2010 Tours

• Classic Turkey
• Eastern Turkey & the Black Sea
• Biblical Journey Through Turkey
• Timeless Egypt
• Treasures of Jewish Heritage
• Classic Aegean
• Fairytale Land of Germany
• Discover the Balkans
• The Fertile Crescent
• Splendors of Persia
• Silk Road Treasures
• Textiles & Crafts of Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan
• Classic Morocco
• Seven Churches of Revelation
• The Footsteps of St. Paul and the Seven Churches of Revelation
• Walk & Sail
• Jewels of Central Asia
• Treasures of Caucasus, Armenia, Georgia and Eastern Turkey
• Terms & Conditions

The Footsteps of St. Paul and
the Seven Churches of Revelation

Day 1 ~ Depart Home
Depart USA. Overnight flight to Turkey.

Day 2 ~ Antakya (ancient Antioch)
Arrival at Istanbul Ataturk airport and transfer to the domestic flight to Adana. Upon arrival in Adana we will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Antakya. Overnight in Antakya

Day 3 ~ Antakya (ancient Antioch)
This morning in Antakya we will visit the Archaeological Museum, famous for its mythological themes beautifully displayed in natural lighting, and its Roman fishing and hunting mosaics. We will also visit the Grotto of St. Peter where the word "Christianity" first was used and from there spread all over the World. In the afternoon we will tour Samandagi (ancient Seleuceia Pieria), the port city, which was once the capital of Antioch and where St. Paul and St. Barnabas set sail for Cyprus on their first missionary journey. This city was a master of Roman architectural design, with its underground water channel which saved the city from flooding. Overnight in Antakya

Day 4 ~ Silifke (ancient Seleucia)
Our first stop today will be Tarsus, the native town of St. Paul where he started his missionary journeys. Here we will visit the Well and Church of St. Paul as well as the Roman Triumphal Arch where Mark Antony welcomed Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. Then we continue along the Mediterranean to Kiz Kalesi (Maiden's Castle), a little town with a very beautiful Crusader Castle off offshore. Overnight in Silifke

Day 5 ~ Konya (ancient Iconium)
This morning our first stop will be the Cave of St. Thecla, known as St. Paul's first Christian convert and the first woman to be threatened with death for the young faith. Then we drive inland along the famous Goksu River in which the German emperor Frederic Barbarossa was drowned in 1190 during the Third Crusade. We will stop at Alahan, a old Caravansary with a magnificent view, before our arrival in Derbe (Kerti Hoyuk) where St. Paul and Barnabas spoke and won many converts. Our last stop will be in Lystra ( Hatunsaray), where during the first journey St. Paul and St. Barnabas traveled after being persecuted in Iconium. Overnight in Konya

Day 6 ~ Antalya
Konya was the Capital of Seljuk Empire and the city where Mevlana founded the Mevlevi Order of Whirling Dervishes; we will visit his Mausoleum-Museum. Then we will travel to Antioch in Pisidia where St. Paul preached his first recorded sermon and was expelled from the city. This was an ancient city with a diversity of religious backgrounds. Chosen by Emperor Augustus to be the second capital in Anatolia, St. Paul also used it as a base for proclaiming Christianity to Anatolia. We will visit the Church of St. Paul and the Temple of Augustus. Overnight in Antalya

Day 7 ~ Antalya
In the morning, we will visit the ancient sites of Perge where St. Paul preached and Aspendos, the latter of which has one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world. In the afternoon, we will tour the Antalya Archaeology Museum, one of the finest museums in Turkey, containing exhibits ranging from the Stone Age to a 6th Century relief of the Angel Gabriel. There will still be time to explore Antalya's old city quarter where many fine examples of Ottoman architecture are being carefully restored, and to walk along the ancient harbor. Overnight in Antalya

Day 8 ~ Hierapolis (Pamukkale)
Traveling along the Taurus Mountains and beautiful coastline of Mediterranean we will visit Myra, visited by St. Paul, St. Luke, and St. Aristarchus and, particularly known for St. Nicholas, who was the bishop of this Mediterranean city during the 4th century; many rock tombs overlook the splendid Theater. A visit to the Lycian rock-cut tombs in Myra and a trip to the nearby Church of St. Nicholas, where the legend of our beloved Santa Claus began, are on the agenda today. After Myra we will cross the Taurus Mountains and enter the Anatolian Plateau, heading for Hierapolis. Overnight in Pamukkale

