TURKEY GREECE ROME

Sep 30 Tue Arrive Cappadocia (via Istanbul)
TUTKU representative will meet you with “Michael Gorman – TUTKU” sign after the customs and baggage claim. Meet and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Late dinner and overnight at the hotel in Cappadocia. (D)

Oct 1 Wed Cappadocia
Zelve Valley, Goreme Open Air Museum, Urgup Town, Ortahisar Settlement, Citadel of Uchisar, Avanos (Pottery) (B,D)

Oct 2 Thu Cappadocia – Iconium (Konya)
Optional early morning Hot Air Balloon trip. Visit Ihlara Valley, and Onyx Factory. Drive to Konya (three-hour drive) to Konya, known in the ancient world as Iconium, 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. Dinner and overnight in Konya. (B,D)

Oct 3 Fri Konya – Psidian Antioch – Colossae – Laodicea - Pamukkale
We travel to an even more important city in Paul’s first missionary journey: Antioch of Pisidia. 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 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. 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). Overnight in one of the nearby modern resorts of Pamukkale whose thermal baths are sure to revive your tired body. (B,D)

Oct 4 Sat Hierapolis (Pammukale), Philadelphia, Sardis, Smyrna (Izmir)
Start the day by visiting the third of the three key biblical cities in the Lycus Valley: Hierapolis. With its hot thermal springs well-known already in the ancient world for its medicinal qualities as well its spectacular white travertine terraces, Hierapolis remains just as popular with travelers today as it was in biblical times. Equally impressive, however, are the remains of the ancient city: the Arch of Domitian, a colonnaded street and marketplace, ancient baths, a 20,000-seat theatre built in 200 BC, the largest ancient graveyard in Anatolia containing over 1,200 tombs, tumuli and sarcophagi, and the Martyrium of St. Philip, 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. Our next stop is Philadelphia where much of this ancient city in an earthquake-prone area has either been destroyed or lies buried under the modern city. John wrote to the church here (Rev. 3:7-13), commending them for their patience endurance in spite of persecution. Our third stop is Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6). Here we see the remains of the magnificent temple of Artemis, the beautifully reconstructed gymnasium and public baths, and the largest known synagogue outside Palestine. We end the day in the port city of Izmir, known in the ancient world as Smyrna and now the third largest city in Turkey. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. Box Lunch. (B,L,D)

Oct 5 Sun Pergamum Acropolis, Asklepion, Thyatira - Kusadasi
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 the side 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). We will stop briefly in the ancient city of Thyatira, where, due to the presence of the modern city of Akhisar, few archaeological remains have thus far been uncovered. John warned the church here about its toleration of a woman symbolically called Jezebel who was leading believers astray, causing them “to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols” (Rev. 2:18-29). We return to our hotel in Izmir. Dinner and overnight Kusadasi. (B,D)

Oct 6 Mon Patmos – Kusadasi
Roundtrip ferry to Patmos. Visit the Cave of Revelation and the Basilica of John. Overnight Kusadasi. (B,D)

Oct 7 Tue Ephesus – 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. Visit the Ephesus Museum, the Basilica of St. John, lunch at carpet establishment, Ephesus Museum. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L,D)

Oct 8 Wed Fly Istanbul
Morning flight to Istanbul 08:00/09:10 am. Visit Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,D)

Oct 9 Thu Istanbul Tour – Fly Athens
Topkapi Palace or, Archaeology Museum or, free time – Transfer to Istanbul Airport for fly to Athens. Dinner and overnight Athens. (B,D)

Oct 10 Fri Corinth – Athens
Corinth with communion on site, Acrocorinth, Corinthian Museum, Cenchreae, Isthmia. Overnight Divani Palace Acropolis Athens (B,D)

Oct 11 Sat Athens
Acropolis, Mars’ Hill (Areopagus), Agora. Free time, Optional visit to New Acropolis Museum (evening visit if necessary—entry until 9:30 pm). Overnight Divani Palace Acropolis (B,D)

Oct 12 Sun Fly Rome - Rome
Transfer to Athens Airport. 08:30 am flight to Rome. Arrive Rome at 10:00 am. Walking Tour: Domus Aurea, Colosseum, Arch of Titus, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill. Dinner at walking distance restaurant. (B,D)

Oct 13 Mon Rome
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Church, Catacombs (Scavi), Pantheon, Ara Pacis. Dinner at walking distance restaurant. (B,D)

Oct 14 Tue Depart Rome
Fly back to Washington DC (via Istanbul) – Arrive Washington DC same day evening at 7:20 pm.

• Istanbul-Athens Flight
• Athens-Rome morning Flight
• 2 Nights at Yusuf Yigitoglu Cave Hotel in Cappadocia or similar
• 1 Night at Anemon Hotel in Konya or similar
• 1 Night at Doga Thermal & Spa in Pamukkale or similar
• 1 Night at Movenpick Hotel in Izmir or similar
• 3 Nights at Korumar Hotel in Kusadasi or similar
• 1 Night at Movenpick Golden Horn Hotel in Istanbul or similar
• 3 Nights at Hotel Divani Palace in Athens or similar
• 2 Nights at Hotel Gioberti in Rome or similar
• Daily open buffet breakfasts (B: breakfast)
• Boxed lunch on Oct 4
• Lunch at Ephesus
• 14 dinners (D: dinner)
• Roundtrip ferry to Patmos
• All Airport-Hotel-Airport transfers in private basis
• All land transportation by private fully A/C Bus with driver throughout the tour
• Tolls, parking fees, fuel, guide’s and driver’s expenses
• English speaking licensed tour guides in Rome, Greece and Turkey
• All Entry fees to the mentioned sites & museums
• Service charges, accommodation taxes, & local taxes
• Headsets

• Roundtrip international air fare
• Lunches and drinks
• Meals at the airports
• Turkish Visa fee to be obtained online before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr
• 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)
• Tips to tour guides and to the drivers
• Hot Air Balloon Trip and Underground City visit in Cappadocia
• Acropolis Museum visit in Athens