11 Days – TURKEY & GREECE – The Steps of the Apostle Paul

Imagine walking the same streets in Greece and Turkey where the Apostle Paul walked as he spread the love and teachings of Jesus Christ. This is one of the most sought after trips around the Eastern Mediterranean, and you could be there, too! We can begin planning your trip for Turkey & Greece where you’ll overnight in several cities, experience some of area’s most magnificent scenery as well as its most famous towns. You’ll start in Istanbul and end in Athens, and you’ll also overnight in Ephesus, Colosae, Kavala, Athens and more. Plus, we can arrange special experiences to give you a true local perspective. Most meals are included.

11 Days – TURKEY & GREECE

SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION and PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS

Tour Schedule/Itinerary

Day 1 – DEPARTURE USA

Day 2 – ARRIVAL ISTANBUL

Arrival to Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Panoramic city tour of Istanbul. Dinner and overnight

Day 3 – ISTANBUL TOUR

After breakfast, depart for a full day tour of Istanbul. The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques. First you will visit the Hippodrome; the former center of sports and political activities and then the famous Blue Mosque, with its six minarets and sparkling interior. Continue to the Hagia Sophia Museum, and the St. Sophia Cistern and the Topkapi Palace. Catch a whiff of cinnamon, cloves, thyme and other exotic spices as you explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4 – ISTANBUL/IZMIR-EPHESUS

Early checkout after the breakfast from our hotel and transfer to Istanbul airport to our flight to Izmir. Arrival and transfer to visit the ancient city of Ephesus. Full day tour of Ephesus; Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1: 11). In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade bordered streets. Paul’s first visit to Ephesus was brief – during his second missionary trip (Acts 18:19-21); it lasted about three years.  During his third missionary trip (Acts 19:1 to 20:31); Luke’s account of the worship of Diana appears in Acts 19:34-35; we will visit the ruins of the Temple of Diana of the Ephesians (Artemis), considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Theatre (stadium) mentioned in Acts 19:29-31 could seat 25,000 people. Walk the marble-paved street with grooves made by chariot wheels. See the Fountain of Trajan, the Library of Celsus; see the Temple of Hadrian and the Great Theatre, where Paul confronted local paganism. Arrival in Pamukkale. Accommodation and dinner.

Day 5 – PAMUKKALE/LAODICEIA/COLOSSAE/HIERAPOLIS   

After the breakfast at the hotel, depart for the visit of Hierapolis; an ancient city of pagan cults, Hierapolis or “holy city” was evangelized by Paul and Epaphras. The Apostle Philip lived and is said to be buried here. Pamukkale, or “cotton castle” is a spa and resort center with its hot springs and cascading limestone pools. Col 4:12-13. Continue to Laodicea; The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev 3: 14-22), were chastised for being lukewarm, “You are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3: 15), and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous scripture from Revelation (3: 20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”. Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including the stadium and columned streets. Laodicea, Hierapolis and Colosae formed a very important tri-city complex. Return to the hotel in Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 – PAMUKKALE – ALASEHIR (PHILADELPHIA) – SARDIS – AKHISAR (THYATIRA) – PERGAMUM – EDREMIT

After the breakfast at the hotel, depart to visit the site of Philadelphia (Alasehir), also one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 3: 7-13). Then we will continue to Sardis, capital of Lydia, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev 3:1-6). You will be impressed by the massive scale of the Temple of Artemis, by the white marble Royal Road, by the gymnasium, and by the synagogue. Coins were minted and the dyeing of wool originated in Sardis. Then we continue onto Thyatira (Akhisar); which was once a busy trading center and famous in dyeing of purple clothes. Thyatira is another of the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelations tolerated the false prophetess, Jezebel (Rev. 1: 11; 2: 18-29).  We depart to visit the city Pergamum (mentioned in Revelation 2). We will visit the Roman city, where we will see the Theatre, the Temple of Trajan, Altar of Zeus, etc. Then we will go to Edremit. Accommodation and dinner.

Day 7 – EDREMIT – TROAS (Dalyan) – Troy/Çanakkale – Kavala (Greece)

After breakfast, we will leave early to visit the region of Troas (Dalyan) where Paul received the vision to go to Macedonia in Acts 16. Continue to Çanakkale to visit Troy, the famous city of the “Iliad” of Homer and the Trojan Horse. After the border formalities, we will enter Greece now with our Greek tour guide. We will continue to Kavala (ancient Biblical city of Neapolis). Accommodation and late dinner at Hotel Lucy.

Day 8 – KAVALA – PHILIPPI – THESSALONICA

Check out of the hotel, tour around the beautiful port of Kavala and continuing journey toward Thessalonica passing and stopping along the way at Philippi, visiting the following locations: the Museum, ruins and the site of Lydia’s baptism. Arrival at Thessalonica, check in at Hotel Port Palace. Dinner and overnight.

 Day 9 – THESSALONICA – ATHENS

Check out of the hotel, morning visit to the archaeological sites of Thessalonica, then we continue to Athens passing on the road and visiting the ancient city of Berea (now known as Veria), arriving in the late afternoon in Athens. Check in at Hotel Divani Palace. Dinner and overnight.

Day 10 – ATHENS – CORINTH – ATHENS

After breakfast we will visit the city of Corinth, the city where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla, the tent makers, and where the Lord spoke to Paul by a vision saying, “I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 18: 10). Here, Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue believed in the Lord, and many Corinthians, as well, hearing Paul, believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8); thus, began the church at Corinth to whom Paul wrote two epistles. Visit the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place and Temples. Walk among the ruins and stand on the Bema where Paul stood before Gallio facing charges brought by the Jews that were dropped. Paul stayed awhile in Corinth before leaving for Syria from the port at Cenchreae (Acts 18: 12-18). Return to Athens and afternoon tour of Athens, visiting: the Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the memorial to the Unknown Soldier. Driving down Herodes Atticus street and the Evzones in their picturesque uniforms and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Panathenaic Stadium (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896), the Temple of Olympia Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. On the Acropolis mount, you will visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylee, the Temple of Athena, Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the Parthenon – the monument that “puts order in the mind” and “is harmony between material and spirit”. Beneath the Acropolis is the Areopagus or Mars Hill. This is where the Apostle Paul made his famous “Men of Athens” speech revealing a considerable knowledge of the Greek philosophy and character. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 11 – ATHENS – USA

Check out after an early breakfast and transfer to the Athens Airport for your return flight to the USA.