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 Once you set foot in Turkey, Eurasia's heady mix of east and west, it doesn't take long to realize you're not in Kansas anymore. Here, one exotic city straddles two continents, an incredibly preserved metropolis reveals an ancient past, and magical, mystical landscapes of cotton castles and fairy chimneys lead to a vast underground city that invites endless exploration. Join Hermes Tours, and we'll unravel endless mysteries of an enchanting land as only a small group can!
 • Istanbul Tour, including Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, and Hippodrome
• Visit to the Grand Bazaar
• Take a cruise up the Bosphorus
• Ephesus Tour, including the Antique City, Temple of Artemis, Virgin Mary's House, Selçuk Ephesus Museum, and St. John Church
• Pamukale Tour, including ancient Hierapolis and its Theatre, Apollo Temple, Necropolis, and more
• Konya Tour, including Mevlana Mausoleum and Karatay Theological School
• Cappadocia Tour, including Pigeon Valley and Open Air Museum in Göreme, and Kaymakli Underground City
• 2 internal flights from Istanbul to Izmir and Cappadocia to Istanbul
• Accommodations for 9 nights in 3 - 5-star hotels
• Services of a Hermes Tours escort
• Services of an expert, local guide in all cities
• $100 per person savings if you reserve 5 months before departure!
• Optional hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia
Day 1 - Saturday, April 27, 2013
Welcome to Turkey! We arrive at Istanbul Airport, then privately transfer to our hotel. This intoxicating city is the only one in the world to straddle two continents, with Europe to the west of the Bophorus Strait and Asia to the east. Tonight, we gather for a special Hermes Welcome Dinner.
Overnight: Golden City Hotel, Istanbul 4*, or similar.
Meal: D
 Day 2 - Sunday, April 28, 2013
Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul. Its three names span more than 2,600 years, and our full-day tour today spans its most notable and historic landmarks. We visit the Topkapi Palace, home to Ottoman sultans for 400 years; Hagia Sophia, the basilica-turned-mosque-turned-museum; The Blue Mosque, named for its countless blue tiles that adorn its interior; and the Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place.
By tour's end, we'll be browsing the exotic halls of the Grand Bazaar, and endless maze of 1,200 shops along 58 covered streets brimming with kilims, jewelry, pottery, spices, and all things Turkish.
Overnight: Golden City Hotel, Istanbul 4*
Meal: B
 Day 3 - Monday, April 29, 2013
After breakfast, we fly to Izmir and continue to Ephesus, an incredibly preserved ancient city where St. Paul is said to have preached. During our eye-opening tour, we'll see the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world; the Virgin Mary's House; St. John Church; and the Selçuk Ephesus Museum. We spend tonight in Kusadasi.
Overnight: Charisma De Luxe Hotel, Kusadasi 5*, or similar.
Meal: B, L, D
 Day 4 - Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The "cotton castle" mineral deposits of Pamukale cast a magical glow over Pamukale, as we'll see today. We also tour Hierapolis, the ancient spa city fed by the same hot springs that created the surrounding white fairyland. Admire its bowled Theatre, Apollo Temple and sprawling Necropolis. We have lunch today in Aphrodisias, then visit its ruins and museum. Spend tonight in Pamukkale.
Overnight: Hal Tur Hotel, Pamukkale 3*, or similar
Meal: B, L, D
 Day 5 - Wednesday, May 1, 2013
En route to Konya, we visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the famed mystic and poet known to many as Rumi. Later, we admire the beautiful tiles of the Karatay Theological School. The rest of the after-noon is free for you to relax.
Overnight: TBA
Meal: B, D
 Day 6 - Thursday, May 2, 2013
After breakfast we drive to Cappadocia, stop at the 13th-century Sultanhan Caravanserai, a mas-terfully constructed travelers inn from the Seljukian dynasty. We take time to explore the breathtaking Kaymakli Underground City, a vast network of 100 tunnels where early Christians hid from persecu-tors.
Overnight: Gamirasu Cave Hotel, Cappadocia
Meal: B, L, D
 Day 7 - Friday, May 3, 2013
Join an early-morning, optional hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia for a breathtaking view of this spectacular, otherworldly landscape.
After breakfast, we head to Goreme's remarkable Open Air Museum. Start the day with a visit to some early Christian churches adorned with unique frescoes depicting biblical scenes. After lunch in a local restaurant, we take time to explore the breathtaking Kaymakli Underground City, a vast network of 100 tunnels where early Christians hid from persecutors. We'll also see the Zelve Monastery artfully carved into a hillside, then stop in Avanos to shop for its famed earthenware pottery.
Overnight: Gamirasu Cave Hotel, Cappadocia
Meal: B, L, D
 Day 8 - Saturday, May 4, 2013
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport and our flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you are assisted to your hotel and the rest of the day is free. You might sample an age-old Turkish tradition by stopping by a hammam, an authentic bath where locals undergo rigorous massage.
Overnight: Golden City Hotel, Istanbul 4*, or similar
Meal: B
 Day 9 - Sunday, May 5, 2013
This morning we take in the vibrant scents and colors at the city's spice market. Then, embark a 2-hour cruise on the Bosphorus, with Europe to port and Asia to starboard. Your afternoon is free to make more discoveries, or revisit some favorite spots. Tonight, join us for our special Hermes Farewell dinner.
