Footsteps of St. Paul in Turkey Tour (from Istanbul – by Plane) / 8 Nights 9 Days

Tour Info:

Tour Days: All year round
Duration: 9 Days
Status: Only in private basis
Pick up time: To be confirmed

Note: This tour can be customized upon your request

Highlights:

• Istanbul
• Adana
• Antakya & Tarsus
• Antalya
• Perga & Hierapolis
• Colossae & Laodicea
• Ephesus
• Thyatira & Pergamon
• Assos & Alexandria Troas

Itinerary:

Day 1:

Your Arrival to Istanbul – Bosphorus Dinner Cruise (Optional)

On your arrival to Istanbul International Airport, we will pick you up and transfer to your Istanbul hotel. You will rest at leisure.

We offer you a luxurious dinner cruise night out in Istanbul. Enjoy delicious gourmet foods while you dance with the panoramic view of the Bosphorus that separates two continents Europe and Asia.

Enjoy as you cruise the Bosphorus and see historical places like Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Ortakoy, Rumeli Fortress, Fatih Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace, Maiden’s Tower and also Istanbul’s very famous night clubs as you wine and dine the night away. No other Istanbul experience can match this unique combination of romantic ambiance. We combine fresh food with unparalleled views of Istanbul and live entertainment to create Istanbul‘s leading Bosphorus Dinner Cruise.

After dinner, you can enjoy the entertaining music provided by professional DJ and traditional show programs or simply relax with a drink and enjoy the view.

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 2:

Istanbul Classics & Highlights Full-Day Tour

This tour is a great opportunity to visit most places in Istanbul. Tour starts with Roman Hippodrome, where the chariot races were organized by the Romans and Byzantines. Following Roman Hippodrome next place is Blue Mosque – the only mosque with six minarets and its surroundings to visit, next, you will see the gift of Kaiser Wilhelm 2 and learn the history of his liaison with the orient at German Fountain.

Now, it is time to visit the highlight of this day; The Church of Divine Wisdom – Hagia Sophia. After the above visits, your tour guide will take you to Grand Bazaar for various kinds of Turkish Handicrafts.

After lunch in Turkish cuisine, our tour starts from the Topkapi Museum that exhibits the imperial collections of the Ottoman Empire and maintains an extensive collection of books and manuscripts in its library. It is housed in a palace complex that served as the administrative center and residence of the imperial Ottoman court from about 1478 to 1856. It opened as a museum in 1924, a year after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. The Topkapi Palace Museum is notable not only for its architecture and collections but also for the history and culture of the Ottoman Empire with first, second, third and fourth courtyards, the audience hall, Divan the high court, historical kitchens, royal stables, the treasury, gardens, and kiosks that it recalls.

Our next stop is Hagia Irene Church (from outside) and will be finalized with Caferaga Medrese and Sogukcesme Street.

End of the tour we will transfer you to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Adana, on your arrival we will transfer you to your hotel.

Special Note:
Hagia Sophia is closed on Monday and will be replaced with Chora Museum.
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
Blue Mosque is closed on Fridays until 2 pm and will be replaced Caferaga Medrese.

Overnight in Adana

Day 3:

Full-Day Antioch (Antakya) & Tarsus Tour

Ancient city Antioch was the center of Hellenistic civilization in the region and home to a massive temple and oracle complex dedicated to Apollo. The temple functioned until the visiting Emperor Justinian threw out the last remaining priest and ordered the place burned to the ground. Christian roots go deep into Antioch’s soil. It was to Antioch that many Jerusalem Christians fled after the death of Stephen (Acts 11: 19-21).

St. Paul and St. Barnabas stayed in Antioch for a year and assembled with the church and taught many people (Acts 11:22-26). Later, the city became the center from which St. Paul performed his missionary labors (Acts 13: 1-5, 14-44; 14: 26-28; 15: 22-41; 18: 22-23). It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians“, and it was here that the first non-Jews were accepted into the early church. You will visit one of the oldest churches in Antioch, Church of St. Peter.

We will drive to Tarsus which was the birthplace of St. Paul (Acts 22:3) and he visited on his second and third missionary journeys. Reaching back to the 14th century B.C., Tarsus is a city with a resplendent history.

