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Paul’s Earliest Ministry: CILICIA TOUR
May 9-23, 2027
Join Us for an Extraordinary Trip to the Cradle of Christianity and Paul’s Earliest Mission.
Shortly after Paul’s conversion, the apostle returned to this hometown Tarsus in the Roman province of Cilicia. There, Paul spent the next nine years learning the new faith. There he received revelations (Gal 1:11-12, 2 Cor 12:1-2). This was the time when the former Pharisee learned the fullness of the Gospel and began his earliest ministry. The Acts of the Apostles mentioned nothing of this ministry, although Paul briefly mentioned it in Gal 1:21. The trip will be led by Professor Mark Fairchild who recently authored a ground-breaking book on Paul’s work in this area, Unearthing Paul’s Forgotten Mission: The Archaeology and History of Rough Cilicia (IVP Academic, 2027).
The Cilicia Tour will visit St. Paul’s hometown of Tarsus and will follow an itinerary taking us to places seldom visited in the region known as “Rough Cilicia.” Here, Paul established the earliest churches of his ministry. The tour will visit the ancient coastal cities in the area and will advance a short distance into the mountainous interior to observe Jaw-dropping ancient villages and towns that Paul likely evangelized. These are places with spectacular surroundings, rock-cut reliefs, first-century watchtowers and fascinating stories of the ancient residents’ survival. Here, Paul preached in Jewish synagogues, including the earliest synagogue ever discovered.
***Since most of these sites are within a short distance of one another, we won’t need to change hotels often. We have also included many more sites than what we may be able to manage on each day. If so, we may drop some of the less important.
Main Tour Itinerary:
May 9 Sun Depart USA
May 10 Mon Arrive Cukurova Airport – Meet and transfer to the Wyndham Tarsus St.Paul Hotel. Dinner and overnight (B,D)
May 11 Tue Tarsus Roman Road north of city, Tarsus Museum, Donuktaş, Roman Bridge under Makam-ı Danyal Camii, St Paul’s Well, Roman City Street, Cleopatra’s Gate. Dinner and overnight at Wyndham Tarsus St.Paul Hotel (B,D)
May 12 Wed Mersin Museum, Soli colonnaded street, Limonlu-Corycos Aqueducts, Tirtar Akkale baths and harbor, Sarayın Tower. Dinner and overnight at Ramada in Ayas (B,D)
May 13 Thu Elaiussa Sebaste (Ayaş), Roman Baths, Palace, Roman Theater, Martyrion Basilicas, 1st AD Roman Temple. Dinner and overnight at Ramada in Ayas (B,D)
May 14 Fri Kizkalesi Island, Corycos Castle & Synagogue, Corycos Necropolis, Martyrion Church, Great Basilica, Roman coastal road. Dinner and overnight at Ramada in Ayas (B,D)
May 15 Sat Seleucia Ad Calycadnum (Silifke): Thecla Martyrion, Roman bridge, Zeus Temple, Theater, Silifke Museum, Karaböcülü. Dinner and overnight at Ramada in Ayas (B,D)
May 16 Sun Diocaesarea (Uzuncaburç), Theater, Zeus Temple, Monumental Gate, Tyche Temple, Watchtower, Roman Road. Olba watchtowers, Aqueduct, Martyrion Basilica, Monastery, Necropolis. Dinner and overnight at Ramada in Ayas (B,D)
May 17 Mon See the Çatıören Synagogue and Hermes Temple, Imirzeli Basilicas, Watchtower, Sömek Reliefs and Menorah, Öküzlü Ruins. Dinner and overnight at Ramada in Ayas (B,D)
May 18 Tue Gomeç Tower, Roman road, Çambazlı Temple Tomb and Basilica, Sulucin Caves, Yeniyurt, Veyselli Reliefs (if time). Dinner and overnight at Ramada in Ayas (B,D)
May 19 Wed Kabaçam ancient village, Kanlıdivane (Kanytelis), Sinkhole, churches, watchtower, rock-cut tombs, Roman road. Dinner and overnight at Ramada in Ayas (B,D)
May 20 Thu Cennet and Cehennem Sinkhole and entrance to the underworld, Karakabakli, Işıkkale, Roman road. Overnight Ramada in Ayas. (B,D)
May 21 Fri Demircili (Imbriogion), Meydan Kale, Hançer Kale. Dinner and overnight at Ramada in Ayas (B,D)
May 22 Sat Paslı, Mezgit Kale, Tekkadın. Dinner and overnight Ramada in Ayas. (B,D)
May 23 Sun Transfer to Cukurova Airport – Fly back USA
EXTENSION TOUR ITINERARY
For the more intrepid traveler, we are offering an extension trip that involves LONGER HIKES AND SOME CLIMBING.
May 23 Sun Esekderesi Roman Bridge, Tapureli (Ramada Ayaş)
May 24 Mon Akkum Tower, Deeper into Çatıören synagogue, Hermes Temple & Roman Road (Ramada Ayaş)
May 25 Tue Adamkayalar, Yapılı Kaya, Mancınık Kale (if time), (Ramada Ayaş)
May 26 Wed Boyan Tower, Ismailli Fortress and Tower (Ramada Ayaş)
May 27 Thu Transfer to Cukurova Airport – Fly back to USA
Including
Main Tour:
- Roundtrip international flights between major cities in US-Adana / Adana-US on Turkish Airlines
- 2 Nights at Wyndham Tarsus St.Paul Hotel or similar
- 10 Nights at Ramada Hotel in Ayas or similar
- 1 Night at Wyndham Tarsus St.Paul Hotel or similar
- Daily open buffet breakfasts
- 13 Dinners at the hotels
- Transportation by Private Bus throughout the tour
- All airport transfers
- English Speaking Bible-oriented licensed tour guide
- All entry fees to the sites and museums
- Service charges and local taxes
- TUTKU gifts, archaeology map of Turkey, t-shirt, round-ended electric adapter
Extension Tour:
- 4 Nights at Ramada Hotel in Ayas or similar
- Daily open buffet breakfasts
- 4 Dinners at the hotels
- Transportation by Private Bus throughout the tour
- English Speaking Bible-oriented licensed tour guide
- All entry fees to the sites and museums
- Service charges and local taxes
Excluding
Main Tour:
- Lunches and drinks
- Tips to tour guide ($80 per person) and driver ($30 per person)
- Travel and Health Insurance, any kind of personal expenses
Extension Tour:
- Lunches and drinks
- Tips to tour guide ($40 per person) and driver ($15 per person)
- Travel and Health Insurance, any kind of personal expenses
