Home arrow Round Trips arrow In the steps of St.Poul
IN THE STEPS OF ST. POUL & SEVEN CHURCHES
Hagia SophiaIstanbulAntioch
PergamonPamukkaleKonya
Istanbul - Antakya - Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale - Kusadasi - Canakkale - Istanbul
Prices and Dates
Prices per person in Euro
01.01.09.-31.12.2009
 
in Double Room
 449.-
Single Supplement
 165.-
 Guarantee the implementation of 6 people
Terms and Conditions:
All Above Mentioned Tours are Included HB Accomodations at 4*Hotels.
Fully Air Conditioned Bus Service During The Whole Program.
Professional Licensed Tour Guide During The Whole Program.
Lunch Service On The way.
Entrances for The Museums Which are mentioned in the Program.
Domestic flight Istanbul - Adana
Each customer is unique for us, everything we organise is tailor-made, every programme is specially designed.

Day 1: Arrive Istanbul (D)
Arrive at Ataturk airport in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel, welcome briefing and dinner. Overnight: Istanbul

Day 2: Istanbul (B, D)
Your day begins with a guided tour exploring one the most famous churches of Byzantine which is the Chora Church with magnificent mosaics depicting the Biblical scenes in a chronological order. Then we’ll proceed to the old city to visit Topkapi Palace (main residence of Ottoman sultans), ancient Roman Hippodrome (center of the chariot races) and then to the Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine church which was converted to a mosque in 15th century. We will continue our Sultanahmet tour with the Blue Mosque famous with its ceramic tiles. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: Antioch (B, D)
Morning flight to Adana and begin a full day tour visiting hilltop Crusader castles and the port of Alexandretta (now called Iskenderun); then continue to Antakya, site of ancient Antioch (Acts 6:5; 11:19-30; 13:1-3; 15:1-2 & 22-35.) Here we visit the cave church which is widely believed to have been dug by the Apostle Peter himself as a place for the early Christian community of Antioch to meet, and thus to be the very first Christian church. We’ll also visit a world-class museum of Roman mosaics (if not closed for restoration in 2009). Overnight: Antakya

Day 4: Tarsus, St Paul’s Well, Cillician Gates, Cappadocia (B,D)
Today begin the day visiting the birthplace of St.Paul, Tarsus (Acts 9:11,30; 11:25; 21:39; 22:3.) We’ll visit St. Paul's Well which is in a courtyard long believed to be the site of St. Paul's house layers; you’ll have chance to drink water from the well that is believed to have healing powers. Then drive through the beautiful Taurus Mountains to the Anatolian Plateau. Continue to Cappadocia which is famous for its unique landscapes, underground cities as well as cave-churches carved by Orthodox monks between 900 and 1200 AD. En route we visit to the 13th century Seljuk Caravan Inn of Agzikarahan. Overnight Cappadocia.

Day 5: Cappadocia (B, D)
After breakfast, we will begin our Cappadocia tour. We will walk through the volcanic valleys to view the spectacular fairy chimneys and unique landscape, visit the rock-carved churches and chapels containing remarkable frescoes in Goreme Open Air Museum, visit famous pottery center Avanos and the underground city of Derinkuyu or Kaymakli where thousands of early Christians lived concealed from persecutors in eight story complexes of subterranean dwellings. Finally we’ll stop by the Byzantine monastic complex of Zelve before returning to our hotel. Overnight Cappadocia.

Day 6: Cappadocia- Iconium (B, D)
Enjoy a morning drive to Konya (Iconium of the Bible), city where Mevlana Rumi is buried, founder of the most well-known Sufi order, Mevleviye. In Konya, we will visit the Mevlana Museum. Then continue to another Biblical town of Asia minor to see the Lystra nearby . Dinner and overnight in Konya.

Day 7: Konya, Antioch in Psidia, Laodicea, Pamukkale (B, D)
Today we drive to Pamukkale; ancient spa center and the unique natural site of white limestone terraces cascading down the mountain slope. On the way we visit Antioch-of-Pisidia, this was a major Roman colony visited by St. Paul on his first missionary journey. Departure to Laodicea, early center of Christianity and one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. (Rev. 3:14-22; Col.2:1; 4:13-16.) Then we arrive Pamukkale where we will visit the ‘Sacred City’ Hierapolis. It was famed for its sacred hot springs, whose vapors were associated with Pluto, god of the underworld. The city also had a significant Jewish community and was mentioned by Paul in his Letter to Colossians. After tour we’ll have chance to enjoy a leisurely bath in the warm mineral water of our hotel's pool. Overnight Pamukkale.

Day 8: Pamukkale, Philadelphia, Sardis, Kusadasi via Smyrna (Izmir) (B, D)
Today we’ll visit Philadelphia; ancient Philadelphia was the sixth of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 3:7-13) and then we continue to Sardis, another church of Asia Minor where you can see a roman era Synagogue and a very well preserved gymnasium . Then we will proceed to Izmir (Smyrna), the third largest city of Turkey and arrive at Kusadası hotel. Dinner and overnight Kusadasi.

Day 9: Kusadasi, Ephesus, Miletus, Izmir (B, D)
After breakfast drive to Miletus one of St. Paul's stops on his Third Missionary Journey. Then drive to Ephesus, home of St. Paul between 54 and 57 AD, to explore the glorious Greco-Roman and Christian remains (Ephesians: Rev 1:11; 2:1-7; Acts 18:19-28; 19:1- 4.) Tour the nearby Virgin Mary's cottage on a hilltop. Finally we stop at the restoration of St. John's Basilica, where he was first buried. For evening we continue to Izmir (Smyrna, Rev 2:8-11) Homer's birthplace on the Aegean Coast. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Pergamum, Thyatira, Alexandria Troas, Troy, Canakkale (B,D)
First drive north to Akhisar (Thyatira) mentioned in the book of Revelation by St. John, see the ruins of the early Christian basilica, a colonnaded road and a large church. Then continue on to acropolis of ancient Pergamum. Afternoon visit to Alexandria Troas which is another important spot to where St.Paul walked from Ephesus. Continuing north we arrive Troy to visit the legendary walls and a replica of the famous wooden horse where Greek and Trojan heroes fought for the honor of Helen. Overnight in Canakkale.

Day 11: Nicea- Istanbul (B, D)
After breakfast begin last journey along the sea of Marmara to Bursa and Nicea to visit the St Sophia Church of City where the 1st and 2nd councils were held. For a taste of Turkish night life, join our farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Istanbul.

Day 12: Istanbul – Departure (B)
Transfer to airport for flight back home.

 
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