St. Paul’s Biblical Tour (14 nights/15 days), Religious Tour

TOUR DETAILS:
St. Paul’s Biblical Tour (14 nights/15 days)
Tour Duration: 14 nights / 15 days
Days of Operation: Private Tour
Destination's: Turkey
Hotel's Class: 5, 4, 3 Stars Hotel or Tourist Class
Season: All Year
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes


Overnight Places:
3 nights Istanbul, 1 night Ankara, 2 nights Cappadocia, 1 night Adana, 1 night Mersin 1 night Alanya, 1 night Antalya, 1 night Pamukkale, 2 nights Kusadasi, 1 night Pergamum.


Tour Highlights: Ankara - Cappadocia - Tarsus - Adana - Antioch - Mersin - Anamur - Alanya - Antalya - Pamukkale - Philadelphia - Sardis - Kusadasi - Ephesus - Smyrna - Pergamum - Iznik (Nicea) - Istanbul (15 Days & 14 Nights .) Departing from Ankara and terminating in Istanbul

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Istanbul.
Welcome to Turkey. Arrive in Istanbul Airport, met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After check into the hotel, meet at the lobby for welcome and info cocktail. Overnight in Istanbul. Includes: (D).

Day 2: Istanbul.
Our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - its three names span more than 2600 years, nearly 1600 of them as the capital of two of the greatest empires the world has known, Byzantine and Ottoman. We visit the Topkapi Palace including treasury section, The Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place and free time in Grand bazaar with its 3.500 shops. Overnight in Istanbul. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 3: Ankara.
A fter breakfast drive to Ankara. Arrive in Ankara (Capital of Turkey), sightseeing of Ankara: see the Anatolian Civilization Museum, the Temple of Augustus and Ataturk's Mausoleum. drive to our Hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Ankara. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 4: Ankara-Cappadocia.
After breakfast, Continue to Cappadocia with a lunch / rest stop in Aksaray before a short ride to Ihlara Valley, to see the impressive, Byzantine rock carvings and frescoes. Enjoy your dinner and overnight stay in Cappadocia. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 5: Cappadocia.
Full day excursion of Cappadocia to see the surreal landscapes of volcanic ash, formed 3 million years ago: spectacular red rock cones, troglodyte churches and homes dating from 4000 BC Now visit Uchisar, Goreme and Zelve, then Avanos, to visit one of its famous, pottery workshops. Later return to your hotel for overnight stay. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 6: Tarsus-Adana.
Visit Kaymakli, a unique underground city. Then drive to Tarsus, birthplace of St. Paul. See St. Paul's Well, Cleopatra's Gate and the ancient city. It was near here that a Great Fish "vomited out Jonas upon the dry land" Next to Adana for dinner and overnight stay. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 7: Antakya( Antioch )-Mersin.
Full day excursion to Antakya (Antioch). Here Jesus' followers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26) Peter, Paul and also Barnabas preached here. Visit St. Peter's Grotto and the exquisite Mosaic Museum. View the old city of Iskenderun before beginning the return drive to Mersin for dinner and overnight stay. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 8: Anamur-Alanya.
Depart westward along the Mediterranean shoreline, a famous coastal road. Take a lunch break in Anamur. See City of the Monophystie Archbishop of Seleucia. Overnight in Alanya. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 9: Antalya.
Continue to the ancient city of Side, the old port where Paul, Barnabas and Mark landed during their missionary journeys. Later they sailed from here to Antioch. Than visit Perge, where St. Paul preached when arriving from Cyprus (Acts 13-14), and to Aspendos with its magnificent theater. Next drive to Antalya for dinner and overnight stay. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 10: Hierapolis-Pamukkale.
Proceed to Laodicea which was condemned by St. John in Revelation Acts (4:15). Drive to Hierapolis, now called Pamukkale, St. Philip was martyred here in 1st AD. Walk the Necropolis and famous Avenue of Tombs. Overnight stay. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 11: Philadelphia-Sardes-Kusadasi.
Visit there one of the seven churches of the Apocalypse and the remains of the Cathedral. Continue to in Alasehir, the remains of a church. Visit , capital of the ancient Lydia with temple of the Cybele & Diana, which became later a church, see the royal road. Continue to Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 12: Ephesus - Kusadasi.
Drive to Selcuk. Visit the monastery of St. John and Ephesus , the best preserved city in the world. See the Library of Celsus, a Stadium where Paul Preached (Acts 19), and the Theatre. Return to Kusadasi. Then have dinner and overnight stay. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 13: Izmir( Smyrna )-Pergamum.
This morning take a beautiful drive to Izmir (ancient Smyrna), After visiting the St. Policarp church in Izmir , continue to in Akhisar , ancient commercial place in connection with Troy & Sardes. and visit Bergama (Pergamum) , the Acropolis, high above the plain. See the pagan Temples and Altar of Zeus.Overnight in Pergamum. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 14: Pergamum-Nicea-Istanbul.
After breakfast long drive to Istanbul through Iznik (Nicea) where the Nicean Creed was formed. Depart for Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul. Includes: (D).

Day 15: Departure.
Today drive to the Airport and return flight home, arriving the same day with fresh memories, souvenirs and a renewed interest in Turkey, the land of culture, faith and mystery. Includes: (B).

Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
(B), (L), (D); B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner. Reservation

Tour package includes:
- 14 nights special Boutique and 4 star Hotel Accommodations including breakfast.
- All transportation in Turkey by private a/c car or coach or minivan.
- Meals mentioned above the program.
- All entrance fees to the sites and to the museums mentioned on the above program.
- Comprehensive sight-seeing as itinerary.
- Special pre-departure information pack.
- English speaking professional guide throughout.
- Tips to the restaurants.
- All Portage.

Excludes:
- Tips to guide, driver, and hotel porters.
- Telephone calls.
- Laundry.
- Things not mentioned as included and things of personal nature.
- Foreign airport taxes & security charges, passport and visa fees, travel insurance.