Old Testament Turkey - Abraham’s Country

March 21-31, 2025

Come and explore central and southeastern Turkey, fantastic sites from theworld of the Old Testament! Join Old Testament and ancient Near Eastern scholar, Dr. Lawson Younger to visit Hattusa, the spectacular capital of the Hittite empire, a rival superpower of ancient Egypt and site of continuing discoveries. See sites in Cilicia (biblical Que), along with beautiful Karatepe, the site of the longest known Phoenician inscription. We will also see several Neo-Hittite (Luwian) sites, like Tell Tayinat (site of a recently discovered temple with similar plan to Solomon’s temple), and Carchemish (site of a major battle between Egypt (Pharaoh Necho II) and Babylonia (Nebuchadnezzar). Visit Urfa and Harran, two sites associated with Abraham and other biblical patriarchs. See Gobeklitepe, the unique site with the oldest known religious architecture from the early Neolithic age. To top off this exciting itinerary, we’ll see spectacular Cappadocia, Tarsus and Antioch where early Christianity flourished, not to mention browsing a number of truly outstanding Museums.

Tour Host

Dr. K. Lawson YoungerTrinity International UniversityProfessor of Old Testament, Semitic Languages, and Ancient Near Eastern History

Mar 21 Fri Depart USA (New York, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle)

Mar 22 Sat Arrive Ankara Airport
Your tour guide will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a “TUTKU” sign. Meet and transfer to hotel in Ankara; dinner and overnight Ankara. (D)

Mar 23 Sun Ankara – Hattusa
Anatolian Civilization Museum; Augustus Temple; Hattusa & Museum. Overnight Asikoglu Hotel Hattusa. (B,D)

Mar 24 Mon Hattusa - Cappadocia
Underground City, Painted Rock Churches of Goreme, Uchisar. Overnight Cappadocia. (B,D)

Mar 25 Tue Cappadocia – Tarsus
Cleopatra Gate, Paul’s Well, Donuktas Temple. Overnight Adana. (B,D)

Mar 26 Wed Adana - Antioch
Adana Archaeology Museum; Karatepe; overnight Antakya Museum Hotel. (B,D)

Mar 27 Thu Antioch: Museum at Museum Hotel,St. Peter’s grotto, Antioch hippodrome and temple, Saint Simeon church and Seleucia Pieria. (B,D)

Mar 28 Fri Antioch –Gaziantep: Antakya Archaeology Museum, TellTayinat/ Alalakh, Zincirli Höyük, Zeugma Museum (if time permits); overnight Gaziantep. (B,D)

Mar 29 Sat Gaziantep-Urfa: Archaeology Museum; Carchemish; and Harran; Overnight Urfa. (B,D)

Mar 30 Sun Urfa: Göbeklitepe Urfa Archaeology Museum and Mosaic Museum; Abraham’s cave; overnight Şanlı Urfa. (B,D)

Mar 31 Mon Morning for transfer to Urfa Airport for departure flights. End.

Including

• Roundtrip international flights between USA (New York,Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Atlanta) – Istanbul
• Istanbul-Ankara /Urfa-Istanbul domestic flights
• 1 night at 5 star RaddisonBlu Hotel in Ankara
• 1 night at 4 star Asikoglu Hotel in Corum
• 1 night at special class Dilek Kaya Hotel in Cappadocia
• 1 night at 5 star Seyhan Hotel in Adana
• 2 nights at 5 star Museum Hotel in Antioch
• 2 nights at 4 star Tugcan Hotel in Gaziantep
• 1 night at 5 star Dedeman Hotel in Urfa
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• Daily open buffet breakfasts at the hotels (B:breakfast)
• 9 Dinners at the hotels (D:Dinner)
• All Transfers and Transportation by Private A/C bus
• English speaking, government licensed, bible oriented professional tour guide throughout the tour
• All Entry fees to the sites & museums
• Tips to the hotel and restaurant staff
• Service charges & local taxes

Excluding

• Tips to the guide and drivers
• Turkish Visa Fee ($50 per person for US citizens to be obtained online before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr)
• Drinks and lunches
• Travel and Health Insurance, any other item not listed above

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