DAY 1. Departure Airport – Istanbul – Adana
Arrival at the departure airport two hours before our flight to Adana, via Istanbul. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay. Night in Adana.
DAY 2. Adana – Tarsus – Cappadocia
This morning, we will head to Tarsus, once the capital of the Cilicia province. Tarsus is the place where Mark Antony and Cleopatra met, and it is also the birthplace of the Apostle Paul. According to Acts, Paul was born as “Saul of Tarsus” but lived in Jerusalem and became “Paul the Apostle” after his encounter with Christ (Acts 9:11; 21:39; 22:3). We will visit the Well of Saint Paul and the Cleopatra Gate before heading towards Cappadocia. We’ll make a stop at Pigeon Valley to enjoy a panoramic view of the unique rock formations, popularly known as fairy chimneys. Formed over centuries by wind and water erosion on soft volcanic rocks, these rock formations rise from the valley floor like chimneys. The early inhabitants carved these chimneys with pigeon houses to collect pigeon droppings used as fertilizer by local farmers. Full board. Night in Cappadocia.
DAY 3. Cappadocia
This morning, we will visit the Goreme Monastic Center. This outdoor museum is dotted with picturesque rock-carved churches and chapels adorned with colorful frescoes. Later, we’ll stop in front of the Three Beauties, the most famous of the many conical rock formations in the region. Today, we’ll also walk through Zelve Valley and see its hundreds of houses and chapels carved into stone. We will end our day at the pottery workshop in Avanos, a city established by the Hittites on the banks of the Halys River. This city has continued the Hittite pottery tradition, using the famous red clay from the river to make ceramics. Full board. Night in Cappadocia.
DAY 4. Cappadocia – Konya – Pisidian Antioch – Pamukkale
This morning we will leave Cappadocia for Konya, the ancient Iconium, where the Apostle Paul and Saint Barnabas invested much of their missionary efforts preaching the Gospel despite persecution. Konya is the land of the Whirling Dervishes (an Islamic ascetic variant) and the capital of the Seljuk Empire for two centuries. We will visit the tomb and museum of Mevlana, the philosopher who founded the mystical order of the Whirling Dervishes, famous for their unique whirling dance worldwide. We will also visit the Church of St. Paul in Konya, where we will celebrate the Eucharist. Then, we will continue to Yalvac to visit the remains of the ancient city of Pisidian Antioch. Located at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions, Pisidian Antioch was a capital city for many different cultures and an important site for early Christianity in Anatolia. Here, the apostle Paul delivered the first preaching to the Gentiles and visited the city on each of his missionary journeys (Acts 13:13–52). The remains of the Augustus Square and Roman-era stones can be seen from the ruins, reused in the construction of present-day Yalvach. Then, we head to Pamukkale. Full board. Night in Pamukkale.
DAY 5. Pamukkale – Hierapolis – Ephesus – House of the Virgin Mary – Kusadasi
Today we will visit the archaeological remains of Hierapolis, an important site of early Christianity due to Paul’s missionary efforts here. We will later visit Ephesus. Located in the modern city of Selcuk, ancient Ephesus is one of Turkey’s best-preserved archaeological sites. Originally an ancient Greek Ionian city built in the 10th century BCE, Ephesus became the metropolis and largest city of the Roman province of Asia Minor. Next, we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary to see where the mother of Jesus is believed to have spent the last days of her life with the Apostle John. Full board. Night in Kusadasi.
DAY 6. Kusadasi – Thyatira – Pergamon – Troy
After breakfast, we will head towards Akhisar and start our day with a visit to Thyatira, one of the Seven Churches praised for its growing faith but admonished for its tolerance of Jezebel (Revelation 2:18-28). We will explore the Acropolis, located on top of a wind-swept, 1000-foot mountain, offering a view of nearby modern cities, the blue waters of the Aegean, and the cascading ruins of Pergamon from the ancient city center. In Pergamon, our next stop, we will see the Temple of Trajan, the Temple of Athena, and the Altar of Zeus. Then, we will continue to the legendary city of Troy. Established as early as 3000 BCE, Troy became famous for Homer’s Iliad, the epic poem narrating the Trojan War. Full board. Night in Troy.
DAY 7. Canakkale – Bursa – Nicaea – Istanbul
In the morning, we will transfer to Bursa to visit the Green Mosque, the Green Tomb, the Grand Mosque, and the Koza Han. We will then proceed to Iznik, formerly known as Nicaea, originally a significant Roman and Byzantine city where the first Ecumenical Council was held during Constantine’s reign in 325 AD. After the visit, we will continue to Istanbul. Full board. Night in Istanbul.
DAY 8. Istanbul
We will start our day with a morning of shopping at the Spice Bazaar in Eminönü, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar. This large covered market has remained the city’s center for spice trade since its establishment in the 17th century. Next, we will embark on a cruise along the Bosphorus, separating Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. This is the moment to enjoy views of ancient wooden mansions, Ottoman palaces, and ancient fortresses lining the riverbanks. Later, we will head to the Church of St. Savior in Chora. This church is an exquisite example of Byzantine architecture adorned with 13th-century frescoes and golden mosaics. We will end our day at the Suleymaniye Mosque, the greatest achievement of Mimar Sinan, who was so proud of his creation that he chose to be buried next to it. Here, we will admire the magnificent dome and explore the mosque complex, passing by the mausoleums of Suleiman and Roxelana. From the mosque’s terrace, we can enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the Golden Horn. Full board. Night in Istanbul.
DAY 9. Istanbul
In the morning, we will begin our tour of Istanbul’s most prominent historical sites. First, we will stroll through the Hippodrome Square, the ancient sports and social center of Constantinople that hosted chariot races during the Roman period. Afterward, we will admire the majesty and splendor of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Popularly known as the Blue Mosque, this 17th-century Ottoman sanctuary is adorned with six minarets and over 20,000 hand-painted Iznik tiles. We will then go across from the mosque to visit the masterpiece of Hagia Sophia, which was the grand Basilica of Christian Constantinople before heading to Topkapi Palace. Located in the same part of the peninsula where Constantinople was founded, Topkapi Palace is the former residence of Ottoman sultans, still housing their treasures, including an extensive collection of royal jewels. Later, we will finish the day with an evening of shopping at the Grand Bazaar, the massive covered market featuring a labyrinth of streets lined with shops selling jewelry, leather goods, and many other handmade souvenirs. Full board. Night in Istanbul.
DAY 10. Istanbul – Departure Airport
After breakfast, at the designated time, we will transfer to the airport for our flight back to our departure airport. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
