Greece & Turkey Bethel University

May 26 Mon DEPART CHICAGO (ORD) – FLY ATHENS (ATH)

May 27 Tue ARRIVE ATHENS
Upon arrival at the Athens Airport, our representatives will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a sign “BETHEL UNIVERSITY – TUTKU” on it. Transfer to your hotel in Athens for dinner and overnight. (D)

May 28 Wed ATHENS
Follow your guide to the world renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum. View Mars Hill where the apostle Paul stood spoke to the Athenian people and shared the Gospel (Acts 17:15-34). See the Agora, the ancient market place and center of the Athenian public life, where the apostle Paul preached “Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18) to the skeptical Athenians. Also see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace & the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Overnight Athens. (B,D)9

May 29 Thu CORINTH, CENCHRAEAE – DELPHI
In Corinth, see the ancient city where Paul met Aquila and Priscilla, the tent makers, and where the apostle spent eighteen months sharing the Gospel (Acts 18: 1-18). Visit the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Acrocorinth and Temples. Walk among the ruins and stand on the Bema where Paul stood before Gallio facing charges brought by the Jews. Visit the ancient port of Cenchrea where Paul departed when he returned to Syria. Drive to Delphi with approximate arrival 6:00 pm. Overnight in Delphi. (B,D)

May 30 Fri DELPHI – METEORA - KALMBAKA
Morning visit (08:00-10:30) to Delphi, the religious center of the ancient Greek world. Walk the Sacra Via to the Athenian Treasury, the Theatre, and the Temple of Apollo where the oracle enacted its prophetic rituals. Also, visit the Museum at Delphi. Drive to Kalambaka to visit the rock forest of Meteora in western Thessaly and ponder the rough terrain through which the apostle Paul walked during his missionary journey. See the famous Byzantine monasteries perched precariously on the summits of soaring sheer cliffs. Visit one of these monasteries. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. (B,D)

May 31 Sat BEREA - THESSALONIKI
Early morning drive to Berea (modern Veria) for a brief stop. In Berea, Paul shared the gospel in a synagogue and the audience ‘diligently searched the Scriptures’ (Acts 17:11) in order to determine the truth. Visit the magnificent presentation of the golden finds from the tomb of Phillip II—the father of Alexander the Great. Proceed to Thessaloniki, the city where Paul shared the gospel message and experienced much opposition (Acts 17: 1-9). Here Paul established a church to which he addressed his Thessalonian epistles. Visit St. George’s Basilica, which tradition claims is built over the synagogue where Paul preached. View the Old City Ramparts, and the Galerius Arch that rises over the Via Egnatia. Visit the Archaeological Museum and the ancient agora. See two of the most beautiful basilicas in the city, St. Sophia and St.Demetrios, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. (B,D)

Jun 1 Sun AMPHIPOLIS – PHILIPPI – THESSALONIKI
Drive to Amphipolis, a city that Paul visited on his second mission. Continue to Philippi, where Paul met and converted Lydia, a woman from Thyatira who sold purple garments (Acts 16:13-15). Lydia was the first Christian to be baptized on European soil. See the theater, agora, latrines and several early Byzantine basilicas of the city. Also visit a cistern, which was thought to have served as a prison for the apostle Paul. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Jun 2 Mon THESSALONIKI - FLY ANTALYA via Istanbul. TK 1882 9:30 SKG-IST, TK 2440 12:15-13:40 IST- Antalya
Early in the morning drive to Thessaloniki airport. Suggested flight to Antalya via Istanbul. Meet your new guide at the airport and from the Antalya airport we will drive to the city center to see the famous harbor where Paul and Barnabas sailed during the first journey. Then visit the St. Paul’s Cultural center and its church. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)

Jun 3 Tue ANTALYA – ASPENDOS - PERGE – ANTALYA
After breakfast drive to Aspendos to see the ancient theater. Drive to Perge (Perga) which was the port of entry in Asia Minor for Paul, Barnabas and John Mark on their first journey. They landed after sailing from the island of Cyprus. Then back to Antalya to visit the famous award winner Antalya Museum. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)

Jun 4 Wed ANTALYA – APHRODISIAS - COLOSSAE – HIERAPOLIS (PAMUKKALE)
Enjoy the scenic drive north over the Taurus Mountains to the Lycus Valley. Drive to Aphrodisias, the recently excavated Roman city dedicated to the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. The site is being excavated by the New York University. The excavations are still going on as in many other ancient sites. See the Hadrian Baths, the well preserved Stadium, the Theater, the Agora and the beautiful Archaeological Museum containing the best Aphrodite Statues in Anatolia. Next, we have a brief stop at Colossae since this site has not yet been excavated. Nevertheless, this is an important site since Paul sent two letters here. Then we proceed to Hierapolis (Pamukkale), the third of the three key biblical cities in the Lycus Valley. Hierapolis is best known for its mineral hot springs that have produced white calcareous travertines, where Philip – either the apostle or evangelist was believed to have been killed in AD 80. Overnight in Pamukkale. Enjoy the hot springs of your hotel. (B,D)

