BIBLE STUDY TOUR (ISRAEL ▪ JORDAN ▪ TURKEY ▪ GREECE)

ISRAEL and JORDAN

Apr 11 Tue USA to Israel
Depart from New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Vancouver BC, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, or Washington DC and fly to Tel Aviv.

Apr 12 Wed Arrive Tel Aviv
Upon arrival to Ben Gurion International airport, you will be meet by our greeting service with “TUTKU” sign. Our driver will meet us and drive us to the Jerusalem Grand Court Hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

Apr 13 Thu Jerusalem
We begin our morning walking the Garden Tomb, then to the Jaffa Gate, Tower of David and to Church of Holy Sepulcher, Visit the Temple Tunnel. We continue to walk through the Old City market to the Western Wall, including parts of Via Dolorosa. No bus today. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem. (B,D)

Apr 14 Fri Jerusalem
In the morning we visit the Yad VaShem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. After lunch we will visit the Israel National Museum to see the Jerusalem Model, Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book, and the Archaeology Wing of the museum. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D)

Apr 15 Sat Jerusalem
The day begins on the Mount of Olives, looking across the Kidron Valley. Walking down the Mount we will visit Domiunis Flevit (where Jesus wept over Jerusalem), the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. We will walk across the Kidron Valley past Absalom’s tomb and up to the City of David and Hezekiah’s tunnel and the pool of Siloam. (B,D)

Apr 16 Sun Sharon Plain, Jezreel Valley, and Galilee
We will begin the day by driving from Jerusalem to Caesarea, Megiddo, through Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee to finally arrive at Ginosar Kibbuz in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Maagan. (B,D)

Apr 17 Mon Jesus’ Ministry Around the Sea of Galilee
We will begin this day by taking a boat ride on Lake Galilee. Then contiune to Chorazin, Beth Saida, the synagogue at Magdala, the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, and other sites Jesus visited before returning to Ginnosar. Dinner and overnight in Maagan. (B,D)

Apr 18 Tue Cross border to Jordan, Jerash, Mt. Nebo, Petra
We will leave the Galilee early and prepare to cross into Jordan at the King Hussein Bridge and transfer buses in Jordan. We will stop at Jerash for a tour of this spectacular Roman city. We will visit Mt. Nebo and possibly Madaba on to our hotel in Petra for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Apr 19 Wed Petra
We start out for Petra early, walking the Suq to the famous Al Khazneh or Treasury at Petra, a tomb carved out of the mountain stone by the Nabeateans about 2000 years ago. We will have time to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site before returning to our Petra hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Apr 20 Thu Aqaba, Cross border to Israel, Eilat, Tamar Park,
Ein Gedi We depart hotel at 8:00 am for departure to border. Depart our Jordian bus and walk with luggage across the border to Eilat. Meet our bus and guide. Stop for a Swim in the Red Sea, then head North visit Tamar Biblical Park. Continue for Ein Gedi for dinner & overnight. (B,D)

Apr 21 Fri Mamshit, Tel Arad, Masada, Ein Gedi
Drive to Massada, visit the famous fortress built by King Herod and the site of the last stand of the Jewish zealots in the first Jewish War against Rome. Masada is also an UNESCO World Heritage site. Ascend by cable car then walk down the Western Roman ramp , meet our bus continue to Tel Arad for a visit to the ancient Canaanite city captured by Joshua. We will visit the Judean fortress and a reconstructed temple at the top of the Tel, continue to Mamshit, a Nabatean trading village which has been beautifully restored by the Israeli Park service. Return via the Dead Sea back to Ein Gedi for dinner & overnight. (B,D)

Apr 22 Sat Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Qumran, The Dead
Sea, Tel Aviv After breakfast we start with a float in the Dead Sea, and view Ein Gedi from above, where David hid from King Saul. Short visit to Jordan Baptismal site (Qast el-Yahud). Continue to Qumran, the location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Then onto Tel Aviv for a free afternoon followed by dinner & overnight (B,D)

Apr 23 Sun Tel Aviv Airport - Fly Istanbul
Transfer from hotel to Tel Aviv Airport. Fly Istanbul. Our representative will meet you at Istanbul Airport after the customs and baggage claim with a “TUTKU” sign. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. The next day you will explore the wonders of Istanbul. (B,D)

TURKEY

Apr 24 Mon Istanbul
You will start at the Hippodrome and see the monuments on its spina. Nearby is the historic Blue Mosque. After briefly stopping at the Golden Mile of the Egnatian Way, you will visit the magnificent HagiaSophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From there you will visit the historic Hagia Irene Church. Afterwards you will walk to Istanbul’s Archaeological Museum—one of the most celebrated collections in the world. Among its treasures are the Siloam inscription, the Gezer calendar, and theThanatos inscription from Jerusalem’s temple mount. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,D)

