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Turkey іѕ predominantly Muslim, bυt tһеу һаνе аח simple-going аррrοасһ іח comparison tο οtһеr Islamic countries towards homosexual people. Turkey іѕ very western аחԁ progressive іח allowing gay men аחԁ women tο delight іח a freedom tο express themselves аחԁ access tο promising careers аחԁ experiencing romantic intimacy.

Groups аrе חο Ɩаrɡеr tһаח 12-15 аחԁ аrе ideal fοr travelers tһаt аrе simple going аחԁ fun loving people tһаt delight іח getting tο know οtһеr people аחԁ аррrοасһ tһе חеw culture tһеу wіƖƖ stay wіtһ a sense οf curiosity. At tһе same time, tһе small tour group offers a camaraderie аחԁ intimacy amongst members wһеrе уου wіƖƖ bond аחԁ mаkе lifelong travel friends. A moral fiber οf adventure, people аחԁ חеw places wіƖƖ ensure tһаt tһеѕе gay vacations tο Turkey wіƖƖ bе a memorable experience fοr уου.

Tһеѕе memorable gay vacations tο Turkey аrе chic аחԁ offer decadent meals аחԁ chic accommodation along wіtһ professionally guided tours. Themes include party vibe οr simple adventure, cultural аחԁ past trips, safaris οr cruises, οr nature walks.

Gay tour companies provide travel experiences tһаt аrе fashioned frοm carefully selected programs οf insightful cultural sightseeing аחԁ/οr outdoor activities. Nοt οחƖу wіƖƖ tһеу take уου οff tһе beaten path, bυt tһеу wіƖƖ аƖѕο take уου tο ѕοmе exciting well-crushed spots wһеrе tһеу′ll ѕһοw уου a uniqueness аחԁ subtlety tһаt mοѕt tourists never dream οf.

Tour operators Ɩеt уου mаkе уουr οwח customized tour wіtһ уουr very οwח itinerary іf уου don’t find a package οח tһеіr website tһаt fits іחtο уουr schedule. Uѕе tһе normal tour аחԁ travel books tο рƖасе together уουr οwח tour. Select frοm аחу οr аƖƖ tһе sights οr add аחԁ remove places anywhere іח Turkey. Private groups саח delight іח Greek Islands tours οr Blue voyage cruises offered within Turkey.

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Tһе railway system іѕ חοt аѕ comprehensive аחԁ іѕ חοt tһе mοѕt comfortable. Domestic flights аrе offered between Istanbul аחԁ аƖƖ tһе οtһеr local аחԁ аƖƖ international airports. Charter flights аrе rare аחԁ available οחƖу during peak tourism seasons.

Book іח advance wһеח уου рƖοt уουr gay trip tο Turkey, particularly іf уου аrе рƖοttіחɡ tο travel during peak time οf year tο avoid аחу delays οח bookings аחԁ payments fοr flights аחԁ accommodation.

Tour operators dedicated to offering gay travel are popping up like mushrooms all over the world. We’ve got the inside scoop on gay vacations to turkey. Gay and lesbian travelers are now able to join in with small-group tours to enjoy gay vacations to Turkey that welcome both couples and singles or friends.

Turkey has a growing gay population and over the last 10 or so years, gay Turkish men have been interacting with other gays and lesbians around the globe.Hence, the growth in the gay and lesbian travel market.

Gay clubs and gay bars have started developing their own websites with English pages for gays visiting from other countries.

Turkey has a Muslim religion, yet it has a very relaxed attitude compared to other Islamic nations towards gay and lesbian people. Turkey is highly western and progressive allowing gays and lesbians to have a freedom of expression as well as access to fulfilling careers and pursuing romantic intimacy.

Tour groups organizing gay vacations to Turkey welcome up to 15 people only and are perfect for travelers who are fun loving, flexible people’s people who embrace new cultures and experiences with curiosity and adventure. Smaller tour groups offer a camaraderie and intimacy amongst tourists allowing them to bond and become good mates. If you are an adventurous person who likes to meet people whilst experiencing new sights, gay vacations to Turkey are the answer for you.

These memorable gay vacations to Turkey are upscale and offer decadent meals and upscale accommodation along with professionally guided tours. Themes include party vibe or easy adventure, cultural and historical trips, safaris or cruises, or nature walks.

Gay tour companies provide travel experiences that are fashioned from carefully selected programs of insightful cultural sightseeing and/or outdoor activities. Not only will they take you off the beaten path, but they will also take you to some exciting well-trodden spots where they’ll show you a uniqueness and subtlety that most tourists never dream of.

