General

Tour Style : Private Tour
Duration : 10 Days – 9 Nights
Highlights : Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Pamukkale, Laodicea, Aphrodisias, Miletus, Didyma, Priene, Kusadasi

Day 1: Istanbul.
Arrive Istanbul Airport. Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim. Transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit to the Topkapi Palace, the Imperial Residential Palace of the Ottoman sultans between the 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. Dinner and overnight. (D).

Day 2: Istanbul.
Full day Istanbul tour; the Roman Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, St. Sophia Church, built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the world's greatest architectural marvels and a designated World Heritage site. Then visit the important Istanbul Archaeological Museum containing the Gezer Calender, the Titus Inscriptions, City Walls from Babylon, and other important items. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D).

Day 3: Istanbul – Troy – (Acts 16:8-11; 20:5, 6, II Tim. 4:13 II Cor. 2:12) Assos.
Drive to Canakkale. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by car ferry. Proceed to Troy to see the legendary city and the replica of the Wooden Horse. Then drive to Alexandria Troas founded by Alexander the Great. Paul visited here at least twice. Then drive to Assos, this Hellenistic city where Paul rejoined his companions. Dinner and overnight in Assos. (B, D).

Day 4: Pergamon (Rev. 1:11; 2:12) – Thyatira (Acts 16:14, Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24)-Smyrna (Rev. 1:11; 2:8).
Leave for Pergamon. Visit the Acropolis with the steepest theater of the ancient world and the Temple of Trajan. Then visit the Red Basilica which was an Egyptian Temple, later converted to a church in the 1st century. Continue to Izmir for dinner and overnight. (B, D).

Day 5: Sardis (Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4)- Philadelphia (Rev. 1:11; 3:7) – Pamukkale.
Drive to Sardis, the capital of the ancient Lydia, where first coin of the world is invented. See the ruins of the early Church constructed next to the Temple of Diana. Continue to Alasehir to see the 1st century Philadelphia Church. Dinner and overnight at Colossae Hotel in Pamukkale. (B,D).

Day 6: Laodicea (Col 2:1; 4:13-16, Rev. 1:11; 3:14) – Colossae(Col. 1:2)-Aphrodisias – Kusadasi.
Morning tour of Pamukkale, noted ancient spa, where pure white travertines form frozen waterfalls. Drive to Aphrodisias, the city of the Goddess of Love, see the well preserved Stadium, the Odeon, the Theater and the Agora. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B, D).

Day 7: Ephesus (Acts 18:19-24; 19:1-35; 20:16-17; 21:29, 1 Cor. 15:32; 16:8, I Tim. 1:3 II Tim. 1:18; 4:12, Rev. 1:11, 2:1)-Kusadasi.
Visit the famous ancient city of Ephesus, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and the Basilica of St. John. The visit of the House of Virgin Mary is optional. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, D).

Day 8: Miletus – Didyma – Priene – Kusadasi.
Visit the Greco-Roman city of Priene. Then visit Miletus theater where Paul spoke to the locals. Last visit to the Apollo Temple in Didyma, the famous oracle center of Asia Minor. Return to Kusadasi. (B, D).

Day 9: Kusadasi.
Today we will visit Saint John Basilica, Virgin Mary House and Temple of Artemis. Return to Kusadasi for overnight.

Day 10: Departure.
Early transfer to the Izmir Airport for departure.