Flying to Antalya

Arrival to Antalya airport.

Drive to hotel. Overnight in Antalya

Day 2- Antalya 

Attalia- Perge - Aspendos

Visit Perge, where Paul landed after sailing from the island of Cyprus during his first missionary journey (Acts 14:13–14). That Perge was a wealthy city is still easily seen today from its 15,000–seat theatre, 12,000–seat stadium, Hellenistic gate with its “Twin Towers,” baths with under–floor heating, colonnaded marketplace, water fountains, and impressive colonnaded street with a flowing water channel in the middle. A little further east is Aspendos, which is impressive for both its magnificent aqueduct and its 20,000–seat theatre which is the best–preserved in the whole of Turkey. Return to Antalya, which in Paul’s day was known as Atallia and was the place from where the apostle sailed home at the end of his first missionary journey (Acts 14:25–26). In the heart of the old town we will visit St. Paul Cultural Center, a “coffee shop” run by Christians that more importantly also serves as home to two churches: one Turkish and the other international. Enjoy a tasty lunch (a modest donation for the lunch will help support the ministry here) and then listen to a Turkish pastor about what it is like to live as a Christian in a country where 99.9% of its citizens are Muslim. Afterwards, we will have free time to walk and shop in the quaint restored area of the old harbor, also enjoying the view of the very port from which Paul sailed. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.

Myra – Andriake – Phaselis 

Drive west to Demre to visit the ancient site of Myra, the city of St Nicholas. See its lovely Roman theater and Lycian tombs. Then visit Andriake, the ancient port of Myra, where the Austrian Archaeological Institute perform fieldwork since 2005. Here Paul changed ships on his way to Rome. Then drive to Phaselis, another important ancient harbor city 10 miles west of the touristic town of Kemer. After visiting Phaselis, return to Antalya for dinner and overnight.

Psidian Antioch- Coloosea  

Drive north over the Taurus Mountains to Yalvaç to visit Pisidian Antioch and its Museum. Paul preached his first sermon in Acts here. We will see the important imperial cult temple built by Augustus as well as an important church dedicated to Paul in Asia Minor. Later we will drive west to Lycus valley. We will stop in Colossae will be brief, since this site has not yet been excavated. Nevertheless, this is an important site for Christians to visit, since Paul sent here two letters: one to the church of Colossae .Dinner and overnight  in one of the nearby modern resorts of Pamukkale whose thermal baths are sure. 

Hierapolis – Laodicea - Philedelphia

Start the day by visiting the third of the three key biblical cities in the Lycus Valley: Hierapolis. With its hot thermal springs well–known already in the ancient world for its medicinal qualities as well its spectacular white travertine terraces, Hierapolis remains just as popular with travelers today as it was in biblical times. Equally impressive, however, are the remains of the ancient city: the Arch of Domitian, a colonnaded street and marketplace, ancient baths, a 20,000–seat theatre built in 200 BC, the largest ancient graveyard in Anatolia containing over 1,200 tombs, tumuli and sarcophagi, and the Martyrium of St. Philip, a 5th century AD structure on the site where Philip—either the apostle or the evangelist (Acts 6:1–7; 21:8–9; Acts of Philip)—was believed to have been killed in AD 80. Our next stop is Philadelphia where much of this ancient city in an earthquake–prone area has either been destroyed or lies buried under the modern city. John wrote to the church here. Our second stop is Laodicea. Although the excavation work is still in its early stages, Laodicea was a major city in Roman times, as is clear from not only the size of the ancient site but also its two theatres, stadium, aqueduct and major street lined with shops. Laodicea is not only the last of the seven churches to whom John directed the book of Revelation (Rev. 3:14–22), but it also had a close relationship with the nearby churches of Colossae and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13–15) and was the recipient of one of Paul’s now lost letters (Col. 4:16). Rev. 3:7–13), commending them for their patience endurance in spite of persecution. After lunch we will drive to Hermes Valley and we will have a quick stop for Philadelphia where much of this ancient city in an earthquake–prone area has either been destroyed or lies buried under the modern city. John wrote to the church here (Rev. 3:7–13), commending them for their patience endurance in spite of persecution. We are going to stay in Salihli which is ancient Sardis. 

