BIBLICAL TURKEY
per person
11 DAYS / 10 NIGHTS 5* HOTELS
TOUR TYPE: RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND HASSLE-FREE
Inspiring discovery of sensational sites. Home to early Christians, Turkey has lot to offer to travelers curious about the emergence and expansion of Christianity while continuing to amaze them with the beauty of its natural sites and timeless Istanbul. We start with gorgeous classic sites of Istanbul and we fly to Antakya, home to first Christian church. We continue to some important sites like Tarsus and pass through Taurus Mountains and arrive to magical Cappadocia. Then we try to follow as much as we can the footsteps of Saint Paul in western Anatolia and see some magnificent historical and natural sites. Hassle free. A great combination.
HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1: Arrival day. No museum with entrance fee
Day 2: Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Underground Cistern, Grand Bazaar
Day 3: Istanbul – Antakya flight, Saint Peter Church, Antakya Mosaic Museum, Seleucia Pieria
Day 4: Tarsus, Well of Saint Paul, Gate of Cleopatra, Saint Paul Church, Eski Gumus Monestery
Day 5: Goreme Open Air Museum, Red Valley, Avcilar Valley, Uçhisar, Carpet Manufactory, Pottery Workshop
Day 6: Pasabag Valley, Love Valley, Cavusin Village, Sultanhani, Konya Monastery of Whirling Dervishes
Day 7: Antioch of Pisidia, Colossae, Laodicea, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Martyrium of Saint Philippe
Day 8: Miletus, Ephesus, Selcuk Archaeological Museum, Saint John’s Basilica
Day 9: House of Virgin Mary, leather shop, Izmir – Istanbul flight
Day 10 : Bosphorus Cruise, Mosque of Soliman the Magnficient, Beyoglu District
Day 11: Return day [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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IncludedBIBLICAL TURKEY
1
Day 1: Arrival day. No museum with entrance fee
Arrival to Istanbul International airport and transfer to your hotel. Overnight .
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Day 2: Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Underground Cistern, Grand Bazaar
You will start your journey with a discovery of Istanbul's historical heart. You will first visit the Topkapı Palace, the court and the residence of Ottoman Sultans, and home to the imperial treasury, then visit the Hagia Sophia ‘The Church of Holy Wisdom’, the marvelous basilica built in the 6th century, as the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest church in the world for 1000 years; and its interiors are decorated with stunning golden mosaics. After the lunch you will visit the Blue Mosque, with six elegant minarets and a striking indoor with blue Iznik tiles with intricate patterns. You will then take a take a stroll through the ancient Hippodrome, significant for being the center for sports and entertainment in the old Constantinople as well as very important political spot. The last visit of the day will be the visit the Basilica Cistern, impressive underground water reservoir from 6th century. Thn you will have free time in the Grand Bazaar, the largest and most attractive covered bazaar in the world (B,L)
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Day 3: Istanbul - Antakya flight, Saint Peter Church, Antakya Mosaic Museum, Seleucia Pieria
Morning flight to Antakya, upon arrival, explore Antioch where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians (Acts:11:26).Visit St. Peter’s church. The first church known in the World. Then you will visit the famous Antakya Mosaic Museum and Seleucia Pieria, where St. Paul and St.Barnabas embarked for Cyprus on their first missionary journey (Acts:13:4). Lunch and free time in the afternoon in Antakya old town. Dinner and overnight in 5 star Hotel in Antakya. (B, L, D)
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Day 4: Tarsus, Well of Saint Paul, Gate of Cleopatra, Saint Paul Church, Eski Gumus Monestery
After breakfast depart from hotel for Cappadocia. On the way, visit Tarsus, birthplace of St. Paul. “I am a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia” (Acts:22:3).See the well of St.Paul and remains of the house that is believed to be his. Visit St.Paul Church and have lunch at a local restaurant near the antique gate of Cleopatra. Continue for Cappadocia. Visit Eski Gumus Monastery, one of the finest in the region. Diner & overnight in special deluxe category boutique hotel in Cappadocia. (B, L, D)
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Day 5: Goreme Open Air Museum, Red Valley, Avcilar Valley, Uçhisar, carpet manufactory, pottery workshop
Early morning optional Hot Air Baloon tour and you will have a full day for discovering the beautiful landscapes and thrilling cultural sites of the region. Cappadocia has a unique terra formation, with tuff coned and lunar landscape shaped by forces of nature over millions of years. For ages, men have dug into this soft, but firm tuff to create dwellings, homes (locals call them 'fairy chimneys', monasteries, churches and underground cities.
