IN THE STEPS OF ST.PAUL (11 Days& 10 Nights)
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL
Our representative greets you upon your arrival in Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel, welcome briefing and dinner.
Overnight: Istanbul
DAY 2: ISTANBUL
Your day begins with a guided tour exploring one the most famous churches of Byzantine which is the Chora Church with magnificent mosaics depicting the Biblical scenes in a chronological order. Then we’ll proceed to the old city to visit Topkapi Palace (main residence of Ottoman sultans), ancient Roman Hippodrome (centre of the chariot races) and then to the Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine church which was converted to a mosque in 15th century. We will continue our Sultanahmet tour with the Blue Mosque famous with its ceramic tiles.
Overnight: Istanbul.
DAY3: ANTIOCH
Morning flight to Adana and begin a full day tour visiting hilltop Crusader castles and the port of Alexandretta (now called Iskenderun); then continue to Antakya, site of ancient Antioch (Acts 6:5; 11:19-30; 13:1-3; 15:1-2 & 22-35.) Here we visit the cave church which is widely believed to have been dug by the Apostle Peter himself as a place for the early Christian community of Antioch to meet, and thus to be the very first Christian church. We’ll also visit a world-class museum of Roman mosaics (if not closed for restoration in 2009).
Overnight: Antakya
DAY4: TARSUS-ST PAUL’S WELL-CILLICIAN GATES-CAPPADOCIA
Today begin the day visiting the birthplace of St.Paul, Tarsus (Acts 9:11,30; 11:25; 21:39; 22:3.) We’ll visit St. Paul's Well which is in a courtyard long believed to be the site of St. Paul's house layers; you’ll have chance to drink water from the well that is believed to have healing powers. Then drive through the beautiful Taurus Mountains to the Anatolian Plateau. Continue to Cappadocia which is famous for its unique landscapes, underground cities as well as cave-churches carved by Orthodox monks between 900 and 1200 AD.
Overnight: Cappadocia.
DAY5: CAPPADOCIA
After breakfast, we will begin our Cappadocia tour. We will walk through the volcanic valleys to view the spectacular fairy chimneys and unique landscape, visit the rock-carved churches and chapels containing remarkable frescoes in Goreme Open Air Museum, visit famous pottery centre Avanos and the underground city of Derinkuyu or Kaymakli where thousands of early Christians lived concealed from persecutors in eight story complexes of subterranean dwellings.
Overnight: Cappadocia.
DAY6: CAPPADOCIA- ICONIUM
Enjoy a morning drive to Konya (Iconium of the Bible), city where Mevlana Rumi is buried, founder of the most well-known Sufi order, Mevleviye. Visit 11th century caravanserai, Sultanhani, which is the most monumental examples of Seljuk Turks architecture, en route. In Konya, we will visit the Mevlana Museum. Then continue to another Biblical town of Asia Minor to see the Lystra nearby.
Overnight: Konya.
DAY7: KONYA-ANTIOCH IN PSIDIA-LAODICEA-PAMUKKALE
Today we drive to Pamukkale; ancient spa centre and the unique natural site of white limestone terraces cascading down the mountain slope. On the way we visit Antioch-of-Pisidia, this was a major Roman colony visited by St. Paul on his first missionary journey. Depart from Antioch-of-Pisidia for to visit Laodicea, early centre of Christianity and one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. (Rev. 3:14-22; Col.2:1; 4:13-16.) Then we arrive Pamukkale where we will visit the ‘Sacred City’ Hierapolis. It was famed for its sacred hot springs, whose vapours were associated with Pluto, god of the underworld. The city also had a significant Jewish community and was mentioned by Paul in his Letter to Colossians. After tour we’ll have chance to enjoy a leisurely bath in the warm mineral water of our hotel's pool.
Overnight: Pamukkale.
DAY8: PAMUKKALE-PHILADELPHIA-SARDIS-SMYRNA
Today we’ll visit Philadelphia; ancient Philadelphia was the sixth of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 3:7-13) and then we continue to Sardis, another church of Asia Minor where you can see a roman era Synagogue and a very well preserved gymnasium. Then we will proceed to Izmir (Smyrna), the third largest city of Turkey.
Overnight: Kusadasi
DAY9: EPHESUS-MILETUS-IZMIR
After breakfast drive to Miletus one of St. Paul's stops on his Third Missionary Journey. Then drive to Ephesus, home of St. Paul between 54 and 57 AD, to explore the glorious Greco-Roman and Christian remains (Ephesians: Rev 1:11; 2:1-7; Acts 18:19-28; 19:1- 4.) Tour the nearby Virgin Mary's cottage on a hilltop. Finally we stop at the restoration of St. John's Basilica, where he was first buried. For evening we continue to Izmir (Smyrna, Rev 2:8-11) Homer's birthplace on the Aegean Coast.
Overnight: İzmir
DAY10: PERGAMUM-THYATIRA-ALEXANDRIA TROAS-TROY-CANAKKALE
First drive north to Akhisar (Thyatira) mentioned in the book of Revelation by St. John, see the ruins of the early Christian basilica, a colonnaded road and a large church. Then continue on to acropolis of ancient Pergamum. Continuing north we arrive in Troy to visit the legendary walls and a replica of the famous wooden horse where Greek and Trojan heroes fought for the honour of Helen.
Overnight: Canakkale.
DAY11: NICEA- ISTANBUL
After breakfast begin last journey along the Sea of Marmara to Bursa and Nicea to visit the St Sophia Church of City where the 1st and 2nd councils were held. For a taste of Turkish night life, join our farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
Overnight: Istanbul.
