Hot air balloons floating over Cappadocia fairy chimneys in Turkey

Turkey: Seven Churches of Revelation & Istanbul (7 Nights)

7 Nights On Demand Arrival Turkey group Tour

Tour Highlights

✓ Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar
✓ Smyrna (Izmir) and Church of St. Polycarp
✓ Pergamum Acropolis, Altar of Zeus, and Asklepion
✓ Thyatira, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation
✓ Sardis, capital of King Croesus with Temple of Artemis
✓ Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love
✓ Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) and Hierapolis
✓ Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches
✓ Aphrodisias, Temple of the goddess of love
✓ Ephesus, Library of Celsus, and House of Virgin Mary

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Istanbul

Arrival at Istanbul airport. Meeting and transfer to hotel. Dinner at hotel. Overnight: Istanbul

Day 2: Istanbul

Full day 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 3: Istanbul - Izmir

Morning flight to Izmir. Visit the Church of St. Polycarp, the oldest church in ancient Smyrna, symbolizing the community of the Seven Churches. Visit Alexander the Great’s Velvet Castle overlooking the bay of Izmir. Overnight: Izmir

Day 4: Izmir - Pergamum - Thyatira - Izmir

Visit the ancient city of Pergamum 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. Continue to biblical Thyatira, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Overnight: Izmir

Day 5: Izmir - Sardis - Philadelphia - Pamukkale

Drive to Sardis, capital of the Lydian Kingdom; visit the Temple of Artemis, Byzantine Church, Synagogue, and Roman Gymnasium. Continue to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love; visit the Church of St. John. Proceed to Pamukkale (Cotton Castle), famous for its medicinal pools and hot mineral springs. Explore the ancient city of Hierapolis with its well-preserved theater and the Martyrium of St. Philip the Apostle. Overnight: Pamukkale

Day 6: Pamukkale - Laodicea - Aphrodisias - Kusadasi

Explore Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Journey through the Meander River Valley to visit Aphrodisias, dedicated to the Greek goddess of love, with its sophisticated sculpture school, well-preserved stadium, and Temple of Aphrodite. Continue to Kusadasi. Overnight: Kusadasi

Day 7: Kusadasi - Ephesus - Kusadasi

Morning tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in Asia Minor. Visit the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre seating over 25,000 people, the Temple of Hadrian, the Marble Street, and elegant Roman villas with famous mosaics. Visit the House of Virgin Mary, the Museum of Ephesus, and the ruins of the Basilica of St. John. Overnight: Kusadasi

Day 8: Back Home

Transfer to Izmir 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