CAPPADOCIA, EPHESUS, PAMUKKALE, ANTALYA TOUR FROM ISTANBUL

ATTENTION:  
This package tour is available starting everyday of the year.
We organize these tours in cooperation with other non-gay tour operators. Remember that  there is no such a big potential for such gay exclusive tours that will be organized everyday in Turkey. Consequently, it is just a coincidence if there will be other gay or lesbian clients at the same time you reserve this tour. The other clients who join these tours are mainly American or European  tourists. Also note that we are a disclosed gay company, and we only cooperate with real gay friendly companies, tour operators, guides and hotels.
 

DAY 1 : ISTANBUL – CAPPADOCIA

This tour package will start with an overnight bus ride to Cappadocia by luxury, air-conditioned coach. Bus ride is especially recommended for people who also want to see the great land panorama of Turkey on the way. Besides this will save you from the cost of 1 night hotel accommodation. Tour buses have Pullman seats and you can sleep comfortably. There will be several stop-over points at some highway cafe-restaurants during the journey for those who like to eat or drink a cup of coffee

Departure at around 19.30 o'clock from a point near our office in Sultanahmet
The departure time may change slightly depending on season but you will be informed of exact departure time after you make your reservation.
 

DAY 2 : CAPPADOCIA

 

Cappadocia balloon flights make you feel like flying over the moon

Your bus will arrive to Cappadocia next day early in the morning.
You will be transferred to your hotel. After you settle up at your hotel and rest a little you will be picked up from your hotel for the below tour:
Full day Northern Cappadocia tour including transfers, guide and entrance fee. This tour will cover the most famous parts of the region such as Goreme Open Air Museum, Zelve, Urgup and Dervent Valley.
Lunch will be served during the tour in a nice Turkish Restaurant.
Transfer back to hotel.
Dinner at your hotel included.
Hotel accommodation in Cappadocia. Private rooms with air condition and bath/WC.

Possible hotels are Dedeli Cave or Hisarevi hotels in Urgup. If they are not available similar quality and location hotels will be reserved.

Cappadocia region is the place where nature and history come together most beautifully within the world. While geographic events are forming Peribacalari (fairy chimneys), during the historical period, humans had carried the signs of thousand years old civilizations with carving houses and churches within these earth pillars and decorating them with frisks.
 

DAY 3 : CAPPADOCIA-EPHESUS

One day is never enough to see the wonders of the vast Cappadocia region. You have so many things more to see on your second day that will keep your eyes wide open with amazement.

The second day's itinerary will be like this:

Breakfast in your hotel included
Full day Southern Cappadocia Tour including transfers, entrance fees, guide
This tour will cover Underground city of Derinkuyu or Kaymakli, wonderful Ihlara Valley as well as a caravanserai of Seljuk period, which is the great Turkish Empire before Ottomans.
Lunch included in a typical Turkish Restaurant during the day tour.
Transfer to bus station
Overnight bus to Kusadasi or Selcuk. (Non-smoking new model long distance coaches with air-condition and Pullman seats suitable for sleeping)
 

DAY 4 : EPHESUS

Get ready to visit the city which held one of the seven wonders of ancient times.
Today's program will be as below:.

Arrival to Kusadasi or Selcuk early in the morning and check in to your hotel You will have enough time to settle up and rest before the tour.
Breakfast at Hotel
Full day tour of Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary, including transfers, entrance fees, guide.
Lunch during the tour is 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.
 

Besides being a popular summer resort, Kusadasi is also a major base for visiting many neighborhood ancient sights.

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

Transfer back to hotel after the tour.
Dinner at your hotel included.
Hotel accommodation in Kusadasi (or Selcuk). Private rooms with air condition and bath/WC. Possible hotels are Atinc Hotel or Polat Beach Hotel in Kusadasi, Cenka Hotel in Selcuk. If they are not available similar quality and location hotels will be reserved. Hotel Upgrade is possible upon request.


