ITINERARY: (12 DAYS)
ISTANBUL TROY ASSOS PERGAMON THYATIRA SARDES IZMIR 
KUSADASI EPHESUS PHILADELPHIA LAODICEA  PAMUKKALE KONYA
CAPPADOCIA ISTANBUL

This small group tour focuses on the Biblical sites of Turkey including the Seven Churches and Cappadocia. The tour also includes the major highlights of Turkey. Our Biblical tour is structured to allow more time in the sites and covers shorter distances where possible. We use high quality boutique hotels that reflect the culture, art and architecture of Turkey and centrally located 4* hotels so that you may do some discovering on your own. This tour is a full-service escorted tour including entry fees Click to Enlarge

and most meals. In Istanbul you are free to enjoy dinners in Istanbul's fine restaurants or go to an optional Turkish night or a dinner in Kumkapi (fish restaurants). Small group tours have a maximum of 10 passengers.

DAY 1 (SAT) 
ARRIVAL
Arrival in Istanbul airport and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul in 4* or boutique hotel.

DAY 2 (SUN) 
SULTANAHMET

Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Continue to the Topkapi Palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless

jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the elegant little Sokullu Pasa mosque and the hidden underground Theodosian Cistern. This tour may be done all or partially as a walking tour. Overnight in Istanbul in 4* or boutique hotel. B.L.

DAY 3 (MON) 
BYZANTINE CITY WALLS AND CHORA - CANAKKALE

Pick up from your hotel at 8.30. Follow the Theodosian Land Walls where people work in their small gardens and horse cart is still being used for transportation. Continue to the Sacred Spring of the Fish (Greek Orthodox Church). This forgotten shrine is 1500 years old and was founded during the early Byzantine Empire, although probably much older. The chapel courtyard is paved with tombstones written in a strange Kahramanian script. Visit the Kariye Church (Chora Museum) with its 14th c mosaics and frescoes, depicting scenes from the Bible. We will visit Eyup Imperial Mosque and have lunch then depart Istanbul for Canakkale crossing the Dardanelles by ferry. Overnight in Canakkale in boutique hotel. B.L.D

DAY 4 (TUE) 
CANAKKALE - TROY- ASSOS - AYVALIK

DAY 5 (WED) 
AYVALIK - PERGAMON - THYATIRA - SARDES - IZMIR
We will visit the Pergamon Acropolis, where the ruins of Zeus Altar can still be seen today. The acropolis is situated high above the plain and has a unique panoramic view. The very narrow and steep theater on the hillside could seat up to 10,000 people. Parchment paper was first produced in Pergamon. We will visit the remains of the Great Library, which rivaled the one of Alexandria in Egypt, the palaces of the kings, and temple of Trajan. We will visit the Red Basilica (from outside), once a temple of Serapis. John of Patmos mentioned Pergamon in Revelation. Pergamon (Rev 2:12-17) - the church that needed to repent (2:16). Explore the Asclepion, one of the earliest known centers of medicine, where Galen treated his patients. We will continue to Thyatira (Akhisar) Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29) - the church who had a false prophetess (2:20), has remains of a temple, colonnaded street and a large church, then to the ancient site of Sardes with its temple of Artemis and ancient gymnasium and synagogue. Sardis (Rev 3:1-6) - the church that had fallen asleep (3:2). Overnight in 4* hotel B.L.D.

DAY 6 (THU) 
IZMIR - EPHESUS - HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY - BASILICA OF ST JOHN - IZMIR

DAY 7 (FRI) 
IZMIR - PHILADELPHIA - LAODICIA - PAMUKKALE
We will drive to Philadelphia, which was one of the 7 Churches of the Revelation. We will also visit Laodicia. We continue to Pamukkale with its impressive calcium terraces and see the ancient site of Hierapolis with the Temple of Apollo, Theater, Martyrium of St. Phillip and see a large and extensive Necropolis. We will also visit the special museum housed in a Roman bath. Overnight in 4* Thermal hotel. B.L.D.

DAY 8 (SAT) 
PAMUKKALE - KONYA
We depart for Konya, which was known as Iconium in Roman times and was the capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to 13th centuries. Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi founded a Sufi order known as the Whirling Dervishes. We will visit the Museum of Mevlana and the great Seljuk monuments such as the Karatay Medrese and the Ince Minareli Medrese. Overnight in 4 * hotel. B.L.D.

