1st Day
Arrival in Istanbul and meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, check- in. Leisure afternoon.
Overnight Istanbul.
2nd Day
Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:00 am.
Visiting to Topkapi Palace, which is from Ottoman Era.
Visiting Hagia Sophia Mousque which contains spactacular frescoes.
Lunch Break
After lunch break the Blue Mosque is visited, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets.
Visiting the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II.
Then walking through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the Yerebatan underground Cistern.
Overnight Istanbul.
3rd Day
Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:45 am.
Getting on boat of Bosphorus.
Time for lunch in a seaside fish restaurant.
Visiting the exotic Egyptian Spice Market on the Golden Horn.
Transfer to airport to Urfa and overnighting there.
4th Day
Meeting at hotel reception at 08:30.
Visiting the Mevlid Halil Mosque, the Cave of Prophet Abraham, then the sacred fish pool. Visiting Old Bazaar.
Lunch break.
Continuing to Harran, city of the prophet Abraham.
See the fortress, Islamic school and curious beehive-shaped adobe houses.
Overnighting in Urfa.
5th Day
Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:45 am.
Driving to see Gobekli Tepe, which is one of the most incredible archeological discoveries ever with its T-shaped megaliths carved with strange and delicate images, mostly of animals.
Driving to Hatay via Gaziantep.
Visiting the Gaziantep Zeugma Museum with the collection of impressive mosaics from the ancient site of Zeugma (Belkis) this museum has become one of the most extensive mosaic museums in the world.
Lunch break.
Visiting the Old town of Gaziantep with beautifully carved stonework of doors and windows in the old parts of town.
Driving to Hatay for overnighting.
6th Day
Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:45 am.
Visiting first church in the World for Christians, St. Pierre Church.
It was here at Antioch on the Orontes that believers were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). Visit the cave where they met in secret (may be partly closed for restauration). Paul and Silas departed from here on the second missionary journey (Acts 15:35-36).
Visiting mosaic museum (partially closed).
Overnighting in Hatay.
7th Day
Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:45 am.
Driving to Tarsus, birthplace of the Apostle Paul.
Visiting the Apostle Paul’s well, the Gate of Cleopatra, and the latest excavations.
Lunch break.
Visiting the archaeological remains of Seleucia, the port from which Paul, Barnabas and John Mark departed from Antioch on the first missionary journey.
Driving to Cappadocia.
Overnighting in Cappadocia.
8th Day
Pick-up from your hotel at 09:30am
Starting with Kaymaklı Underground City, one of deepest underground settlements in Cappadocia.
Drive to to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos )- Sobessosi found recently where mosaic houses & Archaeological excavation site can be seen.
Visiting with Keslik Monastery near Cemil where the frescoes can be seen by light due to be covered by thin smoke
Lunch break.
Visiting Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses samples.
Visiting Saruhan Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travellers could rest and recover from the day’s journey.
Continue with panorama of the Red Valley, outstanding volcanic rock formations, in the heart of Cappadocia.
Overnighting in Cappadocia.
9th Day
Pick-up from your hotel at 09:30 am
Meeting with the marvellous landscape of Cappadocia, Devrent valley;
Hiking in Pasabag near Zelve where you loose yourself between fairies.
Lunch break in Avanos, centre of terra cotta work of art, which is called as
Visiting the famous Goreme Open Air Museum in which the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches can be seen.
Last break in Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Back to hotel at around 17:30pm.
Overnighting in Cappadocia.
10th Day
Pick-up from hotel 2 hours before flight departure.
Having flight from Kayseri to Izmir (direct or via Istanbul).
Driving to Bergama where is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia and famous for its the impressive Acropolis with the steepest theatre in the World, Temple of Trajan and the Library which was foremost in the world.
Visiting the Asklepieion, famous medical centre of classical times.
Visiting the Red Basilica (St. John’s Church).
Visiting to Thyatira, now called Akhisar, another one of the Seven Churches of Asia
It was a city famous for purple dyes. Visiting the remains of a basilica and some architectural fragments from the Roman period. Lydia, the seller of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira.
Having a panoramic ride of Smyrna, the third larest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia
Overnighting in Izmir.
11th Day
Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:30 am.
Driving to one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches of Asia Sardis, presently Sart where wa the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC, portrayed as a dying church.
Visiting the great Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, which became a Byzantine Church. Visiting some ancient Lydian houses, and the restored gymnasium and reconstructed Synagogue.
Lunch break.
Driving to Philadelphia, nowadays called Alasehir, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia.
Driving to the healing city of Hierapolis, actually Pamukkale, the white «cotton fortress» where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites.
In Hierapolis the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip is visited where he was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian.
Overnighting in Denizli.
12th Day
Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:30 am.
Driving to Laodicea (present name Denizli) yet another of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor Visiting ancient city of Ephesus where the most richest Roman civils lived.
Visiting Virgin Mary house which was built above Ephesus. A lovely chapel is constructed on the site tended by Franciscans and open to visitors. It has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope.
Lunch break.
Then visiting Saint John Church where Apostle John spent his final years and he was buried.
Visiting Ephesus archaeological museum.
Overnighting in Kusadasi.
13th Day
Transfer to Izmir airport for flight to Istanbul.
Overnighting in Istanbul.
14th Day
Pick-up from hotel 3 hours before flight departure.
Transfer to Airport.
Notes
Please ask for discounted rates for family and for large groups.
Small group tours are with English speaking guide. On private tours, you may ask to have Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Russian or Japanese Speaking guides.
Upon special request we can reverse the itinerary.
Hotels
Please ask for our hotels.
Vip Customized
Please request.
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