Seven Churches, Cappadocia, and Istanbul

Nov 17, Sun - Depart USA to Istanbul
Tour participants depart on Turkish Airlines to Istanbul (non-stop) from one of the fol-lowing airports: Seattle, LAX, Houston, New York JFK, Washington DC.

Nov 18, Mon - Istanbul to Ephesus (Israel Group to Ephesus)
Our overseas flights arrive in Istanbul where we go through customs and take an in-country flight (one hour) to the Izmir Airport on the Aegean coast. The Tutku guide or representative will meet us after the baggage claim with a sign that reads “DR. ANDREW JACKSON TOUR, TUTKU.” We drive (one hour) to our hotel on the Aegean Sea for dinner and overnight (KoruMar Hotel, www.korumar.com.tr) (D).

Nov 19, Tue - Ephesus Area Tour
After breakfast we visit the archaeological museum of Ephesus displaying ancient coins, statues, and mosaics from the Roman period, the archeological remains of the spectacular Basilica of Saint John where the apostle John was buried, and the modern Turkish towns of Sirince and Selcuk where you will meet the locals and shop. For those who are interest, you can visit a local Anatolian Handmade Carpet and Kilim production center and learn how world-famous Turkish rugs are made. We drive (20 minutes) to our hotel on the Aegean Sea for dinner and overnight (KoruMar Hotel). (B, D)

Nov 20, Wed - Biblical Ephesus Tour
After breakfast we tour the archaeological biblical city of Ephesus. This magnificent reconstructed Greco-Roman port city has the great theater, marble-paved roads, Ro-man baths, the Celsus Library, and much more. Today, Ephesus is one of the UN-ESCO World Heritage Sites. The apostle Paul lived and ministered here for three years from where he wrote 1 Corinthians. Later on Paul wrote the letters of Ephesus and 1-2 Timothy that were sent to Ephesus. We return to our hotel on the Aegean Sea for din-ner and overnight (KoruMar Hotel) (B,D)

Nov 21, Thu - Colossae (Colossians)
After breakfast we drive (three hours) to the Lycus River Valley and visit the archaeo-logical site of Colossae, Paul wrote the letters of Colossians and Philemon to the Colossae church. We then drive to our spa hotel for a relaxing afternoon, dinner, and overnight (Doga Thermal Hotel www.dogathermalhotel.com) (B, D)

Nov 22, Fri - Hierapolis and Laodicea
After breakfast we visit the archeological biblical sites of Hierapolis (Pamukkale) and Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) located in the Lycus River Valley. In the massive arche-ological remains of Hierapolis we visit the tomb and martyrdom of the apostle Philip, and one of the best reconstructed Roman theaters in Turkey (see Colossians 4:13-15). In the huge reconstructed biblical city of Laodicea we see two large theaters, a stadi-um. and excavated churches dating to the Byzantine period. We then drive to our spa hotel for dinner and overnight (Doga Thermal Hotel) (B, D)

Nov 23, Sat - Philadelphia, Sardis and and Smyrna
After breakfast we drive to tour the biblical archeological sites of Philadelphia (Revela-tion 3:7-13) and to Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6). Our first visit is Philadelphia, where most of the ancient remains are buried under the modern city. Our visit will focus on the Basilica of the Apostle John built in the AD 500s. Then we drive (one hour) to the large archeological site of Sardis where we see the remains of the magnificent temple of Artemis (later converted into a church), the beautifully reconstructed gymnasium and public baths, and the largest known synagogue outside Palestine. We then drive (three hours) to our hotel to our hotel in Izmir on the Aegean Sea for dinner and overnight (Movenpick Hotel, www. Movenpick.com) (B,D) İzmir, historically Smyrna, is the third largest city in Turkey located on the Aegean Sea. After breakfast we visit Smyrna’s acropolis Kadifekale for an overview of the city, and then we visit the archeological site of biblical Smyrna (Revelation 2:8—) with its Roman Agora and where the early church father Polycarp was martyred. The rest of the day will be free to walk along the Aegean waterfront, interact with the locals, and shop. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight (Movenpick Hotel,). (B,D)

Nov 24, Sun - Pergamum
After breakfast we drive (one hour) north to visit Pergamum (Revelation 2:12–17), one of the most impressive acropolis and archaeological sites in Turkey, which is called the Seat of Satan in the book of Revelation. Here we see a 10,000-seat theatre on the side of the acropolis that is the steepest in the ancient world, the temple of Trajan, the re-mains of a library of 200,000 volumes second in size only to that in Alexandria, and the remains of the huge altar of Zeus and the temple of Dionysus. We then drive back (two hours) to our hotel in Izmir for dinner and overnight (Movenpick Hotel,) (B,D)

Nov 25, Mon - Cappadocia Tour
After breakfast, we fly to Cappadocia…

Nov 26, Tue - Cappadocia Tour

Nov 27, Wed - Cappadocia Tour

Nov 28, Thu - Istanbul Tour
After breakfast will take a morning flight from Cappadocia (about one hour) to Istanbul, and then we will drive (one hour) to our hotel in the old city of Istanbul. After unloading our luggage we take a walking tour of the Hippodrome Square (Blue Mosque), the fa-mousHagia Sophia Church, We then walk back to our hotel for dinner and overnight (Arcadia Blue Hotel, www.hotelarcadiablue.com) (B, D)

Nov 29, Fri - Istanbul Tour
After breakfast we visit the Saint Irene Church where the Nicene Creed was written, Is-tanbul Archaeology Museum, underground cistern built by emperor Justinian in the AD 500s, and then take a leisurely boat tour on the Bosphorus Straight. We then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight (Arcadia Blue Hotel) (B, D)

Nov 30, Sat - Departure to USA
We depart early and drive (one hour) to Istanbul Airport where we take our international flight back to the USA. End of our services.