Day 9 ~ Hierapolis (Pamukkale)
In the morning we drive to Colossae, famous in St. Paul's letter to the Colossians, to visit the Byzantine wall and some remaining ruins. Then we continue to Laodicea one of The Seven Churches; visit the Odeon, the Theater and Gymnasium; continue to Pamukkale (Hierapolis) visit Hierapolis with its Necropolis, Baths, Theater and St. Philip's Martyrium. Overnight in Pamukkale

Day 10 ~ Ephesus (Selcuk)
This morning we drive to Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love founded during the reign of Attalus II. We will continue to Miletus, one of the principal Ionian cities and home of Thales, which was twice visited by St. Paul; visit the very well preserved Roman/Byzantine ruins. Overnight in Selcuk

Day 11 ~ Ephesus (Selcuk)
Ephesus is the city where one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation was located, and where the Third Ecumenical Council was held in 431 AD. We will explore the fascinating Hellenistic and Roman city of Ephesus, including its beautiful theater where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, Celsus Library, and The Church of Virgin Mary,Temple of Artemis, one of the wonders of the ancient world. In the nearby charming town of Selcuk, we will tour the Museum of Ephesus where, among many artifacts, we will see a well-known statue of Artemis and St. John Basilica, beautifully located in the fortress overlooking the town. Overnight in Selcuk

Day 12 ~Pergamum (Bergama)
Today our fist stop is Izmir, ancient Smyrna and home of one of the oldest continually inhabited churches of the Revelation. We continue to Sardis, the capital of ancient Lydia with its impressive synagogue, gymnasium-bath complex, and Temple of Artemis, a temple of Cybele and Artemis (which later became a Church). Sardis is known as the residence of Croesus of "rich as Croesus" fame, and also the place where gold and silver coins first appeared. After Sardis we continue on to Thyatira where the members of this church were commended for their steadfastness against libertarianism, a constant threat to the Christian church. Finally we head to Pergamum. Overnight in Bergama

Day 13 ~Pergamum (Bergama)
We will spend the day exploring Pergamum, which has an interesting ancient medical center and acropolis and is especially famous for its library, once one of the most extensive in the world. Pergamum is also famous for the origination of parchment, from which we derive our modern writing paper. The Asclepion, the medical center dedicated to healing god Aslepius and made famous by Galen in 2nd C. A.D., Serapis Temple which later became one of the Churches of the Revelation; St. John denounced it as throne of Satan in his reference to Pergamum church members. Overnight in Bergama

Day 14 ~ Canakkale
Today we will continue our drive along the northern Aegean coast, stopping at Assos, a very important city during the 4th Century BC; it was a well-known center for the study of philosophy and natural sciences. Aristotle, who later became a tutor of Alexander the Great, taught there. The city was protected by a magnificent wall, one of the most impressive fortifications in Anatolia. The view from the Temple of Athena is particularly beautiful, and St. Paul sailed from here to the Greek island of Lesbos and on to Philippi. Then visit the Alexandria Troas which was founded by Antigonus and Lysimachus at the command of Alexander the Great and was visited at least twice by St. Paul. Finally we will visit Troy, the site of Homer's classic epic the Iliad and where nine different layers of civilization have been uncovered and partially excavated. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale

Day 15 ~ Bursa
Bursa, which was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and has a history going back to 200 BC, is considered by many to be the birthplace of modern Turkish culture. It is well-known for its beautiful silk cloth and handicrafts and is an important manufacturing center both for silk and cotton, and Hacivat and Karagoz (Turkish Shadow Puppet Players). The surrounding area is full of gardens and orchards, which is why it is often called Yesil Bursa (Green Bursa). The Yesil Cami (Green Mosque) is a fine example of Ottoman architecture, and the Tomb of Mehmet I is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Turkey. Overnight in Bursa

Day 16 ~ Istanbul
On the way to Istanbul we will stop in Iznik (ancient Nicaea), famous for its beautiful tiles and as the site where the Nicaean Creed originated in 325 and where the Eighth Ecumenical Council took place in St. Sophia in 787. Today's Iznik is a small and charming farming community with impressive ancient city walls. Overnight in Istanbul

Day 17 ~ Istanbul
This morning we will visit St. Sophia, the largest Christian church in the world for more than 1,000 years. Then we will take a drive that follows the ancient city walls of Istanbul to the Chora Museum, which has the most beautiful Byzantine mosaics in Turkey. Afterward we will have a Bosphorus cruise between continents, seeing the fabulous palaces and villas that hug the shoreline. Later we will have a tour of the old and new city, including the Galata and Pera regions. Overnight in Istanbul

Day 18 ~ Depart Istanbul
This morning we will transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

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