2008 Istanbul + Bodrum Gay Tour Package by Pride Travel Agency of Istanbul.

2008 PROGRAM:

PART 1 - PARTY IN ISTANBUL

27 August 2008, Wednesday

We are beginning this year's gay exclusive tour earlier, to avoid Ramadan's first week which will be quiet in Istanbul

Your arrival to Istanbul and C/in Hotels 4* in Taksim area (close to major gay venues)
Possible hotels are Hotel Lares Park , Golden Age or similar location quality hotels.
18:30 pm Depart from Hotel and orientation walking tour around Taksim and Beyoglu districts.
19:30 pm Welcome dinner in gay cafe&restaurant, possibly Sake In Cafe Bar
23:30 pm Night tour to gay bars and clubs of Taksim until 03:00 am. Those who want to return earlier will be set free to return their hotels anytime.  A private gay guide will accompany the group all the way. It is optional to join the gay tour.

28 August 2008
Late breakfast at hotel
10:30 Depart from Hotel to Sultanahmet town to visit the major fascinating historical monuments of Istanbul such as Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar. Lunch included in a nice Turkish restaurant.
16:00 Visiting one of the best sample of traditional Turkish Bath (Cemberlitas or Cagaloglu Hamam)
Entrance fee for the bath is not included, it will be optional to visit.
18:30 Return to Hotel
20:00 Dinner at a traditional Turkish Restaurant with variety of Turkish style traditional shows including belly dancers. Pick up & return to hotel included.
23:30 "Pride Party" open to local gay people at popular Tekyon gay club with a private gay guide until 04:00 am. Those who want to return earlier will be set free. It is optional to join the gay tour/party.

29 August 2008
Free time until noon. 
13:00-13:30 Pick up from hotel for afternoon Bosporus cruise and tour, including visiting Spice Bazaar, Rumeli Castle and a boat cruise along the Bosporus straight separating Europe from Asian continent. Please note that our group will be accompanied by our representative as tour leader, but the group will be mixed with people from other tour companies.
16:30-17:00 Return back hotel.
Free time until 23:00 pm
23:30 Visiting various gay bars club with a private gay guide until 03:00 am. It is optional to join the gay tour.

PART 2- BLUE CRUISE IN BODRUM

After crazy and loud night life of Istanbul, the calm, beautiful bays, crystal clear waters, and sandy beaches around Bodrum peninsula and Gokova bay will really struck you. Without exaggeration this costal line is like a paradise on earth. This region is the place where the blue cruises with Gullet yachts first started in Turkey. The capacity of the boats will be 16-24 pax which can go very narrow bays the big cruise ships can not even enter.  Accommodation will be on 2 pax capacity boat cabins. The boat will sail for about 4 hours per day and will stop at lovely small harbors, beautiful bays and sandy beaches for swimming, diving and other sea activities. You will have the chance for trekking, visit some local villages and some ancient sights along the way. There will be basic snorkeling equipments available for the usage of our clients. There will also be various board games for those who wants to waste their time away during the cruising.

What is a blue cruise or blue voyage and gulet boats associated with it ? 
Click here to have an idea about blue cruises first and to see our boat samples.

30 August 2008, Saturday.
Transfer to Airport
Flight to Bodrum in the afternoon.
Arrive Bodrum, transfer and check in to the cruise boat.
Dinner and overnight In Bodrum, accommodation on cruise boat. You will have a chance to discover Bodrum nightlife.

Bodrum is the site of the ancient city of Halikarnassus, the location of the famous Mausoleum of Halikarnassus (built after 353 BCE) - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately, the ancient monument was destroyed by earthquakes in the Middle Ages and nothing left to see, though some of the remnants can be seen at British Museum in London. According to Herodotus, born B.C. 484 in Halikarnassus (Bodrum), the city was founded by the Dor's. Megerans enlarged the city B.C. 650 and changed its name to Halikarnassus, and then Persians started to rule the city. Halikarnassus had its glorious days, when it was the capital of the Karia B.C. 353. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum, was built there by Artemisia for the memory of King Mausolos.