End of the tour we will transfer you to Adana Airport for your flight to Antalya, on your arrival you will be transferred to your Antalya hotel.

Overnight in Antalya

Day 4:

Full-Day Perga & Hierapolis Tour

Perga is a Hellenistic city where St. Paul preached (Acts 14:25). The ruins of a large stadium, baths and tomb give ample evidence of its former greatness St. Paul and St. Barnabas visited here on their first journey. Hierapolis is blessed by hot mineral springs and some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Asia Minor.

Paul mentions Hierapolis in his letter to the Colossians in saluting Epaphras, a fellow laborer, for his love of the brethren there (Colossians 4: 13). The ruins cover more than a mile. You’ll see the impressive amphitheater with seats still in perfect condition.

You’ll see the City Gates, column-lined streets and arches which have stood through time and earthquake. Today, the area is known as Pamukkale, meaning the “Cotton Castle“, named for the limestone-laden hot springs, which cascade from one white-edged terrace pool to the next.

End of the tour you will be transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Pamukkale

Day 5:

Full-Day Colossae & Laodicea Tour

You’ Famous as the receiver of St. Paul’s Letter to Colossians, the town of Colossae has fallen into obscurity. While you can still see traces of the theatre, the Necropolis, and the Church, the ancient city is mostly indistinguishable ruins.

Not far away is Aphrodisias, another town whose fame has been obscured by time. This city of marble thrived as the major center for worship of the pagan goddess Aphrodite until 500 years after Christ. The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches, (Rev. 3: 14-22) were chastised for being lukewarm, “You are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3: 15), and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs.

In the famous scripture from Revelation (3: 20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”. Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including the stadium and columned streets.

End of the tour you will be transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 6:

Full-Day Ephesus Tour

Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1: 11).

In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade bordered streets. Today, you will be impressed with the spectacular excavations of the major streets of ancient Ephesus. You will view the Library and the huge Agora. The Temple of Artemis was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, only a single column remains to mark the site.

You will visit the Basilica of St. John, the traditional site of his grave. From the basilica, enjoy a commanding view of the area.

You will visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at artifacts from the ancient city. You will have time to explore this powerful city on your own and recreate some of the footsteps of Paul.

End of the tour we will transfer you to your hotel in Izmir.

Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 7:

Full-Day Thyatira & Pergamon Tour

Depart for the visit of Thyatira, was once a busy trading center and famous in the dyeing of purple clothes. Thyatira is one of the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelations tolerated the false prophetess, Jezebel (Rev. 1: 11; 2: 18-29).

We will drive to Pergamum which was another of the seven churches mentioned in Revelations (Rev. 2: 12). It displeased the Lord because it tolerated the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which Christ hated (Rev. 2:13-17).

Towering 1000 feet above the town and commanding a spectacular panorama is the fabled Acropolis. As you pass through the Royal Gates, you will enter one of the great centers of classic Greek culture.

You will see the foundations of the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Athena, and the ruins of the Library which once held 200,000 parchment volumes. You will see the remains of the Temple of Trajan, the Grand Theatre, the Gymnasium, and the Health Center (Asklepion).

The end of you will be transferred to your hotel in Ayvalik.

Overnight in Ayvalik

Day 8:

Full-Day Assos & Alexandria Troas Tour

Today you begin your tour visiting Assos where Paul rejoined his companions after walking across the headland on his own and visit the ruins of the city.

Then we will drive to Troas, founded about 300 B.C. by one of the generals of Alexander the Great. During St. Paul’s Second Journey, it was from Troas that he received the “Macedonian call” to Europe.

This is where Luke’s account changes from “they” to “we” (Acts 16:6-12), indicating that he joined St. Paul’s team at Troas.

Returning from Macedonia during his third journey, St. Paul was in Troas for a week when the young man Eutychus fell from the third loft as St. Paul preached.

End of the tour you will be transferred to your hotel in Canakkale.

Overnight in Ayvalik

Day 9:

Your International Flight

We will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Istanbul International Airport.

End of services