ABOUT US
Deniz Coşkun (Tour Leader)
Born in 1980 in Istanbul, Deniz met the fascinating oriental carpet world in 1992 while he was studying in one of the respected French high schools in Istanbul.
Deniz specialized in hand weaving and natural dyeing, while he was studying Chemical Engineering in university. Then he completed his MBA degree and pursued his dreams to specialize in nomadic cottage and semi-nomadic village weavings by studying the subject with scholars and expert dealers.
Fascinated by Anatolian Turkmen nomads’ weaving style, he traveled central Anatolia, the Taurus Mountains, and lived among some Turkmen tribes for a while. He closely examined continuing tribal and ethnic social structures of Anatolia since the Ottoman era, and presented comprehensive studies mostly centered upon “weavings and textiles”.
Deniz gives speeches at international textile events and mentors in natural dyeing and international weaving courses. Now he dedicates himself to organizing cultural and textile-oriented walking and hiking adventures in Anatolia. When you join him with one of his cultural adventures, you will not only experience great cultural contacts with Anatolian rural people, but also enjoy the amazing countryside landscape with traditional Anatolian cuisine, which has descended from peoples of the Ottoman empire.
Contact mail: beyondeniz@gmail.com
Phone: +90 533 525 0726
Çetinaktif Tourism Agency
-Off the beaten path-
Since 1987 our travel agency has been introducing Americans to our country. We have spent much time studying the folkways and villages of Turkey, with a special interest in material culture. When we put our programs together, we ask ourselves, "What is it that our friends visiting us love to see and do?" Very few opt for the “canned” tourist attractions, while there is so much of traditional Anatolia to experience and so many personal experiences waiting for us out there. Our clients find visits to whole Anatolia, a bit off the beaten path, to be rewarding. Muhtesem Turizm allows you to capture the excitement, warmth, and hospitality of traditional Turkey firsthand. It is in the villages and small towns of Turkey that tradition flourishes-not merely as a part of life, but as life itself in all its colors and contrasts.
We have oriented our company to encourage our clients to explore Turkey and Istanbul the way we think it should be experienced. As enthusiastic travelers ourselves, we understand the excitement of discovering new places. We know the love of experiencing different cultures, foods, and artistic traditions and seeing how people live on a daily basis.
The history of the distinct regions of Greater Anatolia is our focus. We believe that to understand the present one must also know what has come before. We are also particularly interested in the material culture of the areas in which we travel. The architecture, textiles, ceramics, woodwork, and metalwork produced in the different regions of Anatolia are the gateways to a deeper appreciation of the fabric of everyday life.
Travel, history, and the study of material culture are our passion. We appreciate it all, and can never resist buying yet one more book about the history and culture of our own country or about the foreign lands we sometimes visit. Having a travel business in Turkey has been a wonderful experience for us. While it is never an easy job, it keeps us constantly challenged-thinking, reading, and sharing what we have learned with an appreciative audience.
Certificate nr: 3899 / 26.03.1998
TESTIMONIALS:
“We had the great good fortune to have as our guide Deniz Coşkun. His knowledge of all aspects of Turkish history, culture, archaeology, and architecture is not only encyclopedic but entertaining and inspiring, ranging from 9,000-year-old sites and artifacts to modern social issues. As well as the extraordinary things that we saw in museums, Deniz introduced us to the whole process of nomadic rug creation, from small shops selling shepherds’ supplies—bells, plastic shovels, brightly woven harnesses—to visiting old friends boiling up vats of vegetable dyes to colour the wool for the village women to carry on weaving, meeting rug collectors and dealers who, through decades spent in this trade, have become experts and historians of their craft. There were even demonstrations of how madder and cochineal dyes behave with different mordants. It was such an inspirational first encounter with Turkey that I am looking forward to joining Deniz once again on another tour this summer.”
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“During the tour, we often shared our appreciation and delight in Deniz, his careful attention to us all, his stories and his wit. Most exciting and enriching on this amazing tour was his encyclopedic knowledge. It was often obvious he has a real love of weaving culture which especially enriched our appreciation and feeling for the people we met and places we explored. It was great to see how many people in Turkey knew him and knew of his exceptional work with natural dyes, and so many of the old ways of the Anatolian nomads.”
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“Deniz’s scientific knowledge of vegetable dyeing wool and silks was remarkable, adding to a most interesting and valuable experience for us all. Pointing out madder plants growing wild within the Chalcolithic
archaeological site from 7500 BC highlighted how plant dyeing would have developed through observance and experimentation through time. Later we spent time in Konya observing how he practices dyeing with indigo and dyer’s weld to make a glorious green”.
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“Deniz organized a 10-day research trip for a small specialist team in 2023. Starting in Istanbul, we travelled to Konya and several neighbouring weaving villages, to Cappadocia, and to the Taurus mountains. Not only is he an experienced guide with a high level of professionalism, and attention to eventuality and the requirements of a specific group, but he also draws on an infectious enthusiasm and personal passion for weaving, rugs and textiles. His detailed knowledge of the practical aspects of weaving and its connections with pastoralist and transhumant culture and communities offered important context and perspective. His great breadth and depth of knowledge regarding Anatolia’s complex history and open-minded curiosity were great assets to the expedition. He also acted as translator during our interviews, which along with his easy rapport was invaluable in answering our weaving-specific questions.”
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“A memorable week was spent in mid-August 2018 in Western Taurus mountains during the first trekking tour of The Black Tent Project, organized and guided by Mr. Deniz Coskun. The magic of the adventure lies in following the ancient steps of the tribes in their multi-centenar summer migrations on ways that were about to be forgotten for many decades if these were not rediscovered by Mr. Coskun. In addition to the overwhelming beauty of the sites and the yaylas, the whole tribal atmosphere created by Deniz Coskun through the genuine black tent itself, the splendid woven sacks and especially the daily nomadic life. should also add to the interesting communication that occurred with the nomads encountered on our way. The communication that also happened with the tour friends was also highly enriching. Finally words alone would never totally express the feelings of every moment lived in the Mt. AkDag. Simply a unique lifetime experience”
