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 A Gay Travel Turkey Cultural Tour. From Istanbul to the ancient city of Ephesus, and the beautiful Turquoise Coast to the mysterious landscape of the Anatolian heartland. On this gay travel Türkiye tour, we’ll explore the best of this fascinating crossroads of civilization. Enjoy stunning city sites, archaeological wonders and a boat ride along the coast in a classic vessel on our gay tour of Türkiye.
Turkey: the only country that occupies two continents. Turkey: a land of so much diversity of seacoasts, mountains, and plains that it could be one continent by itself. Türkiye: home to well-preserved archeological sites that show the vast expanse of the ancient Greek and Roman empires. Turkey: a cradle of Christian civilization harking back to the days when Istanbul was called Byzantium and Constantinople. Turkey: home to the Ottoman Empire that extended far beyond the borders of today’s nation. Turkey: a primarily Muslim country in which secular government has long been enshrined in its constitution. Join us to explore this amazing land with our articulate Turkish guide!
• Tour Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, an Ottoman Palace and the Grand Bazaar in the city known as Istanbul, Constantinople, and Byzantium.
• Take in vistas of Istanbul from a cruise along the Bosphorus.
• Be dazzled by Istanbul’s dizzying nightlife.
• Experience a traditional Turkish bath (hamam).
• Explore Ephesus, one of the largest and best-preserved ancient sites in the world.
• Relax on a comfortable Turkish gulet (yacht) for one full-day cruise and one half-day cruise to experience the variety of landscapes along the Turquoise Coast.
• Walkthrough history at Myra, Perge, and Aspendos near Antalya.
• See the otherworldly sandstone formations and forgotten cave churches of Cappadocia.
Arrive Early
 An exquisite gay cultural tour of Italy with a congenial gay group exploring the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and the enchanting regions of Basilicata and Puglia. We’ll delve into the history of Pompeii, and delight in the natural splendor of the region, admiring the tenacity with which ancient residents settled the cliffs and islands of the Mediterranean.
Days 1 - 3 -
 We will arrive in Istanbul and be transferred to our first hotel. Later this evening, we will meet with our tour guide and enjoy our welcome dinner and orientation.
We’ll spend the next two days exploring the city, which is dramatically situated upon three waterways: the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Golden Horn. Istanbul’s exotic flavor comes alive in its magnificent mosques with their minarets, bustling bazaars, and boulevards and bridges. We’ll have ample time to soak in the atmosphere of the city and enjoy its many exciting vistas.
We’ll start at Hagia Sophia, known for its magnificent dome, then tour the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque, with its magnificent paneling of over 20,000 blue Iznik tiles.
After lunch, on our first full day in Istanbul, we’ll wind down with a visit to a traditional Turkish Bath (hammam).
No stay in Istanbul is complete without an unforgettable boat excursion through the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia and connects the Mediterranean and Black Seas. We start our second full day in Istanbul with a boat ride, then we’ll take a leisurely visit to either the Dolmabahce Palace, the grand administrative center of the Ottoman government overlooking the Bosporus, or the Topkapi Palace Museum, a former residence of the Ottoman Sultans and now a museum filled with Chinese porcelain and extraordinary jewelry. After lunch at an elegant seafood restaurant, we’ll visit the Grand Bazaar, exploring a labyrinth of streets and passages where more than 4000 merchants will vie for our attention.
Day 4 -
 From Istanbul, we will fly to Cappadocia, where we’ll check into our hotel for the next two nights. Over centuries, soft volcanic rock has been sculpted by wind, rain, and erosion into magnificent columns and fantastical shapes, creating one of the most interesting landscapes in the world.
In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a pottery-making demonstration by a local artist.
We will check into our unique lodgings at a cave resort. This will provide a first-hand experience of the unique characteristics of cave dwellings.
