IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE APOSTLES

Apr 28 Monday Depart Home Country

Apr 29 Tuesday Arrival in Istanbul — ON Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to our Hotel. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (D)

Apr 30 Wed Tour Istanbul - Fly to Antalya — ON Antalya
Today we will visit the Archaeological Museum and nearby Museum of the Ancient Orient (if open) — 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). 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 Istanbul Airport for late afternoon flight to Antalya (THY). Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)

May 1 Thursday Perga, Antalya, Antalya Museum — ON 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)

May 2 Friday Colossae, Laodica, Hierapolis — ON Pamukkale
We will begin our day by traveling northwest through the Taurus Mountains to the unexcavated site of Colossae, a biblical site mentioned in the books of Colossians and Philemon. Then continue on to visit nearby Laodicea. The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches (Rev 3:14-22), were chastised for being lukewarm, “You are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3:14) and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous passage from Revelation (3:20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock...” Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including theaters, a temple, nymphaeum, and columned streets. Then on to Hierapolis that is blessed by hot mineral springs and some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Asia Minor. Christianity came to Hierapolis via Epaphras (Colossians 4:12–13). The ruins cover more than a square mile. We will see the impressive theater with seats still in perfect condition and visit one of themal pools that still has ancient columns in it! Today, the area is known as Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle.” It is named for the limestone-laden hot springs that cascade from one white-edged terrace pool to the next. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

May 3 Saturday Aphrodisias, Nysa, Magnesia — ON Kusadasi
After breakfast we will travel to Aphrodisias, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most beautiful ancient cities in Turkey. It was named after Aphrodite, the goddess of love. It was renowned as a center for marble sculpturing—statues, decorative reliefs, sarcophagi, etc. Key structures include the best-preserved stadium in Turkey, theater, and the Temple of Aphrodite. The Sebasteion, with its intricate reliefs, was a center of the worship of the Roman Emperors. In the museum, we will discuss the worship of emperors in the Sebasteion and the large synagogue inscription that mentions the “god-fearers,” a group of people mentioned in the NT. Later traveling westward down the fertile Meander Valley, if time permits we will visit Nysa and Magnesia. Both of these cities had churches, addressed by Ignatius in the early second century A.D., that were probably started during Paul’s stay in Ephesus. Dinner and overnight in Kuşadası. (B,D)

May 4 Sunday Didyma, Miletus — ON Kusadasi
In the morning, we will drive to Didyma and visit the Temple of Apollo—one of the best-preserved temples from antiquity. Then visit the excavations at Miletus, where Paul bid farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus at the end of his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20). The afternoon will be free for shopping in Kusadasi or relaxing at our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,D)

May 5 Monday Ephesus (Site, Terrace Houses, Museum, St. John’s
Church) — ON Izmir Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1:11). In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade-bordered streets. We will stroll the excavated streets of Ephesus visiting the magnificent Terrace Houses, the Library, the Agora, and the huge Theater. And view where the Temple of Artemis used to stand—one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We will visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at artifacts from the ancient city as well as the Basilica of St. John, the traditional site of the burial place of John. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

May 6 Tuesday Smyrna Agora, Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira — ON Soma
In Izmir (ancient Smyrna) we will visit the Roman Agora. Drive to Sardis, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation that was berated by John the Prophet for its facade of strength when, in reality, it was weak (Rev. 3:1-6). Coins were first minted in Sardis. The massive Temple of Artemis, the Royal Road, the gymnasium and the synagogue will impress you. We continue on to Alasehir, to see where the Church of Philadelphia (Rev 3:7–22) was located. We continue the day by driving to Akhisar ancient Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29) and original home of Lydia (Acts 16:11-5) and then on to Soma. Dinner and overnight in Soma. (B,D)

May 7 Wed Pergamum — ON Assos
Today we will visit the site of Pergamum where, according to Revelation, the “Throne of Satan” was located (Rev. 2:12-17). Visit the towering acropolis—1000 feet above the town. Will also visit the healing center (Ascelpion) on the plain below the acropolis. In the late afternoon visit Assos (where Paul stopped on his third missionary journey; Acts 20:13-14) Dinner and overnight near Assos. (B,D)

