A Pilgrimage from Antalya to Cappadocia

April 20 Sat Arrive at Antalya International Airport at 2pm
– One group transfer to the hotel. The transfer coincides with the arrival of EasyJet flight (EZY 6519) departing Gatwick airport at 7.40 AM. After settling into our hotel, we take a stroll in Kaleici (Antalya’s beautifully restored old town), and visit the recently restored Sehzade Korkut Mosque (former Byzantine church of St Nicholas), and the Greek Orthodox Chapel (D)

April 21 Sun Following breakfast and the Eucharist we
visit the Hellenistic city of Perge, founded in 300 BC as a colony of Pergamum. Paul and Barnabas passed through Perge on their way to Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13.13) and later came back to preach there. In the afternoon we visit mysterious Termessos, with its matchless theatre, high in the mountains above Antalya. Overnight Antalya (B,D)

April 22 Mon We make an early start and head southeast
to the city of Myra (Modern-day Demre) where we visit the well preserved Byzantine basilica of St Nicholas, a place of pilgrimage to this day. After a boat trip and lunch, we visit the nearby Lycian cliff-tombs and Roman theatre, and the ancient port of Andriake. If time permits, one hour private boat tour. Overnight Antalya (B,D)

April 23 Tue We drive north to the Pisidian city of
Sagalassos, with its fabulous monuments dated form the Hellenistic period onwards. The city, which due to its remote location was only ‘discovered’ in 1985, is perched on a plateau with a backdrop of rugged mountains. We continue to Pisidian Antioch, on an impressive site above the Anthius River. The city was visited by Paul and Barnabas in 46 AD. Paul’s longest recorded sermon (Acts 13:16-41) was preached in the synagogue here! Overnight Konya (B,D)

April 24 Wed We spend the morning in the handsome
city of Konya (Roman/Biblical Iconium), one of the oldest occupied cities in the world. A Christian congregation was founded here during Paul’s first journey (Acts 14:1), and he made at least one more visit (Acts 16: 2). We visit the splendid shrine-tomb of Mevlana (also known as Rumi) the great 13c Islamic scholar and mystic and see other examples of prestigious Selcuk architecture. After lunch we continue through classic Anatolian steppe, visiting the renowned Sulthanhan Caravanserai (c.1100). We reach Cappadocia and unwind at our hotel. (B,D)

April 25 Thu We spend the morning visiting the
extraordinary cave churches with their breathtaking frescoes (9-11c) in the open-air museum at Goreme. After lunch we explore fairytale landscapes, villages and troglodyte monasteries nearby. We visit the Tursan Winery, Avanos Village. In the evening we experience a display of devotional whirling (in the tradition of Mevlana). (B,D)

April 26 Fri On our second day in Cappadocia: we visit
magical Zelve Valley, and the villages of Uçhisar and Paşabağ. We will find a hallowed place to worship as we conclude our pilgrimage. (B,D)

April 27 Sat Transfer to Kayseri Airport and proceed to
onward destinations.