TOUR ITINERARY:

Day 1. Depart Home Country

Day 2. Arrival in Istanbul — Boat Ride on the Bosphorus — ON Istanbul
After morning/mid-day/early afternoon arrival and check-in at our hotel, our bus will leave our hotel for a leisurely Boat Tour along the Bosphorus—seeing both European and Asian shores of Istanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (D)

Day 3.Istanbul – Fly to Antalya (southern coast of Turkey on the Mediterranean Sea)
We will visit the famous Blue Mosque, with its six minarets and sparkling interior. We will visit the Archaeological Museum and nearby Museum of the Ancient Orient — two world class museums where artifacts from all over the Near East have been collected — including the famous Jerusalem Temple Inscription and the inscription from Hezekiah’s Tunnel (also from Jerusalem). Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) that, for 1000 years, was the largest church in Christendom. Built by Justinian (532-537 AD), the church has 107 columns and beautiful glass mosaics. Transfer to Istanbul Airport for late afternoon flight to Antalya (THY). Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)

Day 4.Perge, Aspendos, Antalya Archaeological Museum — ON Antalya
Full day excursion to the ancient Pamphylian, Hellenistic and Roman cities of Perge (Acts 13:13-14), Aspendos (best preserved theater and aqueduct in Turkey), and to the award winning Antalya (= Attalia Acts 14:25-26) Archaeological Museum. Late afternoon free. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)

Day 5.Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis — ON Pamukkale
Morning drive to the unexcavated site of Colossae. Then continue on to visit nearby Laodicea. The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches (Rev 3:14-22), were chastised for being lukewarm, “You are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3:14) and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous passage from Revelation (3:20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including theaters, a temple, nymphaeum, and columned streets. Then on to Hierapolis that is blessed by hot mineral springs and some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Asia Minor. Christianity came to Hierapolis via Epaphras (Colossians 4:12–13). The ruins cover more than a square mile. We will see the impressive theater with seats still in perfect condition and visit one of themal pools that still has ancient columns in it! Today, the area is known as Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle.” It is named for the limestone-laden hot springs that cascade from one white-edged terrace pool to the next. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

Day 6.Didyma, Miletus, Priene — ON Kusadasi
Visit the Temple of Apollo in Didyma—one of the best-preserved temples from antiquity. Then visit the excavations at Miletus, where Paul bid farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus at the end of his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20). Priene is a well–preserved example of a Greco–Roman city that was visited by Alexander the Great (333 BC). Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,D)

Day 7.Patmos — ON Kusadasi
Travel by boat to Patmos and visit the famous site where John received his revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9). Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,D)

Day 8.Ephesus (Site, Terrace Houses, Temple of Artemis, Museum, St. John’s Church)
Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1:11). In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade-bordered streets. We will stroll the excavated streets of Ephesus visiting the magnificent Terrace Houses, the Library, the Agora, the huge Theater and visit where the Temple of Artemis used to stand—one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We will visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at artifacts from the ancient city as well as the Basilica of St. John, the traditional site of the burial place of John. In Izmir (ancient Smyrna) we will visit the Roman Agora. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

Day 9.Smyrna Agora, Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira — ON Bergamum
Drive to Sardis, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation that was berated by John the Prophet for its facade of strength when, in reality, it was weak (Rev. 3:1-6). Coins were first minted in Sardis. The massive Temple of Artemis, the Royal Road, the gymnasium and the synagogue will impress you. We continue on to Alasehir, to see where the Church of Philadelphia (Rev 3:7–22) was located. We continue the day by driving to Akhisar ancient Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29) and original home of Lydia (Acts 16:11-5) and then on to Bergamum. Dinner and overnight in Bergamum. (B,D)

Day 10.Pergamum — ON Assos
Drive to Bergama. We will visit the site of Pergamum where, according to Revelation, the “Throne of Satan” was located (Rev. 2:12-17). Visit the towering acropolis—1000 feet above the town. Will also visit the healing center (Ascelpion) on the plain below the acropolis. Dinner and overnight near Assos. (B,D)

Day 11.Assos, Alexandria Troas, Troy — ON Çanakkale
Visit Assos (where Paul stopped on his third missionary journey; Acts 20:13-14) and drive to Alexander Troas (Acts 16; 20; etc.) to see the harbor and the new excavation area. Then visit the legendary Troy and see the replica of the Wooden Horse. Dinner and overnight near Çanakkale. (B,D)

Day 12.Turkish-Greek Border — ON Kavala
Drive from Çanakkale towards Greece, crossing the Dardanelles by car ferry. At the Turkish/Greek border change buses and drive to Kavala (in Greece; called “Neapolis” in the New Testament—where Paul landed in Europe; Acts 16:11) for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 13.Philippi, Thessaloniki — ON Thessaloniki
Enjoy a picturesque drive to the city of Philippi, where Paul established the first church in Europe. Here we see the river where Lydia and possibly the jailer were baptized and the ancient forum and jail where Paul and Silas were kept. In the late afternnon we will have a short city tour of Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight stay in Thessaloniki. (B,D)

Day 14.Vergina, Berea, and a Monastary in Meteora drive to Delphi — ON Kalambaka
Visit Vergina and the magnificent presentation of the golden finds from the tomb of Phillip II—the father of Alexander the Great. We then drive to Berea (Acts 17) to see the mosaic monument commemorating Paul’s preaching. Drive to Kalambaka and visit one of the famous “hanging monastaries” of Meteora. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. (B,D)

Day 15.Delphi, drive to Athens — ON Athens
Drive to Delphi. On the slopes of Mt. Parnassos, in a landscape of unparalleled natural beauty and majesty, lies the archaeological site of Delphi. We will visit the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, and the Museum containing such masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture as the bronze Charioteer, the famous athlete Aghias and the important Gallio Inscription. Drive to Athens. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Athens. (B,D)

Day 16.Corinth, Mycenae, Cenchrea — ON Athens
Our morning excursion out of Athens takes us by the Saronic Gulf to visit the famous Corinthian canal and the Doilkos. From there we drive to ancient Corinth (Acts 18:1-18). It was to this huge city that the apostle Paul came and worked. Here, we see all of the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Erastus Inscription, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. The small archaeological museum here is an absolute must! After Corinth we motor to the famous wealthy antiquity site of Mycenae. On the way back to Athens we visit the ruins of the early Christian 5th century basilica at the port of Cenchreae (Acts 18:18; Rom 16:1). (B,L,D)

Day 17.Acropolis, Mars Hill, Agora, the afternoon free — ON Athens
The morning we will climb the marble-capped Acropolis and visit the famous Parthenon and the Erechtheum. Then, we go to nearby Mars’ Hill (or Areopagus) (Acts 17:22) where the Apostle Paul delivered his well-known sermon. We will explore the old agora (market place). The remainder of the afternoon will be free for shopping and individual museum visits. Dinner & overnight stay in Athens (B,D)

Day 18.Depart Athens for home town