May 8 Thursday Assos, Alexandria Troas, Troy — ON Çanakkale
In the morning, drive to Alexander Troas where Paul had a vision calling him to go to Macedonia (Acts 16; 20; etc.) and see the harbor and the new excavation area. Then visit the legendary Troy and see the replica of the Wooden Horse. Dinner and overnight near Çanakkale. (B,D)

May 9 Friday Turkish-Greek Border — ON Kavala
Drive from Çanakkale to Greece—crossing the Dardanelles. At the Turkish/ Greek border change buses and drive to Kavala (in Greece; called “Neapolis” in the New Testament—where Paul landed in Europe; Acts 16:11) for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

May 10 Saturday Philippi, Thessaloniki — ON Thessaloniki
Enjoy a picturesque drive to the city of Philippi, where Paul established the first church in Europe. Here we see the river where Lydia and possibly the jailer were baptized and the ancient forum where Paul and Silas appeared before the magistrates. In the late afternnon we will have a city tour of Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight stay in Thessaloniki. (B,D)

May 11 Sunday Vergina, Berea, and a Monastary in Meteora — ON
Kalambaka In the morniing we will drive to Berea (Acts 17) to see the monument commemorating Paul’s preaching. Afterwards we wisit Vergina and the magnificent presentation of the golden finds from the tomb of Phillip II—the father of Alexander the Great. Drive to Kalambaka and visit one of the famous “hanging monastaries” of Meteora. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. (B,D)

May 12 Monday Delphi, drive to Athens — ON Athens
Drive to Delphi. On the slopes of Mt. Parnassos, in a landscape of unparalleled natural beauty and majesty, lies the archaeological site of Delphi. We will visit the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, and the Museum that contains masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture such as the bronze Charioteer, the famous athlete Aghias and the important Gallio Inscription. Drive to Athens. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Athens. (B,D)

May 13 Tuesday Corinth, Isthmia, Cenchreae — ON Athens
Our morning excursion out of Athens takes us by the Saronic Gulf to visit the famous Corinthian canal and the Doilkos. From there we drive to ancient Corinth (Acts 18:1-18). It was to this huge city that the apostle Paul came and worked. Here, we see all of the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Erastus Inscription, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. Afterwards, we visit the ruins of the early Christian 5th century basilica at the port of Cenchreae (Acts 18:18; Rom 16:1). Dinner & overnight stay in Athens. (B,D)

May 14 Wed Acropolis, Mars Hill, Agora, the afternoon free — ON Athens
The morning we will climb the marble-capped Acropolis and visit the famous Parthenon and the Erechtheum. Then, we go to nearby Mars’ Hill (or Areopagus) (Acts 17:22) where the Apostle Paul delivered his well-known sermon. We will explore the old agora (market place). The remainder of the afternoon will be free for shopping and individual museum visits. Dinner & overnight stay in Athens. (B,D)

May 15 Thursday Depart Athens for hometown.

• Istanbul-Antalya flight
• 1 Night at Crowne Plaza Old City or similar in Istanbul
• 2 Nights at Best Western Khan Hotel or similar in Antalya
• 1 Night at Doga Thermal Hotel or similar in Pamukkale
• 2 Nights at Korumar Hotel or similar in Kusadasi
• 1 Night at Movenpick Hotel or similar in Izmir
• 1 night at Ramada Hotel or similar in Soma
• 1 Night at Kervansaray Hotel or similar in Assos
• 1 Night at Kolin Hotel or similar in Canakkale
• 1 Night at Air Hotel Galaxy or similar in Kavala
• 1 Night at Grand Hotel Palace or similar in Thessaloniki
• 1 Night at Meteoritis Hotel or similar in Kalambaka
• 3 Nights at Parthenon Hotel or similar in Athens
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• All transfers and transportation by Private AC Deluxe Bus (42 seats)
• Daily open buffet breakfasts and all Dinners at hotels
• All entry fees to the sites and museums
• English Speaking, Bible Oriented, licensed Tour Guides
• Private/Special Bus to cross the Turkish-Greek border to provide easy border crossing
• Service charges an local taxes
• Tips to tour guides and drivers

• International Flights (TUTKU can arrange your flights upon request)
• Drinks and Lunches
• Personal Expenses and any other item which is not listed above
• Travel Insurance: Travel insurance may be given as a separate package
  at an extra cost. Travel Insurance agreement is contract between the
  traveler and the Insurance Company (American Express).