DAY
1, 19 Sept.
The tour starts at 5:00 pm in the lobby of Hotel Ayasofya.
After a short introduction
we will visit the Blue Mosque.
Dinner at the Blue House
Overnight at HOTEL AYASOFYA
DAY
2, 20 Sept.
Our activities today starts at 8:30 am in the lobby of our hotel
in Istanbul. We will visit the Basilica Cistern, the Turkish
Islamic Art Museum, the fabulous St. Sophia, and the Topkapi
Palace of the Ottoman empire.
Dinner at an old Ottoman House.
Overnight at HOTEL AYASOFYA
Day
3, 21 Sept.
Start the day visiting the Blue Mosque. Visit the worlds oldest
"shopping mall" the Covered Bazaar. After Lunch visit
the Chora Church. Istanbul as Constantinople was where the
Byzantines accepted Christianity as the state religion 1700 years
ago. The imperial recognition of Christianity can best be seen at
the breathtaking mosaics of Chora Church. Enjoy the earliest
interpretations of Nativity, Dormission, Resurrection and Jesus
the Creator. Visit the Spice Market.
Overnight at HOTEL AYASOFYA
Day
4, 22 Sept.
Fly to Adana. Drive to Antakya (Antioch on the Orentes) This is
where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians (Acts
11:26) It was from the Church in Antioch that Paul and Barnabas
started their first journey and to which Paul returned from both
his first and second journeys. Visit St. Peter's church and the
fabulous Mosaic Museum which clearly displays the glamour of
Antioch of St. Paul's time.
Overnight at Antakya, HOTEL ANTAKYA
Day
5, 23 Sept.
After visiting the city, TARSUS, where Paul was born, drive
through the Cilician gates, just like Paul and his disciples did,
drive to Nigde to see the oldest known Madonna and the Child scene
on a wall of a 1,100 year old church. Continue to where St.
Gregory was born and established the oldest monastery on earth. In
the beauty of the Monastery Valley imagine the monks contemplating
to find the best way of passing the word of God to the fire
worshippers of the region.
Overnight at the Christian school built in 1853 now the HOTEL
KARBALLA, Guzelyurt
Day
6, 24 Sept.
Drive north to Cappadocia where cliff dwellings and several
hundred churches are hollowed out of the of the cones which are
eroded remnants of volcanic land. Frescoes depicting scenes from
the Bible or the Apocrypha are amazingly well preserved. Enroute
visit the underground city, one of many, where the Christians
found refuge during the persecution of the Romans of nearby
Cesearia in the 2nd Century and the Arabs in the 7th century.
Overnight at GREEN MOTEL
Day
7, 25 Sept.
Immerse into the depths of Cappadocia to understand how the early
Christians lived and worshiped in the land where the seeds of
Christianity were planted by St. Paul. Visit the locals in their
houses. Witness the local craft at potters wheel and at carpet
makers looms. Opportunity to buy the best Turkish carpets.
Overnight in Cappaadocia, GREEN MOTEL
Day
8, 26 Sept.
Konya (Iconium) - The Bible does not say much about what had
happened to Paul and Barnabas in Iconium except that their work
was sufficiently effective to antogonize the people there. They
had to flee. Though not much of the city from Paul's time is left,
Konya is still spiritually important as the center of the Whirling
Dervishes who preach friendship, tolerance, and divine love.
Overnight in Konya, at HOTEL SIFA
Day
9, 27 Sept.
Antioch of Pisidia is located on a hill top controlling the plain
where the Roman military routes passed through. Occupied by the
Roman Garrison, Antioch was the most dangereous place for Paul to
be. However, devoted to fulfilling his mission St Paul visited
this town twice. We will walk on the marble roads of Antioch of
Pisidia being litterally in the steps of St Paul. Collesea
received two letters from Paul. One of them addressed to the name
of the town the other one addressed to Philemon who was living in
that town. Collesea will be our last stop before we arrive in
Pamukkale.
Overnight at YORUK HOTEL
Day
10, 28 Sept.
The ancient city of Hierapolis scattered around the natural beauty
of Pamukkale was inhabited before and during the early Christian
era. St. Paul had played a distinct role in the history of the
city when he condemned the people who go in for self mortification
and "angel worship." A short drive to Laodiceia. The
geographic location of the city will explain why the Laodiceians
were called by God in the Book of Revelations "neither hot
nor cold but lukewarm." Our next stop, Miletus is where Paul
met the Elders from Ephesus on his last Journey. Here you can
almost hear Paul teaching "happiness lies more in giving than
in receiving."
Overnight at Selcuk, HOTEL KALEHAN
Day
11, 29 Sept.
Full day excursion to Ephesus. The Basilica of St. John is one of
many Christian monuments in the area. Certainly the climax of the
day will be at the city of Ephesus. Sitting in the theater
visualizing 24,000 Ephesians, following the silversmith Dimitrius
shouting "Great is Artemis of Ephesians" in reaction to
St. Paul's preaching, "there should be no man made
gods."
Overnight at Selcuk, HOTEL KALEHAN
Day
12, 30 Sept.
Visit Smyrna, one of the Seven Churchs on the way to Pergamum. As
it can easily be seen from the extensive ruins, Pergamum was the
center of the Roman authority and therefore, the place of
persecution for those who denied imperial worship. The Christians
in Pergamum were promised to be honored by God with a "white
stone which will have a new name written on, known to none but him
that receives it."
Overnight at Bergama, HOTEL ISKENDER
Day
13, 01 Oct.
Assos will be the first stop in this day's journey. Paul went by
land from Alexandria Troas to Assos. Driving to Alexandria Troas
from Assos, we will get the feel for the distance Paul had to
cover on foot and appreciate his determination for accomplishing
his mission. The next stop will be Troy, the city of the "Illiad
and the Odyssey" and eight other eras in History. Troy
retains a mysterious power and startles even the most unromantic
traveler.
Overnight at Canakkale, HOTEL TRUVA
Day
14, 02 Oct.
Leave Asia by a ferry boat and find yourself on Europe once again.
Drive through the rolling hills into the city of Istanbul. Finish
the day on a cruise on the Bosphorous in our private boat.
Overnight at Istanbul, HOTEL AYASOFYA
Day
15, 03 Oct.
The tour is over after breakfast.
Tour
Price
The
tour price of $1,900 includes all the land arrangements mentioned
below.
The
tour price does not include the flight to Adana. When an
international ticket is purchased abroad the domestic flights are
cheaper than the The
tour price of $1,900 includes all the land arrangements mentioned
below.
The
tour price does not include the flight to Adana. When an
international ticket is purchased abroad the domestic flights are
cheaper than the tickets to be purchased domestically.
Included
in the price
- 14
nights hotel
- Transfer
from the Istanbul airport to the hotel upon arrival
- Breakfast,
lunch and dinner each day
- A
guide throughout the tour
- All
entrance fees
- All
transportation except the flight from Istanbul to Adana
- All
tips at hotels and resturants
Not
included in the price
- The
tour price does not include the flight to Adana. When an
international ticket is purchased abroad the domestic flights
are cheaper than the tickets to be purchased domestically.
- Since
most every one has a different departure schedule, the
departure transfer in Istanbul is not included in the price of
the tour.
Optional
Expenses
- Hotel
in Istanbul Single US$ 50 Double US$ 70 (before or after the
tour)
We
strongly recommend that you buy cancellation insurance
