May 9 Fri Depart from PDX-Fly to Istanbul
May 10 Sat Arrive Istanbul Airport – Fly to Antioch
Arrive Hatay Airport. Your tour guide will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a “JOHN JOHNSON-TUTKU” sign. Meet and drive to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)
May 11 Sun Antioch
Visit the port of Antioch Seleucid Pieria and Titus Tunnel. After lunch, visit the St.Peter’s Church and Ols Bazaar. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
May 12 Mon Antioch – Tarsus – Cappadocia
Drive to Tarsus, the home of the Apostle Paul. There you will visit the Roman baths and see the remains of the ancient bridge over the Cydnus River. You will next visit the Cardo Maximus street of Roman Tarsus and then Donuktaş, one of the largest temples of the ancient world. After lunch Continue to Cappadocia for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
May 13 Tue Cappadocia
*Optional Hot Air Balloon ride. After breakfast you will have a full day of sightseeing in Cappadocia. You will visit Göreme where you will see remains of several hundred early churches, with rooms hollowed out of the cones of volcanic ash. Some of them are decorated with scratched frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible. Drive to Ihlara canyon, walking through the canyon via the Steps of Anatolia to Belisirma village, the ancient Peristrema. Set by the Melendiz River this is known as the “Valley of the Sky”. Churches carved from the rocks form a gallery of early paintings that are remarkable for their accuracy. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
May 14 Wed Cappadocia
You will drive through the Zelve valley on your way to Kaymakli, an underground city which was an early Christian center that extended downward in the earth for at least eight floors and housed several thousand people in the eighth and ninth centuries. You’ll continue to Uçhisar, another of these early Christian communities,see pottery and rug making before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
May 15 Thu Cappadocia – Konya
You will first visit the ancient acropolis of Iconium in Konya’s city center. You then visit the archaeological museum and its important inscriptions mentioning Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Next you will visit St. Helena’s Church at Sille. In the afternoon you will visit ancient Lystra, the home of Timothy, visted by Paul on his three journeys. In Hatunsaray you will see the small open-air museum of antiquities from Lystra. Return to Konya for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
May 16 Fri Konya – Antioch Pisidia – Antalya
You will depart early for Yalvaç, the site of the Roman colony of Pisidian Antioch. Paul visited this city on his three missionary journeys. His first recorded sermon in Acts 13 addressed the congregation of Jews and Godfearers in the synagogue. You will also visit the St. Paul Room in the Yalvaç Museum. Then you will make a scenic drive through Turkey’s lake country before descending through the Taurus Mountains to the plain of Pamphylia. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,L,D)
May 17 Sat Antalya
Morning visit to the St. Paul Cultural Center. Then, we will drive to Perga visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first journey (Acts 13:13-14). There you will see its well-preserved stadium and colonnaded street divided by a water channel. Returning to Antalya, you will see Hadrian’s Gate and the Roman mausoleum of ancient Attalia. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel. (B,L,D)
May 18 Sun Antalya
After breakfast, you will visit Antalya’s renowned archaeological museum. Free afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
May 19 Mon Antalya – Myra – Patara – Fethiye Board GULET (Wooden Yacht)
Our morning begins with a breathtaking drive along the Mediterranean coast. Visit the ancient site of Myra, with its lovely Roman theater and Lycian tombs. Today Myra is best known as the city of St. Nicholas, where he served as bishop in the fourth century A.D. After visiting Myra,continue to Patara an ancient city visited by Paul (Acts 21:2) which features a beautiful theater and lighthouse.Drive to Fethiye and embark our private GULET (wooden yacht) where we will spend 3 nights. Dinner on board. (B,L,D)
May 20 Tue Sail by Gulet – Fethiye
Hike St. Nicholas Island and spend the afternoon swimming in the Mediterranean. (B,L,D)
May 21 Wed Sail by Gulet – Lydia
Sail to Aga Limani and hike to ruins at ancient Lydia and see the Cleopatra Baths (B,L,D)
May 22 Thu Disembark Gocek – Pamukkale
Leave Gulet boat and drive to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
May 23 Fri Laodicea – Hierapolis – Pamukkale
First drive to Colossae (Paul’s letter to the Colossians) on the foothills of Mount Honaz. You will continue to Laodicea , one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, and Hierapolis where you will visit the monuments, thermal baths and the theater with its well preserved stage and Temple of Apollo. Dinner and overnight will be in Pamukkale. (B,L,D)
May 24 Sat Ephesus Tour – Izmir
Morning drive to Ephesus , the first of the Seven Churches, for a visit. You will see the amazing ruins of this great city: the theater, the library, the Temple of Hadrian and the newly excavated Roman Terrace Houses. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Izmir. (B,L,D)
May 25 Sun Departure
Some of the group leave from Izmir back to States. (B) EXTENSION:
May 25 Sun Pergamon – Assos
After breakfast you will visit the acropolis of Pergamum, one of Turkey’s most impressive archaeological sites with its steep theater and Altar of Zeus. You will continue your journey up the Aegean coast to stop briefly at Adramyttium, the home port of Paul’s ship (Acts 27:2). Arriving in Assos, you will visit the panoramic Temple of Athena and enter the West Gate along the same road upon which Paul entered Assos at the end of his walk from Troas (Acts 20:13-14). Dinner and overnight in Assos. (B,L,D)
May 26 Mon Assos – Troy – Canakkale
Walk part of the Roman road between Troas and Assos. After visiting the Apollo Smintheion temple, you will continue to Alexandria Troas where Paul raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:9). Troas was an important transit point for Paul, passing through its port at least three times. Then you will next visit the legendary city of Troy and see the replica of the wooden horse.Dinner and overnight in Canakkale. (B,L,D)
May 27 Tue Bursa
Drive Bursa. Visit Green Mosque & Mausoleum. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
May 28 Wed Bursa – Nicea – Istanbul
Drive to Iznik (ancient Nicaea). Two ecumenical councils were held here: the First Ecumenical Council of 325 and the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787. Visit the ruins of the St. Sophia Church where the Seventh Ecumenical Council was held. In the afternoon, drive to Istanbul, the only city in the world spanning on two continents; transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
May 29 Thu Byzantium – Constantinople – Istanbul
Today we explore the wonders of Istanbul. We move on to the Golden Mile of the Egnatian Way, visit the Hippodrome Square next to the Blue Mosque as well as the magnificent, 1700-year-old Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visiting the Hagia Irene Church. Afterwards, we will make our way to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, and Spice Market. Tonight, Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
May 30 Fri Istanbul Airport – Fly back to Portland