15 DAY TOUR IN THE STEPS OF SAINT PAUL

DAY 1 – ISTANBUL: Welcome to Turkey. Arrive in Istanbul Airport, met by your guide and transferred to your
 

DAY 2 – ISTANBUL: Our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents.
Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - its three names span more than 2600 years, nearly 1600 of them as
the capital of two of the greatest empires the world has known, Byzantine and Ottoman. We visit the
Topkapi Palace including treasury section, The Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the
Byzantine riots took place and free time in Grand bazaar with its 3.500 shops. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)

BLUE MOSQUE                                                          GRAND BAZAAR

ROYAL TREASURY, TOPKAPI PALACE                                TOPKAPI PALACE

DAY 3 – ANKARA: A fter breakfast drive to Ankara. Arrive in Ankara (capital of Turkey), sight-seeing of Ankara:
see the Anatolian Civilization Museum, the Temple of Augustus and Ataturk's Mausoleum. drive to our Hotel for
dinner and overnight stay in Ankara. (D)

DAY 4 – ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA: After breakfast, Continue to Cappadocia with a lunch / rest stop in
AKSARAY before a short ride to Ihlara Valley, to see the impressive, Byzantine rock carvings and frescoes. Enjoy
your dinner and overnight stay in Cappadocia. (B, D)

    
                      IHLARA VALLEY                                           MOSAICS IN IHLARA VALLEY

DAY 5 – CAPPADOCIA: Full day excursion of Cappadocia to see the surreal landscapes of volcanic ash,
formed 3 million years ago: spectacular red rock cones,. troglodyte churches and homes dating from 4000 BC
Now visit Uchisar, Goreme and Zelve, then Avanos, to visit one of its famous, pottery workshops. Later return
to your hotel for overnight stay. (B, D)

                                      UNDERGROUND CITY, GOREME                                           UCHISAR CASTLE, GOREME  

DAY 6  – TARSUS / ADANA: Visit Kaymakli, a unique underground city. Then drive to Tarsus, birthplace of St.
Paul. See St. Paul's Well, Cleopatra's Gate and the ancient city. It was near here that a Great Fish "vomited out
Jonas upon the dry land" Next to Adana for dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

    
                           CLEOPATRA'S GATE, TARSUS                                      
 

DAY 7 – ANTAKYA ( ANTIOCH ) / MERSIN: Full day excursion to Antakya(Antioch). Here Jesus' followers
were first called Christians (Acts 11:26) Peter, Paul and also Barnabas preached here. Visit St. Peter's Grotto and
the exquisite Mosaic Museum. View the old city of Iskenderun before beginning the return drive to Mersin for
dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

      
     EMPEROR LUCIUS VERUS     ROMAN MOSIAC, ANTIOCH MUSEUM   ROMAN SARCOPHAGUS

DAY 8 – ANAMUR / ALANYA: Depart westward along the Mediterranean shoreline, a famous coastal road.
Take a lunch break in ANAMUR. See City of the Monophystie Archbishop of Seleucia. Overnight in Alanya. (B, D)

 
                     ALANYA, TURKEY                                                 BAZAAR, ALANYA. TURKEY

DAY 9 – ANTALYA: Continue to the ancient city of SIDE, the old port where Paul, Barnabas and Mark landed
during their missionary journeys. Later they sailed from here to Antioch. Than visit Perge, where St. Paul
preached when arriving from Cyprus (Acts 13-14), and to Aspendos with its magnificent theater. Next drive to
Antalya for dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

     
    STATUE, SIDE MUSEUM   ANCIENT THEATER, SIDE,

DAY 10 – PAMUKKALE: Proceed to Laodicea which was condemned by St. John in Revelation Acts (4:15).
Drive to Heirapolis, now called Pamukkale, St. Philip was martyred here in the1st century AD. Walk the Necropolis and
famous Avenue of Tombs. Overnight stay. (B, D)

DAY 11 – PHILADELPHIA / SARDES / KUSADASI: In Philadelphia, visit one of the seven churches of the Apocalypse and the remains of the Cathedral. Continue to the capital of the ancient LYDIA with temple of the Cybele & Diana, which later became a church, see the royal road. Continue to Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B, D)

                CHURCH OF THE APOCALYPSE                                         CHURCH IN SARDIS

TEMPLE OF CYBELE AND DIANA, TURKEY,

DAY 12 – EPHESUS - KUSADASI: Drive to Selcuk. Visit the monastery of St. John and Ephesus, the best preserved
city in the world. See the Library of Celsus, a Stadium where Paul Preached (Acts 19), and the Theatre.
Return to Kusadasi. Then have dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

   
                  EPHESUS, TURKEY                                                     EPHESUS, TURKEY

DAY 13 – IZMIR ( SMYRNA ) / PERGAMUM: This morning take a beautiful drive to Izmir (ancient Smyrna),
After visiting the St. Policarp church in Izmir, continue to in Akhisar , ancient commercial place in connection
with Troy & Sardes. and visit Bergama (Pergamum) , the Acropolis, high above the plain. See the pagan Temples
and Altar of Zeus.Overnight in Pergamum. (B, D)

 
ALTAR OF ZEUS, PERGAMUM, TURKEY         THE AESCLEPION, PERGAMUM, TURKEY

DAY 14 – PERGAMUM / NICEA / ISTANBUL: After breakfast long drive to Istanbul through Iznik (Nicea)
where the Nicean Creed was formed. Depart for Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul.

DAY 15 – HOME: Today drive to the Airport and return flight home, arriving the same day with fresh memories,
souvenirs and a renewed interest in Turkey, the land of culture, faith and mystery.

FEATURES

 14 nights special designed boutique and first class hotels including buffet breakfast.
 All transportation in Turkey by private a/c car.
 Meals mentioned in the above program.
 Welcome cocktail.
 All entrance fees to the sites and to the museums mentioned on the above program.
 Comprehensive sight-seeing as itinerary.
 Special pre-departure information pack.
 English speaking professional guide throughout.
 Tips to the hotels and restaurants.
 All Portage.

DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES