Turkey

Apr 27 Sun    Meet in Konya (KYA) airport at 0900 to greet our group flying on Pegasus Airlines from SAW.  
Konya, known in the ancient world as Iconiun, was a key place where Paul ministered not only on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:1-7) but almost certainly on his second and third missionary journeys as well (Acts 16:6; 18:23). We stop briefly at Alaadin Tepesis—the current location of one of the oldest mosques in the city but more importantly the acropolis of ancient Iconium. The columns in the mosque date back to Roman times and so connect us to the ministry of Paul in this city. Located nearby is the ancient city of Lystra, which we will not visit, since it today contains little left of its former glory. Yet it is another important site in Paul’s life, since here too the apostle ministered on each of his three missionary journeys (Acts 14:5-20; Acts 16:6; 18:23) and was the home town of his closest helper, Timothy. After visiting Konya Archaeological Museum, we check-in to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

Apr 28 Mon     Drive 2+hours to Yalvac to see Pisidian Antioch, etc. then drive 3+ hours to Antalya. RON Antalya.
We travel next to an even more important city in Paul’s first missionary journey: Antioch of Pisidia (not to be confused with Antioch on the Orontes). Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of a thriving city, complete with theater, imperial temple, stadium, baths, water fountains, paved streets and aqueduct. This Antioch included Christians to whom Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians. We visit both the ruins of the ancient city as well as its small museum in Yalvac, which contains the important Sergius Paulus inscription and the famous funerary inscription of Caesar Augustus. We then enjoy the scenic drive south over the Taurus Mountains to Antalya, a popular resort town on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Overnight Antalya. (B,D)
 
Apr 29 Tue     Visit Perga, Antalya sites, St Paul Cultural Center, etc. RON Antalya.
Visit the ancient city of Perge, where Paul landed after sailing from the island of Cyprus during his first missionary journey (Acts 14:13-14). That Perge was a wealthy city is still easily seen today from its 15,000-seat theatre, 12,000-seat stadium, Hellenistic gate with its “Twin Towers,” baths with under-floor heating, colonnaded marketplace, water fountains, and impressive colonnaded street with a flowing water channel in the middle. Then, we will 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) and then listen to a Turkish pastor about what it is like to live as a Christian in a country where 99.9% of its citizens are Muslim. Afterwards, we will visit the Necropolis Museum. Dinner and overnight Antalya. (B,D)

Apr 30 Wed     Drive to visit Myra, Andriake, etc, RON Kalkan.
Drive west 2 ½ hours on the Mediterranean Coast. Visit St Nicholas Church in Myra (Acts 27:5). Then, visit Andriake, the port of the ancient city of Myra At this ancient site, we will visit a bath complex, an agora, workshops, a synagogue,  a church, honorary monuments, and the Lycian Civilization Museum located in this ancient city. Dinner and overnight Kalkan. (B,D)

May 1 Thu     Drive 3.5 hours to Colossae, Hieropolis, Laodicea, etc. RON Pamukkale.
Enjoy this morning the scenic drive north over the Taurus Mountains to the Lycus Valley where three important biblical cities are to be found: Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. Our first stop in Colossae will be brief, since this site has not yet been excavated. Nevertheless, this is an important site for Christians to visit, since Paul sent here two letters: one to the church of Colossae and one to the rich Christian slave-owner Philemon, who hosted the Colossian church in his home. Our second stop is Laodicea. Although the excavation work is still in its early stages, Laodicea was a major city in Roman times, as is clear from not only the size of the ancient site but also its two theatres, stadium, aqueduct and major street lined with shops. Laodicea is not only the last of the seven churches to whom John directed the book of Revelation (Rev. 3:14-22), but it also had a close relationship with the nearby churches of Colossae and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13-15) and was the recipient of one of Paul’s now lost letters (Col. 4:16). Last visit is to the Martyrium of St. Philip in Hierapolis, a 5th century AD structure on the site where Philip—either the apostle or the evangelist (Acts 6:1-7; 21:8-9; Acts of Philip)—was believed to have been killed in AD 80. Overnight Pammukale. (B,D)

May 2 Fri     Drive 2.5 hours to Ephesus to see city ruins, terraced house, etc. RON Kusadasi.
Today will likely be the high note of the tour for most people, as we visit the most impressive biblical site of our trip: Ephesus. The former glory of this city can still today be easily appreciated from its well-preserved streets, temples, fountains, public baths, terraced houses and theatres. Ephesus was also the site of the Artemis temple—one of seven wonders of the ancient world. There is the same theatre where some 24,000 citizens of Ephesus gathered shouting “Great is Artemis!” in a riot started in response to Paul’s ministry there. The apostle visited this city only briefly during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18-21) but returned during his third missionary journey for a much longer period of two years and three months (Acts 19:1-20:1). Timothy later served as pastor in this city during which time Paul wrote him two letters (1 & 2 Timothy). Some years later Ephesus served as the home base for the apostle John’s ministry from where he wrote a number of letters (1, 2, 3 John) and to which he sent the Book of Revelation. In addition to the ancient city, we will also visit the “slope houses” (the wealthiest homes in Ephesus that have been marvelously reconstructed), the Ephesus Museum, which houses several impressive items from this site, and the Basilica of St. John. Dinner and overnight Kusadasi. (B,D)

May 3 Sat     After leisurely breakfast, transfer to Kusadasi port and embark Celestyal cruise ship for 1300 sailing.

• 1 Night at 4 star Anemon Hotel Konya or similar 
• 2 Nights at 4 star Best Western Khan Hotel in Antalya or similar
• 1 Night at 4 star Hotel in Kalkan
• 1 Night at 4 star Doga Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale or similar
• 1 Night at 4 star Korumar Hotel in Kusadasi or similar
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• All escorted transfers
• Daily breakfasts at the hotels (B:Breakfast)
• 6 Dinners (D:Dinners)
• Transportation by Private A/C bus throughout the tour
• English speaking professional tour guides 
• All Entry fees to the sites & museums
• Service charges & local taxes

• Tips to the tour guides and drivers, total $30  ($35 per person for the guide - $15 per person for the driver)
• Lunches and Drinks
• Travel and health insurances, any kind of insurance
• Any other item which is not listed above