Sardis, Thyatira, Pergamum

After breakfast, first stop is Sardis (Rev. 3:1–6). Here we see the remains of the magnificent temple of Artemis, the beautifully reconstructed gymnasium and public baths, and the largest known synagogue outside Palestine. On the way to Pergamum we will stop briefly in the ancient city of Thyatira, where, due to the presence of the modern city of Akhisar, few archaeological remains have thus far been uncovered. John warned the church here about its toleration of a woman symbolically called Jezebel who was leading believers astray, causing them “to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols” (Rev. 2:18–29) Drive to Pergamum which is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Turkey. Its attractions are hard to surpass: a 10,000–seat theatre on the side of the acropolis which is the steepest in the ancient world; the magnificently restored temple of Trajan; a library of 200,000 volumes second in size only to that in Alexandria; the base of the Altar of Zeus; the temple of Dionysus; and the medical center of Asclepius with its own theatre, library, underground tunnel and other buildings. John warned the church here that they were living in a place of “Satan’s throne” (Rev. 2:12–19) Overnight in Bergama 

Izmir (Smyrna)

Izmir, one of the Seven Churches and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world. First, drive up to Mt. Pagus (now called Kadifekale or “Velvet Castle”) which is the acropolis of ancient Smyrna from where we have a great view of the modern city of Izmir and its harbor. Here we think about John’s word of commendation for the Christians in Smyrna who were persevering in the faith despite persecution (Rev. 2:8–11). Then visit the ancient Agora of Smyrna (modern Izmir), then the Archaeological Museum, the Dario Moreno Street, the Old Elevator with a panoramic view of the Izmir Bay, the vivid Kemeraltı Bazaar and the authentic Hisarönü Mosque. Taste the freshly grounded Turkish coffee after the exploration of the Kızlarağası Han Caravanserai. At the end of the Kemeraltı Bazaar there is the famous Konak Square where the symbol of the city, the grand Ottoman Clock Tower standsand the famous bazaar area of Kemeraltı. Drive Selcuk. Overnight in near Ephesus or Kusadasi.

Patmos 

Daily tour to the Greek Island of Patmos by private boat. Visit the Cave of Revelation and St. John’s Monastery. Return back to Turkey.  Overnight in Kusadasi or near Ephesus

We can change the date of Patmos Tour according weather conditions. In case of bad weather we can offer you another alternative tour.

Ephesus

Firstly, visit The Basilica of St John. Then visit the most impressive biblical site of our trip: Ephesus. The former glory of this city can still today be easily appreciated from its well–preserved streets, temples, fountains, public baths, terraced houses and theatres. Ephesus was also the site of the Artemis temple—one of seven wonders of the ancient world. There is the same theatre where some 24,000 citizens of Ephesus gathered shouting “Great is Artemis!” in a riot started in response to Paul’s ministry there. The apostle visited this city only briefly during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18–21) but returned during his third missionary journey for a much longer period of two years and three months (Acts 19:1–20:1). Timothy later served as pastor in this city during which time Paul wrote him two letters (1 & 2 Timothy). Some years later Ephesus served as the home base for the apostle John’s ministry from where he wrote a number of letters (1, 2, 3 John) and to which he sent the Book of Revelation. In addition to the ancient city, visit the “slope houses” (the wealthiest homes in Ephesus that have been marvelously reconstructed), the Ephesus Museum, which houses several impressive items from this site.

We will also have lunch at St. John Café which is leading by some missionaries who are planting church in modern Ephesus region. We will have chance to talk and hear with/from them. Overnight and dinner, near Ephesus or Kusadasi.

MILETUS , DIDYMA ,PRIENE 

 Today we are going to visit the excavations at Miletus, where Paul bid farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus at the end of his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20). The site contains a large theater where an important inscription refers to the Jews and “God-fearers” of the city. The God-fearers were monotheistic Gentiles who constituted a large portion of Paul’s converts. Then we will visit Didyma's Temple of Apollo with its very well-known oracles and one of the sacred places of antiquity. Walk in the footsteps of priests who visited this great temple to consult the oracle. Although looted and burnt many times, it keeps the original impression. Priene, another site on this leg of the trip, had a synagogue (recently discovered) and had a substantial Christian community during the Byzantine period and was the seat of a bishop. Overnight in Kusadasi or near Ephesus.

Transfer from our hotel to Izmir airport for flight back home.