Turkey and the Seven Churches

14 days

  • Roundtrip Airfare
  • First Class Hotels
  • Breakfast and Dinner Daily
  • Sightseeing in Delux Motorcoaches
  • Entrance Fees-Porterage

    • Day 1 DEPART THE USA

    Your spiritual journey begins as you depart on your transatlantic flight.

    Day 2 ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL

    Arrive in the country of the Seven Churches of Revelation.

    Day 3 FULL DAY ISTANBUL

    Full day sightseeing in the city that reflects the history and culture of one of the greatest empires of the 4th to 16th centuries. The Golden Age of Istanbul was during the reign of Justinian (527-565) who made Christianity the State religion of the Roman Empire. Visit the Blue Mosque with its six towering minarets, St. Sophia-once the largest Christian Church built by the Romans. Next is Topkaki Palace, the old residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Wander through the ceramic tiled Grand Bazaar with its hundreds of shops of spices, foods, clothing, jewelry and various goods. This evening transfer to Istanbul airport for your short flight to Ankara.

    Day 4 ANKARA/ CAPPADOCIA

    Enjoy a panoramic tour of Ankara, the capitol of Turkey. Stop at the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which has the richest collection of historical artifacts and art of the Hittite culture. Drive to Cappadocia.

    Day 5 FULL DAY CAPPADOCIA

    Travel to Goreme Valley, the center of Cappadocia. This is a 50 square mile area of tumbled terrain, a semilunar landscape of canyons and caves made of volcanic rock. Various civilizations have sought refuge from persecutors in these caves, carving entire communities from the soft volcanic rock. Visit the interesting churches embellished with sacred frescoes. See the underground cities of Kaymakli, consisting of seven subterranean floors with connecting rooms, galleries and stables.

    Day 6 CAPPADOCIA/KONYA

    Drive to Konya, the former capital of the Seljuk Empire. This was an important city in ancient Galatia. It was here that Paul addressed his letter to the Galtians. The 13th century poet and philosopher Mevlana founded the order of the "Whirling Dervishes." Visit his museum and the Tomb.

    Day 7 KONYA/ ANTALYA

    Travel west this morning along the spectacular southern coast between the Taurus mountains and the Mediterranean. Pass Alanya, a modern resort crowned by a 13th century Seljuk fortress with 150 towers and a Byzantine church. See the port city of Side, which became a bishops' residence and Aspendos, which has the best preserved theater of the ancient world. Stop at Purge, one of the oldest Christian communities and like St. Paul and St. Barnabas in their journeys arrive in Antalya.

    Day 8 ANTALYA

    Tour this crown jewel of the Turkish Riviera, which has been an important port for the past 2000 years. See the lively old port, historical houses and the Roman, Seljuk, and Ottoman ruins such as Hadrian's Arch, the Grooved Minaret and Archeological Museum.

    Day 9 ANTALYA/LAODICEA/PAMUKKALE

    Depart Antalya for the ancient city of Laodicea, one of the Seven Cities of the Apocalypse to which St. John addressed his letter to the Seven Churches of Asia. Continue to Pamukkale (cotton fortress), the site of the ancient city of Hieropolis. The plateau owes its formation to a warm carbonated spring, which as it cools is changed to calcium carbonate and forms natural snowy looking pools as it cascades down the mountain. The King of Pergamum in 190 BC founded Hierapolis.

    Day 10 PHILADELPHIA/SARDIS/SMYRNA

    Continue to the second of the Seven Churches at Alasehir, former Philadelphia. This church remained the last bastion of Christianity in Anatolia, lasting until the 14th century. See the little village of ancient Sardis, another of the Seven Churches. Continue to Izmir (the ancient city of Smyrna) for the evening.

    Day 11 EPHESIS/IZMIR

    Arrive at the historically famous Ephesus, established in the 11th century BC. It was a rich commercial city that fell to the Persians and was later conquered by Alexander the Great. The apostle St. John wrote his gospel here. He is said to have accompanied the Virgin Mary to Ephesus where they both lived and died. Visit the city with its theaters, dwellings, library, bathhouses and large public areas. See the House of Mary and the Basilica of St. John.

    Day 12 AKHISAR/ THYATIRA/ PERGAMUM/ CANAKKALE

    Visit Akhisar (Thyathira)-one of the seven churches. Continue to Pergamum, which became an independent kingdom in the 3rd century BC. It was a rich cultural center with an extensive library. Here parchment was developed replacing papyrus. It was one of the foremost healing centers of the ancient world where the famous doctor Galen (second to Hippocrates) practiced medicine. Continue to Canakkale, the narrowest point of the Dardanelles for the evening.

    Day 13 CANAKKALE/TROY/ISTANBUL

    Visit the legendary city of Troy that was made immortal by Homer's great epic "The Illiad." As you walk among the ruins of the ancient city, the legends of the past come alive. Cross the beautiful Dardanelles on your way to Istanbul.

    Day 14 DEPART ISTANBUL

    Transfer to the Istanbul airport for your flight to the USA.

    Prices are based on a minimum of 30 passengers traveling together.

    Tour Host Benefits: ONE FREE FOR EVERY 5 PAYING TRAVELERS.