Turkey

Day 1 (Oct 30 Sat) FLIGHTS TO ISTANBUL

Tour participants depart on Turkish Airlines from the United States to Istanbul (non-stop) from one of the following airports: Seattle, LAX, Houston, Chicago, New York JFK, Washington DC.

Day 2 (Oct 31 Sun) ISTANBUL TO EPHESUS

When our flight arrives in Istanbul, we go through customs and take a domestic flight to the Izmir Airport. We then drive to the 5-star Korumar Deluxe Hotel on the Aegean Sea near Ephesus.

THE CHURCHES OF REVELATION

Day 3 (Nov 1 Mon) EPHESUS REGION

After breakfast Dr. Jackson will teach at the hotel on the Ephesus ministries of the Apostle Paul, Timothy, and the Apostle John. We will then drive through the Ephesus region where we visit the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, the Basilica Church of Saint John (where the apostle John was buried), the present-day Ephesus Prayer House, and the Turkish town of Selcuk where we meet the locals and shop. Selcuk is a great place to purchase your gifts for family and friends. Dinner and overnight at the Korumar Deluxe Hotel.

Day 4 (Nov 2 Tue) BIBLICAL EPHESUS

After breakfast we tour the archaeological biblical city of Ephesus, a magnificent reconstructed Greco-Roman city. We will walk through the spectacular first-century Terrace Houses, where the early house churches of Ephesus likely met. Those who are interested can visit a local Anatolian Handmade Carpet and Kilim production 1 center to learn how world-famous Turkish carpets are made, and buy one if you desire. Those who don’t want to visit the Carpet center can return to the hotel for free time, and enjoy the Aegean beach. Dinner and overnight at the Korumar Deluxe Hotel.

Day 5 (Nov 3 Wed) MAGNESIA, NYSA, COLOSSAE

After breakfast we drive from Ephesus down the green Meander River Valley to the beautiful Lycus River Valley. On our journey we will visit the first-century Roman stadium at the ancient city of Magnesia, and the remote ancient city of Nysa that is rarely visited by tourists. We then drive to the archeological site of Colossae, where Paul sent his letters of Colossians and Philemon. Dr. Jackson will share on-site. Dinner and overnight at the Adempira Termal & Spa Hotel.

Day 6 (Nov 4 Thu) LAODICEA AND HIEROPOLIS

After breakfast we tour the massive archeological sites of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22, Colossians 4:13) and Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Colossians 4:13). At Laodicea (one of the most reconstructed Greco-Roman cities in Turkey) we visit two large theaters, and several excavated early churches. We then drive to Hierapolis and tour the martyrdom site and tomb of the Apostle Philip. Dr. Jackson will share on-site in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Dinner and overnight at the Adempira Termal & Spa Hotel.

Day 7 (Nov 5 Fri) PHILADELPHIA, SARDIS, SMYRNA

After breakfast we drive to Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) and visit the Church of the Apostle John built in the AD 500s. We then drive to tour Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6), with the remains of the magnificent temple of Artemis (later converted into a church), a beautifully reconstructed Roman gymnasium, and the largest known synagogue outside Palestine. We then drive to Smyna (Revelation 2:8-11), where we visit Smyrna’s Roman agora, and see the location where the early apostolic church father Polycarp (a disciple of the apostle John) was martyred. Dr. Jackson will share on the letters sent to each city in the book of Revelation. We end our day with a special dinner on the Aegean Sea with Levent Oral, the owner of Tutku Tours. Overnight at the Movenpick Hotel Izmir.

CAPPADOCIA

Day 8 (Nov 6 Sat) FLY CAPPADOCIA

After breakfast we take a domestic morning flight to the amazing Cappadocia region of central Turkey, with its spectacular moon-like landscape. We then experience a journey inside the underground city of Kaymakli. We end our day enjoying the picturesque village of Ortahisar, with its rock-cut houses and a 300 foot tall rock-castle. Dinner and overnight at the Barcelo Hotel.

Day 9 (Nov 7 Sun) CAPPADOCIA

After breakfast (an early balloon option for participants, cost is around $400 per person) we walk through the outdoor Göreme Open Air Museum, with its many fresco-covered cave churches. We then walk through the Zelve Valley, where Christian monks lived and carved out cave churches. At the Zelve Valley, Dr. Jackson will share on the early church fathers—Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus—who lived and ministered in Cappadocia in the AD 300s. We then drive to the Uçhisar Castle, (highest point in Cappadocia) where we can walk up a trail to the top for a beautiful panoramic view. Dinner and overnight at the Barcelo Hotel.

ISTANBUL: HISTORIC CONSTANTINOPLE

Day 10 (Nov 8 Mon) FLY ISTANBUL

After breakfast we take a domestic flight to Istanbul and drive into the city. We then climb the stairs to the top of Galata Tower for a breath-taking panoramic view of the mega-city of Istanbul that bridges Europe and Asia. If we have time we will walk down the famous and popular Iskilal Street, and mingle among the crowds of locals. Dinner and overnight at the Lamartine Hotel.

Day 11 (Nov 9 Tue) ISTANBUL

After breakfast we start our day at the Old City of Constantinople. We visit the Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque, the famous Hagia Sophia Church, Saint Irene Church (where the Nicene Creed was written), the Topkapi Palace of the Ottoman Sultans, and experience the amazing underground cistern built by the Roman Emperor Justinian in the AD 500s. We will end our day with a private boat ride on the 3 famous Bosphorus Straight that connects the Black and Marmara Seas. Dinner and overnight at the Lamartine Hotel.

Day 12 (Nov 10 Wed) ISTANBUL

After breakfast we drive around the ancient walls of Constantinople, walk through the historic Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, and take a ferry ride across the Bosphorus Staight to the town of Kadikoy on the Istanbul’s Asian side (where the Chalcedon creed was written). If we have time, we will experience a tram ride with the locals through the unmatched city of Istanbul. We return to the Lamartine Hotel for our farewell dinner together.

Day 13 (Nov 11 Thu) DEPARTURE. After breakfast we drive

to the Istanbul Airport where we board our international flights back to the USA.

• Roundtrip international fare on Turkish Airlines from Los Angeles,San Francisco,Chicago,New York,Houston,or Atlanta.
• Izmir-Kayseri domestic flight
• Kayseri-Istanbul domestic flight
• 3 Nights at Korumar Deluxe Hotel in Kusadasi or similar
• 2 Night at Adempira Termal & Spa Hotel in Pammukale or similar
• 1 Night at Movenpick Hotel in Izmir or similar
• 2 Nights at Barcelo Hotel in Cappadocia or similar
• 3 Nights at Lamartine Hotel in Istanbul or similar
• Daily breakfasts and dinners
• All Airport-Hotel-Airport transfers in private basis
• All land transportation by private fully A/C VAN with driver throughout the tour
• Tolls, parking fees, fuel, guide’s and driver’s expenses
• English Speaking Licensed tour guide throughout the tour
• All Entry fees to the mentioned sites & museums
• Service charges, accommodation taxes, & local taxes
• Tips to tour guide ($60) and to the driver ($25)

• Lunches and drinks
• All personal expenses and any other service which are not mentioned above
• Travel and Health insurance, any kind of insurance (insurance may be given at an extra cost, please ask)
• Hot Air Balloon Trip