Seven Churches of Revalation & Istanbul

Oct 1 Tue               Arrive Istanbul Airport at 04:50 am TK41
Your tour guide will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a “JOYFUN TRAVEL-TUTKU ” sign. Meet and transfer to the hotel for  breakfast. Start Old City for walking tour with your guide visit Hagia Sophia Church,Blue Mosque.  Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch visit Cistern and Spice  Bazaar.  Transfer to hotel for diner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Oct 2 Wed              Istanbul
Full Day Tour in Istanbul – First visit the Grand Bazaar. After lunch, Ferry from Besiktas to Kadikoy, and walk around ancient Chalcedon.  Dinner Cruise on Bosphorus. (B,L,D)

Oct 3 Thu              Istanbul – Nicaea – Bursa-Canakkale
BREAKFAST BOX.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. Proceed to Bursa for 2 hours shopping in Grand Mosques area. Drive to Canakkale for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Oct 4 Fri                 Troy – Troas – Assos (and Roman Bridge)
We will continue to visit the legendary city of Troy and see the replica of the wooden horse.  Then, our bus will take us 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. 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).

Oct 5 Sat                 Pergamum – Thyatira – Smyrna (Izmir)
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). Lunch.Drive to Akhisar to visit the remains of the Thyatira Church.  After shopping continue to Izmir for diner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Oct 6 Sun              Smyrna – Sardis – Philadelphia – Pamukkale
After breakfast you will visit Smyrna Agora and see the latest excavations including Graffiti section.  LUNCH BOX.From there we’ll travel to Sardis, one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches. You’ll see the remains of the Temple of Artemis as well as a small Byzantine church. Then, travel to Philadelphia, now called Alasehir. We’ll see remains of a Byzantine basilica as well as some eleventh century frescoes. Philadelphia and Smyrna were the only two churches among the Seven about which nothing bad was said by John. You’ll check in to the hotel in Pamukkale for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Oct 7 Mon              Hierapolis – Laodicea – Colossae – Pamukkale
At Hierapolis you will walk through its extensive necropolis, then see its well-preserved theater as well as Philip’s Martyrium and basilica.  Continue to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation  (Rev. 3:14–22) and addressed by Paul (Col. 4:13-16). Then you will drive to the unexcavated site of Colossae on the foothills of Mount Honaz, to which Paul wrote the letters to the Colossians and Philemon. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,L,D)

Oct 8 Tue               Ephesus – St. John’s Basilica – Fly Istanbul Airport
Drive to Ephesus.  Today will likely be the high point of the tour for most of the group, as we visit the impressive biblical site of Ephesus. You will take a walking tour starting in the upper city at the State Agora, then walking downward to the iconic Library of Celsus and Tetragonos Agora. You will make a slight detour to see the exquisite terrace houses where the rich and famous citizens of Ephesus lived. Visit the Ephesus Museum. Your city tour ends at the theater where 24,000 citizens shouted “Great is Artemis!” in a riot started in response to Paul’s ministry there (Acts 19:1–20:1). We will stop briefly to view the remains of the Artemis Temple, formerly one of seven wonders of the ancient world. In the afternoon, we will have time for shopping in Soke  area. Have a light dinner and transfer to Izmir Airport for TK2337   21:35 /22:55 flight to Istanbul.  When you check-in your luggage, you can check-in all the way to Johannesburg.  Walk to the international terminal on your own. End of our services. (B,L,D)

• 2 Night at Grand Halic Hotel in Istanbul grandhalic.com
• 1 Night at Iris Hotel in Canakkale http://www.irisotel.com/iris-otel/lang/2/en/english.aspx
• 1 Night at Eden Garden  Hotel in Assos  http://www.assosedengardens.com/
• 1 Night at Kordon Cankaya Hotel in Izmir kordonotel.com.tr/kordon-otel-cankaya.html
• 2 Nights at Lycus River Hotel in Pamukkale http://www.lycusriver.com
• Daily breakfast and 6 dinners at the hotels-1 dinner on the departure day (Apr 4)
• Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus
• 8 Lunches (simple lunches) at local restaurants (1 lunch box)
• All transportation by private AC Bus
• English Speaking, Government Licensed, Bible Oriented guides
• All Entry fees to the sites and museums
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• Service charges and lcoal taxes
• Tips to Tour Guide and drivers,hotel staff

• International Air Fare between Johannesburg - Istanbul
• Izmir-Istanbul domestic flight on April 4
• Turkish Visa Fee evisa.gov.tr   (all participants are responsible to check their own visa regulations)
• Drinks (Bottled Water is included)
• Personal Expenses (Laundry, phone calls, all kind of insurances, etc)