Pera Palace and Urbane Nomads Unveil Eco-friendly Tour to Istanbul

An auction lot for Christie's inaugural Green Auction

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. March 04, 2010

Urbane Nomads and Pera Palace will co-sponsor an auction lot for Christie's inaugural Green Auction. The trip will be done in an eco-friendly a manner as possible, including a day's tour led by Gursan Ergil, a famous eco-friendly furniture designer in Istanbul who leads visitors into the historical home of prominent political figure Fethi Okyar, which was designed in the modernist style by Sedad Hakki Eldem, Turkey's Frank Lloyd Wright, and the private garden of influential Turkish sculptor Mehmet Aksoy. Pera Palace and Luxury Travel Company Urbane Nomads will showcase an eco-friendly luxury tour of Istanbul at Christie's inaugural Green Auction. The choice of Istanbul as a destination has been to demonstrate how any modern metropolis can be "done" in an eco-friendly manner, as much as possible.

The Pera Palace Hotel was first opened in 1892 to welcome Orient Express clientele and, later, many world-renowned guests, including Agatha Christie. The hotel is known for its role in the mystery of the 11 lost days in Christie's life. Guests will be staying in the definitive Agatha Christie Studio Room for four nights. The studio room overlooks the Petit de Champs, where all historical buildings, museums, art galleries, cafe and restaurants are located.

In accordance with the eco-friendly theme of the event, Urbane Nomads will arrange for guests to be transferred in fuel-efficient vehicles, as well as a tour of the Grand Bazaar accompanied by a savvy local highlighting Istanbul's sustainable produce. On the second day of the trip, guests will be led on a tour of Istanbul and the nearby islands by Gursan Ergil, a furniture designer in Istanbul famous for his eco-friendly furniture. The tour will be his interpretation of a “green” Istanbul, travelling to nearby islands where horse carriages are the sole form of transportations and will include visits of several famous gardens and architecturally-distinguished landmarks.Particularly of note would be a visit to Fethi Okyar Kosk (a Turkish mansion), designed by Sedad Hakki Eldem, A visit of the private garden of Turkey's most influential sculptor Mehmet Aksoy is also included in the itinerary. Both these locations are normally closed off to the public and are made accessible for this tour via Gursan Ergil's personal connections. The stay at the Pera Palace Hotel includes a 45-minute massage for the couple, daily buffet breakfast, high tea in the Kubbeli Saloon/Tea Lounge, two complimentary tickets to the Pera Museum and a visit to room 101 of the hotel where the founder of Turkey had stayed many times and many of his personal belongings, such as books, magazines and medals are exhibited.

The Pera Palace Hotel is a luxury hotel originally built to accommodate guests arriving in Sirkeci Terminal from Paris on the Orient Express. Its famous clients include Rita Hayworth, Ataturk, Greta Garbo and Agatha Christie. Occupying an unrivalled position in Istanbul for its history, the re-opening of Pera Palas is eagerly anticipated. More information on Pera Palace can b found on: http://www.perapalace.com/

Urbane Nomads is a luxury travel company specializing in creative itineraries and off-the-beaten trek destination. With a focus on luxury adventure and cultural travel, Urbane Nomads offers luxury adventure trips with a focus on polo, falconry and horse riding. This is often supplemented with the expertise of specialist guides familiar with the local peoples and frequently actively involved in the preservation of responsible tourism and the sustainability of local lifestyles. For information, call Alexander Schoppe at 65-67288614 or visit http://www.urbanenomads.com.