Antioch, Cappadocia, Churches Of Revelation

Day 1 (Wednesday Oct 8) Depart USA for Istanbul. Tour participants depart on Turkish Airlines from the United States to Istanbul (non-stop) from one of the following airports: Seattle, LAX, Houston, New York JFK, Washington DC. ***Be sure to check your luggage in the U.S. all the way to the Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (not to Istanbul).

Day 2 (Thursday Oct 9) - Istanbul to Ephesus. When our overseas flight arrives in Istanbul, we go through customs and take a domestic flight to the Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (one hour). We then drive (one hour) to our fantastic 5 star Ephesus hotel (Korumar: Ephesus Bearch and Spa Resort, http://www.korumarephesus.com.tr)

Day 3 (Friday Oct 10) Ephesus Area. After breakfast we visit the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, the archeological remains of the Basilica of Saint John, where the apostle John was buried (take communion together), and the modern Turkish towns of Selcuk and Sirince, where we meet the locals and shop. For those interested, you can visit a local Anatolian Handmade Carpet and Kilim production center, learn how world-famous Turkish carpets are made, and buy one if you want. We then drive to our hotel on the Aegean Sea (20 minutes) for dinner and overnight at our hotel (Korumar: Ephesus Bearch and Spa Resort). 

Day 4 (Saturday Oct 11) Smyrna (modern Izmir). After breakfast we drive (1.5 hours) from Ephesus to Smyrna (modern Izmir). Arriving we drive up the fortress hill called Kadifekale (the Velvet Castle), where will have a panoramic view of the city of Izmir. We visit the biblical site of Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-10) and the Polycarp Memorial Park. We have free time to walk along the Aegean Sea. We then drive back to Ephesus and our hotel for dinner and overnight (Korumar: Ephesus Bearch and Spa Resort).

Day 5 (Sunday Oct 12) Ephesus to Colossae. After breakfast we tour the archaeological biblical city of Ephesus, a magnificent reconstructed Greco-Roman city, and the spectacular Terrace Houses. The apostle Paul lived and ministered here for three years from where he wrote 1 Corinthians. Later, he wrote Ephesus and 1-2 Timothy to the Ephesus church. After touring Ephesus, we drive (3.5 hours) to the beautiful Lycus River Valley, where we visit Colossae. Paul wrote Colossians and Philemon to the Colossae church. We then drive to our 5 star spa hotel for dinner and overnight (Lycus River Hotel www.lycusriver.com)

Day 6 (Monday Oct 13) Laodicea and Hieropolis. After breakfast we visit the massive archeological and reconstructed biblical sites of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22, Colossians 4:13) and Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Colossians 4:13). In Hierapolis we visit the tomb of the apostle Philip. After a long day, we drive to our hotel for dinner and overnight (Lycus River Hotel).

Day 7 (Tuesday Oct 14) Flight to Antioch. After breakfast we fly from Denizli to Antioch (modern Antakya, a population of 400,000) that is located on the Orontes River. We get our luggage at the Antakya airport and drive (45 minutes) to our one-of-a-kind 5 star hotel (The Museum Hotel,
www.themuseumhotelantakya.com). Our hotel is built over ancient Antioch mosaics for you to see. Antioch became the major church center after Jerusalem. It was here that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). It was from Antioch that Paul began his missionary journeys.

Day 8 (Wednesday Oct 15) Antioch After breakfast we take an overview bus tour of the city of Antioch. On Feb. 6, 2023, an earthquake devastated Antioch, when about 80% of the buildings were destroyed. We visit The Hatay Archaeology and Mosaic Museum and the Cave Church of Peter (built in the late 300s or early 400s). 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 (Acts 13:4).We then return to our amazing hotel for dinner and overnight (The Museum Hotel).

Day 9 (Thursday Oct 16) Antioch After breakfast we will meet with Turkish believers at their church camp, and spend the day with them. We will hear about their experiences after the earthquake, and their mercy ministry of outreach in providing meals and water to the people. We will also visit others in the city. After dinner at our hotel, we will join the Turkish believers again for worship and activities. (The Museum Hotel).

Day 10 (Friday Oct 17) Tarsus and Cappadocia. After breakfast we drive to Tarsus (3 hours), the hometown of the apostle Paul. We walk around Tarsus and have lunch. After Tarsus we drive up (3 hours) through the historic mountain pass called the Cilician Gates into the spectacular landscape of the Cappadocia region of central Turkey. Cappaodocia’s volcanic landscape is sculpted by erosion to form a majestic landscape of pinnacles known as “fairy chimneys.” You will feel like you’re back in the Flintstone days. We arrive at the picturesque town of Ortahisar, which has rock-cut buildings, and is dominated by a 300 foot tall rock-castle in the center of the town. We then drive to our 4 star hotel for dinner and overnight (Dilek Kaya Hotel-Cappadocia, www.dilekkayaotel.com). 

Day 11 (Saturday Oct 18) Cappadocia. After breakfast (early balloon option, participants pay $300) we visit the Göreme Open Air Museum, with its many cave churches established from the 900s to the 1100s. We drive through the Zelve Valley on our way to Kaymakli, an underground city which was an early Christian center that extended down at least eight floors and housed several thousand people between the AD 600s and 900s. We continue to Uçhisar Castle, another of these unique early Christian communities. We then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight (Dilek Kaya Hotel-Cappadocia).

Day 12 (Sunday Oct 19) Flight Kayseri to Istanbul ( After breakfast we fly from Kayseri to Istanbul (1.5 hours). We drive to our hotel in the old city of Istanbul (one hour). We drop off our luggage at our 4 star hotel (Lamartine Hotel, www.lamartinehotel.com). If we have time, we will take a tram ride through the busy city of Istanbul.

Day 13 (Monday Oct 20) Istanbul. After breakfast we take a walking tour inside the walls of the old city of Istanbul. We visit the Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque, the famous Hagia Sophia Church, Saint Irene Church where the Nicene Creed was written, and the beautiful underground cistern built by the emperor Justinian in the AD 500s. We walk through the historic Grand Bazaar, and then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight (Lamartine Hotel).

Day 14 (Tuesday Oct 21) Departure to USA After breakfast we drive (one hour) to the Istanbul Airport where we board our international flights back to the USA. The tour and services end.

• Roundtrip International Flights LAX-IST
• Istanbul-Izmir domestic flight
• Denizli-Antioch domestic flight
• Cappadocia-Istanbul domestic flight
• 3 Nights at Korumar Hotel in Kusadasi
• 2 Night at  Lycus River Hotel in Pammukale
• 3 Nights at The Museum Hotel in Antakya
• 2 Nights at Dilek Kaya Hotel in Cappadocia
• 2 Nights at  Lamartine Hotel, Taksim in Istanbul
• 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 tour  Professional Tour Guide
• 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