30 August 2008, Saturday.

Get ready for an incredible journey. Right after breakfast your boat will depart from Bodrum Marina for Orak Island famous with its sparkling turquoise waters.  You will have considerable time for swimming in crystal-clear waters and have your lunch in Orak Island. Before the evening you will sail on to Cokertme for dinner and overnight, where cheerful and friendly local people live. Cokertme is a charming fishing village famous for its hand-made carpets.

The cruise boats at Orak Island	Cokertme Village	A beach near Cokertme

Orak Island is about 9 miles east of Bodrum, an islet of bare rock and thorny shrubs that seem to float in the clear morning light. It is a popular point where yachts and boats on Gokova tours do not pass without stopping. The island stretches opposite of Kargicik Inlet and has indented shores covered with olive trees in the lower slopes of the hills. There is no settlement on the island but there are sheltered coves that you can anchor at in the north and in the east the sea that is like an aquarium.

Cokertme: This small hamlet, mentioned in the local folk songs, is an important stopover before or after crossing the Gokova Gulf. Cokertme Bay takes its name from a small village. Cokertme Bay is a sheltered place for spending the night. It is well known by the boatmen mainly because its secluded bays well protected from the wind. Cokertme has a long coastline with forests of pine and olive trees starting right from the coastline. Local restaurants with reasonable prices offer fine food to boat people. At night time, there are even belly dancers entertaining the visitors.

01 September 2008
After breakfast, depart from Cokertme for Cati Harbor arriving at noon, where your will spend the rest of the day and the evening. Most of the bays near Cati harbor has sandy beaches and there is a pine forests covering all around it. After having your lunch you can either swim in the warm waters of the blue sea or walk though the untouched pine forest to fill up your lungs with pure oxygen. Dinner and overnight on board.

02 September 2008
Today you’ll be having another wonderful day in Yedi Adalar (Seven Islands) famous with the coral reefs. You’ll have ample time for swimming, snorkeling, and windsurfing. One of the ideal stops during a blue voyage is Seven Islands, a secluded bay in the south of Tulsa. It is ideal spot for swimming, snorkeling, fishing or sponge diving. Holiday maker can harpoon fish and collect sponges there. Arrival to Kufre which has a natural harbor.

Check out from the boat at around 17:00.
Transfer from boat to gay friendly 4* Hotel L'Ambiance in Bodrum. All inclusive accommodation
After dinner at hotel, Good-bye party at Yettigari Night Clup or Katamaran Disco.

03 September, Wednesday
Breakfast at your hotel and transfer to airport.
Flight to Istanbul @ 13:00 pm, arriving at 14:05.
End of our services with the arrival of your flight to Istanbul

(Extra hotel reservations & tour in Istanbul and in Bodrum can be included if requested)

Payment method.
30 % advance payment will be requested for guaranteed reservation.
A reservation contract with all service details will be delivered.
Payments can be made as cash, bank transfers, by Maestro, Visa and Master Cards. 7% commission is required for payments with American Express payments

Price includes:
-All taxes.
-Mentioned domestic flights and connecting transfers to airports, hotels and city tours.
-3 nights accommodation at 4 star hotels in Istanbul, including breakfast.
-1 night hotel accommodation in Bodrum L'ambiance Hotel, all inclusive.
-3 nights accommodation at boats; breakfast, lunch and dinner during the boat cruise.
-Entrance fee, 1 local drink and hotel transfers for Yettigari or Catamaran Discoteque in Bodrum.
-Private guides for the night tours and city tours
-Transfers, transportation, entrance fees and lunch during the city tour.

Not included:
-International flights (Book your flight from Turkish Airlines: http://www4.thy.com/troyaonline/schedule.tk )
-Airport transfers to/from international flights.
-Entrance fee to Turkish bath,
-Drinks at gay bars and clubs,
-Drinks during the mentioned meals