Turkey - Religious Tours
'In the Footsteps of St Paul Tour'
14 - Day itinerary
Day 1
Friday
Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul! You will be transferred to your hotel and the remainder of the day is yours, free to explore.
Overnight Istanbul
Day 2
Saturday
Ankara, Cappadocia
After breakfast we drive towards the nation's capital, Ankara to visit the Temple of Augustus, the award winning museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the impressive Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, before continuing on to the surreal landscape of Cappadocia.
Overnight Cappadocia (B, D)
Day 3
Sunday
Cappadocia
Today is a full day exploring Cappadocia, the land of saints and early Christians. We will visit the Goreme and Zelve open air museums, Uchisar Castle, Red Valley, Avanos, Sinasos and the Kaymakli Underground city.
Overnight Cappadocia (B, D)
Day 4
Monday
Tarsus, Eski Gumus Monastery, Adana
Leaving Cappadocia behind we drive to Tarsus, visiting Eski Gumus Monastery before driving through the beautiful Taurus Mountains. We arrive in Tarsus the birthplace of St. Paul to drink drink from the well of the blessed water before continuing to Adana.
Overnight Adana (B,D)
Day 5
Tuesday
Antioch, Seleucia Peria
Today we visit the Biblical city of Antioch where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians and St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Barnabas and St. Timothy all preached. We visit the cave church where St. Peter first celebrated mass and the Iron Gate that was once the entrance to Biblical Antioch before strolling the ancient streets that saints once walked. After lunch we drive to Seleucia Peria the port from which St. Paul and St. Barnabas set sail for Anatolia before visiting the Temple of Zeus and the famous Titus water tunnel.
Overnight Adana (B,D)
Day 6
Wednesday
Adana – Konya
This morning we drive to Konya via Karapinar. On the way we visit the scenic natural monument Meke Crater Lake before arriving in Konya, one of Turkey's oldest inhabited cities and home of the infamous whirling dervishes. This afternoon we visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the Karatay tile museum, Ince Minareli Medrese Gate and the Archaeological Museum.
Overnight Konya (B,D)
Day 7
Thursday
Konya - Pisidian Antioch - Pamukkale
Today we drive onwards to Pisidian Antioch where St. Paul changed world history by introducing Christianity to the pagan world, where we visit the church of St. Paul, the Roman bath, Temple of Augustus and the museum. Todays final destination however, is still more spectacular - the shimmering terraces of Pamukkale where cascading water and hot springs flow into limestone basins.
Overnight Pamukkale (B,D)
Day 8
Friday
Pamukkale, Laodicea, Colossae
This morning we the ancient Roman thermal city of Hierapolis, the Martyrium of St. Philip the Apostle before touring the beautiful snow-white "frozen waterfalls" of Pamukkale. This afternoon we visit the Church of Laodicea, Mount Honaz National Park and the Biblical site of Colossae.
Overnight Izmir (B,D)
Day 9
Saturday
Izmir, Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary
In Izmir, also known as the "Pearl of the Aegean", we visit the oldest church in ancient Smyrna, the church of St. Policarp before visiting Alexander the Great's "Velvet Castle" overlooking the Bay of Izmir. We then drive south to tour the ancient city of Ephesus and visit the Temple of Artemis, the house of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus Archaeological Museum and St. John's Basilica, where he is beleived to be buried.
Overnight Izmir (B,D)
Day 10
Sunday
Akhisar, Bursa
Today we drive to Akhisar via Manisa, where we stop to visit the church of ancient Thyatira before continuing onto Bursa, first capital of the Ottoman Empire. The remainder of the day is yours, free to explore this ancient city. You might like to indulge in a little shopping at Bursa's colorful covered silk bazaar or have a "Turkish Bath" in natural hot springs.
Overnight Bursa (B,D)
Day 11
Monday
Iznik, Istanbul
This morning we visit the lovely Green Ottoman complex and the Grand Mosque before driving to Iznik (Ancient Nicaea) via the beautiful Iznik lake road. We visit the ruins of the Church of St. Sophia where the Seventh Ecumenical Council was held before a late afternoon arrival in Istanbul.
Overnight Istanbul (B,D)
Day 12
Tuesday
Istanbul
Today we tour the exotic city that spans both Europe and Asia visiting the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya, Topkapi Palace, the Basilica underground cistern and the Hippodrome. Tonight you have the option to experience a taste of Turkish night life, why not enjoy an evening of Turkish folk dancing, food and entertainment.
Overnight Istanbul (B)
Day 13
Wednesday
Istanbul
This morning we visit the impressive Dolmabahce palace on the Bosphorus. Witness the grandeur of the centuries old palace where Ataturk, the founder of Modern Turkey, died. From Dolmabahce pier we take a leisurely boat tour crossing under the Continental Bosphorus bridges, viewing the mosques, palaces, old traditional wooden villas and the beauty of the Asian and European shorelines on either side. This afternoon we have a chance to shop at the historic Grand Bazaar before we gather for a farewell dinner.
Overnight Istanbul (B,D)
Day 14
Thursday
Istanbul
After breakfast, our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends before being transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
(B)
Tour includes
o Inbound and outbound transfers from/to Istanbul airports
o Transportation in a fully air conditioned , non smoking coach
o Professional English-speaking tour guide for the duration of the tour
o Entrance fees to various sites
o 13 Breakfasts, 11 Dinners
o 13 nights - 4 star accommodation in total.
- 2 nights in Adana
- 1 night in Bursa
- 2 nights in Cappadocia
- 4 nights in Istanbul
- 2 nights in Izmir
- 1 night in Konya
- 1 night in Pamukkale
Tour does not include
o Tips
Tour Type :- Guaranteed Departure
This tour is a '
Guaranteed Departure' tour. This means that it will depart regardless of how many people are booked on to it.
Did you know?
Religious Turkey Tours
