Day 1 & 2

Flight from USA

Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight. You will be welcomed at the Istanbul airport by our representative and transferred to your hotel to enjoy dinner before retiring for the night.

Day 3

Istanbul

The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques. You will visit the famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets and sparkling interior. Visit the underground cisterns dating to Byzantine times. Walk through Hagia Sophia, which was the largest church in Christendom for 1000 years, built by Justinian (532 -537 AD). The church has 107 columns, fossil-embedded, white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Enjoy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as you explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. This afternoon, you will fly to Izmir. Dinner & overnight are in Izmir.

Day 4

Pergamum & Thyatira

Pergamum is one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelations (Rev. 2: 12). displeased the Lord because it tolerated the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes which Christ hated (Rev. 2:13 -17). The fabled acropolis towers 1000 feet above the town and commands a spectacular panorama. As you pass through the royal gates, you will enter one of the great centers of classic Greek culture. You will see the foundations of the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Athena, and the ruins of the library which once held 200,000 parchment volumes. You will see the remains of the Temple of Trajan, the grand theatre, the gymnasium, and the health center (Aesclepion). Visit Thyatira, once a busy trading center and home to Lydia, the “seller of purple” (Acts 16). Today, it is famous for Persian rugs. Thyatira, one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelations, tolerated the false prophetess, Jezebel (Rev. 1: 11; 2: 18 -29). Dinner & overnight in Izmir.

Day 5

Philadelphia, Sardis, Smyrna & Colossae

Visit the site of Philadelphia also one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 3: 7 -13). Christ told those who overcame that He would write upon them “the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem.” (Rev. 3: 12) Today, only a little is left to mark the spot. You will see an ancient wall and the remains of a Byzantine basilica. Travel to Sardis, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. You will be impressed by the massive scale of the Temple of Artemis, the white, marble Royal Road, the gymnasium, and the synagogue. The third largest city in modern Turkiye is Izmir, long a center for Jewish and Christian communities. In Paul’s day, the town was known as Smyrna. It was also one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 2: 8 -11). You will see the Agora, the colonnaded commercial center where Roman statues can still be seen. Famous as the receiver of Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, the town of Colossae has fallen into obscurity. While you can still see traces of the theatre, the Necropolis, and the Church, the ancient city is mostly indistinguishable ruins. Dinner & Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 6

Hierapolis, Laodicea & Miletus

Hierapolis is blessed with hot mineral springs and some of the best- preserved Roman ruins in Asia Minor. Paul mentions Hierapolis in his Letter to the Colossians in saluting Epaphras, a fellow laborer, for his love of the brethren there (Colossians 4: 13). The ruins cover more than a mile. You will see the impressive amphitheater with seats still in perfect condition. You will see the City Gates, column-lined streets, and arches, which have stood through time and earthquakes. Today, the area is known as Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle”, named for the limestone-laden hot springs which cascade from one white-edged terrace pool to the next. 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: 15), and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous scripture 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 the stadium and columned streets. 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). Dinner & Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 7

Ephesus

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. Today, you will be impressed with the spectacular excavations of the major streets of ancient Ephesus. You will view the Library and the huge Agora. The Temple of Artemis was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, only a single column remains to mark the site. You will visit the Basilica of St. John, the traditional site of his grave. From the basilica, enjoy a commanding view of the area. You will visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at artifacts from the ancient city. You will have time to explore this powerful city on your own and recreate some of the footsteps of Paul. Dinner & Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 8

Return the U.S.

Flight back to the USA

Optional Extension

Capaddocia Pre-Tour - $1,350 per person

Pre-Tour Day 1 (Wednesday) - Depart USA

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Pre-Tour Day 2 (Thursday) - Arrive Turkey

Arrive in Istanbul today. Time permitting enjoy a visit to the Spice Market. Enjoy dinner and overnight.

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Pre-Tour Day  3 (Friday) - Cappadocia

After breakfast, transfer to Istanbul airport for flight to Kayseri. Drive to Cappadocia and visit the Zelve Valley. Explore the underground city of Ozkonak. As you drive through Cappadocia, enjoy some free time at various photo stops in this magnificent landscape full of fairy chumneys. Check in to your cave hotel this evening for dinner and overnight.

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Pre-Tour Day 4 (Saturday) - Cappadocia

You can take an optional hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia this morning for an additional fee. After breakfast at the hotel, Visit the Goreme open air Museum, Avcilar and Uchisar.

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Pre-Tour Day 5 (Sunday) - Istanbul

Fly to Istanbul and enjoy a cruise on the Bosporus strait. See the Byzantine walls and the Golden Horn. Enjoy time to shop and explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. Meet your group at your hotel in Istanbul for dinner and overnight.