DAY 9 (SUN) 
KONYA - CAPPADOCIA (THE SILK ROAD)
We will continue from Konya on the Old Silk Road trade route and visit Caravanserais from the Seljuk period and a hidden Crater lake before arriving in Cappadocia. Visit Selime, a village of rock cones below a mesa. It is possible to see the two-story colonnaded church and monastery, kitchens, "pekmez house" and camel tunnel all carved into the rock. We will have lunch in Belisirma village on the Melendez River then visit Ihlara Valley. View this incredible gorge, and time permitting, walk in the most scenic part of this canyon flanked by sheer rock walls and then continue to Derinkuyu or Kaymakli Underground City - descend through passages and tunnels, far underground. See amazing "millstone" defense doors, wineries and rooms carved from the rock. Visit Pigeon Valley - view ancient dovecotes cut into the rock face. Evening of cultural entertainment and music or performance of the Whirling dervishes. Overnight in special cave/volcanic stone hotel. B.L.D.

DAY 10 (MON) 
CAPPADOCIA - CAVE CHURCHES AND GOREME VALLEY - ISTANBUL

In the morning you will wake up in a world you have never imagined. Experience the feeling of living in an Anatolian village, where houses are built in caves, and life goes on as it has for centuries. You may see villagers baking bread, drying fruit on their rooftops or riding on donkeys to their fields. We will begin our visit to the enchanting "fairy chimneys" (conical and 

unusual rock formations) in Devrent Valley. We continue to the Goreme Open Air Museum, which was once a Byzantine monastery. See the finest examples of religious frescoes in rock-cut churches from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Enjoy Pasabagi Valley, while walking through vineyards among strange multiple "mushroom-capped" volcanic rock formations. We will also visit Cavusin Village and see abandoned troglodyte houses cut high up in the rock face. We will take a short walk in the Rose Valley, where mineral deposits have given beautiful color to the weathered stones and then continue to Avanos, center of terra cotta work since 3000 BC. See a pottery demonstration using the ancient kick-wheel technique. Transfer to airport for evening flight to Istanbul and transfer to hotel. Overnight in 4* or boutique hotel. B.L.

DAY 11 (TUE) 
ISTANBUL
Free day or optional tour of Istanbul. Overnight in 4* or boutique hotel. B.

DAY 12 (WED) 
DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport for departure. B.

Tour is limited to 10 Passengers maximum -You may combine this tour with our special Anatolian Houses tour or with Mysteries of Eastern Turkey tour.

TOUR PRICE: (IN EUROS)

BIBLICAL TURKEY: SEVEN CHURCHES AND CAPPADOCIA TOUR: (TOUR CODE: RC12)

INCLUDED:
All airport transfers
Accommodation in hotels as mentioned
Meals as indicated (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
Museum entry fees
Transportation in non-smoking minibus with professional English speaking guide and professional driver.
Whirling Dervish performance

NOT INCLUDED: International or domestic flights, drinks, tips to guide and driver and items of a personal nature. ** Domestic flight price, listed separately is approximate. ***Supplements may be due for holiday and special periods.

OPTIONAL: We can arrange for pre- or post-tours or hotel accommodation for this of you who want to see more of Turkey. We can also arrange for a Balloon Tour in Cappadocia.

PAYMENT:
400 EURO per person is due at the time of booking, which is non-refundable. The balance is due one month prior to tour departure. No refund will be given for unused tour service after commencement of tour for any reason. We recommend trip insurance. See terms and conditions: Click Here
Please add 6% for any amount paid by credit card, except for initial deposit. Balance may be paid by bank draft.

Hotels Featured in this tour:

Istanbul:

4*/boutique: Megara Hotel, Metropol Hotel, Tash Konak, Grand Yavuz Hotel, Historia Hotel
Superior boutique: Daphne Hotel, Mina Hotel, Garden House Hotel

Canakkale: Artur Hotel or Canak Hotel

Ayvalik: Halic Park Hotel or Ayvalik Beach Hotel

Izmir: Best Western Konak Hotel or similar

Pamukkale: 4* Lycus River Thermal Hotel or Pamuksu Hotel or Richmond Pamukkale Thermal

Konya: Bera Mevlana Hotel or Rumi Hotel

Cappadocia: Gamirasu Cave Hotel or Elkep Evi Hotel

*Hotel information is available on our website at Turkey Hotels.
Similar hotels may be substituted if the above are not available at the time of booking.