13 Day St. Paul In Turkey

DAY 1, Monday – Depart the USA
Depart New York for Istanbul, Turkey. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey.

DAY 2, Tuesday – Arrive in Istanbul, Time at leisure, Welcome Dinner
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. This evening, enjoy an orientation meeting with your tour escort, followed by a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Welcome Dinner

DAY 3, Wednesday - Istanbul City Tour
Today's full day tour of Istanbul begins at the Roman Hippodrome, and proceeds to visit the Basilica of St. Sophia, which was conceived by Emperor Constantine and later rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. This tour also includes a visit to the famous Sultanahmet Mosque or Blue Mosque, a 17th century Ottoman church whose vast domed center and interior walls are adorned with some of the world's most skilled and decorative mosaics. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to view the Suleymaniye Mosque, considered the most beautiful of all the Imperial mosques, and the Topkapi Palace. The tour concludes with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world, featuring over 58 streets and more than 4000 shops. Join us for dinner this evening.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4, Thursday - Flight to Adana, Antakya City Tour
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short flight to the ancient agricultural centre of Adana. Upon arrival, enjoy a relaxing drive to Antakya, the ancient biblical town of Antioch. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore Antakya on your own. This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Antakya
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5, Friday - Tarsus Sightseeing
This morning, depart for the ancient city of Tarsus, St. Paul's birthplace and home to a leading University in Paul's time. Upon arrival, visit St. Paul's Well across the square where he worked as a tent maker. Continue to view Cleopatra's Gate and the Tomb of Sardanapulus, and afterwards, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant nearby. After lunch, continue to Cappadocia for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Cappadoccia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6, Saturday - Cappadocia Sightseeing with Underground City of Kaymakli
Today's tour takes you into the heart of Cappadoccia, a region known for its rock-carved cities, churches, and monasteries. Enjoy visits to some of the dozens of churches with frescoes dating back more than a thousand years, before continuing to the underground city of Kaymakli. Comprising an intricate system of shafts hollowed out of the mountainside, this 7th century city was built by the Christians of the region to escape the invading Roman armies. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Cappadoccia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 7, Sunday - Sunday Mass, Hieropolis Tour
Celebrate Sunday Mass early this morning, and then depart for Yalvac (Psidien Antioch), where St. Paul first preached to the pagan world. Upon arrival, visit the ancient Hieropolis, which, during the Byzantine era, was the site of a large Christian church dedicated to St. Philip, who was martyred there in 80 A.D. Continue to Pamukkale this afternoon
Overnight: Pamukkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 8, Monday - Ephesus Tour
This morning, travel to Ephesus where St. Paul spent two years teaching the gospel. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone structure believed by many Christians to be the retreat of Mary and John the Apostle after Christ's crucifixion. Though some Evangelical and religious scholars question Mary's relocating to Ephesus, many agree that John did return, and that Ephesus was indeed the site where he wrote the three epistles. Continue to visit the Basilica of St. John, constructed by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century on the slopes of the Ayasoluk Hill. The Tomb of St. John, which is situated beneath the Basilica's central dome, became one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the Middle Ages. Following lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9, Tuesday - Philadelphia & Sardis Sightseeing en route to Izmir
Depart Kusadasi for the ancient city of Philadelphia, an important Christian centre during Byzantine times. Upon arrival, visit Sardis, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Afterwards, continue to Izmir, the ancient city believed to be the birthplace of Homer.
Overnight: Izmir
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10, Wednesday - Thyatira & Pergamum Sightseeing
This morning, travel to Thyatira, the ancient Christian centre Paul visited on a number of occasions during his missionary travels. Upon arrival, tour the city, including a visit to the Church of Thyatira, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Afterwards, continue to Pergamum, one of the richest and most powerful kingdoms during the ancient Hellenistic period (289-129 B.C.). Here, you will visit the Acropolis, which houses the Temple of Trajan, the Heroon shrine, the Sanctuary of Athena, the Altar of Zeus, the Theater, and the Library of Pergamum, built by King Eumenes II, and whose collection came second only to that of Alexandria's. From here, visit the Asclepion, a leading health center of the ancient world. Continue to Ayvalik in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Ayvalik
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 11, Thursday - Troy Tour, Return to Istanbul
Today, travel to the classical city of Troy, the city made immortal by Homer's epic poem the Iliad. Upon arrival, enjoy a tour of this 4000-year-old city and legendary center of the Trojan War. Following your tour of Troy, cross the Dardanelles by ferry and continue to Istanbul for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 12, Friday - Bosphorus Cruise
This morning, enjoy a half day Bosphorus cruise; and in the evening, celebrate your last night in Turkey with a farewell dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

DAY 13, Saturday – Depart for USA
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Meals: Breakfast