Tour 18 Days

FOLLOWING THE STEPS OF St PAUL

 

DAY 1

ISTANBUL
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to hotel. Brief orientation about the city. Free day for personal activities. Overnight in Istanbul.

 

DAY 2

ISTANBUL
Breakfast Buffet. Visit to Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.

 

DAY 3

ISTANBUL

Buffet breakfast. Half-day tour visiting the Spice Market, followed by a cruise on the Bosphorus. Stop for coffee in the village of Ortaköy. Afternoon free. Overnight in Istanbul.

 

DAY 4

ANKARA
Buffet breakfast. Departure to Ankara, where we shall visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Castle of Ankara. Overnight in Ankara.

 

DAY 5

CAPPADOCIA
Buffet breakfast. Departure to Cappadocia, a landscape of extraordinary rock formations. Visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, the Outdoor Museum Zelve, Avanos and Uchisar Castle. Overnight in Urgup.

 

DAY 6

CAPPADOCIA
Buffet breakfast. Continue the visit of Cappadocia, land of saints and early Christians. Stroll through beautiful valleys, exploring underground cities and visit ancient Christian people. Overnight in Urgup.

 

DAY 7

TARSUS – ADANA
Buffet breakfast. Departure to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. Walk in the Taurus Mountains and visit the Arc of St Paul, the Gate of Cleopatra and the Well of Holy Water. Overnight in Adana.

 

DAY 8

ANTAKYA – ADANA
Buffet breakfast. Full day excursion to Antakya, known in the Bible as Antioch Orantes. Visit Samandag, the biblical Seleucia Pieria, the grotto of St. Peter, the water tunnel of Titus and the Mosaic Museum. Overnight in Adana.

 

DAY 9

KONYA
Buffet breakfast. Departure to Konya and visit the Temple of Mevlana (the mystic philosopher who inspired the Whirling Dervishes) and Seljuk mosques. Overnight in Konya.

 

DAY 10

YALVAC – ANTALYA
Buffet breakfast. Departure Yalvac, the ancient Antioch in Pisidia, where St Paul gave his first sermon. In the afternoon, transfer to Antalya. Overnight in Antalya.

 

DAY 11

PERGAMON – ASPENDOS – SIDE – ANTALYA
Buffet breakfast. Full day excursion to the ancient city of Pergamon, the preaching place of St. Paul and visit the Aspendos Theatre. Continue to Side to visit the Temple of Apollo. Overnight in Antalya.

 

DAY 12

Pamukkale
Buffet breakfast. Departure to Pamukkale to visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, where the Apostle Philip was martyred. Then enjoy a dip in a hot water spring. Overnight in Pamukkale.

 

DAY 13

KUSADASI – LAODICIA – AphrodIsIa
Buffet breakfast. Departure to Eskihisar, the ancient Laodicea, and visit his church and ruins, followed by a visit to the ancient city of Aphrodisias, including the Temple of Aphrodite, the Theatre and the Baths of Hadrian. Overnight in Kusadasi.

 

DAY 14

EPHESUS-IZMIR
Buffet breakfast. Transfer to Ephesus to visit the spectacular ruins, the house of the Virgin Mary, the Archaeological Museum and the Basilica of San Juan. Brief stop in the picturesque village of Sirince. Overnight in Izmir.

 

DAY 15

IZMIR – SARDIS – PHILADELPHIA
Buffet breakfast. Excursion to the Church of St. Polycarp, a symbol of the community of the Seven Churches of Revelation, followed by a visit to the “Velvet Castle” of Alexander the Great, the ancient city of Sardis and the ancient Church of Philadelphia in Alahesir. Overnight in Izmir.

 

DAY 16

Thyatira – Pergamum – CANAKKALE
Buffet breakfast. Morning departure to visit the Church of ancient Thyatira, followed by the visit of the Acropolis and the ancient Pergamon Asclepion. Drive to Canakkale. Overnight in Canakkale.

 

DAY 17

TROY-ISTANBUL
Buffet breakfast. Visit the ancient city of Troy. Transfer to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

 

DAY 18

ISTANBUL
Buffet breakfast. Departure from Istanbul or extra nights in Istanbul.