22 Days (21 Nights)
Land & Air$5,990
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Messiah College

Western Turkey & Greek Island Rhodes

May 17- June 7, 2025 From Acts to Revelation: A Biblical and Cross-Cultural Journey

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the rich tapestry of Turkey and Greece, where ancient history meets vibrant culture in an extraordinary adventure. From the bustling streets of Istanbul, with its majestic palaces and awe-inspiring mosques, to the serene beauty of Rhodes’ historic villages and sun-kissed beaches, this meticulously crafted itinerary invites you to explore the timeless allure of two remarkable lands. Experience the wonders of ancient ruins, indulge in local flavors, and immerse yourself in the warm hospitality of local homes, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Prepare for a voyage that promises not just sights, but a deep connection to the heart of these enchanting destinations.

Dr. Sharon Lynn PuttProfessor of Theology and ReligionMessiah University
Dr. B. Keith PuttProfessor of PhilosophySamford University
Itinerary Details Hosts & Guide Policies Contact Useful Information

May 17 Sat Depart New York JFK – Fly Istanbul

TURKEY:

May 18 Sun Arrive Istanbul – Meet and transfer to hotel. Visit Topkapi Palace. (D)

May 19 Mon Istanbul (Old City): Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Archaeology Museum. (B,D)

May 20 Tue Istanbul (Modern): Spice Bazaar, Boat Tour, Galata Tower, Beyoglu Streets. (B,D)

May 21 Wed Fly Antalya in the morning. Visit Perga & St Paul Cultural Center & Church. Overnight Antalya. (B,D)

May 22 Thu Antalya – Drive to unexcavated Colossae. Visit Laodicea. Overnight Pamukkale. (B,D )

May 23 Fri Visit Hierapolis, Philip’s Tomb, Museum. Free afternoon at thermal pools. Overnight Pamukkale. (B,D)

May 24 Sat Drive to Sirince tour and lessons at the pottery place. Overnight Kusadasi. (B,D) 

May 25 Sun Visit Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Basilica of John, Museum.Drive to Marmaris for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

RHODES:

May 26 Mon 9 AM take a ferry to Rhodes.Meet and transfer to hotels. Free time. Overnight in Rhodes. (B)

May 27 Tue Half Day Tour to St Paul Bay and Lindos Village Rhodes (08:30-13:00) - Drive to St Paul Bay. Traditionally Paul stopped at this Bay. Then we'll go up to Lindos Village for a panoramic view of the island. Return to the hotel in the Old Town. Rest of the day is free. Overnight in Rhodes.(B)

May 28 Wed Half Day Rhodes City Tour (09:00-13:00) – Rhodes.Walking tour of Rhodes city center, the famous Rhodes Castle, the Grand Master's Palace, and the archaeological museum. Afternoon at leisure.Overnight in Rhodes (B)

May 29 Thu Free day in Rhodes to explore the island.Bus transportation to/from the beach. Overnight in Rhodes (B)

TURKEY:

May 30 Fri Free day in Rhodes to explore the island.Ferry to Marmaris at 5 pm.Arrive Marmaris at 6 pm.Overnight Marmaris.(B,D)

May 31 Sat Drive to Didyma. Visit Temple of Apollo and then Miletus Theater.Drive to Izmir. Tonight HOME STAY in Izmir.(B,D)

Jun 1 Sun Visit Smyrna Agora, local Kemeralti Bazaar, Archaeology Museum, St Policarp Church. Tonight HOME STAY in Izmir. (B,D)

Jun 2 Mon Visit Cesme beach with bus and host families. Tonight HOME STAY in Izmir. (B,D)

Jun 3 Tue Visit Thyatira & Sardis. Tonight HOME STAY in Izmir. (B,D)

Jun 4 Wed Visit Pergamum and drive to Assos. Overnight Assos. (B,D)

Jun 5 Thu Visit the panoramic Temple of Athena.Continue to Alexander Troas, the legendary city of Troy. Overnight Assos. (B,D)

Jun 6 Fri Cross Dardanelles via the new bridge. Drive to Istanbul for overnight. (B,D)

Jun 7 Sat Transfer to Airport. Fly back to New York. End. 

Including
  • Roundtrip international air fare between New York – Istanbul – New York
  • Domestic flight from Istanbul to Antalya
  • Rhodes-Marmaris ferry tickets
  • 3 Nights at Moevenpick Golden Horn in Istanbul  or similar
  • 1 Night at Best Western Khan in Antalya  or similar
  • 2 Nights at Doga Thermall Hotel in Pamukkale  or similar
  • 1 Night at Korumar Hotel in Kusadasi  or similar
  • 1 Night at Nergis Beach hotel in Marmaris
  • 4 Nights at Camelot Hotel in Rhodes (and St Michel) or similar
  • 1 Night at Nergis Beach hotel in Marmaris
  • 4 Nights HOME STAYS in Izmir for students (Izmir Swissotel stay for group leaders)
  • 2 Nights at Kervansaray Hotel in Assosor similar
  • 1 Night at Moevenpick Golden Horn in Istanbul  or similar
  • Daily open buffet breakfasts and 17 dinners (B: breakfast, D: dinner)
  • 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, driver’s expenses
  • Local professional licensed English speaking tour guides in Turkey and Greece
  • All Entry fees to the mentioned sites & museums
  • Service charges & local taxes
  • Tips to tour guides and to the drivers
Excluding
  • 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)
Hotels
  • May 18, 2025 - May 21, 2025 Mövenpick Istanbul Golden Horn, Istanbul, Turkey
  • May 21, 2025 - May 22, 2025 Best Western Khan Hotel, Antalya, Turkey
  • May 22, 2025 - May 24, 2025 Doga Thermal Otel, Denizli, Turkey
  • May 24, 2025 - May 25, 2025 Korumar Hotel de Luxe, Aydın, Turkey
  • May 25, 2025 - May 26, 2025 Premier Nergis Beach Hotel Marmaris, Muğla, Turkey
  • May 26, 2025 - May 30, 2025 Camelot Hotel, Rhodes, Greece
  • May 30, 2025 - May 31, 2025 Premier Nergis Beach Hotel Marmaris, Muğla, Turkey
  • June 04, 2025 - June 06, 2025 Assos Kervansaray Otel, Canakkale, Turkey
  • June 06, 2025 - June 07, 2025 Mövenpick Istanbul Golden Horn, Istanbul, Turkey

