TURKEY TOUR #10  (5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS)

Attention !
We cooperate with the most gay & lesbian friendly hotels, guides, tour operators transportation companies as much as possible and where available. Please kindly remember that  there is no such a big potential for such gay exclusive tours to be organized everyday in Turkey. Consequently, it is a coincidence if there will be other gay or lesbian clients at the same time you reserve this tour package.
 
Please read this page to have a better idea about our gay-friendly package tours.
 

Gay and Lesbian Friendly Turkey Tours.

WESTERN TURKEY TOUR

GALLIPOLI, TROY, PERGAMUM, EPHESUS, PAMUKKALE, PRIENE, MILETUS, DYDIMA TOUR

TOUR ITINERARY 

DAY 1 : ISTANBUL – GALLIPOLI – CANAKKALE  (L)

PS: Mentioned departure times can change slightly in different seasons. Exact times will be informed after reservation process is completed.

Departure: Pergamum included version departs from Istanbul once in 2 days in high summer season, less frequent in spring and autumn, rare in winter. Same package will be available without Pergamum everyday Please ask for specific available days and inform us alternative days which may work for you.

Istanbul-Canakkale morning bus
Pick up from Istanbul hotel early in the morning at around 06:30 am
Arrival to Canakkale by bus at around 12:00 noon time.
Gallipoli tour including transfers, entrance fees, guide and lunch box.
(Visiting - Kabatepe Museum, ANZAC Cove, and very impressive memorials of soldiers from various countries killed in World War One.
Hotel accommodation in Canakkale.
Possible hotels in Canakkale are : Maydos Hotel  Helen Hotel or similar hotels to be selected by us if they are not available or too overpriced at the time.

Excavations at Troy ancient city	Memorial for Turkish soldiers	Gallipoli harbor

GALLIPOLI: This area is known for the war cemeteries and memorials for the Turkish and foreign soldiers killed during the World War I, around Canakkale Province in 1915. There are sunken ships, trenches, castles, towers and hundreds of remains of the war. Gallipoli deserves to be visited no matter; located on a very beautiful peninsula on the European side across the Troy ancient site which is on the Asian continent, separated from each other neatly by Dardanelles straight,

TROY: Ancient city of Troia (Troy), which was immortalized in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey epics. According to archaeologists, Troy is only one of nine cities which were built on top of each other, the oldest of which dates back to 3000 BC. Its history covers an area beginning from the north side of the Edremit gulf, and reaches the southern shores of the Marmara Sea. To the south is Kazdagi (Ida Mountain), an attractive area to visit 30 km. away from Canakkale, in Hisarlik. Archeological excavations revealed the different time periods of various settlement areas, city ramparts, house basis, a temple and a theater. A symbolic horse made up of wood reminds the big Trojan war. Historical port, Alexandria - Troas was constructed during 3rd century B. C. St. Paul had visited here two times, and his third missioner voyage to Assos was started from here.
 

DAY 2 : TROY TOUR – KUSADASI (B/L)

Breakfast in your hotel included
Half day morning Troy Tour, including transfers, entrance fees, and lunch
Evening Bus to Kusadasi with tour bus
Visiting Pergamum on the way to Kusadasi.
Hotel accommodation in Kusadasi (or Selcuk).
Possible hotels in Kusadasi are: Dabaklar Hotel , Coast Light Hotel  , Hotel Atinc or similar quality/location hotels to be selected by us if they are not available or too overpriced at the time or tour period.

Pergamum or Pergamon (Bergama in Turkish)) was one of the most beautiful of the cities of ancient world that became an important kingdom during the Hellenistic period, under the Attalid dynasty, 281–133 BC. Its architecture and statues are among the finest samples of the Hellenistic world. Pergamon's library on the Acropolis (the ancient Library of Pergamum) is the second best in the ancient Greek civilization.
The majestic acropolis looms behind the modern town is the first destination to visit the Temple of Trajan, Hellenistic barracks and tower, palaces, library, temple of Athena, theatre, temple of Dionysus, altar of Zeus.

 

DAY 3 : EPHESUS TOUR FROM KUSADASI (B/L/D)

Breakfast in your hotel included
Full day tour of Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary, including transfers, entrance fees, guide. Lunch during the tour is included.
Hotel accommodation in Kusadasi. Dinner included

Where you visit:
Ephesus - Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeum, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater. The Theater had seating for 25,000, was the site where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, and is used today for a local spring festival.
House of the Virgin Mary - The Vatican has recognized this small house in the Solmissos Mountains as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. A small shrine dedicated to St. Mary was found when the ruins of the house were first discovered.
What you see along the way: From Kusadasi, you travel north to St. John’s Basilica, passing the Byzantine fortress at Selcuk and the ruins of the Temple of Artemis. Continue to Ephesus Open Museum then up to the House of Virgin Mary located in Bulbul Mountain. After the visit head for the upper gate of Ephesus. By the end of touring Ephesus, return to Kusadasi.
Special notes: Ephesus requires walking long distances over uneven surfaces

EPHESUS: At the south of Izmir, the town of  Seljuk is a major tourist destination mainly as a base to visit the famous ruins of Ephesus a few kilometers away. The ancient classical city is one of the best preserved in the eastern Mediterranean and is a great example of Roman architecture. When the Romans made Ephesus their provincial capital, it became a busy town with great commercial, trading and political importance, A significant Christian community grew, and the city was visited by St John the Evangelist in the 1st century, then by St Paul, who was there between 51-53 AD and wrote some of his epistles. It was also the venue of two Ecumenical Councils.
House of Virgin Mary: This house, where the Virgin Mary is supposed to have lived during her last days, and to have died with Johanna at her side, is situated 7 km south of the antique city of Ephesus in Izmir. The German Nun Katharine Emmerich (1774-1824) described the surroundings of the house from a dream she had. Recently visited by Pope Benedict in 2006
 