Apr 25 Tue Transfer for flight to Hatay – Tel Tayinat/
Atchana – Antioch Hippodrome – Antakya Early morning flight to Hatay airport; we begin with site visits at Tel Tayinatand Tel Atchana; after lunch where you will taste Antakya’s famous dessert, künefe, we will visit the hippodrome and temple site with a local archaeologist; finally, we tour the museum and the Museum Hotel in Antakya for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Apr 26 Wed Antioch – Seleucia – Antakya
First you will visit the grotto Church of St. Peter where Jesusfollowers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). At the new Antakya Archaeological Museum you will see one of richest collections of mosaics in the world. After lunch, you will go to the Seleucia Pieria, the port town from which Paul and Barnabas departed and returned on their first journey (Acts 13:4). There we will see the Titus Tunnel, one of Rome’s engineering wonders. If time allows, we will visit the monastery complex of Simon Stylites. Dinner and overnight at Museum Hotel in Antakya. (B,D)

Apr 27 Thu Tarsus – Adana Museum – Adana
Drive through Cilicia to Tarsus, the home of the Apostle Paul. There you will visit the Roman baths and see the ancient bridge over the Cydnus River. You will next visit the Cardo Maximus street of the Roman city and then Donuktaş, one of the largest temples of the ancient world. After lunch you will drive to Adana to walk across the SarusRiver on the Roman bridge and visit the Adana Archaeology Museum. Dinner and overnight in Adana. (B,D)

Apr 28 Fri Cilician Gates – Derbe – Lystra – Iconium – Konya
We first pass through the Cilician Gates in the Taurus Mountains and then continue to Derbe visited three times by Paul visited (Acts 14:20). We continue to Lystra, the home of Timothy, visted by Paul on his three journeys. After a short drive to Iconium, we will first visit the ancient acropolis in Konya’s city center and then visit the archaeological museum and its important inscriptions mentioning Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Dinner and overnight in Konya. (B,D)

Apr 29 Sat Pisidian Antioch – Antalya
After early breakfast, drive to Eflatunpinar. Then we stop at a Roman Bridge near the road to Yalvaç. Then contiune to Yalvaç, the site of the Roman colony of Pisidian Antioch. Paul visited this city on his three missionary journeys. His first recorded sermon in Acts 13 addressed the congregation of Jewsand Godfearers in the synagogue. You will also visit the St. Paul Room in the Yalvaç Museum. Then you will make a scenic drive through the Pisidian lake country before descending through the Taurus Mountains to the plain of Pamphylia. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)

Apr 30 Sun Perga – Attalia – Antalya
You will begin with a visit to Perga visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first journey (Acts 13:13-14). There you will see its wellpreserved stadium and colonnaded street divided by a water channel. Returning to Antalya, you will see Hadrian’s Gate and the Roman mausoleum of ancient Attalia. After lunch at the St. Paul Cultural Center, you will visit Antalya’s renowned archaeological museum. Later in the afternoon you will take a boat ride from the port that Paul and Barnabas sailed from at the end of the first journey (Acts 14:25). Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)

May 1 Mon Colossae – Laodicea – Pamukkale
You will then drive inland again over the Taurus Mountains to Apamea and follow Paul’s route to Colossae. Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 3:14–22) and addressed by Paul (Col. 4:13-16). Then you will drive to the unexcavated site of Colossae the foothills of Mount Honaz, to which Paul wrote the letters to the Colossians and Philemon. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

May 2 Tue Hierapolis – Nysa –Magnesia – Kusadasi
At Hierapolis you will walk through its extensive necropolis, then see its well-preserved theater as well as Philip’s Martyrium and basilica (Col. 4:13). Later traveling westward down the fertile Meander valley, and later visit Magnesia on the Meander. These cities had churches, later addressed by Ignatius in the early second century A.D., that were probably started during Paul’s time in Ephesus. Dinner and overnight in Kuşadası. (B,D)

May 3 Wed Miletus – Didyma – Priene – Kuşadası
You will first visit Miletus with its four harbors and well-preserved theater originally built in the Hellenistic period and expanded in Roman times. Paul made a farewell speech here to the elders of Ephesus on the return leg of his third missionary journey (Acts 20:17–35). We will also visit briefly its small but informative archaeological museum. You will then visit Didyma, home to the Temple of Apollo, one of Turkey’s best-preserved ancient temples. After lunch you will drive to Priene, the best-preserved Hellenistic city in Turkey. We will visit the Jewish synagogue, whose excavation was funded by the Biblical Archaeology Society and Dr. Wilson was a member of the excavation team. Return to Kuşadası for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

