around the world is her favorite part of the job, taking the time to learn more about their stories and cultures. In her free time you can find Assem reading novels for hours on end, hiking and swimming with her husband, or watching historical dramas.

Born and raised in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Alize carries a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and historical understanding. Early exposure to new countries throughout her childhood fostered her love of travel, only strengthened by the variety of international friends she made while studying at university. A natural innovator, Alize keeps the office streamlined with her bright ideas for system improvement. Stoked with an unshakeable sense of adventure, Alize finds solace in exploring the great outdoors by camping and hiking with her beloved dog, and jamming out to Taylor Swift.

Tugba is an Antalya native, returning to her hometown and joining the Sojourn team after obtaining her degree from the American Studies department of Hacettepe University. Influenced by watching hours of MTV as a teen, she brings her enthusiasm for American culture to all interactions with customers, curating the best cross-cultural interactions to highlight the rich history of Turkey. Beyond her passion for travel, Tugba loves to discover movies, mythology, art and especially music from different countries and languages, finding inspiration and joy from diverse melodies.

Born in Antalya but later relocating to Istanbul to study International Trade, Oyku brings the perfect blend of coastal vibes and city energy. Her passion for sharing the natural beauties of Turkey, from city to coast, brought her back to Antalya to join the Sojourn team where she thrives on creating unforgettable memories for customers. Oyku’s positive energy is infectious and she takes pride in making the journey just as exciting as the destination. Oyku is known for her phenomenal fashion sense, abiding loyalty to her friends, and taking photos of her cat “Citir,” which translates to “crunchy”.

Born and raised in Hatay, a city layered with centuries of history across many civilizations, Nuriye brings a deep appreciation of Turkish historical culture to our team. After relocating to Antalya to attend university, Nuriye discovered her passion for working in the bustling tourism industry. A skilled listener and naturally detail-oriented, she loves to communicate with customers and absorb their preferences to design perfectly tailored tours that make new cultures feel familiar. Outside of work, Nuriye spends her time on the phone with her niece, reading up on the latest astrology, and going to pilates with her friends.

After graduating with a degree in Tourism Management, Emre joined the Sojourn team to pursue his passion in curating exceptional travel experiences and fostering meaningful cultural connections. Influenced by an enriching internship at a prestigious hotel in the United States, Emre brings a keen understanding of guest services and the dynamics of international travel as well as a commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism practices. After work you can find him playing a round of basketball with friends, trying new cuisines, or indulging in classic movies and video games.

Furkan is an Antalya native that joined the Sojourn team after completing his master’s in History. His passion for the historical heritage journeys in the far reaches of Turkey earned him the nickname “Lord of the East,” and his research-oriented nature brings valuable insights to the team. Motivated by innovation and process improvement, Furkan helps keep Sojourn’s workflows efficient and forward-thinking. As a self-proclaimed nerd, Furkan spends his free time collecting historical coins, playing chess with friends, and studying ancient texts.

Sude was raised in Izmir, near one of the most famous historical sites known as Ephesus. After moving to Antalya to pursue her degree in Tourism Management, she brought her keen and creative mind to the Sojourn team. Honing her English skills by watching hours of the sitcom “Friends,” Sude’s understanding of American culture and humor is iconic. Dedicated to self-improvement, she dives headfirst into whatever challenge comes her way. Describing herself as an “old soul,” Sude enjoys exploring vintage stores, ancient sites, and experimenting with film photography.