Pre-Extension "7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION" Begins
DAY 1 - Sunday: NEW YORK / ISTANBUL For tour members that are only taking the Turkey Seven Churches of Revelation only are welcomed at JFK International Airport for our departing flight to Istanbul via widebody aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board.
DAY 2 - Monday: ISTANBUL / IZMIR We will transfer to our flight to Izmir. Upon arrival we will be met by our guide and taken to our hotel for check in and dinner.
DAY 3 - Tuesday: IZMIR / PAMMUKALE Today we drive to Sardis, a Lydian capital, where the largest Roman Synagogue ever discovered is visited.We will explore the massive scale of the Temple of Artemis and the white marble royal road, the gymnasium and the synagogue. Then we proceed to Philadelphia (Alasehir), "The City of Brotherly Love", which will always be remembered as the church that kept the faith. In the afternoon we stop at Pamukkale (Hierapolis), a unique, magnificent natural formation, sure to be a hightlight of your trip. Over the last fourteen thousand years, calcium rich water from an underground thermal spring has flowed over the mountainside and slowly solidified, creating Shallow White Basins and Twisted Stalagmites. Since antiquity, these thermal pools have been used for their healing powers. Christianity came to Hierapolis via Paul. In Pamukkale we will have dinner and spend the night..
DAY 4 - Wednesday: HIERAPOLIS / LA ODICEA / MILETUS / IZMIR The day starts with a visit to Laodicea, another one of the Seven Churches (Rev 3: 4-22), chastised for being lukewarm. Continue to Miletus where Paul predicted his own death. Next we visit Izmir, site of another one of the Seven Churches, the Church of St. Polycarp, the oldest church in ancient Smyrna. We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Izmir.
DAY 5 - Thursday: IZMIR / EPHESUS / KUSADASI This morning a short drive takes us to Kusadasi where we explore Ephesus (Rev 1:11) the crown jewel of the Seven Churches and one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world. Visit the Odeon, the marble street where Paul held daily discussions, the Library of Celcus, the Temple of Hadrian and the great theater where Paul causes a riot. Also visit what's left of the Temple of Diana. Finally, we'll visit the House of the Virgin Mary where the Apostle John cared for the mother of Jesus. Continue back to our hotel in Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. where Paul accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy, first set foot in Europe. Check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6 - Friday: IZMIR / PERGAMUM / THYATIRA / BURSA The sun has risen behind Mount Pagus and the citadel of ancient Smyrna dominates the skyline when we leave this landlocked harbor-city of a day-long excursion. Our first stop is Pergamum, modern Bergama. We visit first its majestic Acropolis and remarkable Graeco-Roman theater, steepest in the world; then, its famous Aesculapium, antiquity's nearest equivalent to a modern general hospital. We continue southeast to another city singled out in a letter from John: Thyatira (Akhisar); Paul's first European convert, Lydia, who accepted the Lord at Philippi, was a seller of purple from Thyatira. We continue to Bursa where we will check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7 - Saturday: BURSA / ISTANBUL Departing Bursa we begin our drive to Nicea, site of two ecumenical councils in the Byzantine period and later for its tiles during the Ottoman Empire. Continue on to Bursa, currently the fourth largest city in Turkey and the first capital of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th Century, before the Ottomans took Constantinople. We later check into our hotel for dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 8 - Sunday: ISTANBUL / BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN This morning we see the highlights along Istanbul Drive: the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. We go to the 17th century Ottoman Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Kariye Mosque and the Archaeological Museum. We then continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9 - Monday: ISTANBUL / ATHENS / NEW YORK Today we return to the Istanbul airport for our flight back home. Once we arrive in New York we will be on our way home, with cameras full of wonderful pictures and minds full of wonderful images of the trip of a lifetime. Those continuing to the "Footsteps of Paul" will not go to the airport.
