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Day 01
Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey,meet
at the airport transfer to your hotel,before dinner,a mini ' Welcome Briefing' Overnight.
Day 02
Istanbul / Ankara / Cappadocia
Departure from
Hotel Drive to Ankara,arrival for lunch and after lunch a city tour of Ankara.
First, visit the Temple of Augustus, built by the Galatian King Pylamenes in 10
AD. The Galatians were a Celtic race who were the first to make Ankara their capital
(3rd century BC). It was then known as Ancyra, meaning "Anchor", which is one of
the oldest words in the language of the sea-loving Celts. "Monument Ancyranum" is
the sole surviving political testament of Augustus, detailing his achievements,
which are inscribed on its walls. In the fifth century, the temple was converted
to a church by the Byzantines. Visit the museum of Anatolian Civilizations with
its display of Hittite treasures, lastly, visit the impressive Mausoleum of Ataturk,
founder of modern Turkey. Drive through the unique landscapes of Cappadocia, a landscape
of unusual rock formations called "Fairy Chimneys". Beginning in primitive times,
inhabitants carved out soft volcanic rock to create underground dwellings that eventually
grew to become entire cities. The early Christians even carved elaborate churches
out of the porous rock. Transfer to hotel and overnight. (B,D)
Day 03
Cappadocia
Full day exploring
Cappadocia, the land of saints and early Christians (Five churches in Goreme open
air museum - Uchisar Castle, Avanos, Red Valley, Zelve, Sinasos, Kaymakli Underground city, churches etc). (B,D)
Day 04
Cappadocia - Tarsus - Adana
Leave from Cappadocia,
drive to Tarsus, on the way visit Eski Gumus Monastery, one of the finest in Cappadocia.
Drive through the beautiful Taurus Mountains Highway. Arrive in Tarsus. Visit the
birthplace of St. Paul (10 AD). Drink from the well of the blessed water. Drive
to Adana, transfer to hotel and overnight. (B,D)
Day 05
Adana - Antakya - Seleucia Peria - Adana
After breakfast
todays visits to, drive through the Biblical city of Antioch. This city was the
headquarters of St. Paul's Missionary Journeys. It was the third largest city of
the Roman Empire rivaled only by Rome and Alexandria. St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Barnabas
and St. Timothy all preached here. The New Testament Book of Acts of the Apostles
specifically declares that Jesus' followers were first called Christians here. Visit
the cave church where St. Peter first celebrated mass. South of the church, the
Iron Gate was one of the actual entrances of Biblical Antioch. Strolling through
the old part of the city, you cannot help recalling that all the saints walked these old streets, for little has changed since that time. Antioch also has a world-famous
museum of Roman mosaics. After lunch, drive to Seleucia Peria which is mentioned
in the New Testament as the port from which St. Paul and St. Barnabas set sail for
Anatolia on their first missionary journey (45-46 AD). Visit the Temple of Zeus
to look from the temple for a bird's eye view through to the first missionary harbour
and then visit the famous Titus water tunnel. Return to Adana and overnight. (B,D)
Day 06
Adana – Konya
In the morning
drive to Konya via Karapinar. On the way, visit the most scenic natural monument
Meke Crater Lake. Arrive in Konya, transfer to hotel. Konya is one of Turkey's oldest
continuously inhabited cities, known as Iconium in Roman times. Home of the whirling
dervishes in the 13th century. Visit the Mevlana Mausoleum and his museum, he was
the founder of the whirling dervishes.
Then visit the Karatay tile museum and monumental
Ince Minareli Medrese Gate. Finally visit the Archaeological Museum. Return to hotel
and overnight. (B,D)
Day 07
Konya - Pisidian Antioch - Pamukkale
In the morning,
drive to Pisidian Antioch. It was here that St. Paul changed world history by opening
Christianity to the pagan world. Visit the church of St. Paul, the Roman bath, Temple
of Augustus and Museum. The final destination however, is still more spectacular - the shimmering towers and "Cotton Castle" of Pamukkale where cascading water and
hot springs flow into limestone basins. Transfer to hotel to enjoy a leisurely bath
in the warm mineral waters of your hotel's pool. (B,D)
Day 08
Pamukkale – Izmir
Morning
visit to Pamukkale once known as the ancient Roman thermal city of Hierapolis. The
Martyrium of St. Philip the Apostle is here. Touring the beautiful snow-white "frozen
waterfalls" see the Roman thermal baths, theater, main streets, gates and Necropolis.
Drive toLaodicea, visit the Church of Laodicea and ruins. Next, visit Mount Honaz
National Park and the Biblical site of Colossae. After lunch, drive to Izmir, transfer
to hotel and ON. (B)
Day 09
Izmir - Ephesus – Izmir
Izmir
also known, the "Pearl of the Aegean". Visit the church of St. Policarp, the oldest
church in ancient Smyrna, it symbolized the community of the Seven Churches of the
Apocalypse. Next visit Alexander the Great's "Velvet Castle" overlooking the Bay
of Izmir. Drive to the unforgettable remains of Ephesus. Visit Ephesus and the church
of the Virgin Mary. Nearby, visit The Virgin Mary's House, on a wooded hilltop where it
was miraculously discovered. Finally, visit Ephesus Archaeological Museum and
St. John's Basilica,
where, according to legend, he is buried. Return to Izmir and
ON. (B)
Day 10
Izmir - Akhisar – Bursa
Drive
to Akhisar via Manisa, ancient Thyatira. Visit the church of Thyatira then drive
to Bursa, first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Arrive in Bursa, transfer to hotel.
You might like to spend the remainder of the day shopping at Bursa's colorful covered
silk bazaar. In the evening you have an opportunity to take a "Turkish Bath" at
your hotel's hot spring baths. (B,D)
Day 11
Bursa - Iznik – Istanbul
Visit the lovely Green Ottoman complex and the Grand Mosque then drive to Iznik
(Ancient Nicaea) via the beautiful Iznik lake road. The importance of Nicaea in
Christian history is in the two ecumenical councils 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,
arrive in Istanbul, the only city in the world spanning two continents, transfer
to hotel and ON. (B,D)
Day 12
Istanbul
A full
day of sightseeing in Istanbul, first St. Sophia Museum, built by Constantine the
Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century. It is one of the World's
greatest architectural marvels of all time and a designated
World Heritage site.
Visit the Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles ; the Roman Hippodrome; the
fabled Topkapi Museum, the imperial residential palace of the Ottoman sultans between 16th and 19th centuries and the oldest and largest of the remaining palaces in the
world. Its displays include priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain
and costumes of the sultans. Also visit the Harem quarters. Lunch at Konyali Restaurant
in the grounds of Topkapi Palace. Overnight in Istanbul. For a taste of Turkish
night life, why not join an optional dinner and enjoy an evening of Turkish folk
dancing and entertainment. (B)
Day 13
Istanbul
In the
morning, first 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 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. Return to Istanbul.
Visit the historical Grand Covered Bazaar, the most crowded shopping center in the
world, with its 4000 shops and stalls, selling mostly gold and silver jewelry, copper
and brass items, leather coats, carpets and other beautiful Turkish crafts. Return
to hotel. This evening we gather for a farewell dinner. (B,D)
Day 14
Istanbul - End of Tour
After breakfast, transfer to the Istanbul Ataturk Airport
for your flight
home. (B)
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