Biblical Turkey Fam Trip
Mar 4-12, 2022
Discounted Biblical & Religion Tour for Professors
Tuku Tours is organizing a discounted 'Biblical Turkey Familiarization Trip' every March for professors who wish to see Turkey on their own before organizing a student (or adult) group tour.
Departures from : New York JFK, Chicago, Los Angeles
Please ask for our special add-on prices for departures from other US cities or from Canada.
* This special tour is not open to public. The discounted rate of $1,990 is for faculty members only. Spouse or friends are welcome with special prices.
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
Turkey authorities require all arriving passengers to hold a negative PCR test that has been taken 72 hours before flight. You will need to show the certificate to health authority reps before you reach passport control area. Keep a couple of photocopies of the certificate. Please bring your own preferred type of face masks. It is mandatory to wear masks in public places in Turkey. You may buy face masks in Turkey as well, at pharmacies and several other shops. Same applies to sanitizers.
Mar 4, Fri Depart from USA
Mar 5, Sat Arrive Istanbul Airport
Our representative will meet you after you exit the customs and baggage claim areas, at New Istanbul Airport Meeting Point with a “FAM TRIP-TUTKU” sign (a picture of “New Istanbul Airport Meeting Point” can be seen on the following page). Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (D)
Mar 6, Sun Istanbul Tour - Fly Antalya
Full day Istanbul tour; visit the Roman Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, Hagia Sophia Church, built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels and a designated World Heritage site. Then visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Transfer to the airport for TK2424 18:00 /19:15 flight to Antalya. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)
Mar 7, Mon Antalya
Visit the Greco-Roman city of Perga (Acts 13:13-14;14:25). Stop at St. Paul Cultural Center & Church for some brief free time and lunch. Afternoon visit to the award-winning Antalya Archaeology Museum. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)
Mar 8, Tue Laodicea (Col 2:1; 4:13-16, Rev. 1:11; 3:14) - Hierapolis (Col 4:13) - Pamukkale
Drive to Lycus River Valley. First, tour Laodicea to see the latest excavations. Then, drive to nearby Hierapolis to see the newly found Tomb of Philip. Also, see the UNESCO world-heritage site of Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)
Mar 9, Wed Philadelphia (Rev. 1:11; 3:7) - Sardis (Rev.1:11; 3:1-4) - Smyrna (Rev 1:11; 2:8–11)
Drive to Alasehir to see the remains of the Philadelphia Church. Continue to Sardis, capital of ancient Lydia where the first coin of the world was minted. See the remains of the massive Artemis Temple. Proceed to Smyrna, modern Izmir to see the Smyrna Agora. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)
Mar 10, Thu Pergamon (Rev. 1:11; 2:12) - Thyatira (Rev 1:11; 2:18) - Izmir
Leave for Pergamon. Visit the Acropolis with the steepest theater of the ancient world and the Temple of Trajan. Then proceed to Akhisar to visit the remaining of Thyatira church. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)
Mar 11, Fri Ephesus - Izmir
Visit the famous ancient city of Ephesus (Acts 18:19-24; 19:1-35;20:16-17; 21:29, 1 Cor. 15:32; 16:8, I Tim. 1:3 II Tim. 1:18; 4:12, Rev.1:11, 2:1), and its Terrace Houses, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and the Basilica of St. John. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)
Mar 12, Sat Departure Back
Early transfer to the Izmir Airport for TK2311 09:00/10:05 flight to Istanbul and connect to your international flight back to US. End of our services. (B)
Including
- International flights from USA (New York JFK Airport, Chicago, Los Angeles) based on Turkish Airlines Economy Class.
- 2 Domestic Flights in Turkey (Istanbul-Antalya & Izmir-Istanbul)
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary
- 7 nights at 4-star hotels in Turkey (Hotel List is available on the following page)
- Daily breakfasts and 7 dinners
- Entrance fees to all sites (listed in the tour program above)
- Guiding services
- Transfers & transportation by private A/C motorcoach
- Biblical documents, Tips to hotel and restaurant staff, Portage for one piece of luggage at the hotels
Excluding
- Tips to tour guide and driver - total for the tour
- Turkish Visa Fee-to be obtained online before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr
- Lunches and drinks
- Personal Expenses, Travel & Health Insurance any other item which is not included above
Travel & Health Insurance, all medical bills is the patient's responsibility.
Covid-19 is a new situation for travel and we had no one having this before. We will follow local regulations in such a case. Not only covid but, for other illnesses also, in the event that one of the group members gets sick or injured during our tours, the government licensed tour guide help them get to the nearest hospital or health care facility and have them treated. If the issue is minor and they can be discharged after the initial treatment, we go on with the tour as planned. If the patient needs to overnight at the hospital for one or more nights and if this hospital stay interferes with the continuation of the tour, our guide keeps with the rest of the group and the planned itinerary while we assign a caregiver/translator for the guest getting treatment at the hospital which ensures that they are not alone and can communicate with the medical personnel. They may continue on with the tour group after they get discharged or if they would like to return home earlier (for further medical treatment) we would arrange the first flight back home upon them getting stable and getting approved to be discharged from the health care facility. The medical bill is the patient's responsibility. Also, if there is a price difference in the airfares due to an early return home (change of ticket), this becomes the traveler's responsibility as well.