May 4 Thu Ephesus – Ephesus Museum – St. John’s Basilica – Izmir
Today will likely be the high point of the tour for most of the group, as we visit the impressive biblical site of Ephesus. You will take a walking tour starting in the upper city at the State Agora, then walking downward to the iconic Library of Celsus and Tetragonos Agora. You will make a slight detour to see the exquisite terrace houses where the rich and famous citizens of Ephesus lived. Your city tour ends at the theater where 24,000 citizens shouted “Great is Artemis!” in a riot started in response to Paul’s ministry there (Acts 19:1–20:1). We will stop briefly to view the remains of the Artemis Temple, formerly one of seven wonders of the ancient world. In the afternoon you will visit the Church of St. John, where tradition holds that theapostle and revelator was buried. Nearby is the Ephesus Museum housing important artefacts from Ephesus. Dinner and overnight in İzmir. (B,D)

May 5 Fri Smyrna – Izmir
Ancient Smyrna is the second of the seven churches (Rev. 2:8–11). We will first visit archaic Smyrna located at Bayraklı. Then we will visit the Agora and its important collection of Greek graffiti, the largest from the ancient Greek East. We conclude with a brief visit to the archaeology museum in the fairgrounds. Lunch on your own with free time in the afternoon. You may wish to visit St Polycarp Church or wander around the Kemeralti Bazaar. Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant with overnight in Izmir (B,D)

GREECE

May 6 Sat Izmir Airport - Fly Thessaloniki
Transfer to Izmir Airport flight to Thessaloniki. Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a “TUTKU” sign. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

May 7 Sun Neapolis, Philippi, Amphipolis, Thessaloniki
We enjoy a scenic drive along the Aegean Sea to Kavala (ancient Neapolis), the port city of Philippi, where Paul landed by boat and first brought the gospel to Europe. We’ll travel inland to Philippi, named after Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. We follow the Via Egnatia which the apostle took into the city. Here at Philippi Paul preached his first sermon in Europe (Acts 16:13-15) and baptized the first Christian convert in the continent, a “certain woman named Lydia.” The Philippian church became one of Paul’s favorite congregations and many years later, while under house arrest in Rome, he wrote them a letter (Philippians) expressing his gratitude for their faithful support of his missionary activity. Extensive Roman and Byzantine ruins have been uncovered and there is a crypt where it is believed Paul and Silas were imprisoned. We leave Philippi and continue to follow the Via Egnatia to Amphipolis (Acts 17:1) to view the Lion Monument that Paul would have seen as he traveled by this city. We pass by Apollonia (Acts 17:1) and return to our hotel in Thessaloniki (B, D)

May 8 Mon Thessaloniki, Vergina, Berea, Kalambaka (Meteora)
Paul spent a number of weeks in Thessalonica during his 2nd Missionary Journey establishing a church (Acts 17:1-9) to whom he would a short time later write two letters (1 & 2 Thessalonians). Visit the Roman Agora (marketplace), where a mob was formed against Paul and an ensuing riot started in the city (Acts 17:5) as well as the Archaeological Museum. Other impressive sites include the triumphal Arch of Galerius (AD 305-311), remnants of two beautiful Byzantine churches (Hagia Sophia & Saint Dimitrius), the ancient ramparts of the city, and the White Tower—the symbol of the city. We leave Thessaloniki for a brief visit to 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 (modern Veria), the place whose Jewish citizens “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). After viewing the Bema—the spot where tradition has Paul teaching the Bereans—and the beautiful monument dedicated to the apostle, we drive south to Kalambaka (B, D)

May 9 Tue Meteora, Delphi
Here are the famous Cenobitic Monasteries that are perched precariously on top of huge and precipitous columns of rock that rise up out of the ground, thereby giving rise to the name “Meteora,” which means “in the air.” It was in the 11th century that the first hermits sought refuge in the caves of Meteora where the solitude and spectacular vistas enhanced the mystic way of life. Eventually the hermits began to group together in monasteries whose buildings were decorated with frescoes and icons by the great artists of the day. After touring one of these historic and breathtaking monasteries, we spend the afternoon enjoying the scenic drive to Delphi (B,D)

May 10 Wed Delphi, Athens
Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, Delphi is the home of the Sanctuary of Apollo and the world-renowned “Delphic oracle.” Other impressive ruins found here include the Temple of Athena, a well-preserved theatre that seats 5000 people, an athletic stadium seating 7000, a gymnasium for physical training, various stoas, and treasuries. It is with good reason that Delphi is widely acknowledged as the most spectacularly beautiful ancient site in Greece. We also will visit the Delphi Museum, whose impressive collection includes an inscription concerning the governor Gallio (Acts 18:12), which plays a crucial role in establishing the chronology of Paul’s life and ministry. We end the day with a drive to Athens (B,D)

May 11 Thu Athens
Paul visited Athens during his 2nd Missionary Journey (Acts 17:15- 34). We’ll see the Agora (“Marketplace”) of ancient Athens where the apostle dialogued with the Athenian citizens and philosophers (Acts 17:17) and also at the Areopagus (“Mars Hill”) where Paul addressed the city leaders (Acts 17:19-33). Before going up to see the Acropolis, we’ll stop at the New Acropolis Museum which helpfully explains the history of this world-famous place. Then we’ll go up to the Acropolis, which towers over the city of Athens and which houses the Parthenon, a building so masterfully created that it has been the subject of architectural study since its creation. Equally impressive buildings on the Acropolis include the Erechtheion, with its Porch of Maidens, and the Temple of Athena Nike, the goddess of “Victory.” The area surrounding the Acropolis houses a number of other striking archeological sights: the Stoa of Attalos, the Theatre of Dionysus, the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of Hephaestus, the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of Olympian Zeus (B,D)

May 12 Fri Corinth, Cenchrea, Athens
After briefly stopping at the Corinthian Canal, we proceed to nearby Cenchrea, one of the two harbors of ancient Corinth from where Paul sailed on more than one occasion (Acts 18:18) and which was also the home of another early church and an influential Christian woman, Phoebe (Rom. 16:1). We then visit Corinth, the place where Paul ministered for 1½ years (Acts 18:1-18) and would later write at least four letters, two of which have survived (1 & 2 Corinthians). The city is located on the slopes of the Acrocorinth, a towering mountain rising 1,886 feet above the sea and crowned in ancient times by the temple of Aphrodite. Extensive ruins of Corinth are visible today, including temples, water fountains, shops, various public buildings, the largest Agora (“Marketplace”) in the ancient world and the Bema, where Paul likely met before the governor Gallio (Acts 18:12-17). The Corinthian Museum contains many significant artifacts, several of which have a direct link to events, items and people mentioned in the New Testament (B,D)

May 13 Sat Transfer to Athens Airport for flight back to USA

• Roundtrip International Air fare between USA-Tel Aviv & Athens-USA
• Tel Aviv – Istanbul air fare
• Izmir – Thessaloniki air fare
• Istanbul – Hatay air fare
ISRAEL & JORDAN HOTELS (April 11-23)
• 4 nights in Grand Court Jerusalem or similar
• 2 nights Kibbutz Guest House in Maagan or similar
• 2 nights Petra Moon Luxury Hotel or similar
• 2 nights Kibbutz Guest House in Ein Geddi or similar
• 1 night Tel AVIV Metropolitan or similar
TURKEY HOTELS (April 22 - May 5)
• 2 nights at Hotel Arcadia Blue in Istanbul or similar
• 2 nights at Antakya Museum Hotel in Antakya
• 1 night at Ramada Hotel in Adana or similar
• 1 nightat Dedeman Konya Hotel in Konya orsimilar
• 2 nights at Ramada Plaza Hotel in Antalya
• 1 night at Doga Thermal Health & Spa in Pamukkale or similar
• 2 nights at Korumar Hotel Deluxe in Kusadasi or similar
• 2 nights at Movenpick Hotel in Izmir or similar
GREECE HOTELS (May 6-13)
• 2 nights at Grand Palace Hotel in Thessaloniki or similar
• 1 night at Amalia Hotel in Kalambaka or similar
• 1 night at Amalia Hotel in Delphi or similar
• 3 nights at Herodion Hotel in Athens or similar
• Daily open buffet breakfasts at the hotels (B:breakfast)
• 31 Dinners at the hotels (D:Dinner)
• Boat Tour at Sea of Galilee
• Masada cable car ticket
• Bordertax’s –Israel-Jordan Exit tax
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• All Transfers and Transportation by Private A/C bus
• English speaking, government licensed, bible-oriented professional tour guides throughout the tour
• All Entry fees to the sites & museums
• Jordan Visa to be arranged by TUTKU
• Service charges & local taxes
• Tips to the hotel and restaurant staff
• Tips to the tour guides and drivers

• Turkish Visa Fee ($50 per person for US citizensto be obtained
online before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr)
• Drinks and lunches
• Travel and Health Insurance, any other item not listed above