Overnight:Golden City Hotel, Istanbul 4*.
Meal: B, D
Day 10 - Monday, May 6, 2013
Our tour ends after breakfast with a private transfer to the airport.
Meal: B
Istanbul:
Situated near the beach in the heart of Istanbul, Istanbul Golden City Hotel is close to Galata Tower, Karakoy Salipazari Cruise Ship Terminal, and Suleymaniye Mosque. Also nearby are Spice Bazaar and Galata Whirling Dervish Hall.
This gay-friendly hotel offers a coffee shop/café, a bar/lounge, and a snack bar/deli. Guests are served a complimentary breakfast each morning. Complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access is available in public areas. Guests have complimentary access to a train station pick-up service. The staff can arrange tour/ticket assistance, business services, secretarial services, and currency exchange. Additional amenities include multilingual staff, laundry facilities, and coffee in the lobby. This is a smoke-free property.
The 62 air-conditioned guestrooms at Istanbul Golden City Hotel include laptop-compatible safes and minibars. Rooms have sea, city, or water views. Rooms are equipped with LCD televisions with satellite channels. All accommodations provide desks and phones. Guests can use the in-room complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access. Bathrooms offer showers with rainfall showerheads, phones, bathrobes, and designer toiletries. Additional amenities include welcome amenities and slippers. Housekeeping is offered daily.
Kusadasi:
Welcome to Charisma De Luxe Hotel Kusadasi, where luxury and comfort meet eachother. Towering over the Aegean Sea's outstanding view, the Hotel is just 15 minutes by walk from Kusadasi's shopping and entertainment away. 133 de luxe rooms offer you the unique taste of technology and comfort.The rooms are equipped with jacuzzi, LCD screen television, split aircondition, minibar, electronic safe box, hairdryer and free internet connection. From the rooms even from the jacuzzi you may watch the outstanding view of the Aegean Sea.
Pamukkale:
Hal-Tur Hotel is situated in the village of Pamukkale, very close to the famous 'White Travertines', one of Turkey's major tourist attractions and a few steps from thermal pools and Cleopatra's pool. The hotel offers a large courtyard with swimming pool, a children pool, an indoor sauna, saftey box , free internet access, parking facilities, kelim store and a restaurant where guests can sample the finest traditional Turkish cusine. The hotel is an excellent starting point to discover Pamukkale, noted ancient spa, the nearby Aphrodisias, Laodikya, Ephesus, Kakik caves, Buldan and Denizli.
Cappadocia:
Gamirasu is the name of an exquisitely restored twenty-five-room troglodyte cave house opened in 1999, in Ayvali Village near Urgup in the heart of Cappadocia, Turkey. The hotel is located in a restored thousand-year-old Byzantine monastic retreat which offers modern conveniences without distracting from the spiritual feeling of the area which has been known to be inhabited for more than five thousand years. Gamirasu cave Hotel is featured in major international travel guides as one of the best cave hotels of Cappadocia
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Turkish Delights Tour Itinerary
|
Date |
Destination |
Meals |
| 27 April |
Home / Istanbul |
D |
| 28 April |
Istanbul |
B |
| 29 April |
Istanbul / Ephesus |
B, L, D |
| 30 April |
Pamukkale |
B, L, D |
| 01 May |
Konya |
B, L, D |
| 02 May |
Konya / Cappadocia |
B, L, D |
| 03 May |
South Cappadocia |
B, L, D |
| 04 May |
Cappadocia / Istanbul |
B |
| 05 May |
Istanbul |
B, D |
| 06 May |
Istanbul / Home |
B |
|
B-Breakfast, D-Dinner, L-Lunch
Download Complete Itinerary 
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Important Information
Canadian and American passport holders are required to have visas to enter the Istanbul for tourism purposes. Visas may be obtained upon arrival at the Istanbul Airport.
There are no shots that are required for travel to Turkey but Hermes Tours does recommend that your tetanus booster be up to date.
It is very easy to withdraw money from ATMs located throughout the country as well as to use your Visa or MasterCard. The American Express card is less widely accepted. Travelers checks are also accepted however can carry a heavy commission fee. We recommend to travelers to bring only a small amount of cash and/or travelers checks and to rather use their ATM and credit cards while traveling.
Please note that the above cost includes all accommodation in gay friendly hotels, with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips and service charges. All activities as outlined in the itinerary; aiport transfers on designated arrival/departure days; all meals as per itinerary; 2 domestic flights as per itinerary; the services of a Hermes Tours Escort throughout the trip; all ground transportation as per itinerary; entrance fees to all sites on itinerary.
International airfare to/from Istanbul/; passport & visa fees if applicable; personal travel and cancellation insurance; meals and activities not specifically included in the itinerary; services of a personal nature like alcohol; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; faxes as well as customary tips to drivers and guides.
What Our Travelers Say
"My trip was fantastic! Thanks, see you again very soon!"
Richard, Fort Myers, FL
"Extremely well organized and a great value!"
Carl Hughes & John Schott, Charlotte, NC
"Visiting Turkey was an awesome experience. Hermes did a great job in organizing this tour, focusing on historical and cultural sites. The local tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, was a good story-teller, and had a great sense of humor. I can't wait to go on my next vacation with Hermes."
Edward Fernando, California
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