 Locations on the map may include pre program or extension locations with main program.
Including
  • Roundtrip international air fare between New York – Istanbul – New York
  • Domestic flight from Istanbul to Antalya
  • Rhodes-Marmaris ferry tickets
  • 3 Nights at Moevenpick Golden Horn in Istanbul  or similar
  • 1 Night at Best Western Khan in Antalya  or similar
  • 2 Nights at Doga Thermall Hotel in Pamukkale  or similar
  • 1 Night at Korumar Hotel in Kusadasi  or similar
  • 1 Night at Nergis Beach hotel in Marmaris
  • 4 Nights at Camelot Hotel in Rhodes (and St Michel) or similar
  • 1 Night at Nergis Beach hotel in Marmaris
  • 4 Nights HOME STAYS in Izmir for students (Izmir Swissotel stay for group leaders)
  • 2 Nights at Kervansaray Hotel in Assosor similar
  • 1 Night at Moevenpick Golden Horn in Istanbul  or similar
  • Daily open buffet breakfasts and 17 dinners (B: breakfast, D: dinner)
  • 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, driver’s expenses
  • Local professional licensed English speaking tour guides in Turkey and Greece
  • All Entry fees to the mentioned sites & museums
  • Service charges & local taxes
  • Tips to tour guides and to the drivers
Excluding
  • 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)
Hotels
  • May 18, 2025 - May 21, 2025 Mövenpick Istanbul Golden Horn, Istanbul, Turkey
  • May 21, 2025 - May 22, 2025 Best Western Khan Hotel, Antalya, Turkey
  • May 22, 2025 - May 24, 2025 Doga Thermal Otel, Denizli, Turkey
  • May 24, 2025 - May 25, 2025 Korumar Hotel de Luxe, Aydın, Turkey
  • May 25, 2025 - May 26, 2025 Premier Nergis Beach Hotel Marmaris, Muğla, Turkey
  • May 26, 2025 - May 30, 2025 Camelot Hotel, Rhodes, Greece
  • May 30, 2025 - May 31, 2025 Premier Nergis Beach Hotel Marmaris, Muğla, Turkey
  • June 04, 2025 - June 06, 2025 Assos Kervansaray Otel, Canakkale, Turkey
  • June 06, 2025 - June 07, 2025 Mövenpick Istanbul Golden Horn, Istanbul, Turkey

Hosts
Dr. Sharon Lynn Putt
Professor of Theology and Religion
Messiah University

Sharon L. Baker Putt is Professor of Theology and Religion at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA. She earned a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Southern Methodist University and is the author of Razing Hell, Executing God, and A Non-Violent Theology of Love: Peacefully Confessing the Apostles’ Creed. She has traveled with extensively throughout Europe and the Middle-east, and has significant experience traveling abroad with students on cross-cultural trips. Her disciplines are world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christian theology, specifically in the areas of divine non-violence, atonement, and interfaith theologies.

Dr. B. Keith Putt
Professor of Philosophy
Samford University

Keith Putt has focused his teaching and research on Continental philosophies of language and interpretation theory, particularly those related to phenomenological hermeneutics and deconstruction. His work delves into how these traditions impact post-metaphysical philosophies of religion and non-classical theistic philosophical theologies. Rooted in these contrarian conventions, his pedagogical intent aims to emulate Socratic irony, emphasizing the wisdom of humility and the role of the philosopher as an intellectual "salmon" – a cautious educator determined to swim against the stream of the status quo. The "salmon" scholar believes that the best antidote against authoritarianism, superstition, and ignorance is skepticism through questioning, critique, and incredulity. As a result, his primary goal in his classes is to disseminate philosophical content, while the ultimate goal is to encourage his students to think for themselves – liberally, critically, and humbly.

Guide
Cenk Eronat

He was born in Ankara in 1966. After primary school he moved to Izmir with his family where he finished High School and University. He graduated from the Tourism and Management Department. After much experience with well-known tourism companies and five star hotels, he received his tour guide license from the government and began guiding tour groups in 1989.

Since 1999, he has been working with TUTKU Educational Travel as vice president and tour guide.

He prepares customized tour programs and he personally guides some TUTKU groups. He also enjoys taking the pictures for TUTKU brochures & websites.

Cancellation Penalty:
-120-90 days prior to departure:       No Penalty
-89-45 days prior to departure:         10%
-44-30 days prior to departure:         50%
-29-15  days prior to departure:        75%
-14 days & After                                No refund

*Please email to info@tutkutours.com and ask for TUTKU’ bank account details if you wish to pay with bank wire transfer.
Tour brochure covers

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