Transbalkan Travel Service - Turkey : In the Steps of St. Paul

IN THE STEPS OF ST. PAUL
(REGULAR 13 NIGHTS / 14 DAYS)

Last Supper: JOHN 13:21 - Goreme Cave Churches, Cappadocia

Day 1 : ISTANBUL - ANKARA
Arrive in Istanbul and take a short connecting flight to Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey. Transfer to hotel by private coach. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA
In the morning, visit the remarkable Anatolian Civilizations Museum, among its treasures are Neolithic frescoes, Bronze Age emblems, the remains of the fabled Phyrigian king Midas, as well as many objects from the Hittites. Stroll in the old Ankara citadel. Tour the Augustus Temple and pay a visit to the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk. After lunch drive to the Cappadocia travelling along the shores of the great Salt Lake. Arrive in Cappadocia late afternoon.Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 3 : CAPPADOCIA
Start out early for a full day’s excursion into the magical lunarscape of Cappadocia’s rocky hills & valleys. Dominated by Erciyes Dagi, Mt. Argaeus, the region was first settled by ancient people then home to Romans, early Christians, Byzantines and Seljuks. Visit Goreme Church Valley, Zelve, Avanos, Ortahisar and Uchisar, and see some of the many churches carved into the rocks. Return to the hotel for night.

Day 4: CAPPADOCIA - ADANA
Morning visit the Kaymakli underground city, used by the early Christian refugees to escape from persecuters. On the way south visit Caravanserais passing through the Cilican Gates of the Taurus Mountain range, arrive in Adana. Stay the night.

Day 5: ADANA - ANTAKYA - ADANA
Early morning drive to Antakya, Antioch, the headquarter of Paul’s missionary journeys. Visit the port of Samandag, Seleucia, from which Paul sailed to Cyprus. Later visit the grotto of St. Peter in Antioch and impressive Mosaic Museum lunch. Return to Adana for the night.

Day 6: ADANA - ICONIUM (Konya)
Morning departure for Tarsus, St. Paul’s birthplace. A visit of the town, Cleopatra Gate, St. Paul’s Well. Drive along the mediterranean coastline. Passing the towns of Pompeipolis, Corycos, Silifke, continue to Konya leaving the Taurus Mountains. Stop for a short visit in Karaman, Derbe where Paul preached. Drive on though Lystra where Paul healed a man.

Day 7: KONYA - HIERAPOLIS
Morning sightseeing of Konya, visit the Mevlana Mouseleum and Museum, the founder of the whirling dervishes in the Islamic sect. Proceed to Yalvac, Pisidian Antioch where St. paul said, "We now turn to the gentiles" and opened Christianity to the world. Passing by Egridir Lake arrive at Pamukkale, Hierapolis and overnight.

Day 8: HIERAPOLIS - KUSADASI
Morning enjoy the beauty of natural pools of Pamukkale. Later drive to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches. Continue to Miletos where St. Paul Predicted his inprisonment. End the day visiting Apollo Temple of Didyma. Overnight at Kusadasi.

Day 9: KUSADASI - IZMIR
A fullday visit of Ephesus. Visit and explore the Hadrian Temple and Celcus Library, Temple of Diana one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Paul stayed in Ephesus two years to spread the word of Christianity. Ephesus Church is the first one addressed in Revelations. Late afternoon visit thed the House of Virgin Mary. Proceed to Izmir for overnight.

Day 10 : IZMIR
Morning visit Sardes the capital of Lydia where King Croesus ruled. Visit the gymnasium and the Temple of Artemis. Later drive to Alasehir, Philadelphia. In the city of "brotherly love" see the ancient city wall. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

Day 11 : IZMIR -CANAKKALE
Morning drive to Akhisar, Thyatira. The church at Thyatira had tolerated the works of Jezebel. Continue on to Pergamum to visit the Acropolis of Helenistic Pergamum. Among its buildings are the Altar of Zeus and the temples of Trajan & Dionysus. After visiting the Asclepion, the earliest health center of Asia Minor. Proceed to Assos and Troas where St. Paul set sail to Greece. Dinner and overnight at Canakkale.

Day 12 : CANAKKALE - ISTANBUL
Morning visit the site of Troy, the homeric city and the local museum. Cross the Dardenelles by ferry boat and drive through the battlefields of Gallipoli. Continue to Istanbul for overnight.

Day 13 : ISTANBUL
Full day sightseeing in Istanbul in the old quarters of the city; Church of Chora famed with Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, Hagia Sophia, Church built by the emperor Justinian in the sixth century. Visit the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome where chariot races were held in Roman times. Tour the Topkapi Palace museum with its priceless jewelled objects and the Porcelain Collection. Shopping in the Grand Bazaar.

Day 14 : DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport for departure flight to next destination.

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