Board for your flight from the USA to Turkey. This will be an overnight flight, arriving the next day to Istanbul.

Upon arrival at Istanbul International Airport, meet our local representative who will assist with your transfer to the hotel. Enjoy an orientation panoramic tour of the city, before check-in. The original name of Istanbul is Byzantium and then Constantinople. A fascinating city situated between two continents Europe and Asia. Your journey to the Biblical land of Turkey begins!

-Overnight in Istanbul

Following our first breakfast at the hotel, we shall see Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome and obelisk brought from Egypt, then the Blue Mosque and the Basilica cistern. We will enjoy lunch and free time in the Grand Bazaar, where the air is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice. We will return to our hotel for dinner.

-Overnight in Istanbul

After our breakfast in the hotel, we make the drive to Gallipoli, crossing the Dardanelles Strait by ferryboat. We will visit Ancient Troy and see the replica of the wooden horse. Then continue to Cannakale to check-into the hotel for dinner.

-Overnight in Cannakale

Meet your guide following breakfast at the hotel and begin your drive to Pergamum, one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev. 2:12-17). Here we explore the impressive Acropolis, the steepest theatre in the world, the Asklepion, famous medical Centre of classical times, see the Altar of Zeus which is mentioned as the Throne of Satan in the book of Revelation, the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan and the Library, which was a rival of the equally famous Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Its wealth of volumes was estimated at over 200,000. Then we continue our visit to Thyatira, another one of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev. 2:18-29) and famous for purple dyes. We visit the remains of a basilica and some architectural fragments from the Roman period. Lydia, the seller of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira. Drive back to your hotel for dinner.

-Overnight in Izmir

After an early hotel breakfast, we’ll depart to one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches of Turkey, Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6]. This was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC, portrayed as a dying church. We visit the great Temple of Artemis and the restored gymnasium and reconstructed Synagogue. Then we continue our journey to Philadelphia, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev. 3:7-13). Continue to Laodicia, the last of the seven Churches (Rev. 3:14-22). We drive to the city of Pammukale, the white cotton fortress where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. We’ll check into the hotel, and enjoy dinner.

-Overnight in Pammukale

Following breakfast at the hotel, today we visit the ancient city of Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7). The Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and lived here for three years. We tour the spectacular ruins where excavations still continue to this. Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the ancient theatre. We visit the Basilica of St. John and the House of Virgin Mary. Afterwards we drive to the city of Smyrna, to visit the ancient Agora (Rev. 2:8-11). We’ll then drive back to Kusadasi to check into the hotel for dinner.

-Overnight in Kusadasi

Transfer to Izmir airport for your departure flight home. We pray the sites & places you’ve walked through in Turkey continue to inspire you—until your journey brings you here again!