 

DAY 5 : EPHESUS – PAMUKKALE - ANTALYA

This package will not be complete without Pamukkale; another amazing point of interest within Turkey
 

Hot spring pools of Pamukkale are created by nature in thousands of years

Breakfast at hotel included
Pamukkale & Hierapolis tour including transfers, entrance fees, guide.
Lunch during the tour is included.
(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 the ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest ancient Necropolis in present Turkey with 1200 gravestones)
Transfer to bus station.
Evening bus to Antalya, arriving late in the evening. (Approximately 4 hours ride, with non-smoking new model long distance coaches with air-condition
Hotel accommodation in Antalya. Private rooms with air condition and bath/WC.
Possible hotels are Lara Hotel or Benna Hotel. If they are not available similar quality and location hotels will be reserved. Hotel Upgrade is possible upon request.
 

DAY 6 : ANTALYA

Antalya is one of the best of Turkish cities perfectly combining historical, natural beauties also known as Turkish Riviera with many neighborhood sandy beaches and vivid night life. There are many well preserved significant ancient sights around the city which you must definitely see if you happen to visit Turkey.

Breakfast at hotel included
Full day tour of Perge, Aspendos, Side and Manavgat, including transfers, entrance fees, guide.
Lunch during the tour is included.
Dinner at your hotel included.
Hotel accommodation in Antalya. Private rooms with air condition and bath/WC.
Possible hotels are Lara Hotel or Benna Hotel. If they are not available similar quality and location hotels will be reserved. Hotel Upgrade is possible upon request.
 

Antalya Aspendos Theater	Perge Hellenistic Gate	Roman columns in Side

PERGE: Situated 18 km east of Antalya, Perge is in the city limits of Aksu Bucagi. Because of its location on the Cilicia - Pisidia road, it was a vital part of the province of Pamphylia, and was founded around the same time as the other cities in the area (7th century BC). It was an important city for Christians of Perge who had worshipped the mother goddess Artemis. St. Paul and Barnabas visited the city and wealthy benefactors like Magna Plancia had a number of important memorials built here.

ASPENDOS: This antique city established in the Early age is 48km east of Antalya. Its most important feature is its theatre. The theatre and its stage are the best preserved of the Roman theatres in Anatolia still being used for music concerts and opera shows during festivals. The most popular of these festivals are the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet festival. 15000 spectators can sit in the theatre. It was built during the reign of Emperor Antonius Pius (134 - 164) by architect Zenon.

SIDE: In the ancient town of Side, there are inscriptions, weapon embossing from Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Periods, sculptures which are Roman Period copies of Greek originals, torsos, temples, tomb steles, portraits, ostotecs and column pedestals on exhibition in the museum.

MANAVGAT: The River Manavgat flows 90 km from the eastern slopes of the western Toros (Taurus) mountains, passes over hard conglomerated strata, forms the Manavgat Falls and then enters the coastal plain to empty into the Mediterranean Sea
 

DAY 7 : ANTALYA – ISTANBUL

There are many other world wide famous places of interest near Antalya which you must not miss after coming all the way. The second day's tour covers the most important ones:

Full day tour of Myra, St. Nicolas Church, Kekova including transfers, entrance fees, guide.
Lunch during the tour is included.
Transfer to bus station.
Overnight bus to Istanbul. (Non-smoking new model long distance coaches with air-condition and Pullman seats suitable for sleeping)
End of our service with your arrival to the main bus station in Istanbul, next day at around 07:30 am
Extra transfer from bus station to your hotel in Istanbul, will cost 30 Euro. (1-3 pax)
 

Rock tombs in Myra	St. Nicholas Church	Simena across Kekova Island

MYRA: It is now called Demre it was one of the most important cities of the Lycian civilization. 25km west of Finike and 48km east of Kas, Demre was a place of settlement from the 5th century BC. The city was deserted in 9 AD after the invasions of the Arabs. Rock tombs, theatres and the Church of St. Nicholas (said to be the original Santa Claus) are the most interesting sites in the town today.

KEKOVA ISLAND: It is by the cost of Antalya province between Kas-Demre towns. It is an ancient city submerged and now partly under sea water, but can be seen from outside.

ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH: Saint Nicholas giving its name to the church in Demre (Myra) is said to be the original Santa Claus
 

TOUR PRICE

Tour Price:
540 Euro per person in single room (1 pax)
490 Euro per person in double room (2 pax)
465 Euro per person in triple room (3 pax)

% 7 winter discount from November 01-March 31, except Christmas period (December 23-January 03)

Ask for group discount for participants over 7 pax

Above tour prices include:
All taxes.
4 Night accommodation in private rooms at 3 star or equal quality special class hotels.
6 guided day tours as mentioned.
Entrance fees for museums
All mentioned meals above in the itinerary
Transportation by non-smoking, air-conditioned long distance bus, with Pullman seats.
All connecting transfers in between the tour period.

Customize this tour package:

Flights
Instead of overnight bus ride on departure, transfers + 1 hour morning flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia (via Kayseri Airport) next morning (70-100 Euro extra cost depending on season and early reservation)

Instead of overnight bus on return, transfer to Antalya Airport + Antalya-Istanbul evening flight (70-100 Euro extra cost depending on season and early reservation)

Instead of Cappadocia-Kusadasi overnight bus, transfers and Kayseri-Istanbul-Izmir connected flight + extra hotel accommodation in Kusadasi will be required . There are no regular direct flights (180-250 Euro extra cost for 2 flights, 2 airport transfers, 1 night 3* hotel, price depending on season availability and early reservation)

Add-ons
Airport transfers from/to hotels in Istanbul for your international flights  - 30 Euro - one way for 1-3 pax
3 star hotel in Istanbul before or after the tour: 50 Euro single, 30 Euro double pp, 25 Euro triple pp.
Istanbul tours: http://www.turkey-gay-travel.com/dailytours1.html
Extra 3 star hotels in Cappadocia, Kusadasi or Antalya: 45 Euro single, 25 Euro double pp, 20 Euro triple pp.
Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (1 hour) at sunrise before the day tours: 180 Euro per person, hotel transfers included

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.

Click Here for Other Turkey Tour Packages
 

EPHESUS

Library of Celcus	Temple of Hadrian	Virgin Mary's House

During both the Hellenistic and Roman periods Ephesus was the most important port and cultural center of the eastern world. The remains of the city are still spellbinding today. Of all the ancient cities of Turkey, Ephesus is the best preserved and most visited in all ages and is as popular as it was in ancient times. This is due to the miraculous discovery of the House the Virgin Mary. The city had splendid buildings and was dedicated to the Goddess Artemis, whose temple was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The main monuments that we will see during the visit of this fascinating city are: the street of Arcadiane, the majestic theatre, marble road, library of Celsus, market place street of the Curettes, baths of Scholastic state agora, prytaneion, odeon. The town of Seljuk, is dominated by a Byzantine citadel close to the basilica of St. John built in the 5th century, on the site of tomb of the Apostle. Seljuk has also an exceptionally fine archaeological museum.
 

Bathing in pools is no more allowed	Ancient graves	Agora entrance of the ancient city

Pamukkale (Hierapolis) is one of the most enchanting and remarkable sights in the whole of Turkey with the great dazzling white plateau, almost 400 feet high, rising in a curtain of stalagmites and shallow pools, giving one into another on hundreds of different levels, 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.
 

ANTALYA

Modern Antalya is built over high cliffs	A street in old city	Harbor of Kaleici (old city) of Antalya

Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, have transformed the city into an international resort. With its airport and central location, Antalya is a gateway for the Turkish Riviera and many historical sites. Antalya city corresponds to the lands of ancient Pamphylia to the east and Lycia to the west. Antalya has hotel accommodations, a hot climate and places to visit both in and around the city, including traces of Lycian, Pamphylian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and cultures.

There are many antique cities in and around Antalya. Aspendos, Perga and Termessos are some of the closest ones to the city centre. Other than these historic places, Antalya is also famous with its beaches like Konyaalti, Lara and Karpuzkaldiran. Antalya also has a reputation as a city of waterfalls. Duden, Manavgat and Kursunlu waterfalls are major attractions for both local and foreign tourists. For winter sports, Beydağları and Saklikent are both natural beauties of the city.

There are a large number of mosques, churches, madrasahs, masjids, hans and hamams in the city. Kaleici, the harbor which the city walls enclose is the oldest part of the city. In Kaleici, Yivli Minare, Kesik Minare and historic houses are to be found. In Kaleici, one can see the best examples of traditional Turkish architecture which are striking for their harmony with the nature. All these places are at a walk distance.


Source: Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture