Bible Study Trip: Turkey & Greece

Oct 7 Tue                 Depart DENVER – Fly Istanbul

Oct 8 Wed                   Arrive Istanbul Airport
Our representative will meet you with a “Will Duffy – TUTKU” sign. Meet and transfer to hotel in Istanbul. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Oct 9 Thu                  Istanbul: Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Archaeological Museum – Fly Adana
Today we will begin our trip by visiting the Hippodrom and see the monuments on its spina. From there, we will continue on to the Archaeological Museum and the 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). In addition, we will 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 the Istanbul Airport for TK2466 16:45 /18:25 flight to Adana. Meet and transfer to Hatay. Dinner and overnight in Antakya. (B,D)

Oct 10 Fri                 Antioch – Seleucia – Antakya
First we will visit the grotto Church of St. Peter where Jesusfollowers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). At the new Antakya Archaeological Museum we will see one of richest collections of mosaics in the world. After a short visit to Anticoh Hippodrome, we will go to 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)

Oct 11 Sat                 Tarsus – Adana Museum – Adana
Drive through Cilicia to Tarsus, the home of the Apostle Paul. There we will visit the Roman baths and see the ancient bridge over the Cydnus River. We 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 we will drive to Adana to walk across the Sarus River on the Roman bridge and visit the Adana Archaeology Museum. Dinner and overnight in Adana. (B,D)

Oct 12 Sun                 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)

Oct 13 Mon                 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. We will also visit the St. Paul Room in the Yalvaç Museum. Then we 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)

Oct 14 Tue                 Perga – Attalia – Antalya
We will begin our day with a visit to ancient Perga—a place visited by Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark (Acts 13:13-14). Perga is extensively excavated and we will study life in an ancient Roman city in the time of Paul. In the afternoon, we will visit the award-winning Antalya (= Attalia Acts 14:25-26) Archaeological Museum with its amazing statuary. Late afternoon free. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)

Oct 15 Wed                 Myra - Antalya
Early in the morning visit the ancient site of Myra, with its lovely Roman theater and Lycian tombs. Today Myra is best known as the city of St. Nicholas, where he served as bishop in the fourth century A.D.. Visit the church dedicated to St. Nicholas. After visiting Myra back to Antalya take a short boat trip in Old Harbour area. Back to hotel, dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Oct 16 Thu                Antalya Airport – Departure back to DENVER or Fly Thessaloniki to take the GREECE extension
Fly Thessaloniki to take the GREECE extension
TK2421 16OCT AYTIST 1520 1700
TK1893 16OCT ISTSKG 1900 2025

GREECE EXTENSION

Oct 16 Thu                 Arrive Thessaloniki Airport
Our representative will meet you with a “Will Duffy – TUTKU” sign. Meet and transfer to hotel in Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Oct 17 Fri 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)

Oct 18 Sat Thessaloniki - Vergina - Berea - Kalambaka
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 was started in the city (Acts 17:5). We will visit the Rotunda, the triumphal Arch of Galerius (AD 305-311), and two beautiful Byzantine churches (Hagia Sophia & Saint Demetrius), 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)

Oct 19 Sun Kalambaka - 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, stopping briefly at Thermopoli—the site of the bloody battle between the Greeks and the Persians. Overnight in Delphi (B,D)

Oct 20 Mon 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 worldrenowned “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)

Oct 21 Tue Athens
Paul visited Athens during his 2nd Missionary Journey (Acts 17:15- 34). We will begin our day by visitng 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.” We will then proceed to the Areopagus (“Mars Hill”) where the city leaders would often meet (Acts 17:19- 33). We will then visit the Agora (“Marketplace”) of ancient Athens where Paul dialogued with the Athenian citizens and philosophers (Acts 17:17). Lunch on your own. Remainer of the day free for additional sightseening and shopping. Dinner and overnight in Athens (B,D)

Oct 22 Wed Corinth, Cenchrea, Athens
After briefly stopping at the Corinthian Canal, we will 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. In the afternoon we will 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). Overnight Athens. (B,D)

Oct 23 Thu Athens Airport – Fly DENVER via Istanbul. End of the tour.

• Roundtrip international air fare between DENVER-ISTANBUL and ATHENS-DENVER
• Istanbul – Adana domestic flight (also included in Land Only option)
• Antalya – Thessaloniki flight (via Istanbul) (also included in Land Only option)

Turkey Hotels:
• 1 night at Moevenpick Golden Horn Hotel in Istanbul or similar
• 2 nights at The Museum Hotel in Antakya or similar
• 1 night at Hilton Hotel in Adana or similar
• 1 night at Dedeman Konya Hotel in Konya or similar
• 2 nights at Best Western Khan Hotel in Antalya or similar

Greece Hotels:
• 2 nights at Grand Palace Hotel in Thessaloniki on HB basis
• 1 nights at Divani Meteora Hotel in Kalambaka on HB basis
• 1 night at Amalia Hotel in Delphi on HB basis
• 3 nights at Divani Acropolis in Athens on HB basis

• Daily open buffet breakfasts at the hotels
• All dinners at the hotels (7 dinners in Turkey – 7 dinners in Greece)
• One Group arrival transfer in Istanbul (and in Thessaloniki)
• One Group departure transfer in Athens
• All land transportation by private A/C bus with driver (46 seater)
• Tolls, parking fees, fuel, driver’s & guide’s expenses
• Professional licensed English speaking tour guide during the whole program
• Entrance fees to sites as per the program
• Accommodation tax at the hotels
• Headsets
• Service charges & local taxes

• Lunches and Drinks during dinner
• All personal expenses and any other service which are not mentioned above
• Travel and Health insurance, any kind of insurance (insurance may be given at an extra cost, please ask)
• Tips to tour guide ($5 per person per day) and to the driver ($2 per person per day)