The first visit in Cappadocia visit will be the Göreme Valley which is home to magnificent rock-hewn churches decorated with Byzantine frescoes (The Apple Church, The Serpent Church, The St. Barbara Church, The St. Basil Church...). After the lunch, you’ll stop at Uçhisar Village that provides some of the most dramatic panoramas of the astonishing Cappadocia. Then we will stop at the red Valley (Derbent) and Avcılar Valley. Next, we drive to Avanos, famous for its pottery making since Hittite times and rugs which are the splendid representations of the Turkish carpet making tradition. Here we learn about these regional crafts and see demonstrations performed by local craftsmen. We will finish the day with a visit of an underground city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
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Day 6: Pasabag Valley, Love Valley, Cavusin Village, Sultanhani, Konya Monastery of Whirling Dervishes
Today we will stop at Pasabag Valley and Love Valley in Cappadocia and we’ll have free time in Çavuşin village. Çavuşin has its rock-cut dwellings and stone houses with elegantly carved facades. Ortahisar remains a quaint farming village which has a fotress- like rock rising above its center. You may visit it or simply take a seat at village’s cafes with their friendly and relaxed atmosphere and talk with local people. Lunch en route and will drive to Konya. On the road, we will visit Sultanhanı, a 13’th century Caravanserai on the Silk Road. In Konya, ancient Iconium St.Paul and St.Barnabas both preached in synagogue. The city was the home of the whirling dervishes in the 12th century. Visit the Monastery of the Whirling Dervishes and the shrine of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the founder of the order. Sufi is an exceptional poet and humanist, who preached humility, wisdom and love. His philosophy is best summarized in these verses he wrote, "Come, as you are, whoever you are". His tomb has been converted into a museum which houses relics that belonged to him and his disciples. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Konya. (B, L, D)
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Day 7: Antioch of Pisidia, Colossae, Laodicea, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Martyrium of Saint Philippe
Morning drive to Pamukkale, on the way, visit to Pisidan Antioch. It was here that St.Paul changed world history by opening Christianity to the pagan world. Visit the church which was an old synagogue where St. Paul addressed to the Jews., the Roman theatre and the Temple of August.. Drive to the Biblical site of Colossae. Next visit Laodicea, visit the ruins. Then continue to famous Pamukkale, popularly known as the ‘Cotton Castle’, the dazzling formation of white calcium cascades formed by mineral springs and the ruins of Roman health spa of Hierapolis including Martyrium of Saint Philippe. Dinner and overnight at 5 star hotel in Pamukkale, and enjoy a leisurely bath in the warm mineral water of your hotel in Pamukkale (B ,L ,D)
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Day 8: Miletus, Ephesus, Selcuk Archaeological Museum, Saint John’s Basilica
After breakfast, drive to ancient Miletus, where St.Paul had his farewell talk to Ephesians on the way back from his 3rd missionary journey. Then drive to Ephesus. Lunch. Visit Ephesus, the Roman capital of Asia Minor, and one of the most attractive archaeological sites in the world. You will see the Odeon, the Hadrian Temple, the Celsus Library, Fountain of Trajan, brothel, latrines, baths, Curetes and Marble streets and we’ll sit in the same immense Theatre where St. Paul preached and roman dramas were performed. Then visit the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and St. John’s Basilica. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L, D)
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Day 9: House of Virgin Mary, leather shop, Izmir - Istanbul flight
Visit the House of St. Mary on a wooded hilltop which was miraculously discovered . Then visit a leather shop where you will attend to fashion show and appreciate leather goods. Lunch and afternoon flight to Istanbul.Transfer to your hotel. Free time in Istanbul. (B, L)
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Day 10 : Bosphorus Cruise, Mosque of Soliman the Magnficient, Beyoglu District
Bosphorus Cruise where we will contemplate the fortresses, the palaces, mosques and old wooden traditional villas on the shore on both Asian and European sides. then visit the Mosque of Soliman the Magnificent, one of the best works of the famous Ottoman architect, Sinan. Then walk through the pulsating streets of Beyoğlu district from ‘Tunnel’ area to Taksim square, discovering, fish market, flower passage, catholic, Greek and Armenian churches, markets and coffeehouses. Lunch. Free time in Istanbul in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel. (B, L)
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Day 11: Return day
Transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your return flight (B)
ITINERARY
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 10 NIGHTS ACCOMODATION IN 5* HOTELS BEST ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE SERVICE PRIVATE VEHICLE AS REQUESTED AT YOUR ITINERARY THROUGHOUT THE TOUR VAT ALL MEALS AS MENTIONED (10 BREAKFASTS – 9 LUNCHES – 6 DINNERS) ALL ENTRANCES AS MENTIONED BOSPHORUS CRUISE IN ISTANBUL
- PRIVATE EXPENSES DRINKS AT HOTELS & RESTAURANTS ANY DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TICKET