BASIC TOUR "FOOTSTEPS OF PAUL " BEGINS HERE
DAY 1 -- Monday: ISTANBUL / KAVALA This morning we board our bus and make our way to the border where we cross into Greece. Continue on to the modern city of Kavala, sea port for Philippi, called Neapolis in Acts 16. Check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 2 -- Tuesday: KAVALA / PHILIPPI / THESSALONIKI This morning we visit Philippi, named after Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great. In Philippi, the Apostle first proclaimed the Gospel in Europe and was thrown in Prison (Acts 16). We’ll visit the prison, theater, Forum and Lydia’s Baptistery. The Epistle to the Philippians was written to the people of this city. We proceed to Thessaloniki, birthplace of Aristotle, where we see the Rotonda, Triumphal Arch of Galerius, the sea front and the White Tower. We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 -- Wednesday: THESSALONIKI / KALAMBAKA This morning we continue on to Pella, birthplace of Alexander, where we see excavations, mosaic floors and artifacts from the 4th century BC. Visit nearby Vergina with the tomb of Alexander the Great and then on to Veria, or Beroea, where Paul found people who eagerly received his message, “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true” (Acts 17:11). Continue our drive to Kozani and on to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4 -- Thursday: KALAMBAKA / DELPHI This morning we visit Meteora, a cluster of pillars of rock, and the “Hanging Monasteries” perched on top of rock cliffs. There are 13 monasteries here, only 4 of which are inhabited by monks. We continue our drive through the beautiful scenery of Greece. Imagine Paul walking with his followers and teaching them God’s word as they continued down the road. Our bus will take us through Larissa, Lamia and Trikala and on to Delphi for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5 -- Friday: DELPHI / ATHENS This morning in Delphi we visit the museum with the famous Bronze Charioteer and other items that date back to the time of Paul. We visit the Temple of Apollo, where Paul must have spoken to the people about the Living God, continue to the Theater, the Athenian Treasury and the Castalian Spring. We then follow Paul’s ministry south as we travel on the national highway through famous Thebes, Levadia and the village of Arachova. Continue to the hotel in Athens where we check in for dinner.
DAY 6 -- Saturday: ATHENS / ACROPOLIS / CORINTH This morning we visit the important modern and archaeological sites in the city of Athens, the Acropolis and neighboring monuments. While driving through the main streets of Athens, we have an opportunity to see other places of interest such as the University, the Academy, the National Library, the Temple of Zeus, the Panathenian Stadium, Omonia Square, Constitution Square and the Royal Palace. This afternoon we drive along the coastal road to Corinth. Continue along the wonderful beach of Kinetta, make a brief stop at the Corinth Canal, then on to ancient Corinth to visit the Museum, the Bema of St. Paul, the Doric Temple of Apollo, the Askeleion, Agora, Lechaion Road, and the Peirene Fountain. Return to the hotel in Athens for dinner.
DAY 7 -- Sunday: ATHENS / ISTANBUL / NEW YORK We transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.
Post-Extension AEGEAN CRUISE Begins
DAY 7 – Sunday: ATHENS / PIRAEUS / MYKONOS
This morning we are taken to Piraeus to start our Aegean Cruise. Late this afternoon we arrive at our first stop, Mykonos. Imagine a hilly, rock-ribbed island of 29 square miles,dotted with more than 350 tiny chapels built by 19th-century pirates for the protection of their patron saints. Picture dozens of quaint windmills and a small town of houses set neatly along narrow winding paths. Visit a fishing harbor with shops and boutiques selling handmade sweaters, dresses, fabrics, jewelry and other items at bargain prices. This evening we return to the ship for overnight and resume sailing.DAY 8 – Monday: RHODES
This morning we arrive at the island of Rhodes. Separated by a mere 10-mile strait from the Asia Minor coast, Rhodes is blessed by nature with exceptional gifts. Homer called it "the Bride of the Sun," later poets "the Island of Roses." In the Middle Ages, the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem established themselves at Rhodes and built a fortified city, now the best-preserved of its kind in the Mediterranean. AN OPTIONAL excursion is available to explore the lush hills and valleys of the eastern coast on the way to Lindos.DAY 9 – Tuesday: EPHESUS / PATMOS
This morning our cruise arrives in the Turkish port of Kusadasi (Island of Birds). Here we find delightful shopping opportunities in the Oriental Bazaar and in stores famous as carpet exporters. An OPTIONAL excursion takes us to one of antiquity's greatest cities: Ephesus, a half-hour ride by bus from Kusadasi. Then on a walking tour through the ancient city made almost entirely of marble, we see the 24,000-seat theater mentioned in Acts:19, Hadrian's library, the mile-long marble-paved "Harbour Avenue" and the Temple of Diana. In the afternoon we arrive at the beautiful island of Patmos, where St. John the Evangelist wrote the Revelation while in exile. An OPTIONAL excursion by bus takes us to an ancient hilltop monastery with a spectacular view of the island and harbor. A brief stop along the way allows us to visit a cave thought to be where St. John lived while on the island. Return to the ship for our evening sail.DAY 10 – Wednesday: PIRAEUS / ATHENS / NEW YORK
This morning we will arrive at Piraeus, the port of Athens. We will board our motorcoach and be taken to the airport for our flight home.
