May 2 Thu DEPART on your own flights – FLY ISTANBUL
May 3 Fri Arrive Istanbul Airport
Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim, with a “QUANBECK/JOHNSON-TUTKU” sign. Transfer to the hotel for dinner & overnight. (D)
May 4 Sat Istanbul Tour: Full day Istanbul tour; visit the
Roman Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, Hagia Sophia Church, built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels and a designated World Heritage site. Then visit the Underground Cistern. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 5 Sun Istanbul
Visit the Archeological Museum, and then visit Topkapı Palace. After lunch enjoy shopping through the Grand Bazaar. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 6 Mon Istanbul - Alexandrian Troas (Acts 16:8-11; 20:5,
6, II Tim. 4:13, II Cor. 2:12) - Assos Drive to Çanakkale. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by car ferry. Proceed to Troy to see the legendary city and the replica of the Wooden Horse. Continue to Alexandrian Troas, founded by Alexander the Great. Paul visited here at least twice. Dinner and overnight in Assos. (B,D)
May 7 Tue Assos - Pergamon (Rev. 1:11; 2:12) - Smyrna
(Rev. 1:11; 2:8) Morning tour of Assos, Depart for Pergamon. Visit the Aslepion, ancient healing center and the Acropolis with the steepest theater of the ancient world and the Temple of Trajan. Then visit the Red Basilica which was an Egyptian Temple, later converted to a church. Continue to Izmir for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 8 Wed Sardis (Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4) - Philadelphia (Rev. 1:11;
3:7) – Hieropolis (Col 4:13) - Pamukkale Drive to Sardis, capital of the ancient Lydia where first coin of the world was invented. See the remains of the massive Artemis Temple. Continue to Alasehir to see the remains of the Philadelphia Church. Final visit to Hierapolis, a World Heritage site & site of the church mentioned in Colossians 4, see the new found Tomb of Philip. Dinner and Overnight Pamukkale. Enjoy the hot thermal spring pools at your hotel (B,D)
May 9 Thu Laodicea (Col 2:1; 4:13-16, Rev. 1:11; 3:14) –
Aphrodisias - Kusadasi Morning tour of Laodicea to see the latest excavations. Drive to Aphrodisias, the city of the Goddess of Love. See the well preserved stadium, the Odeon, the theater and the agora. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 10 Fri Ephesus – Kusadasi
Visit the famous ancient city of Ephesus (Acts 18:19-24; 19:1-35; 20:16-17; 21:29, 1 Cor. 15:32; 16:8, I Tim. 1:3 II Tim. 1:18; 4:12, Rev. 1:11, 2:1), and its beautifully excavated Terrace Houses, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and the Basilica of St. John. Dinner and Overnight Kusadasi. (B,D)
May 11 Sat Fly Cappadocia
Transfer to Izmir airport for flight to Kayseri Airport. Meet and transfer to Cappadocia to visit the Monastic Zelvey Valley. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. (B,D)
May 12 Sun Cappadocia
Optional Hot Air Balloon trip in early morning (05:00-07:00) After breakfast, visit the painted rock churches of Goreme, the citadel of Uchisar, Pasabag Valley, Underground City, pottery making village of Avanos. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 13 Mon Cappadocia
Visit the Ihlara Valley and Soganli Village. Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 14 Tue Fly Istanbul- Istanbul
Transfer to airport for morning flight to Istanbul. Today, we will visit Galata Tower and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. Then, visit the local Spice Bazaar and take a Bosphorus Boat Tour seeing Asian and European shores of Istanbul. Return to hotel for Dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 15 Wed Fly Back Home
Transfer to Istanbul Airport - Fly Back to Minneapolis End of our services. (B)
Including
• ONE group arrival and departure transfer. Any private transfer
request is extra cost.
• Flight from Izmir-Cappadocia and Cappadocia- Istanbul
• 3 nights Istanbul Movenpick Golden Horn or similar
• 1 night Assos Kervansaray Hotel or similar
• 1 night Izmir Movenpick or similar
• 1 night Doga Thermal Hotel Pamukkale or similar
• 2 nights Charisma Deluxe in Kusadasi hotel or similar
• 3 nights Cappaocia Yunak Cave hotel or similar
• 1 night Istanbul Movenpick Golden Horn or similar
• Daily breakfast and 12 dinners
• Entrance fees to all sightseeing as per itinerary
• English–speaking licensed tour guide throughout the itinerary
• Transfers & transportation by private A/C motor-coach
• Service charges and local taxes
Excluding
• All lunches and Drinks (other than bottled water at dinners)
• Tips to tour guides and drivers
• All personal expenses, Travel and Health Insurances, any other item
not mentioned above
• TURKISH VISA for U.S citizens, available at www.evisa.gov.tr
• **Citizens of ALL other countries are responsible for checking their own
countries’ visa regulations for travel for both TURKEY and GREECE
Hotels
- May 03, 2024 - May 06, 2024 Mövenpick Istanbul Golden Horn, Istanbul, Turkey
- May 06, 2024 - May 07, 2024 Assos Kervansaray Otel, Canakkale, Turkey
- May 07, 2024 - May 08, 2024 Mövenpick Hotel, Izmir, Turkey
- May 08, 2024 - May 09, 2024 Doga Thermal Otel, Denizli, Turkey
- May 09, 2024 - May 10, 2024 Charisma Hotel, Aydin, Turkey