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 Zoom luxury gay group tour to Turkey starts in the cosmopolitan city of Istanbul, whose incredible geographical location is the reason wars have been fought and lives lost. Turkey sits on both the European and Asian Continents. It is literally where East meets West. Istanbul is both the nearest Asian city to Europe and the nearest European city to Asia.
As a port city, all trade paths have passed through Istanbul for thousands of years. In addition to its prime location, another important feature of Istanbul is that it is highly sheltered. The center, which is presently called the “historical peninsula”, was made capital city by both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. It is located on a hill surrounded by three seas which has made it almost impossible to be conquered.
Although thousands of years have passed, Istanbul still maintains its geographical importance. Today Istanbul is a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures, religions and being home to eleven million people; and one of the greatest business and cultural center of the region...
After Istanbul, we then take you to the fairytale land of Cappadocia, where man and nature have competed (or have they worked together) to create an otherworldly landscape of towering stones, caves, and other formations, amidst cliffs and mountains. You will feel transported back in time or to another world altogether.
• Fully escorted with the services of a Zoom Concierge throughout the trip
• Accommodations at two of the best hotels in Istanbul and Cappadocia
• A unique welcome event in a special location
• Breakfast daily
• Take a boat cruise of the Bosphorus
• Welcome Event in Istanbul
• Tour of Istanbul including Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Saint Sophia, Cisterns, Grand Bazaar
• Visit Dolmabahce Palace, Spice Market, Church of Chora (famed for gold gilded mosaics), Pera Palace Hotel (famed for Orient Express) for high tea, and more
• Enjoy a special seafood feast at Angel Blue Restaurant with wine
• Welcome to Cappadocia dinner with wine at Tafoni Caves
• Authentic Whirling Dervish performance.
• Hot air balloon over Cappadocia
• Kizilcukur sunset experience with wine & cheese
• Special Taverna dinner in Cappadocia
• Tour of Cappadocia including Three Beauties, Sinassos, Camel’s Valley, Avanos town famed for pottery studios.
• “Until Next Time” event in Cappadocia
• All airport transfers
Day 1 - Saturday, October 31, 2020
Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey
Arrive in Istanbul. Transfer to hotel for accommodation at Swiss Hotel The Bosphorus.
Welcome dinner with wine at a special restaurant with superb views of the Old City adorned with domes and minarets.
Accommodations: Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul Hotel , 5*
Meals Included: Welcome Dinner Event
Day 2 - Sunday, November 01, 2020
Istanbul's Ancient Masterpieces
Breakfast included at our hotel.
Private tour of Istanbul’s ancient architectural masterpieces including the ancient Roman Hippodrome Square (where many chariot races were run hundreds of years ago), Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616 known as the “Blue Mosque” because of the sapphire hue that pervades its decorations), Topkapi Palace (home of the sultans of Turkey), Saint Sophia (built in 360 AD, Hagia Sophia is the former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial mosque), Cisterns (lying under Istanbul, built in the 6th century), and Grand Bazaar (one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops, built in 1455).
Dinner on your own to experience Istanbul night life.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodations: Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul Hotel, 5*
Day 3 - Monday, November 02, 2020
Explore Istanbul
 Breakfast included at our hotel.
Privately guided tour of Istanbul including opulent Dolmabahce Palace (home of the last sultan), the colorful Spice Market, Church of Chora (famed for gold gilded mosaics), Pera Palace Hotel (famed for being the host hotel of the Orient Express train guests) for high tea, Walk and explore Galata and Beyoglu pedestrian to breathe in 19th century feel of Constantinople.
Evening private motor yacht cruise on Bosphorus including wine to go with the stunning views followed by a seafood feast accompanied with more delicious wine.
Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul Hotel, 5*
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 4 - Tuesday, November 03, 2020
From Istanbul to Cappadocia
 Breakfast included at our hotel.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Transfer to Istanbul Airport for your early morning flight to Konya (named Iconium and Latin and dating back to the Bible days).
En route visit Konya, famed for being the hometown of Whirling Dervishes and the Mevlana Mausoleum (the home base for the order of Dervishes). In Konya we will also visit the Tile Medrese, a theological school dating back to around 1265. Continue to fabled Cappadocia and check in to Tafoni Houses Cave Hotel.
Welcome dinner paired wine at Tafoni Caves.
After dinner, visit 13th century caravan seraglio to experience a special live Whirling Dervishes performance.
Tafoni Houses Cave Hotel, 5*
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5 - Wednesday, November 04, 2020
Magical Cappadocia
 Early morning hot air ballooning and return to hotel for breakfast, included at our hotel.
Private tour of magical Cappadocia, famous for its unique rock formations and otherworldly landscapes that remind us of a set of a Star Wars movie, including Kaymakli Underground City, Pigeons’ Valley, Goreme Open Air Museum of Byzantine Cave Churches, Weaving Center of Cappadocia, Pasha Bag Valley famed for its apartment looking hermitages.
Depart from hotel for a special sunset experience where we will enjoy the enchanting views of the Cappadocia landscape while enjoying a wine & cheese reception.
Dine out at a famed tavern style restaurant, known for its appetizers and good wine.
Accommodations: Tafoni Houses Cave Hotel, 5*
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 - Thursday, November 05, 2020
Explore Cappadocia
 Breakfast included at our hotel.
Private tour of Cappadocia including Three Beauties (also known as three Graces, the brilliant three naturally formed “fairy chimneys” located on Urgüp), Sinassos (also knowns as Mustafapasa, home to some of the region's loveliest examples of typical Greek stone carved–mansion architecture), Camel’s Valley (home to natural rock formations resembling animals such as a camel, snake, seal, and dolphin), and Avanos town famed for pottery studios.
Early Evening Until Next Time dinner at one of the best restaurants in town.
Accommodations: Tafoni Houses Cave Hotel, 5*
Meals Included: Breakfast & 'Until Next Time' Dinner
Day 7 - Friday, November 06, 2020
Departure
Breakfast included at our hotel.
Early morning transfer to Kayseri Airport for your flight to Istanbul that will connect to your international flight home or to Venice for our
All Gay Venice Simplon Orient Express Train Journey, November 7-9, 2020.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul Hotel, Istanbul (3 Nights)
 This five-star luxury hotel right in the center of Istanbul on the European banks of the Bosphorus. Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul Hotel nestled within 65 acres of historical gardens with world-class shopping and vibrant nightlife nearby, guest rooms and suites feature state-of-the-art technology and exclusive amenities.
The award-winning Purovel Spa & Sport offers luxurious holistic spa treatments from all over the world.
Tafoni Houses Cave Hotel, Cappadocia (3 Nights)
 With its unique location in Ortahisar Village, literally meaning Middle Fortress, Tafoni Houses Cave Hotel offers the discerning traveler convenience of being minutes away from major sites as well as proposing an ambience of seclusion and tranquility. Having thirteen spacious suites that are hosted in ancient cave dwellings, accommodation at Tafoni Houses expresses finesse and elegance accessorized by objets d’art and art deco furniture.
With its spacious outdoor terraces and lush landscaping, Tafoni Houses offers the aura of a private club where guests can enjoy socially inviting ambiences, or else, they may prefer to disappear for an intimate getaway.Whether the call is for a relaxing massage treatment in your cave or a sip of cocktail while watching the starlit skies with vintage telescopes, at Tafoni Houses you will “Unveil Il Canto di Cappadocia”.
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