SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION,
NICAEA AND ISTANBUL

TOUR ITINERARY:

Day 1 Mon Depart New York – Fly Istanbul by TK 12 departing at 23:15

Day 2 Tue Arrive Istanbul at 15:55 – Take connection 18:00 flight to Izmir
Arrive Izmir Airport at 19:05. Your tour guide will meet you after the baggage claim with a “BAS – TUTKU TOURS” sign. Meet and transfer to the hotel in city center. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (D)

Day 3 Wed Ephesus – Kusadasi
After breakfast you will leave Izmir and drive to Ephesus, the first of the Seven Churches, for a visit. You will see the amazing ruins of this great city: the theater, the library, the Temple of Hadrian and the newly excavated Roman Terrace Houses. You will also visit the Cave Church of Paul and Thecla which is closed to the public. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,D)

Day 4 Fri Miletus – Aphrodisias – Pamukkale
Drive south to visit Miletus the site of the theater where Paul spoke to Ephesian elders. Then, drive to Aphrodisias, which is excavated by the New York University. See the Agora, Theater, Stadium, and Hadrian Baths. Then visit the Aphrodisias Museum. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

Day 5 Sat Colossae – Laodicea – Hierapolis – Pamukkale
After breakfast you will drive to unexcavated Colosse (Paul’s letter to the Colossians) on the foothills of Mount Honaz. Then, you will continue to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Finally, you will visit Hierapolis where you will visit the monuments, thermal baths and the theater with its well preserved stage and Philip’s Tomb. Dinner and overnight will be in Pamukkale. (B,D)

Day 6 Sun Philadelphia – Sardis – Izmir
After breakfast you will travel to Philadelphia, now called Alasehir. We’ll see remains of a Byzantine basilica as well as some eleventh century frescoes. Philadelphia and Smyrna were the only two churches among the Seven about which nothing bad was said by John. From there we’ll travel to Sardis, one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches. You’ll see the remains of the Temple of Artemis as well as a small Byzantine church. Finally, you will proceed to Izmir (ancient Smyrna ), one of the Seven Churches and one of the oldest continuously inhabited
cities of the world. You’ll check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 7 Mon Thyatira – Pergamum – Adramitium – Assos
Drive to Akhisar to visit the remains of the Thyatira church. Drive to Bergama which is the site of ancient Pergamum, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. You will visit the Acropolis there and see the impressive theater, the Temple of Athena, and the ruins of Asklepion, the ancient healing center. After visiting Adramitium on the way, you will continue to Assos for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 8 Tue Alexander Troas – Troy – Bursa
Visit the panoramic Temple of Athena in Assos and the Temple of Apollo
Smintheon at Gulpinar. Continue to Odun Iskelesi to visit the site and the
port of Alexandria-Troas where Paul raised the boy, Eutychus. Paul visited
this area at least twice. Then, visit the legendary city of Troy, and see the
replica of the wooden horse. Dinner and overnight in Bursa. (B,D)

Day 9 Wed Nicaea – Istanbul
Drive to Iznik (ancient Nicaea). Two ecumenical councils were held here: the First Ecumenical Council of 325 and the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787. Visit the ruins of the St. Sophia Church where the Seventh Ecumenical Council was held. In the afternoon, drive to Istanbul, the only city in the world spanning two continents; transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 10 Thu Istanbul
Full day Istanbul tour; visit Hippodrome Square, Hagia Sophia Church, Archaeological Museum, St Irene Church, Underground Cistern. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D)

Day 11 Fri Istanbul
Visit the Yedikule fortress, and Chora Church in the morning. Then, visit the Patriarchate in Istanbul. Drive to Bophorus strait to visit the Rumeli Fortress. This evening, we gather for a farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 12 Sat Istanbul Airport – Fly back to New York JFK – End
Fly back to New York by TK 3 departing at 07:25 am. Arrive New York JFK
Airport at 11:25 am same day.