At Europe’s door yet on the threshold of Asia, Turkey is truly a land of contrasts.

Here you can scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark, cross the historic Euphrates and Tigris rivers, follow in the footsteps of St Paul or simply relax on the golden Mediterranean sands of Patara beach.

Vibrant Istanbul, straddling the blue waters of the Bosphorus separating Europe from Asia, beckons with its skyline pierced by countless minarets, chaotic bazaars and a history redolent with harem intrigue and despotic Sultans

The gay population of Turkey has grown rapidly over the last 10 years. Subsequently, Turkish gay men have started interacting with other gay people from all around the world, and there have been considerable developments in gay travel.

The gay bars and clubs have also started publishing their own business websites, like Turkey Gay.net ,  which would have English pages for gay visitors from other countries.

Despite the fact that Turkey is a Muslim country, it reveals a very different attitude to other Islamic countries towards lesbian and gay people. Turkey is progressive and highly western and allows gays to have a measure of freedom of expression and access to fulfilling careers and romantic intimacy. Turkey is the only Muslim country in the world where homosexuality is not illegal since the republic was founded in 1923.

Many tour groups are no bigger than 12-15 and are ideal for travelers that are easy going and fun loving people that enjoy getting to know other people and approach the new culture they will visit with a sense of curiosity. At the same time, a small tour group offers a camaraderie and intimacy amongst members where you will bond and make lifelong travel friends. A spirit of adventure, people and new places will ensure that gay vacations to Turkey will be a memorable experience for you.

These exciting gay vacations to Turkey  offer delicious meals and up market accommodation in conjunction with professional tours. Themes for the tours include easy adventure filled trips, cultural and historical sightseeing, party vibe or quiet safaris or romantic cruises as well as nature walks.

Gay tour operators offer tour packages customized from interesting cultural sightseeing and various outdoor activities. You get to visit places that are off the beaten track and see exciting, well-known spots where you get to experience unique subtleties that most tourists don’t get to experience.

Tour operators allow you to create your own tour if you cannot find a suitable package on the website suitable to your schedule where you can create your very own itinerary. Choose from the normal tour guides and books to create your own itinerary. Pick from any or all of the sights mentioned or request a place that was not mentioned, anywhere in Turkey. Greek Islands tours and Blue voyage cruises within Turkey are offered for private groups, big or small to fit in with your vacation period.

When you plan your gay vacations to Turkey, it is good to know that the major tourist attractions and famous sights are all connected by reliable public bus transport, whether the destinations are long or short distance.

A trip to Cappadocia, in central Turkey, gives you the chance for a unique lodging experience: staying in a cave.  (above) The soft volcanic rock has been hollowed out for homes for at least two millennia.

The Turkish railway system is not very reliable and comfortable at all. Domestic flights are available from Istanbul to all other local as well as all international airports. Charter flights are only available during peak tourism season and are rare even then.

Vacations to Turkey ideas penned by Howie Holben. His company, Spirit Journeys , is a gay travel association and  advances spiritual gay tours world wide.

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