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Journeys of Paul in TurkeyPerge, Antalya - Journeys of Paul in TurkeySt Peter Cave Church - Journeys of Paul in TurkeyAssos - Journeys of Paul in TurkeyAspendos Theatre - Journeys of Paul in TurkeyPergamum - Journeys of Paul in Turkey
16 Days (15 Nights)
Land & Air
$7,190

Journeys of Paul in Turkey

June 7-22, 2026

Tour Hosts
Dr. David Lee Palmer
Dr. David Lee PalmerGordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryBiblical Studies
Dr. Christine Elizabeth Palmer
Dr. Christine Elizabeth PalmerGordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryBiblical Studies
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

June 7 Sunday Depart Boston – Non-stop direct flight to Boston

June 8 Monday Arrival in Istanbul — Boat Ride on the Bosphorus — Istanbul
After morning/mid-day/early afternoon arrival and check-in at our hotel, our bus will leave our hotel for a leisurely Boat Tour along the Bosphorus—seeing both European and Asian shores of Istanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (D)

June 9 Tuesday Tour Istanbul - Fly to Antakya (Antioch)
We will visit the famous Blue Mosque, with its six minarets and sparkling interior. We will visit the Archaeological Museum and 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). 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 Antakya (THY). Dinner and overnight at the famous Museum Hotel in Antakya. (B,D)

June 10 Wednesday Full Day Antioch
Depart to St. Simeon Monastery and visit. Continue to Samandağ to visit Seleucia Pieria, Antioch’s port city, and Titus Tunnels. Lunch in Samandağ. Return to Antakya to visit the Church of Saint Peter, Antioch Hippodrome, and the Mosaic Museum under our hotel. Dinner and overnight at The Museum Hotel in Antioch. (B,D) 

June 11 Thursday Antioch – Tarsus - Adana
After breakfast, check out of from the hotel and drive to Tarsus. Visit Donuktas and Roman Bridge, Tarsus Museum and Roman Street Free time for Lunch in Tarsus. Depart to Adana and visit the Adana Archaeology Museum. Walk across river on Roman bridge. Dinner at hotel in Adana. (B,D)

June 12 Friday Adana – Lystra – Konya
Drive to Konya, known in the ancient world as Iconiun, was a key place where Paul ministered not only on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:1-7) but almost certainly on his second and third missionary journeys as well (Acts 16:6; 18:23). We stop briefly at Alaadin Tepesis—the current location of one of the oldest mosques in the city but more importantly the acropolis of ancient Iconium. The columns in the mosque date back to Roman times and so connect us to the ministry of Paul in this city. Located nearby is the ancient city of Lystra, which we will not visit, since it today contains little left of its former glory. Yet it is another important site in Paul’s life, since here too the apostle ministered on each of his three missionary journeys (Acts 14:5- 20; Acts 16:6; 18:23) and was the home town of his closest helper, Timothy. Dinner and overnight at th ehotel in Konya. (B,D)

June 13 Saturday Konya - Psidian Antioch – Antalya
We travel to another important city in Paul’s first missionary journey: Antioch of Pisidia. Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of a thriving city, complete with theater, imperial temple, stadium, baths, water fountains, paved streets and aqueduct. This Antioch included Christians to whom Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians. We visit both the ruins of the ancient city as well as its small museum in Yalvac, which contains the important Sergius Paulus inscription and the famous funerary inscription of Caesar Augustus. We then enjoy the scenic drive south over the Taurus Mountains to Antalya, a popular resort town on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. (B,D)

June 14 Sunday Perge, Aspendos, Atallia (Antalya)
Located ten miles east of Antalya is the ancient city of Perge, where Paul landed after sailing from the island of Cyprus during his first missionary journey (Acts 14:13-14). That Perge was a wealthy city is still easily seen today from its 15,000-seat theatre, 12,000-seat stadium, etc. A little further east is Aspendos, which is impressive for both its magnificent aqueduct and its 20,000-seat theatre which is the best-preserved in the whole of Turkey. We then return to Antalya, which in Paul’s day was known as Atallia and was the place from where the apostle sailed home at the end of his first missionary journey (Acts 14:25-26). In the heart of the old town we will visit St. Paul Cultural Center, a “coffee shop” run by Christians that more importantly also serves as home to two churches: one Turkish and the other international. Enjoy a tasty lunch (a modest donation for the lunch will help support the ministry here). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