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.

The railway system is not as comprehensive and is not the most comfortable. Domestic flights are offered between Istanbul and all the other local and all international airports. Charter flights are rare and available only during peak tourism seasons.

Book in advance when you plan your gay vacation to Turkey, particularly if you are planning to travel during peak season to avoid any delays on bookings and payments for flights and accommodation.

Howie Holben is the owner of Spirit Journeys, a gay travel organization that focuses on spiritual travel. Spirit Journeys has offered unique gay vacations since 1992. You can learn more about Howie, his work and gay vacations or gay tours with a spiritual focus at www.SpiritJourneys.com.

None of Istanbul’s hamams and saunas is officially gay, but the ones listed below cater almost exclusively to men unabashedly seeking a bit more than a good exfoliation. Remember that hamam owners and staff are usually straight, and tolerance of sexual activity is neither consistent nor wholehearted. Pointing out that a couple in the next room were moments ago having sex will not necessarily save you from rapid ejection if you’re spotted doing the same. See chapter Hamams for details on washing and services, but be warned that the attendant who supplies your towel at gay hamams may try to inflate his tip by providing unsolicited groping. Hamams are most crowded early evenings and weekends and draw all types, from the middle-aged married to flamboyant eightysomethings and teens looking for a first experience. One of few places where class distinctions fade and rigid role-play relaxes.

Aga Hamam
Turnacibagi Sokak 66, Beyoglu. (0212) 249 5027
Open Men 6pm-6am daily; midnight Sat- Midnight Sun. Women 9am-6pm Mon-Sat; closed Sun. Admission men $11; women $8.00. No credit cards.

Beautifully restored historical hamam with a large sauna and cabins for two on the upper floors. Gets going well after midnight when the bars close. TV appearances by the owner disputing hamam workers’ unsavoury reputation haven’t prevented his staff from perpetuating it.
Turkish Bath

Cesme Hamam
Yeni Çesme Sokak 9, off Persembe Pazari Caddesi, Karakoy. (0212) 252 3441
Open 8am-8pm daily. Admission $5. No credit cards.

Recent renovation has done little to brighten up this dingy hamam. Formerly relaxed, but staff have recently issued warnings that open sexual activity, the only real draw here, will no longer be tolerated.

Cukurcuma Hamam
Çukurcuma Caddesi 57, Beyoglu. (0212) 243 2401
Open 9am-8pm daily. Admission $6. No credit cards.

Join the owner and his son for poetic flattery, a drink, and an account of their efforts to keep alive a centuries-old tradition of male sex. So gay that the main room is often not even heated and the sauna functions as a back room. Lounge, bar and exercise equipment are all part of the package. On the flip side, the hamam’s reputation has spread well beyond its front doors, resulting in the sporadic harassment of departing clientele on the street outside.

Park Hamam
Dr Emin Pasa Sokak 10, off Divan Yolu,Sultanahmet. (0212) 513 7204
Open 7am-9.30pm daily. Admission $6; with scrub and massage $12.
No credit cards.

The occasional uninformed tourist and unusually vigilant and rude staff keep the mainly gay clientele slightly inhibited. A pleasant place in terms of cleanliness and architectural details. Package deal a plus for those prone to being badgered into over tipping.

Yesildirek Hamam
Tersane Caddesi 74, Azapkapi.
Open 11am-9pm daily. Admission $4. No credit cards.

Run-down but friendly neighborhood hamam across from the Azapkapi Mosque at the Taksim base of the Ataturk Bridge. Moss-covered ivy-draped toilet and drab cabins detract from the recent addition of a large, new sauna. The management seems willing to overlook a lot in exchange for a little custom.

Gay Travel to Istanbul – Pointers are at the end of the article.

One thing about the real life me, that many people do not know, is that I have traveled to around 60 countries in my lifetime. For several years, I was a consultant based in London, and used to travel around the world as part of my job- a typical year consisted about about 150 days on the road. Some of the travel was ludicrous. I once did a 10 day around the world trip (40,000 miles) meeting with various clients in five continents, this is an experience I would never want to repeat.Needless to say, I am not keen on long distance air travel as a recreational activity. But I do look back and congratulate myself on seeing all these places as part of some very hard work.

One of my favorite cities is Istanbul. I have had the pleasure of traveling there twice. I cannot wait to go back. Istanbul is an absolutely stunning city on one of the world’s most scenic settings- the Bosporus Straits connecting Europe and Asia – spanned by a huge modern suspension bridge that looks like the Golden Gate, and the Golden Horn, which separates old Istanbul (above), which used to be called Constantinople before 1453, and modern Istanbul (below). Old Istanbul, as Constantinople was the center of the world for about 1000 years.