Day 5 -
 Today starts at 5 am for anyone who would like to arrange for an optional hot air balloon ride over the vast sandstone landscape. (Must be booked in advance and then paid directly to the vendor during the tour).
Today we’ll visit the open-air museum of Göreme whose steep cliffs hide many tiny churches dating from the 9th century when Christians fled here to escape persecution. We’ll visit a 180-foot-high fortress carved out of a natural hill dominating the area, for a breathtaking view of the surrounding Cappadocia formations and other sights.
We will enjoy lunch in Göreme before we enjoy a carpet weaving presentation at a local manufacturer.
 Next, we will descend to the remarkable underground city of Ozkonak.
This underground City is an ancient city built into the northern slopes of Mt. Idis about 14 km northeast of Avanos in Nevsehir Province, in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. Here we will have a 1.5 hour tour.
This evening we will enjoy a Turkish Night Show with a performance and dinner.
Day 6 -
 Today we will visit the city of Kayseri where we will enjoy the best pastirami and manti.
Set in the shadow of Erciyes Dagi (Mount Aergeus, 3916 meters; 12,848 feet), Kayseri's historic buildings contrast with the sparkling ski slopes on Erciyes. Most of Kayseri's grand old buildings are made of dark, somber volcanic stone, so different from the sunny volcanic tufa of Cappadocian buildings. But Kayseri's Citadel and great mosques and medreses (schools) are still impressive Seljuk Turkish works of art.
After we have a local lunch, we will take our flight to Antalya (1 hour).
Day 7 -
 Today we explore the ancient sites around Antalya. One stop will be the ancient city of Perge, which was founded after the Trojan wars, and was first mentioned in 334 BC when Alexander the Great passed through. Later Perge was where the apostle Paul and Barnabus began their first mission in Anatolia.
Further along, the ancient Pamphylian city of Aspendos is noted for its Roman and Byzantine ruins, and in particular a well-preserved Roman theater. A wide range of coinage from the 5th century BC onward attests to the city’s wealth, which was based on trade in salt, oil, and wool. Aspendos was occupied by Alexander the Great in 333 BC and fell under Roman rule in 133 BC.
We will visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum before arrival at the hotel, with a free evening.
Day 8 -
 Today we will have a drive along the coast of the Mediterranean via Lycian Road. We will make a stop in Myra, an ancient city to have a look at rock carved Lycian tombs. For lunch, we will stop in Kas before are arrival in Kalkan. We will also enjoy a visit to the grave of St. Nicolas, born in Turkiye.
Day 9 -
 In contrast to our busy day the day before, we devote a day to relaxing on an all-day ride on a gulet, a charming and comfortable wooden sailing vessel.
We’ll enjoy a 4-hour Gulet Sail from Kevkova to Ucagiz with lunch on board, then enjoy our second evening in Kalkan.
Days 10 - 11 -
Today we will drive to Kayakoy, a ghost village, abandoned by the Greeks. We will have lunch and continue our drive to Bodrum.
The following day we will make our way to Bodrum, one of the most beautiful locations along Turkey’s Lycian Coast. Here, we will visit Bodrum Castle, walk in the market, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. We will have some free time in the afternoon. There is a beach club, for those that are interested.
Day 12 -
 This morning we will drive to the ancient Roman site of Ephesus, one of the largest and best-preserved ancient cities in the world. A walk down the well-preserved wide marble streets lined with columns, offers a vision of the ancient Hellenistic and Roman empires, complete with theaters, temples, and baths. We will have a 2 hour tour of Ephesus, followed by a visit to a leather factory, for those that are interested.
After touring Ephesus we’ll have lunch at a local restaurant, then drive to our hotel in Kusadasi. Tonight we will enjoy our Farewell Dinner before departing the next morning.
Day 13 -
 From Kusadasi, we will provide a transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Istanbul to connect with flights home or to your next destination.
For those who would like to spend more time in Istanbul, our local partners can also arrange transfers and lodging to extend your stay.
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