June 15 Monday Antalya Boat Tour
After breakfast, transfer to Old Town to embark our Private Boat tour. Visit Duden Waterfall, feel the mist of the waterfall. Pass by Magydos, the port city of Perga. We will have lunch on board. Swimming time. Return to Antalya Old Town at around 4:00 pm. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

June 16 Tuesday Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis — Pamukkale
Morning drive to the unexcavated site of Colossae. 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)

June 17 Wednesday Didyma, Miletus, Priene — Kusadasi
Visit the Temple of Apollo in Didyma—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).  Priene is a well–preserved example of a Greco–Roman city that was visited by Alexander the Great (333 BC). Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,D)

June 18 Thursday Ephesus (Site, Terrace Houses, Temple of Artemis, Museum, St. John’s Church) - 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, 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)

June 19 Friday Smyrna, Sardis, Philadelphia - Izmir
In Izmir (ancient Smyrna) we begin the day by driving up to Mt. Pagus (now called Kadifekale or “Velvet Castle”) which is the acropolis of ancient Smyrna. Here we think about John’s word of commendation for the Christians in Smyrna who were persevering in the faith despite persecution (Rev. 2:8-11). After visiting the new panoramic Polycarp Memorial Park, we will visit the Smyrna Agora and its “graffiti section” at the lower level. Then, 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. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

June 20 Saturday Pergamum, Thyatira – Assos
We travel north to Pergamum which is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Turkey. Its attractions are hard to surpass: a 10,000-seat theatre on the side of the acropolis which is the steepest in the ancient world; the magnificently restored temple of Trajan; a library of 200,000 volumes second in size only to that in Alexandria; the base of the Altar of Zeus; the temple of Dionysus; and the medical center of Asclepius with its own theatre, library, underground tunnel and other buildings. John warned the church here that they were living in a place of “Satan’s throne” (Rev. 2:12-17). If time permits, we will stop briefly in the ancient city of Thyatira, where, due to the presence of the modern city of Akhisar, few archaeological remains have thus far been uncovered. John warned the church here about its toleration of a woman symbolically called Jezebel who was leading believers astray, causing them “to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols” (Rev. 2:18-29). Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Assos. (B,D)

June 21 Sunday Assos, Alexandria Troas, Troy — Istanbul
Visit Assos (where Paul stopped on his third missionary journey; Acts 20:13- 14) and drive to Alexander Troas where Paul had a vision to go to Macedonia (Acts 16; 20; etc.) to see the harbor and the new excavation area. Then visit the legendary Troy and see the replica of the Wooden Horse. Cross the new intercontinental bridge from Canakkale to Gallipoli, and continue to Istanbul for our last night in Turkey. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Istanbul. (B,D)

June 22 Monday Transfer to Istanbul Aiprort for flight back to Boston. End. 

Including

- Roundtrip International Air Fare between Boston-Istanbul
- Istanbul
- Antioch domestic flight
- 1 Night at Moevenpick Hotel in Istanbul or similar
- 2 Nights at The Museum Hotel in Antioch or similar
- 1 Night at Hilton Hotel in Adana or similar
- 1 Night at Anemon Hotel in Konya or similar
- 3 Nights at Best Western Khan Hotel in Antalya or similar
- 1 Night at Doga Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale or similar
- 1 Night at Korumar Hotel in Kusadasi or similar
- 2 Nights at Moevenpick Hotel in Izmir or similar
- 1 Night at Kervansaray Hotel in Assos or similar
- 1 Night at Moevenpick Hotel in Istanbul or similar
- Daily opne buffet breakfasts
- 13 Dinners
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary
- All transfers and transportation by Private AC Deluxe Bus
- All entry fees to the sites and museums
- English Speaking, Bible Oriented, licensed Tour Guide (Tulu)
- Service charges an local taxes
- Tips to tour guides and drivers

Excluding

- Drinks and Lunches
- Personal Expenses and any other item which is not listed above
- Travel & Health Insurances: insurance may be given as a separate package at an extra cost. 

Locations on the map may include pre program or extension locations with main program.