DAY 1,  THURSDAY:   Fly from USA to ISTANBUL, via NON-STOP overnight TURKISH AIRLINES flight. ( D )

DAY 2,  FRIDAY:  Arrival in ISTANBUL, the only city in the World spanning two continents. After clearing Passport and Customs on your own, transfer to YIGITALP HOTEL. Free afternoon to rest or to stroll around. Overnight in ISTANBUL(Old City). ( B )

DAY 3,  SATURDAY:  Full day Istanbul touring; including “St. SAVIOR” CHURCH in CHORA, the St. SOPHIA MUSEUM (rebuilt in 536 AD by Emperor Justinian, was once the largest Christian Church, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture), the TOPKAPI PALACE (the oldest and largest of remaining palaces in the World. Its displays include priceless World-class collections of jewelry and rare porcelain), the BLUE MOSQUE (famous for its magnificent interior lined with more than 20,000 "blue" Iznik tiles, unique with its six minarets), the HIPPODROME, and then the GRAND COVERED BAZAAR (most fascinating and crowded shopping center in the World, with nearly 4000 shops). Overnight in ISTANBUL (Old City). ( B, L )

DAY 4, SUNDAY :  Transfer to Airport for early morning flight to Ankara. Upon arrival proceed to tour the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (which is housed in a restored caravanserai) and the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, in Ankara. Then continue to CAPPADOCIA, where nature has scoured surrealistic moonscape shapes, visiting the Agzikarahan Caravanserai along the way. Dinner and overnight at PERI TOWER HOTEL in CAPPADOCIA. ( B, L, D )

DAY 5,  MONDAY :   Full day touring in breath-taking CAPPADOCIA; visit the GOREME Open-Air-Museum with its dozens of cave churches decorated with frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible, see the natural Citadel of UCHISAR and the PIGEON Valley, visit the ZELVE Valley and the pottery town AVANOS, with opportunity to shop for local handicrafts like carpets, ceramics, pottery, and tiles. Dinner and overnight in CAPPADOCIA. ( B, L, D )

DAY 6,  TUESDAY:  Visit the underground city of KAYMAKLI, extending several stories below ground, built by the early Christians during the 9th Century. Then proceed to ANTIOCH, where St. Paul and St. Barnabas stayed about a year (Acts 13:2, 14:26), and where the followers of Jesus were called "Christians" for the first time. Dinner and overnight at B. ANTAKYA HOTEL in ANTAKYA. ( B, L, D )

DAY 7,  WEDNESDAY:   Tour SELECUIA PIERIA (CEVLIK), where St. Paul & St. Barnabas started their 1st Missionary Journey (Act 13:4) to Cyprus. Then visit St. Peter's Grotto and the cave church where early Christians met in secret, and the Antakya Museum with its exquisite mosaics. Dinner and overnight in ANTAKYA. ( B, L, D )

DAY 8,  THURSDAY:   Depart to visit Cleopatra's Gate and St. Paul's Well in TARSUS, where St. Paul was born and later visited (Act 22:3). Then visit ALAHAN Monastery, and continue to KONYA (the ancient ICONIUM, which later became the capital of Seljuk Empire). Overnight at OZKAYMAK HOTEL in KONYA. ( B, L, D )

DAY 9,  FRIDAY:  Visit the Mevlana Museum, the “Whirling Dervish” Monastery. Drive to Yalvac, ANTIOCH of PISIDA (Acts 13:14-52), where St. Paul preached his first recorded sermon and opened Christianity to the pagan world. Continue to ANTALYA, the jewel of the "Turquoise Coast". Dinner and overnight at  ADONIS or ANTALYA HOTEL in ANTALYA. ( B, L, D )

DAY 10,  SATURDAY:  Visit DEMRE, the Biblical MYRA (Acts 27:5-6), where St. Nicholas was the Bishop and where the true spirit of Chrismas gift-giving originated. Tour the Church of St. Nicholas, the Lycian Rock Tombs, and, weather permitting, the sunken city KEKOVA. Dinner and overnight in ANTALYA.  ( B, L, D )

DAY 11,  SUNDAY:   FREE DAY to enjoy the Antalya region on your own. 

(We suggest the optional PERGE-ASPENDOS-SIDE Tour). Dinner and overnight in ANTALYA. ( B, D )

DAY 12,  MONDAY:  Depart to visit APHRODISIAS, the city of Aphrodite; to visit the Odeon, the Stadium, the Agora, the Hadrian Baths, and the Bishop’s Palace. Proceed to PAMUKKALE “Cotton Castle”, the ancient healing city of HIERAPOLIS. Tour the beautiful snow-white “solid waterfalls”, and visit HIERAPOLIS, including the Necropolis, the Main Street, the Gates, the Thermal Baths, and the Theater. (If requested, we will drive by LAODICEA, one of the “Seven Churches of Anatolia”, Rev: 3:14-22). Dinner and overnight at LYCUS RIVER THERMAL HOTEL in PAMUKKALE. ( B, L, D ) (You may enjoy a bath in the hot spring waters of your hotel’s pool ).

DAY 13, TUESDAY:   Depart to ALASEHIR to visit PHILADELPHIA (Rev: 3:7-13), which was praised by St. John. Continue to SARDIS (Rev: 3:1-6), home to both early Christians and Jews, and the capital city of ancient Lydians. Visit the remains of the largest Synagogue of the ancient times, the Gymnasium, the Marble Road, and the Artemis Temple, which symbolized one of  “The Seven Churches”. Then, continue to IZMIR (SMYRNA, Rev: 2:8-11), the most important one of the Seven Churches, where Christianity was established through St. Paul’s efforts. Overnight at KAYA PRESTIGE HOTEL in IZMIR; the “Pearl of the Aegean”, and the birthplace of Homer. ( B, L, D )

DAY 14,  WEDNESDAY:   Full Day tour of EPHESUS, (Rev: 1:11, 2:1-7), a bustling metropolis at the turn of the Christian era, visiting Celsus Library, Arcadian Road, Roman Baths, the Theater (where St. Paul preached), the Church of Virgin Mary, and the Basilica of St. John (the evangelist who accompanied Virgin Mary to Ephesus), and then the HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY. Thereafter, tour the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus in Selcuk. Overnight in IZMIR. ( B, L, D )

DAY 15,  THURSDAY:   Departure to visit PERGAMUM, (Rev: 2: 12-27), including the ruins at the ASCLEPION (the World’s First Medical Center), and the ACROPOLIS (the city built on four terraces overlooking the Bergama Plain), and see the RED BASILICA. (If requested, we will drive by THYATIRA, Rev: 2:18-29, in AKHISAR, where Christianity spread quickly in its early days). Proceed to EDEN GARDENS HOTEL or NAZLIHAN HOTEL in ASSOS for dinner and overnight. ( B, L, D )

DAY 16, FRIDAY:  After visiting ASSOS, tour Homer’s legendary TROY (with its Trojan Horse symbolizing the War fought between the Greek and Trojan warriors for the honor of Helen). Cross the DARDANELLES by car-ferry, and continue, for overnight at YENISEHIR PALACE HOTEL in ISTANBUL (New City). ( B, L )

DAY 17, SATURDAY:  Full day tour to visit the Church of St. Sophia in IZNIK (NICAEA), the site of First and Seventh Ecumenical Councils, then proceed to BURSA, to visit the Green Mausoleum, the Green Mosque, and then stroll through Bursa's colorful Bazaar. Return, for overnight in ISTANBUL (New City). ( B, L )

DAY 18, SUNDAY:   After breakfast transfer to Istanbul Airport for your flight to USA for same day arrival. ( B, S )