Library of Celcus	Temple of Hadrian	House of Virgin Mary

DAY 4 : PRIENE + MILETUS + DYDIMA TOUR (B/L/D)

Breakfast in your hotel included.
Full day tour of Priene, Miletus and Dydima including transfers, entrance fees and lunch.
Hotel accommodation in Kusadasi (or Selcuk). Dinner included

Dydima	Priene	Miletus

PRIENE: Despite of its small size, Priene was a very important city in ancient times because on its territory stood the Panionium, the central meeting-place and sanctuary of the Ionian Confederacy. The theatre, the temple of Athena, the agora, the Bouleterion and the temenos of Zeus Olympus will be the steps of this visit.

MILETUS: Miletus was the principal port and the richest imperium at the Aegean coast. Thales of Miletus believed that there was a fundamental unity beneath the apparent disorder and complexity of nature and he postulated that water was the basic material for all things. The theater of Miletus is by far the most impressive of the town’s surviving monuments. There is also the council-chamber, marketplace, temples, baths and Islamic monument: Ilyas Bey Mosque to be visited.

DIDYMA: Didyma was an ancient Ionian city, the modern Didim, Turkey. The town formed just outside of the sanctuary containing a temple and oracle of Apollo, the Didymaion. Didyma was a neighbor of Miletus. To approach it, visitors would follow the Sacred Way to Didyma. Both Herodotus and Pausanias dated the origins of the oracle at Didyma before the Ionian colonization of this coast.
 

DAY 5 : PAMUKKALE TOUR FROM KUSADASI (B/L)

Breakfast at hotel included
Pamukkale & Hierapolis tour including transfers, entrance fees, guide
Lunch during the tour is included.

After the tour you have to alternatives (see below for the prices accordingly).

1) Transfer to Izmir Airport. Izmir-Istanbul evening flight. End of the service upon arrival to Ataturk Airport.
Or else:
2) Overnight bus to Istanbul, arriving next morning (Day 6) End of the package upon arrival to bus terminal.

Bathing in pools is no more allowed

Pamukkale & Hierapolis

Today you will be visiting the amazing white colored travertines, hot spring pools and water terraces have been created by nature in millions of years on the mountain slopes of Pamukkale. And ancient city of Hierapolis located on this plateau. The great baths were constructed in the second century and are so well-preserved that they now serve as a museum. The impressive and recently restored theatre, the Martyrium of St. Philip the Apostle of the 5th century – a colonnaded street erected by Domitian, a monumental gate of the same period, another bath stretching on for over a Mile, the necropolis with a fascinating variety of tombs and sarcophagus are the famous monuments of this antique city.

 

PRICE LIST

Attention !
Flight version prices are subject to change on various days . Early reservation is recommended to keep these prices. Flight costs are very variable and may exceed our pricing flexibility on busy days.

Departure: Pergamum included version departs from Istanbul once in 2 days in high summer season, less frequent in spring and autumn, roughly once a week in winter. Almost same package will be available everyday without Pergamum tour, but same prices will be valid. Please ask for specific available days and inform us alternative days which may work for you.

Ask for group discount for big groups.
 

Above tour prices include:
All taxes. Various surcharges may apply for credit card payments, of which you will be informed in advance.
4 nights accommodation in private rooms at 3 star or equal quality special class/boutique hotels.
Mentioned 6 guided tours in English, including hotel transfers and all entrance fees for museums,
Meals as mentioned above in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
Transportation by non-smoking, air-conditioned buses.
All connecting transfers in between the tour period.

Customize this tour package:

Hotels
Hotels can be upgraded to 4 or 5 star or equal quality special class boutique hotels, if you pay the extra cost. You can tell us specific hotels you want to stay in each destination.

Add-ons
Hotel accommodation in Istanbul before or after the tour
Airport transfers from/to hotels in Istanbul for your international flights
Istanbul tours: Istanbul Daily City Tours (Private or Group Tours) with discounted prices
Extra hotel accommodation in Canakkale or Kusadasi

If you have more time, you may easily continue this itinerary as below.

Longer Itinerary Option 1  (May-October)
Day 5) Pamukkale-Antalya evening bus . Hotel in Antalya.
Day 6) Perge Aspendos Tour. Hotel in Antalya.
Day 7) Demre Myra Kekova tour. Evening flight or overnight bus to Istanbul.

Longer Itinerary Option 2 (May-September)
Day 5) Pamukkale-Fethiye evening bus . Hotel in Fethiye.
Day 6-7-8) Fethiye Olympos mini cruise.
Day 9) Olympos-Antalya bus.  Evening flight or overnight bus to Istanbul.

Longer Itinerary Option 3 (All Seasons)
Day 5) Overnight bus to Cappadocia .
Day 6) Northern Cappadocia Tour. Hotel in Cappadocia
Day 7) Northern Cappadocia Tour. Hotel in Cappadocia
Day 8) Evening flight or overnight bus to Istanbul


Click Here For Other Turkey Tours and For a Brief Info About Package Tours
 

PAYMENT AND RESERVATION

Payment and reservation: Depending on season we will request 20-30% of the total tour price for guaranteed reservations. We will send you a detailed reservation contract by e-mail after all details are confirmed mutually.

For advance payments we accept Visa and Master and American express credit cards by mail order method or money transfer. After you arrive in Istanbul the balance of payment can also be made in cash in Euros or in other internationally accepted currencies from the cross exchange rates valid on payment day.