Jun 5 Thu LAODICEA – PHILADELPHIA- SARDIS - IZMIR
After breakfast, we proceed to Laodicea, which was a major city in Roman times, as is clear not only from the size of the ancient site but also its two theaters, aqueduct and major street, lined with shops. Laodicea is not only the last of the seven churches to whom John directed the book of Revelation, but also had a close relationship with the nearby churches of Colossae and Hierapolis. Drive to Philadelphia where much of this ancient earthquake prone city has either been destroyed or lies buried under the modern city. The newest of the cities of the Seven Churches, see the city and the remains of the 6th century Byzantine church. Then proceed to Sardis which was the fifth of the Seven Churches addressed by John in Revelation. See the remains of the magnificent temple of Artemis and beautifully reconstructed gymnasium. Explore the largest known ancient synagogue outside of Israel. Arrive to Smyrna (modern day Izmir). Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

Jun 6 Fri PERGAMUM – THYATIRA – IZMIR
Drive to Pergamum, the famous capital of it’s own kingdom. Pergamum was the third of the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelation. Visit the Acropolis to explore the highlights of the ancient city--the Trajan temple, steepest theater of the ancient world, the location of the Altar of Zeus and more... After Pergamum proceed to Thyatira, which was the fourth of the Seven Churches, and its letter is the central and the longest of the seven letters. See some remains of the ancient city and the recently restored Roman colonnaded street. After the short visit back to Izmir for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Jun 7 Sat SMYRNA - KUSADASI BOAT TOUR
Enjoy the morning at the ancient Agora, seeing the latest excavations. Visit the graffiti section which is closed to the public. Drive to Kusadasi and enjoy an afternoon boat tour, with swimming, along the shores of the Aegean Sea. Dinner and overnight Kusadası. (B,D)

Jun 8 Sun DIDYMA – MILETUS - PRIENE - KUSADASI
Drive to Didyma, famous for its temple to Apollo, one of the most important religious shrines of ancient Ionia. Continue to Miletus which, due to its four harbors and strategic location on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, became one of the great cities of commerce in the ancient world. Paul stopped in Miletus on the return leg of his third missionary journey where he summoned the elders from Ephesus to meet with him and hear his poignant farewell speech (Acts 20:17-35). After Miletus, we will visit the nearby city of Priene located on a cliff-side. In the late afternoon, we drive back to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Jun 9 Mon PATMOS – KUSADASI
We will take the 06:30 am ferry to Patmos. Arrive Patmos at 11:00 am. Visit the Cave of Revelation and the Basilica of John. Return to Kusadasi at 7:00 pm. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Kusadasi. (B,D)

Jun 10 Tue EPHESUS – Izmir
Visit the famous ancient city of Ephesus, with its spectacular Terrace Houses, Basilica of John, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and the ancient Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Include a visit to Paul and Theclas cave if possible with special permission. Dinner and overnight in Kusadası. (B,D)

Jun 11 Wed TRANSFER TO IZMIR AIRPORT – FLY BACK TO CHICAGO via Istanbul 

• International Air Fare between Chicago-Athens & Izmir–Chicago
• Thessaloniki- Antalya flight
• Roundtrip ferry to Patmos
• Private boat trip in Kusadasi
• 2 Nights at 5 star Divani Acropolis Palace in Athens or similar
• 1 Night at 4 star Amalia Hotel in Delphi or similar
• 1 Night at 4 star Amalia Hotel in Kalambaka or similar
• 2 Nights at 4 star Capsis Hotel in Thessaloniki or similar
• 2 Nights at 4 star Best Western Kaan Antalya or similar
• 1 Night at 5 star Doga Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale or similar
• 2 Nights at 5 star Mövenpick Hotel in Izmir or similar
• 4 Nights at 4 star Charisma De Luxe Hotel in Kusadasi or similar
• Daily breakfast and 15 dinners at the hotels
• All transportation by private AC Bus
• English Speaking, Government Licensed, Bible Oriented guides in Turkey and Greece
• All Entry fees to the sites and museums
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• Service charges and local taxes

• All Tips to Tour Guide and drivers
• Lunches and Drinks (Bottled Water is included at dinners)
• Personal Expenses (Laundry, phone calls, all kind of insurances, etc)