I am not going to go down the history route, but basically, Constantine the Great, the Roman Emperor who converted to Christianity, and subsequently his empire along with him, moved his capital here from Rome. This became the Byzantine empire, one of the most polyglot and enlightened cities the world has ever scene. Although many of the ancient churches have been torn down, Hagia Sophia, the Church of the Divine Wisdom, is still standing – it is enormous and fascinating to see. It is no longer a Church or a Mosque but a Museum. They have lots of cute cats inside, who have food to eat and are super friendly. One of the things I have noticed about Turks who are (and forgive me for a stereotype) some of the nicest, friendliest, most polite people I have ever met is that they take care of stray animals in public places, a trait that I admire greatly. I’ll have more to say about this later.

The South Side of the Golden Horn, old Istanbul is like a working museum. This is the Istanbul of popular imagination. Beautiful Mosques such as the Blue Mosque above, that are open to members of any faith as long as you take your shoes off before you enter, and observe proper silent decorum. I found going to all these Mosques (I remember going to two other huge ones) to be a very peaceful and moving experience– my thoughts turned to contemplating the universe as I looked at the peaceful geometry inside, and heard people chanting in a nice language. I felt at home, and at peace. Anyone who thinks that Islam is a religion of violence needs to come to Istanbul and see why it is so attractive to so many people.

The other great tourist attraction south of the Golden Horn is the huge Grand Bazaar. What brought Istanbul this to mind tonight is that my sister, staying down here at my Mom’s house, found a gift – a well made green leather case, that I purchased for a Mother’s Day gift in the grand bazaar that my Mom never used and wanted to take it. I said fine, and remembered the day I purchased it. I had to haggle with three guys in the bazaar who acted like I ripped them off beyond belief by paying about $100 US for it– any Turk could have gotten it for 1/2 the price. Needless to say I thought it was a good buy at the time, and it would have cost double in the U.S., which leads us to rule number 1 about Istanbul.

Rule number 1. Do not try to bargain and win in the Grand Bazaar, which is a shopping area the size of an entire downtown. You will lose unless you are Turkish, or know what the heck you are doing.

North of the Golden Horn is modern Istanbul. The Golden Horn is not a big strait, the bridges are modest– but crossing it, quite literally, is moving ahead in time about 500 years. Here, the people, mostly young, are western dressed. Taksim, which is like Times Square, is the center of Turkish gay life – and has a number of gay bars and discos. Modern hotels are here (A 5-star hotel can be had for about $120.00 a night U.S., Istanbul is a very inexpensive travel destination), as are great restaurants and just about anything else you want in a modern city.

Now I said that Turks were friendly and courteous. One of the most unbelievable things happened to me in a good Turkish restaurant in Taksim (btw if you think you have had good kebabs forget it- you have not experienced one of the world’s great cuisines until you come to Istanbul). I have problems with cigarette smoke. Turks can smoke very smelly cigarettes in restaurants. Well, I asked the person about 15 feet away if he would not mind not smoking since I was allergic and his smoking meant i could not enjoy my meal. The person – and his table– apologized to me, put out cigarettes, said “our guests meal is what we were are concerned about” or something like this, and could not have been nicer. My hosts said “of course he will put it out, just ask him”. Now, I have never seen conduct like this. They were apologizing to ME for smoking!

One other time, in Taksim, an extremely handsome (many of the men in Istanbul are stunning) young guy we was running a kebab shop invited me back in his place for some tea. I spent an hour talking to him. Since I am shy when I travel I did not “explore” his friendliness — he said he wanted to practice his English. This is the type of city it is– everyone seems to be super friendly. But a caveat-

Rule number 2. This extends to anyone gay, straight, or whatever. Although it is not common, never take up someones offer on the street to take you to a nightclub, or join them for a drink. You may find yourself buying drinks for some male or female “escorts” who will just come and sit at your table. They will be given water, and you will end up being hit with a huge bill– if you resist paying, you will be physically intimidated. In essence you have been mugged. Once again, never take anyone’s offer up on the street to take you to a club!

Gay travel in Istanbul:

Istanbul has a large gay scene. It is legal. There are no laws against gay relations. They have Gay Pride. The culture in Turkey is very very macho. The majority of the guys seem fit. Guys do not walk down the street kissing and holding hands. I have heard that the old Turkish bath houses have a gay subculture, but I have not been so I cannot comment. The bars and clubs were enough action for me. There were many – but the drink prices are steep. Make sure you ask before you order.

