Founder's story

A young founder sharing his love of Istanbul with every guest

Meet Kayra Sevli, founder of Sevli Bosphorus, and discover why he wants every guest to feel they have a friend in Istanbul.

4 min read12 August 2026
Sevli Bosphorus founder Kayra Sevli with a guest in Istanbul

Hello, I’m Kayra

I was born in Istanbul in 2006. Its shores, ferries, sunsets and constant energy have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Today, one of my favourite things is sharing the moment someone sees the Bosphorus for the first time.

I learned tourism on the ground

I have worked in Istanbul tourism for about two years. During that time I learned much more than how to sell a tour: how to listen to people from different countries, recommend the right experience, anticipate small details and make every guest feel safe and welcome.

After gaining hands-on experience onboard, at the pier and throughout the booking process, I wanted to build a service around my own approach. That is how Sevli Bosphorus began.

More than a booking contact

Meeting international guests is the part of this work I enjoy most. I love discovering different cultures, hearing what people are curious about and helping create a memory they will take home from Istanbul.

That is why communication at Sevli Bosphorus is personal and direct. Whenever possible, I answer your questions myself, help plan your cruise and make sure you know exactly where to meet us.

Showing Istanbul at its best

My goal is not simply to offer a boat tour. I want to choose the right sunset timing, vessel and atmosphere for your group, so you can experience Istanbul at its best. If our paths cross on the Bosphorus one day, please come and say hello.

Small details, lasting memories

Sometimes it is the right seating area, a birthday cake arriving at exactly the right moment, or waiting a few extra minutes for the perfect sunset photo. To me, good service means thinking about these details before a guest has to ask.

As Sevli Bosphorus grows, this is what I want to protect: personal service that replies quickly, communicates clearly and treats every guest's plan as if it were our own.

Kayra exploring Istanbul
Kayra exploring Istanbul
A memory with guests
A memory with guests
New friendships in Istanbul
New friendships in Istanbul

The name guests remember

What guests say about Kayra

These public guest reviews were written about Kayra during his earlier work with other tourism teams, before he founded Sevli Bosphorus.

★★★★★
Price is very reasonable. Kayra is a very nice young man full of passion for the tourism sector. Strongly recommend this tour as a top 3 must-do in Istanbul.
Tim FlyingPublic guest review
★★★★★
Booked last moment and Kayra organized everything really well through WhatsApp. I really appreciated the flexibility. The boat was great, everyone had a nice seat. I really enjoyed the tour!
Oxana VratskikhPublic guest review
★★★★★
Kayra and his colleague organized a perfect tour for us!
MaxPublic guest review

See you on the Bosphorus

Let’s plan your Istanbul experience

Send your date, guest count and preferred cruise, and I will help you personally.

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