In Paul's Footsteps in Turkey

Jan 5 Tue Depart Chicago – Fly to Istanbul

Jan 6 Wed Arrive Istanbul Airport - connection flight to Hatay (Antioch)

Tutku representative will meet us at the Hatay (Antioch) Airport with a “WLS – TUTKU” sign. Meet and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight at The Museum Hotel in Antioch. (D)

Jan 7 Thu Antioch

Depart to Samandağ to visit Seleucia Pieria, Antioch’s port city, and the Titus Tunnels. Return to Antakya for lunch. Visit the Church of Saint Peter, Antioch Hippodrome, and the Mosaic Museum under our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Antioch. (B,D)

Jan 8 Fri Drive to Tarsus - Adana

We begin with site visits in Tarsus, the home of the apostle Paul, and its museum. We will next visit the Cardo Maximus street of the Roman city. 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)

Jan 9 Sat Cilician Gates – Derbe – Lystra – Iconium – Konya

We first pass through the Cilician Gates in the Taurus Mountains and then continue to Derbe. We then visit Lystra, the home of Timothy. After a short drive to Iconium, we will visit the ancient acropolis in Konya’s city center and then the archaeological museum. We will see its important inscriptions mentioning Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Dinner and overnight in Konya. (B,D)

Jan 10 Sun Pisidian Antioch – Pamukkale

We will depart early for Yalvaç, the site of the Roman colony of Pisidian Antioch. Paul’s first recorded sermon in Acts 13 addressed the congregation of Jews and Godfearers in the synagogue. We will also visit the St. Paul Room in the Yalvaç Museum. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

Jan 11 Mon Colossae – Laodicea – Pamukkale

We will visit the site of Colossae in the foothills of Mount Honaz. Paul wrote the letters of Colossians and Philemon to Christians in that community. Then we will visit nearby Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 3:14–22) and the recipient of a letter from Paul (Col. 4:16). At Hierapolis we will walk through its extensive necropolis, then viewing its well-preserved theater as well as Philip’s Martyrium and basilica (Col. 4:13). Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

Jan 12 Tue Aphrodisias - Ephesus (St. John’s Basilica,

Artemis Temple) Drive to Aphrodisias and see its theater, well-preserved stadium, and more. We will stop briefly to view the remains of the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. In the afternoon we will visit the Church of St. John, where tradition holds that the apostle was buried. Dinner and overnight in Kuşadası. (B,D)

Jan 13 Wed Ephesus – Ephesus Museum

We will visit the impressive biblical site of Ephesus. We will take a walking tour starting in the upper city at the State Agora, proceeding downward to the iconic Library of Celsus and Tetragonos Agora. We will make a slight detour to see the exquisite terrace houses, where the rich and famous citizens of Ephesus lived. Our 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). Nearby is the Ephesus Museum, housing important artifacts from Ephesus. Dinner & overnight in Kuşadası. (B,D)

Jan 14 Thu Didyma – Miletus – Izmir

We will visit Didyma, home to the Temple of Apollo, one of Turkey’s best-preserved ancient temples. We will then 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. After lunch we will drive to Izmir, where we will visit the Smyrna Agora. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

Jan 15 Fri Pergamum – Assos

We will travel to Bergama, which is the site of ancient Pergamum, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. We will visit the acropolis there and see the impressive theater, the Temple of Trajan, and the Asklepion. We will continue to Assos for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Jan 16 Sat Assos - Alexander Troas – Troy - Bursa

We will walk on the Roman road near Assos and then continue to Alexandrian Troas. We will see ruins and also the ancient harbor. We will then visit ancient Troy, viewing its museum as well. We will continue to Bursa for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Jan 17 Sun Nicaea - Istanbul

We will visit Iznik, site of the Council of Nicaea. We will drive through ancient Chalcedon and then spend the remainder of the day in Istanbul, visiting Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,D)

Jan 18 Mon Istanbul

We 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, we will visit the magnificent Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From there we will visit the historic Hagia Irene Church. Afterward we 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 the Thanatos inscription from Jerusalem’s temple mount. In the late afternoon we will visit one of the famous underground cisterns of the Byzantine era from 6th century. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,D)

Jan 19 Tue Transfer to Istanbul Airport (ADB) for flight back to the USA

• Roundtrip international flights between Chicago – Istanbul
• Domestic flight Istanbul – Adana
• 2 nights at THE MUSEUM HOTEL in Antakya or similar
• 1 night at RAMADA HOTEL in Adana or similar
• 1 night at DEDEMAN KONYA HOTEL in Konya or similar
• 2 nights at DOGA THERMAL HEALTH & SPA in Pamukkale or similar
• 2 nights at KORUMAR HOTEL in Kusadasi or similar
• 1 night at KORDON CANKAYA HOTEL in Izmir or similar
• 1 night at KERVANSARAY HOTEL in Assos or similar
• 1 night at TIARA HOTEL in Bursa or similar
• 2 nights at GRAND HALIC HOTEL in Istanbul or similar
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• Daily open buffet breakfasts at the hotels (B: Breakfast)
• 13 dinners at the hotels (D: Dinner)
• All transfers and transportation by private bus with A/C
• English-speaking, government-licensed, Bible-oriented professional tour guide throughout
• All entry fees to the sites & museums
• Tips to the hotel and restaurant staff
• Service charges & local taxes
• Headsets
• Tips to the tour guide and driver

• Lunches and all drinks
• Travel and health insurance, and any other item not listed above