Turkey: In the Footsteps of St. Paul (17 Nights)

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Ankara

Arrive in Ankara, capital of Modern Turkey. Meet your guide and transfer to hotel. Welcome cocktail and dinner. Overnight: Ankara

Day 2: Ankara - Cappadocia

Full day tour of Ankara including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with pre-historical materials and Neolithic cave drawings from Catalhoyuk, the earliest known city. Visit the Temple of Augustus and the Mausoleum of Ataturk. After lunch, drive south to Cappadocia via the Salt Lake. Overnight: Cappadocia

Day 3: Cappadocia

Full day tour including Goreme with rock-cut churches and beautiful frescoes, Pashabagi Valley, Zelve Open Air Museum (one of the earliest monastic settlements), Pigeons’ Valley, and the Castle of Uchisar. Overnight: Cappadocia

Day 4: Cappadocia - Tarsus - Adana

Visit an underground city of Cappadocia. Drive south crossing the Taurus Mountains to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. Visit St. Paul’s Well, the Gate of Cleopatra, and the excavated Roman Street and Marketplace. Continue to Adana. Overnight: Adana

Day 5: Adana - Antakya - Adana

Full day excursion to Antakya (biblical Antioch), where early Christians established their first major Gentile community outside Palestine. Visit the Grotto of St. Peter, meeting place of the early Christian community. Visit the Hatay Archaeological Museum with world-famous mosaics from Daphne. Overnight: Adana

Day 6: Adana - Konya

Drive over the Taurus Mountains through the Cilician Gates to Konya (biblical Iconium). Visit the Mevlana Museum housing the tomb of the Sufi mystic poet Rumi, and the Karatay Museum with exquisite 13th-century Seljuk tiles. Overnight: Konya

Day 7: Konya - Pisidian Antioch - Antalya

Visit Pisidian Antioch where Paul established one of his first communities. Continue south past Lake Egridir through the Taurus Mountains to Antalya. Overnight: Antalya

Day 8: Antalya

Visit Aspendos, one of the best-preserved Hellenistic theaters in Asia Minor. Continue to Perge, a wealthy city from Hellenistic times whose remains are second only to Ephesus among cities associated with Paul. Overnight: Antalya

Day 9: Antalya - Pamukkale

Journey to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Explore Hierapolis with its well-preserved theater. Arrive at Pamukkale, famous for its medicinal pools and hot mineral springs creating the “Cotton Castle” formations. Overnight: Pamukkale

Day 10: Pamukkale - Kusadasi

Visit Aphrodisias dedicated to the Greek goddess of love, known for its classical sculpture school, well-preserved stadium, and Temple of Aphrodite. Continue to the seacoast city of Kusadasi. Overnight: Kusadasi

Day 11: Ancient Ephesus

Tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in Asia Minor and a major center of Paul’s missionary activity. Visit the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre seating over 25,000 people, the Temple of Hadrian, the Marble Street, and elegant Roman villas. Visit the House of Virgin Mary, the Museum of Ephesus, and the ruins of the Basilica of St. John. Overnight: Kusadasi

Day 12: Kusadasi - Izmir

Visit ancient Sardis, wealthy capital of King Croesus, with its impressive Temple of Aphrodite and the oldest synagogue in Anatolia. Continue to Thyatira, home of Paul’s famous convert Lydia, dealer of luxury purple dyes. Overnight: Izmir

Day 13: Izmir - Ayvalik

Visit Pergamum (modern Bergama) with its Acropolis rising nearly 1,300 feet, the famous library, Temples of Athena and Trajan, the Altar of Zeus, and the steepest theater in the ancient world. Visit the Asklepion, center of healing where physician Galen was born. Overnight: Ayvalik

Day 14: Ayvalik - Canakkale

Visit the ancient sites of Assos and Troas associated with Paul’s missionary travels. See the Temple of Athena at Assos. Visit the ancient city of Troy. Overnight: Canakkale

Day 15: Canakkale - Istanbul

Cross the Dardanelles by ferry and continue to Istanbul, for centuries the capital of the civilized world. Overnight: Istanbul

Day 16: Istanbul

Tour including the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Underground Cistern, and the Church of St. Sophia with world-famous mosaics. After lunch, visit Topkapi Palace with extraordinary collections of jewelry, armor, and imperial costumes. Visit the Grand Bazaar. Overnight: Istanbul

Day 17: Istanbul

Visit the Chora Church (Kariye Camii) famous for its religious mosaics. Visit the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent. Drive along the ancient walls of Constantinople. Overnight: Istanbul

Day 18: Back Home

Transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your flight back home.

Notes

• Tours are operated on demand
• Program can be customized for groups and/or individuals
• Tour leaders travel free with a minimum group of 15 people
• Tours can be combined with other destinations (Israel, Greece, Egypt)
• Airfare available from all U.S. gate cities
• Prices available upon request