St Paul Study Tour in Turkey

Oct 16 Fri Arrive Hatay Airport (airport code HTY)

Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a “FR KIERAN MAHONY – TUTKU” sign. Meet and transfer to the famous MUSEUM HOTEL in Antioch for dinner and overnight. (D)

Oct 17 Sat Antioch

After breakfast we take an overview bus tour of the city of Antioch. We visit the Cave Church of Peter. We drive to Samandağ (historic Seleucia Pieria),from where the apostle Paul and Barnabas sailed to Cyprus on their first missionary journey and returned back to Antioch (Acts13:4).We then return to our amazing hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Oct 18 Sun Tarsus – Adana Airport - Fly Antalya

Afterbreakfast drive to Tarsus, the birth place of St. Paul. Visit the remains of Roman Road, Paul’swell. Then proceed to Cleopatra Gate and Donuktas temple area. Drive to Airport for PC3604 17:35 /18:45 flight to Antalya. Meet and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Oct 19 Mon Perge, Aspendos, Atallia (Antalya)

Located ten mileseast of Antalya is the ancient city of Perge, where Paul landed after sailing from the island of Cyprus during his first missionary journey (Acts14:13-14). That Perge was a wealthy city is still easily seen today from its 15,000-seat theatre, 12,000-seat stadium, etc. A little further east is Aspendos, which is impressive for both its magnificent aqueduct and its 20,000-seat theatrewhich is thebestpreserved in the whole of Turkey. We then return o Antalya, which in Paul’s day was known as Atallia and was the place from where the apostle sailed home at the end of his first missionary journey (Acts14:25-26). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Oct 20 Tue Antalya

After breakfast, transfer to Old Town to embark our Private Boat tour. Visit Duden Waterfall, feel the mist of thewaterfall. Pass by Magydos, the port city of Perga.Then we visit St. Paul Cultural Center, a “coffee shop” run by Christians that more importantly also serves as home to two churches: one Turkish and the other international. Enjoy a tasty lunch (a modest donation for the lunch will help support the ministry here). Return tothe hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Oct 21 Wed Fly Izmir - Sardis, Philadelphia - Izmir

Fly Izmir on XQ9091 09:05 /10:15. Arrive Izmir and driveto Sardis, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation that was berated by John the Prophet for itsfacade of strength when, in reality, it was weak (Rev. 3:1-6). Coins were first minted in Sardis. The massive Temple of Artemis, the Royal Road, the gymnasium and the 3rd century Synagogue will impress you. We continue on to Alasehir, to see where the Church of Philadelphia (Rev 3:7–22) was located. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

Oct 22 Thu Pergamum, Smyrna Agora - Izmir

We travel north to Pergamum which is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Turkey. Its attractions are hard to surpass: a 10,000-seat theatre on theside of the acropolis which is the steepest in the ancient world; the magnificently restored temple of Trajan; a library of 200,000 volumes second in size only to that in Alexandria; the base of the Altar of Zeus; the temple of Dionysus; and the medical center of Asclepius with its own theatre, library, underground tunnel and other buildings. John warned the church here that they were living in a place of “Satan’s throne” (Rev. 2:12-17). Return to Izmir and visit the Smyrna Agora and its “graffiti section” at the lower level. Overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

Oct 23 Fri Ephesus-Kusadasi

Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1:11). In ancientdays, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade bordered streets. We will stroll the excavated streets of Ephesus visiting the magnificent Terrace Houses, the Library, the Agora, thehuge Theater and view where the Temple of Artemis used to stand—one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We will visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at artifacts from the ancient city as well as the Basilica of St. John, the traditional site of the burial place of John. Overnight Kusadasi.(B,D)

Oct 24 Sat Didyma, Miletus, Priene — Kusadasi

After breakfast,visit the Temple of Apollo in Didyma—one of the best-preserved temples from antiquity. Then visit the excavations at Miletus, where Paul bid farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus at the end of his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20). Priene is a well–preserved example of a Greco–Roman city that was visited by Alexander the Great (333 BC). Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,D)

Oct 25 Sun DEPARTURE

Transfer to the Izmir airport for your flight back home. END.

• Adana-Antalya flight
• Antalya-Izmir flight
• 2 Nights at Museum Hotel in Antioch or similar
• 3 Nights at Best Western Khan Hotel in Antalya or similar
• 2 Nights at Movenpick Hotel in Izmir or similar
• 2 Nights at Korumar Hotel in Kusadasior similar
• Daily breakfasts (B:Breakfast) at the hotels
• 9 dinners (D:Dinner)
• 1 Lunch in Ephesus
• Bottled water at the dinners
• All transfers and transportation by private bus
• All Entry fees to the sites and museums
• English Speaking licensed tour guide throughout the tour (Meltem)
• Service charges and local taxes
• Meeting rooms at the hotels on the requested dates.

• International Flights
• Lunches, and drinks (bottled water is included at dinners)
• Tips to tour guide (€50) and driver (€20)
• Travel and Health insurance, all kind of insurances
• Porterage & excess baggage