In the Footsteps of St.Paul Tour in Turkey

Day 1 – Meeting at İstanbul Atatürk Airport. Transfer to hotel.

Day 2 – Departure after breakfast for a full-day tour, including lunch. Morning: St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, German Fountain. Afternoon: Patriarch of Fener, Golden Horn, City Walls, St. Savior in Chora (Kariye Museum).

Day 3 – Morning flight to Adana, ancient Cilicia, and drive to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul, and meet-point of Cleopatra and Antonius. Visit to St. Paul’s Well, Sardanapulus Tomb, Cleopatra Gate, Dinner and overnight in Adana.

Day 4 – Departure after breakfast for Antakya (Antioch), whose wealthy community financially contributed to early Christians in Jerusalem and coined the word ”Christians” first İn the world. Visit to the Mosaic Museum, St. Pierre (the oldest in the world ) Church, Issos Ruins from the battle between Alexander the Great and the Persians On the way back. Dinner and overnight in Adana.

Day 5 – Departure after breakfast and drive to Cappadocia. Visit the underground cities used by the early Christians hiding from Roman and Byzantine persecution. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 6 – Departure after breakfast. Visit Göreme Valley, the picturesque villages of Çavuşin and Maçan, and Zelve Valley of” Fairy Chimneys”. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7 – Departure after breakfast for Konya, ancient Iconium, the first city to be found after the flood, important after St. Paul’s preachings. Visit Mausoleum of Mevlana, world-famous philosopher and poet of the ”Whirling-Dervishes”. Continue for Pamukkale ( Hierapolİs), via Antioch of Pisidia (Yalvaç). Dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – Visit to the ancient city of Hieropolis with its unique formation of petrified calcium cliffs and stalactites. Drive to Laodicea, one of the seven churches, and Colossae. Continue to Aphrodisias (Geyre), well preserved Greco-Roman settlement. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.

Day 9 – Departure after breakfast for a full-day tour to Perge (theatre, agora, stadium and columned street). Proceed to Aspendos, one of the best-preserved theatres in the world. Lunch at Side, and visit the site, museum, theatre and temples. Dinner and overnight.

Day 10 – Departure after breakfast. Visit Phaselis, the ancient Roman city. Drive to Myra (Demre), and visit St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) Church. Continue for Fethiye, via Patara. Dinner and overnight in Fethiye.

Day 11 – Departure after breakfast. Drive to Kuşadası, via Miletus. Dinner and overnight.

Day 12 – Visit the ancient city of Ephesus, The House of the Virgin Mary, and St. John Basilica. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

Day 13 – Early departure after breakfast. A short panoramic tour of Izmir, viewing Izmir Agora and driving to Sardes (Salihli) and Thyatira (Akhisar), Philadelphia (Alaşehir) of the ”Seven Churches of Revelation.” Continue to Pergamon, visit Aesculapium, Acropolis, Athena and Trajan Temples, Temple of Zeus, Gymnasium, Odeon, Library, and Agora. Dinner and overnight in Assos. Early departure after breakfast. Visit Alexandre Troas, Assos and the legendary Troy. Drive to Bursa, the old Ottoman Capital, and a short tour of the city. Dinner and overnight.

Day 14/15 – Departure after breakfast and drive to Nicea (İznik), the meeting place of the First Ecumenical Council at 325. Evening arrival at Istanbul

Day 16 – Transfer to Atatürk Airport for the return flight.

Tour Code: PLN028