When you arrive in the Turkish capital of Ankara, you will meet our tour guide and you will go to your hotel upon arrival in Ankara via Istanbul. The rest of the day is yours.
Key Information about St. Paul’s Biblical Tour
Tour Duration: 14 nights / 15 days
Days of Operation: Private Tour – Regular Tour
Destinations: 1 night in Ankara, 2 nights in Cappadocia, 2 nights in Adana, 1 night in Konya, 2 nights in Antalya, 1 night in Pamukkale, 2 nights in Izmir, 1 night in Ayvalik, 2 nights in Istanbul.
Hotel’s Class: 5 Star Hotels
Season: All Year
Tour Customizable: Yes
When you arrive in the Turkish capital of Ankara, you will meet our tour guide and you will go to your hotel upon arrival in Ankara via Istanbul. The rest of the day is yours.
This morning after breakfast at the hotel, you'll visit the Anatolian Civilization Museum and Kemal Ataturk's Mausoleum, the Turkish Republic's founder. Then, our tour will continue with Cappadocia in the afternoon and we will pass along the beaches of the Great Salt Lake. Late this afternoon, arrival and overnight in Cappadocia.
You have a whole day excursion today into Cappadocia's mystical moonscape of desolate hills and valleys. Cappadocia, dominated by Erciyes Dagi (Mt. Argaeus), was home to ancient peoples as well as Romans and early Christians. Your journey will continue with Goreme Church Valley, Zelve, Avanos, and Uchisar to see the best of the region's many caved-in churches. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Today's journey starts at the Kaymakli underground settlement, which was used by early Christians to flee persecutors. Before arriving in Adana, we will visit via Caravanserais. Overnight in Adana.
We will travel to Antioch this morning after the breakfast, the city where Paul, Peter, and Barnabas built a massive church that became the focus of missionary activity. For the first time, disciples of Christ were referred to as Christians. Next, we will visit the port of Seleucia, Samandag, where Paul sailed to Cyprus. Later on, pay a visit to St. Peter's Grotto and the amazing Mosaic Museum. Return to Adana for overnight.
Today, we will go to Tarsus, Apostle Paul's birthplace, to see the village, Cleopatra Gate, and St. Paul's Well. The towns of Pompeipolis, Corycos, and Silifke are all along the Mediterranean coast. Before arriving at Iconium, we will stop at Derbe, where he preached.
Follow the footsteps of Apostle Paul in the first two cities where he preached, Lystra and Antioch-of-Pisidia. And then, arrive in Antalya, Turkey.
Perge, Side, and Aspendos were ancient Pamphylian, Hellenistic, and Roman settlements. Perges' majesty can be seen in the remains of its stadium and theatre. Explore the seaside theater, Roman baths, and ruins in Side. The theatre in Aspendos is the best protected in the Mediterranean region, with a capacity of 15,000 spectators.
Today we arrive in Laodicea. The Church of Laodicea had been warned about its oblivion. Spend the rest of the day in Pamukkale (Hierapolis), where cascading hot springs flow into limestone basins to create cotton castles. And you can enjoy white terraces as well as ancient pool.
Philadelphia, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, is our first stop today. And then, continue with Sardes, the thriving Lydian Empire's ancient capital famous for legendary King Midas and his Golden Touch. Continue to Izmir (ancient Smyrna) and see St. Polycarp's Church. Homer was born in the Turkish city of Izmir.
We will make our way to Ephesus, Asia Minor's greatest large city during Apostle Paul's period. The 2,000-year-old marble streets, a magnificent theatre where St. Paul preached, the Library of Celsius, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, are all part of the vast excavation. Paul spent three years in Ephesus as a missionary. We'll go to St. Mary's stone cottage, as well as the Basilica and tomb. (optional)
Travel to Pergamum and see the Asclepion, an ancient healing centre. Visit the Archaeological Museum and stroll around the Acropolis. After that, go to Thyatira, the smallest of the seven churches. Lydia, a purple fabric vendor in Philippi, was a native of Thyatira. Finally, you travel to Ayvalik, a coastal city on the Turkish peninsula, for an overnight stay.
Drive down the coast to Alexandria Troas, where Paul was inspired to spread the gospel in Europe. Then go to Troy, the legendary home of the Trojan horse, and see nine levels of civilisation. We stop in Bursa, a city with several thermal hot springs and the location of the Ecumenical Councils during the Roman Empire, on our way to Istanbul. Make our way to Istanbul.
You will be transferred to the airport to fly back to your home. And this is the end of our tour.