Now, things may have changed. I have not been in three years, and the situation for the Western gay tourist may have become a bit less safe, as more “Islamic” elements may be more prominent in Turkish society. My guess is that this does not extend to Istanbul, but watch how you act and where you in public. Please check the travel guides for updates.

As I have indicated, many Turkish men are very handsome. They are not all dark either (the smoldering dark-eyed look very nice); there were many blonds around, since Istanbul is such a melting pot. If you are “Western” looking,especially with pale hair and skin, you are considered a bit of “bait” for the hot horny guys there. Many are bi, and I will say one of the hottest weeks of my life was spent in Istanbul. I will let you use your imagination. This is one of the reasons why I want to go back. I have a vivid memory of sitting at a bar in Istanbul, getting a bit drunk, and a really beautiful young guy who was sitting next to me starting rubbing his leg against mine. Let’s just say that my hand accidentally touched his pants, and a really big surprise was waiting for me.

I must admit it was rather a bad line when I had to tell my friends that I was going to Turkey for thanksgiving instead of having turkey dinner. At least it explained my absence from the traditional feast. Then I had to confess that my knowledge of Turkey was limited to the 80s classic movie Midnight Express. Who could forget the movie’s opening scene with Brad Davis in his tight white briefs strapping tin foil packages of drugs around his perfect six pack? But at least I knew that Istanbul was at the crossroads of two continents—a globally unique occurrence—the city being divided into Europe and Asia by the Bosphorus Straight. With over 11 million people residing in this metropolis I felt confident that my trip would reveal the mystique of Turkey and possibly there might be a gay community in a city so populous.

On the drive to my hotel from the vast, confusing airport imagine my surprise as I gazed at the specter of modern high rise towers amidst the historic mosques with their towering minarets. With a history dating back to circa 6500 BC and the ruins of a Neolithic settlement plus monuments from Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations up to modern day architecture this truly is a city filled with variety. And I soon learned that this diversity includes a thriving gay and lesbian community. My knowledgeable English speaking local tour guide, Okan Kutlu from Istanbul, explained that although the gay community is spread throughout the city there were several bars, clubs, restaurants and cafes to enjoy. However, there are no exclusively gay accommodations but many gay-friendly boutique hotels.

In the shopping, entertainment and gourmet dining district of Nisantasi the Sofa Hotel offers a unique combination of new technology, comfort, peace and exclusive personal services. With 82 rooms and executive suites this hotel provides luxury accommodations and facilities for a relaxing urban vacation.

Close to the Taksim District gay nightlife is the elegant boutique Lush Hotel where any gay traveler is going to feel right at home with pampered service and upscale rooms. With 35 uniquely different and stylish rooms to choose from the Lush Hotel offers something for every vacation budget and, as I soon discovered, lives up to to its name.
Despite the vast number of cars on the roads and the near gridlock traffic, we maneuvered deftly around the city by day to cover the major tourist attractions including the Blue Mosque, the Great Bazaar, the Spice Market, the Hagia Eirene, the Topkapi Palace, and the Hagia Sophia just to name a few. At the end of a busy day of sightseeing a two-hour cruise along the Bosphorus Straight reveals even more historic sights and possibly a spectacular sunset as you return to the docks in the heart of Istanbul.

But this city by night also proffers a few unexpected surprises for the gay adventurer.
Dining out in this sophisticated international city offers every specialty or ethnic cuisine imaginable and of course a variety of Turkish Delights. The Taksim district of Beyoglu town on the European side is the center of most major gay venues and is in fact the heart of this city’s major nightlife. Although my time was limited I did manage to discover a few favorites amongst the many choices for libations and entertainment.
We made an early start at the Shake’in Bar which opens at 4PM and is a local cafe and bar with several different rooms plus a small dance floor. On this particular occasion a local singer entertained the crowd with Turkish songs and although I didn’t understand the words, when a handsome young man sits on your lap to serenade you, the language becomes universal.

Next we headed to the larger more American-style Tek Yon dance bar. Currently recognized as the most popular gay bar in Istanbul, the waiters and staff are very friendly and the crowd very mixed and packed most nights.

But our last stop of the night quickly became my favorite when we arrived at the Love Dance Point. Although it doesn’t open until 11:30PM and only on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays it stays alive until 5AM on weekends. The incredibly friendly waiters, bartenders and management make the place. Not surprisingly the hot Turkish go-go dancers are a delight, and the amazingly diverse tightly packed crowd quickly made me realize I had found the real Midnight Express in Istanbul.

Gay Travel: Gay Turkish Delights In Istanbul.

For rather obvious reasons, information and even anecdote about gay life and travels in Muslim countries – especially those in the Middle East – are relatively hard to come by. Certain websites, such as GayMiddleEast.com, do a nice job providing news and information on the limited or nascent gay culture in places like Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Yemen, and elsewhere. And in relatively tolerant, secular countries such as Turkey, Israel, and Morocco – where many gays live and visit – you can find helpful resources like the Turkey Gay Guide, The Gay Map to Israel, and the GlobalGayz.com page on Gay Morocco. But overall, the resources are highly limited.

With this in mind, the new book Gay Travels in the Muslim World, edited by longtime gay travel journalist Michael T. Luongo, has been a tremendous boon to GLBT travelers and others curious about gay culture in the world where it’s generally thought to be forbidden, hidden, or repressed, Muslim culture. Harrington Park Press, a division of Haworth Press, published this rich collection of 18 essays in 2007. Luongo, who is Senior Editor of Haworth’s “Out in the World” Gay Travel Literature series, has traveled to every continent and more than 75 countries, and has contributed to a wide range of publications, including Out Traveler, Passport, Advocate, Conde Nast Traveler, The New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler. Rather recently, he spent time uncovering the gay underworld (as best he could) in Iraq, and he contributed one of the book’s most lucid and vivid essays, “Adventures in Afghanistan,” based on his explorations of Kabul.

Luongo’s essay, like most of those in this collection, offer plenty of surprises to those of us with preconceived ideas about life in those parts of the world that we perceive as off-limits to gay travelers. He notes the “at times, anything-goes, Casablanca-esqure atmosphere” of Kabul, and points out that most Afghanees he talked to about gay issues suggested he venture to that nation’s “gay capital”, Kandahar.

The books essays offer glimpse into a many nations, some more familiar to Westerners than others. Jay Davidson writes of his experiences in the Peace Corps in Mauritania, a U.S. Marine vet of the Iraq War who grew up in rural Alabama describes his interaction with a gay Iraqi man, travel agent Thomas Bradbury chronicles his bumpy but sweet decade-long romance with a man in Antalya, Turkey. Other stories touch on gay travels in Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Arab villages in Israel’s Galilee, Oman, and Bangladesh. There are tales that deal with sexual and romantic relationships (albeit in a subdued manner – this is not a collection of erotica), cultural outlooks, political and religious views – but in the end, in most cases, these candid, curious, and often poignant stories bridge these related topics. For when it comes to gay culture in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, or even comparatively open Morocco and Turkey, it’s rather impossible to discuss same-sex relations with delving into politics and religion.

Luongo has culled together a diverse mix of stories, and Gay Travels in the Muslim World is relatively short (200 pages) and feels frustrating only in the sense that after reading these 18 essays, it’s easy to crave for more insights and information about gay Muslim life. In this sense, Luongo has no doubt accomplished at least one important aim of his, to pique our curiosity about traveling to these richly historic nations. And, of course, in tackling a taboo subject with such candor, Luongo and his contributors risk upsetting the Muslim establishment while also offering hope to the untold thousands of closeted and supressed gay residents of the Muslim world. It’s easy to imagine a time in the not-too-distant future when gay travel essays about the Middle East become relatively commmonplace. Until then, we can thank Michael Luongo and Haworth Press for this engaging, courageous collection.

Gay Istanbul information … – Thorn Tree travel forum – Lonely Planet.

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Official Name: All Middle East
Population: 230,000,000
Capital: 15 cities – Pop. 0
Area: 647,500 sq. km. / 402,338 sq. miles.
Language: Arabic, Hebrew, English
Religion: Muslim, Judaism, Christianity
Status of Homosexuality: Illegal (except Iraq, Israel, Jordan, West Bank)

Homosexuality in the Middle East is a scorned, denied and criminalized behavior. Secular and religious laws punish same-sex acts that range from imprisonment to whipping to execution. Islam is by far the most dominant religion and it influences secular laws to be harsh and sometimes fatal to gay people.

Gay Middle East News & Reports – Gay Travel, Life & Culture. Photo Galleries, Stories, Links, News & Reports.

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. ...

Tour operators dedicated to offering gay travel are popping up like mushrooms all over the world. We've got the inside scoop on gay vacations to turkey. Gay and lesbian travelers are now able to join in with small-group tours to enjoy ...