Seven Churches, Istanbul & Nicaea

Jun 6 Fri Depart Chicago Airport - Fly Izmir via Istanbul

Jun 7 Sat Arrive Izmir Airport (airport code ADB) Our representative will meet you at Izmir Airport with a “DON WESTBLADE - TUTKU” sign. Transfer to Hotel in Izmir.
17:30-18:30 Worship Service
18:30-18:35 Opening Ceremony: Levent Oral, President of Tutku Educational Travel
18:35-18:40 Erin Dailey, Director of Operations, Tutku Educational Travel
18:40-18:45 Welcome: Mark Wilson, Program Director
18:45-18:50 Welcome from a local pastor
18:50-19:00 Introduction of the groups, churches, and countries
19:00-20:00 Dinner at hotel
20:15-21:00 Lecture: Polycarp of Smyrna: The Bridge between the Apostles and the Apostolic Fathers

Jun 8 Sun Half Day Presentations & Afternoon Smyrna Agora visit
07:00-08:15 Breakfast
08:30-08:45 Worship
08:45-09:30 Patmos among the Seven Churches
09:35-10:20 Ephesus among the Seven Churches
10:25-10:50 Coffee break
10:50-11:35 Smyrna among the Seven Churches
11:40-12:25 Pergamum among the Seven Churches
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-14:45 Drive to Izmir for Smyrna visit
14:45-16:15 Smyrna Agora visit; Mark Wilson will point out the Christian graffiti
16:30-17:45 Return to hotel
19:00-20:00 Dinner at hotel
20:15-21:00 Lecture: Jezebel and the Other Women in Revelation

Jun 9 Mon Ephesus Tour
07:00-08:00 Breakfast
08:00-08:30 Departure from hotel and drive to Ephesus
08:30-11:30 Ephesus
11:45-12:45 St. John’s Basilica or Ephesus Museum
13:00-14:30 Lunch & shopping opportunity at the Handmade Carpet Center
14:45-16:00 Ephesus Museum or St. John’s Basilica
16:00-16:30 Return to hotel
19:00-20:00 Dinner at hotel
20:15-21:00 Lecture: Possible Egyptian Influences on Asia Minor and the Book of Revelation

Jun 10 Tue All Day Presentations
07:00-08:15 Breakfast
08:30-08:45 Worship
08:45-09:30 Thyatira among the Seven Churches
09:45-10:20 Sardis among the Seven Churches
10:25-10:50 Coffee/Tea Break
10:40-11:25 Philadelphia among the Seven Churches
11:40-12:25 Laodicea among the Seven Churches
12:30-13:30 Lunch at hotel
14:00-16:30 Optional tour
16:30-19:00 Free time
19:00-20:00 Dinner at hotel

Jun 11 Wed Pergamum & Thyatira Tour
06:45-07:45 Breakfast
07:45-09:45 Drive to Bergama
09:45-12:15 Pergamum tour of Acropolis and Red Basilica
12:15-13:45 Lunch in Bergama or Akhisar
13:45-14:45 Drive to Akhisar
14:45-15:45 Thyatira tour
16:00-17:30 Main Tour participants return to hotel dinner
19:00-20:00 Dinner at hotel
20:15-21:00 Closing ceremony: Mark Wilson and Levent Oral, sharing of memories by participants

Jun 12 Thu Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea– Izmir or Pamukkale
06:00-06:50 Breakfast
07:00-08:00 Departure from hotel
08:15-10:15 Sardis tour
10:15-11:00 Drive to Alaşehir
11:00-11:30 Philadelphia tour: Church of St. John
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 Laodicea tour
18:30 Arrive Izmir Airport. NICAEA participants: Fly Istanbul. Meet with “NICAEA 1700 – TUTKU” sign. Transfer to hotel in Istanbul for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Jun 13 Fri Istanbul Tour of Constantinople (modern İstanbul)
Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, Hagia Eirene, archaeology museum, Basilica Cistern, Fener Orthodox Patriarchate (by appointment). Dinner and overnight at the Moevenpick Golden Horn Hotel. (B,D)

Jun 14 Sat Drive to Nicaea (modern İznik)
Visit Hagia Sophia Church; Constantine’s palace, Roman theater, city walls and gates, archaeology museum, original city street, funerary obelisk (Beştaş). Dinner and overnight at Wellborn Hotel. (B,D)

Jun 15 Sun Nicaea - Lectures by professors on 1st and 7th councils
Afternoon visit to the Underwater Basilica area with local archaeologists. Dinner and overnight at Wellborn Hotel. (B,D)

Jun 16 Mon Nicomedia - Istanbul
Drive to Nicomedia (modern İzmit): visit the archaeology museum, Diocletian’s palace, Roman theater, city walls PM drive to Chalcedon (modern Kadikoy) to see the excavations at Haydarpaşa, and St. Euphemia Church (by appointment) Dinner and overnight at the Moevenpick Golden Horn Hotel. (B,D)

Jun 17 Tue Transfer to Istanbul airport for flight back to Chicago – END

- Izmir-Istanbul domestic flight
- 5 Nights at Kordon Cankaya Hotel in Izmir
- 2 Nights at Movenpick Golden Horn Hotel in Istanbul
- 2 Nights at Wellborn Hotel in Kocaeli
- 1 Night at Movenpick Golden Horn Hotel in Istanbul
- Daily breakfast at the hotels (all open buffet)
- 10 Dinners at the hotels
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary
- Bible Oriented, Government-Licensed English speaking professional tour guide throughout the tour
- All Airport-Hotel-Airport transfers
- All land transportation by private vehicle with driver throughout the tour
- Tolls, parking fees, fuel, guide’s and driver’s expenses
- All Entry fees to the mentioned sites & museums
- Service charges & local taxes

- Roundtrip Flight Chicago ORD-IST & IST-ORD (can be booked thru TUTKU upon request)
- Istanbul-Izmir domestic flight (can be booked thru TUTKU upon request)
- Lunches and drinks
- All personal expenses and any other service which are not mentioned above
- Travel & Health insurance, any kind of insurance (insurance may be given at an extra cost, please ask)
- Tips to tour guide ($50 per person) and to the driver ($20 per person)