EASTERN TURKEY TOUR Departure: Between May-October on Saturday and Tuesday
only. Ask for Sunday departure
CAPPADOCIA, MARAS, NEMRUD (NEMRUT), URFA,
HARRAN TOUR FROM ISTANBUL
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.
Departure: Between May-October on Saturday and
Tuesday only. Ask for Sunday departures.
This tour package will start with an overnight bus
ride to Cappadocia with a new-model, 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. The buses are non-smoking air-conditioned and
have flexible seats suitable for sleeping. There will be
several stop-over points at some highway cafe-restaurants
during the journey for toilet needs or for those who would
like to eat or drink a cup of coffee
Overnight bus to Cappadocia.
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
your reservation is completed.
You may also join the tour from other cities of Turkey, such
as Izmir, Kusadasi, Antalya
DAY 2
:CAPPADOCIA
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. Hotel accommodation
in Cappadocia, breakfast included.
Cave house accommodations
Cappadocia is Turkeys most visited area on account of
its history because of its singularity and the strangeness
of its lunar landscape. It is considered to be one of the
wonders of the world and for centuries it has sheltered
churches, frescoes, mosaics and paintings of Byzantine
art.
The history of Cappadocia begins with the eruption of two
volcanoes Lava covered the entire region changing the
landscape. In the course of millennia rain and wind eroded
the tufa creating unusual valleys, fissures, canyons and
bizarrely shaped cones. Dwellings were excavated inside the
rocks and after the first Christians arrived churches
and monasteries were also built. Numerous hermits and
ascetics lived in the forgotten valleys. Under the rule of
the Byzantines, Cappadocia became a bulwark against attacks
by the Arabs, and entire underground cities were built.
DAY 3
:CAPPADOCIA-NEMRUD
Departure in the morning from Cappadocia. After passing
Kayseri visit the 13th century Seljuk Caravanserai on the
way. The next stop will be in Pinarbasi for a short tea
break, than drive to Tekir Valley for Lunch. Take a picture
of the beautiful scenery of the Tekir Valley. Drive to
Kahraman Maras to have world famous ice-cream, than drive to
Kahta town near the mountain slope. transfer to hotel. Lunch and dinner at hotel included. Half board hotel accommodation in Nemrud.
Huge statues built on on
top of this 2150 meters high mountain thousands of
years ago is incredible and watching the sunrise at
the top of the Nemrut (Nemrud) Mountain is a unique
experience.
NEMRUD (Nemrut Mountain):
At the junction of the East and West civilizations, Nemrut
Dagi (Mount Nemrud) is one of the most astounding sites in
Turkey: A collection of colossal statues on a remote
mountain 2150m high on top of the mountain, adorning the
temple and tomb of King Antiochus. The western terrace
contains a large slab with a lion, showing the arrangement
of stars and the planets Jupiter, Mercury and Mars on July 7
62 BC, the possible time when construction began on this
monument.
Nemrud is a significant attraction, with thousands coming at
sunrise and sunset to see the stones in the best possible
light. In addition to the statues, the entire site includes
art from the Commagene (Komagene) civilization, the
Eskikale (Old Castle), Yenikale (New Castle), Karakus Hill
and Cendere Bridge. Most people use the nearby towns of
Malatya, Kahta or Adiyaman as a base, and the road to the
summit is only open from mid-April to mid-October because of
heavy snow the rest of the year.
DAY
4 : NEMRUD & COMMAGENE - URFA -
HARRAN
Breakfast at your hotel included Nemrud Mountain Sunrise Tour: Very early morning
(before sunrise) departure up to the ruins, After get off
the minibus twenty five minutes climbing on foot to the top
where you will watch the beautiful sun rise between the
colossal size statues and heads of the kings and Gods. After
sun rise you will have time to walk around and take
pictures. Then drive back to the hotel for breakfast, on the
way visit the ruins of the Arsemia, Roman bridge of Cendere
and Royal Tomb of Karakus. Tea break in Kahta. Drive to
Sanli Urfa visiting Ataturk Dam on the way which is the
biggest dam in Middle East. C/in to hotel in Sanli Urfa,
after lunch visit Abrahams Cave and the Pools of Holy
Carp surrounding it, than walk around oriental covered
bazaar of Urfa. Then drive to Harran, a village of
spellbinding Mud-Brick "beehive" houses mentioned in the
book of genesis where Abraham spend last years of his life.
