Tour Route

Istanbul Iznik Bursa Canakkale Pergamon Thyatira Izmir Philadelphia Hierapolis Laodicea Myra Antalya Pisidian Antioch Avanos Ankara

Tour informations

DAY 01 ISTANBUL
Transfer to hotel Centrum in old Istanbul. Your tour director will will greet/meet the tour members at 7pm in lobby .

 

DAY 02 ISTANBUL
Sight seeing will start with the classics of Istanbul: the Roman Hippodrome, Egyptian Obelisks, underground cistern adorned with columns, the magnificent Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque of blue Nicean tiles. After lunch, walk onto Topkapi Palace by St. Irene.Next is St. Chora Museum with the biblical frescoes and wall illustrations. Late afternoon is the time spared for the labyrinth tunnels of the Grand Bazaar with over 4, 000 shops. The tour will return to hotel but if you wish to linger on in the Bazaar, your hotel will be made easy to locate by your guide.

DAY 03 ISTANBUL-IZNIK (BLD)
After breakfast, we are going on boat on the Bosphorus. This legendary strait linking Europe to Asia on 2 suspension bridges flows to Black Sea along with castles, 19th century mansions, picturesque villages and the extravagant baroque palaces of the late Ottoman sultans. Our bus will meet us on Asia Istanbul to drive us to Iznik (Nicea) of two ecumenical councils held here: the First Ecumenical Council in 325 and the other,7thEcumenical Council in 787. Touch the remains of the St. Sophia Church where the 7th Ecumenical Council was held. The day will end at Bursa for dinner and overnight at hotel.

 

DAY 04 CANAKKALE–TROY-ALEXANDRA TROAS (BLD)
After breakfast and check-out, we are back on road for Canakkale, for the legendary city of Troy, immortalized in Homer's Iliad with Helen, Paris, Achilles.We will stop at Alexandra Troas where St.Paul met Luke, Dine and overnight at Altinoluk.

 

DAY 05 PERGAMON-THYATIRA-IZMIR (BLD)
After breakfast, we take off for Pergamon-was one of the most beautiful cities of the ancient world where most prominent architects and sculptors concentrated in Hellenistic era. The majestic acropolis is our first stop to visit the Temple of Trajan, Hellenistic barracks and tower, palaces, library, temple of Athena, theatre, temple of Dionysus, remains of altar of Zeus-. Asklepion-a popular shrine and therapeutic center in the ancient world- and the Red Court dedicated to St. John. Proceed to Thyatira, today Akhisar. Return to Izmir to dine and overnight at hotel.

 

DAY 06 SARDIS-PHILADELPHIA (BLD)
After breakfast, depart for Sardis, the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia, visit the church built on the grounds of Temple of Artemis. Continue to Alasehir, ancient Philadelphia. Visit St. Policarp Church in Izmir on the way to hotel  for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY 07 EPHESUS-MILETOS (BLD)
Following breakfast, drive to Ephesus where St. Paul stayed a while. visit the house of Virgin Mary, declared pilgrimage site by the Pope, then Ephesus, with the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, agora and the impressive Greco-Roman theater. Basilica of St. John and remains of the Temple of Artemis, considered as one of Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Continue to greet Miletus. St.Paul and his companions traveled via Mytilene, Chios and Samos to Miletus, where St. Paul delivered his touching farewell addressed to the elders of Ephesus and predicted his own death. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi at hotel.

 

DAY 08 APHRODISIAS-HIERAPOLIS-LAODICEA
After breakfast, we will depart hotel for our visits to Pamukkale. First stop is Aphrodisias, another ancient city but with world’s most adored architectural wonders, the Theaters is one of the largest in the world, the Odeon, Bishop s Palace, and the impressive-best preserved stadium from ancient times. Temple of Aphrodite and the Museum with the gorgeous reliefs and statues by the master sculptors of Aphrodisias. Drive onto Hierapolis, today Pamukkale, with the Temple of Apollo, the breathtaking theater, the fascinating Necropolis and the great baths of Hierapolis where St. Philip was martyred. We will also spare time for the calcium pools for which Pamukkale. After lunch, visit Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale Lycus River.

 

Day 09 PISIDIAN ANTIOCH-ICONIUM-CAPPADOCIA (BLD)
After breakfast, drive to Antioch of Pisidia where St. Paul preached his first recorded sermon and was expelled from the city. Visit the ruins of the two Basilicas. Continue our drive to Konya (Iconium),of Islamic mystic founder of Sufi order of the whirling dervishes. Visit his tomb and convent and learn more about the philosophy attract many believers world wide. The art of Seljuk era will feature at Karatay Medrese and the Ince Minare. Cappadocia is only 3 hours away. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

 

DAY 10 CAPPADOCIA (BLD)
After the breakfast, we will start exploring this amazing mystical landscape, like from another planet. Visit the underground cities of Kaymakli, Guvercinlik and Devrent Valleys; the natural rock castle at Uchisar and Avanos of pottery art through the ages is still an economy for the region. Enter Pasabaglari and the beautiful open-air museum at Zelve and Goreme, where the remains of churches and Christian settlements date back thousands of years. Dine and overnight at hotel. Optional event: Mysterious ritual of the Whirling Dervishes will touch your soul!

 

DAY 11 ANTAKYA (BLD)
After breakfast, drive to Antakya, the ancient Antioch where Christians were first freely named and where St. Paul began his missionary journeys. Visit the Cave of St. Peter and the Museum of Mosaics. Continue to Seleucia Pieria, today, Samandag where St. Paul and St. Barnabas set sail for Cyprus in their first missionary journey. Dinner and overnight in Antakya.

 

Day 12 TARSUS-ADANA-ISTANBUL (BL)
After breakfast, drive to Tarsus which was the birthplace of St. Paul. Walk the antique streets of Tarsus. Drive to Adana airport for flight to Istanbul. Transfer to hotel. Reunion for farewell toast is at 8pm.

 

Day 13 ISTANBUL (B)
Transfer to Istanbul airport for next destination/s if not have extended programme in Turkey.

 

 

Tour Price