Visit the ruins of Harran including city walls, oldest
Islamic university and the castle datinf back to eighteen
century. After the sun set drive back to the hotel, dinner Lunch in Urfa included. Half board hotel accommodation in Urfa (aka
Sanliurfa) Note: Nemrud tours are not possible in winter time
because the mountain road is closed by snow fall, usually
after the 1st week of November until the mid/end of April.
Burning woods magically turned into holly fishes
living in this big pool in Urfa
Bald
Ibis birds of Birecik
Harran is famous for its 'beehive' houses,
constructed without any wood
DAY 5 : RETURN
CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast in your hotel (included)
You will return to Cappadocia via Adana province, shortly
visiting Brecik town on the way. Birecik is the well-known
with its Kelaynak (bald-ibis) birds. These birds are endemic
to this region, living only in Birecik in the whole world,
There is a breeding farm of these birds which are in danger
of extinction. After lunch, drive up to the Taurus Mountain.
Tea break and drive back to Cappadocia,
expectedly arriving by 5-6 pm. Lunch included. Hotel accommodation
in Cappadocia, breakfast included.
DAY 6
:CAPPADOCIA
One
day is never enough to see the wonders of the vast
Cappadocia region. You have many more things to see on your
second tour of Cappadocia, with your eyes wide-opened from
amazement.
The last day's itinerary will be like this:
Breakfast at 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.
Overnight bus to Istanbul, arriving next morning. (of Day 7)
End of the package upon your arrival to bus terminal in
Istanbul.
TOUR PRICE
Departure: Available between
May-October departing from Istanbul on Fridays and
Tuesdays only. Ask for Thursday departures, which may be
available occasionally.Nemrud tours are not possible
in winter time because the mountain road is closed by snow
fall, usually after the 1st week of November until May. Pricing: 470 Euro per personin single room (1 pax) 420 Euro
per person in double room (2 pax) 400 Euro
per person in triple room(3 pax)
Prices are not guaranteed in case of last minute
bookings. Ask for group discount for big groups.
Above tour prices include:
All taxes. (Various surcharges apply in case of 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 day-tours guided in English. Entrance fees for
museums
All mentioned meals above in the itinerary.
All connecting transportations and hotel/tour transfers
in between the tour period.
Customize this tour
package:
Flights
Overnight bus ride on departure can be replaced with morning
flight next day (day 2)
Extra cost for this will roughly be 60-100 Euro, depending
on flight cost on that day and early reservation, including
2 way airport transfers
Overnight bus ride on return can be replaced with evening
flight (day 6)
Extra cost for this will roughly be 60-100 Euro, depending
on flight cost on that day and early reservation, including
2 way airport transfers Possible add-ons
Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (tour #5) at
sunrise before the Southern Cappadocia tour on Day 6.
Discounted price as a part of this package will be 135 Euro
per person
Extra stay/hotel accommodation in Cappadocia with special
discounts
Hotel in Istanbul before or after the tour package with
special discounts
Airport transfers from/to hotels in Istanbul for your
international flights - 30 Euro - one way for 1-3 pax
Istanbul daily city tours:
Istanbul Daily City Tours (Private or Group Tours) with
special discounts
Return to Kusadasi (instead of Istanbul) to visit Ephesus,
Pamukkale etc. Overnight bus is available everyday. Direct
flight (to Izmir) are available rarely.
Hotels
Hotels can be upgraded to 4 or 5 star or deluxe boutique
hotels, if you pay the extra cost. You can choose specific
hotels you want to stay in each destination.
Click Here for Other Turkey Tour Packages
PAYMENT AND
RESERVATION
Payment and reservation:
We request 20-30% of the total tour price for guaranteed
reservations. We will send you a detailed reservation
contract by e-mail after availability and other details are
confirmed mutually.
For payments we accept Visa and Master and American credit
cards. Various surcharges may apply in case of credit card
payments, about which you will be informed in advance.
