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DAILY
ITINERARY
Day 1 USA
to Turkey
Your adventure
begins as you board your international flight for Istanbul.
Day 2
Istanbul
You will be met
upon arrival by our airport representative and transferred to
your hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 3
Istanbul and Adana
The bejeweled
capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to
450 mosques. You'll visit the famous Blue Mosque, with its
six minarets and sparkling interior. You'll visit the
Topkapi Palace, once home to royal Sultans. Inside, you'll
see the fabled jewels of the Treasury, delicate displays of
Chinese porcelain in the Kitchen Quarters and the provocative
Harem Quarters. Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) which,
for 1000 years, was the largest church in Christendom.
Built by Justinian (532-537 AD), the church has 107 columns,
fossil imbedded white marble floors and beautiful glass mosaics.
Today, it is the Museum of Byzantine Art.
Catch a whiff of
cinnamon, cloves, thyme and other exotic spices as you explore
the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything form
herbs to gold.
This afternoon,
you'll fly to Adana, known as the "biggest village in
Turkey" due to its rural atmosphere. Adana is also
home to the 5000 US service men and women at Incirlik Airbase.
Spend the next two nights in Adana.
Day 4
Antioch (Antakya)
Ancient Antioch
was the center of Hellenistic civilization in the region and
home to a massive temple and oracle complex dedicated to Apollo.
The temple functioned until the visiting Emperor Justinian threw
out the last remaining priest and ordered the place burned to
the ground. Christian roots go deep into Antioch's soil.
It was to Antioch that many Jerusalem Christians fled after the
death of Stephen. Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch for
a year and built a strong church. Later, the city became
the center from which Paul performed his missionary labors .
It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first labeled
"Christians" by their Roman masters. And it was
here that the first non-Jews were accepted into the early
church, changing forever the destiny of Christianity.
Overnight in Adana.
Day 5
Tarsus, Side
Tarsus was the
birth place of Paul and he visited on his second and
third missionary journeys. Enjoy a beautiful coastal drive
to Side where you will spend the night. Roman ruins of the
Byzantine period still remain in Side, including the theater and
baths.
Day 6
Aspendos, Perge and Hierapolis
The Aspendos
amphitheatre, known for its extraordinary acoustics, is
extremely well preserved and still in use today for special
events. Nearby is Perge, a Hellenistic city where Paul preached
(Acts 14:25). The ruins of a large stadium, baths and tomb give
ample evidence of its former greatness. Paul and Barnabas
visited here on their first journey, and Paul probably preached
here two years later. Hierapolis is blessed by hot mineral
springs and some of the best preserved Roman ruins in Asia
Minor. Christianity came to Hierapolis via Paul (Colossians
4:13). The ruins cover more than a mile. You'll see the
impressive amphitheatre with seats still in perfect condition.
You'll see the City Gates, column-lined streets and arches which
have stood through time and earthquake. Today, the area is known
as Pamukkale, meaning the Cotton Castle." It is named for
the limestone-laden hot springs which cascade from one
white-edged terrace pool to the next. Enjoy a two night stay in
Pamukkale.
Day 7
Colossae, Aphrodisias and Laodicea (Denizli)
Famous as
the receiver of Paul's Letter to the Colossians, the town of
Colossae has fallen into obscurity. While you can still
see traces of the Theatre, the Necropolis and the Church, the
ancient city is mostly indistinguishable ruins. Not far away is Aphrodisias,
another town whose fame has been obscured by time. This
city of marble thrived as the major center for worship of the
Goddess Aphrodite until 500 years after Christ. The Christians
of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches, were chastised for being
lukewarm "You are neither cold nor hot"
and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian
beliefs. In the famous scripture from , 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. Overnight
in Pamukkale.
Day 8
Ephesus and Miletus
Ephesus
is one of the Seven Churches of Asia . In ancient days,
Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250 thousand, graced with
wide, colonnade bordered streets. Today the major streets
of ancient Ephesus have been excavated. You'll view the
Library and the huge Agora. The Temple of Artemis was
declared one of the Seven Wonders of the world. Today,
only a single column remains to mark the site. You'll
visit the Basilica of St. John, traditional site of his grave.
From the basilica, you'll enjoy a commanding view of the area.
You'll visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at
artifacts from the ancient city. Nearby is the ancient sea
port of Miletus. This wealthy city was a cultural and
intellectual center. On his way to Jerusalem to celebrate
Pentecost, Paul asked the Elders of Ephesus to meet him in
Miletus where he predicted his own death . Today in
Miletus, you'll see the finest Roman period theatre. On
several of the front row seats you'll see inscriptions which
reserve the seats for those whose names they bear. You'll
catch a glimpse of a 3 story fountain built by Titus.
Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 9
Izmir, Thyatira (Akhisar), Sardis and Philadelphia
The third
largest city in modern Turkey is Izmir, long a center for Jewish
and Christian communities. In Paul's day, the town was
known as Smyrna. It was one of the Seven Churches of Asia
. You'll see the Agora, the colonnaded commercial center
where Roman statues can still be seen. Thyatira was once a
busy trading center and famous as a "seller of
purple". Today it is a famous for Persian rugs.
Thyatira is one of the Seven Churches of Asia and Paul may have
visited the town during his missionary journeys. Another
of the Seven Churches of Asia, Sardis,
was berated by John the Prophet for its facade of strength when
in reality it was weak . In Sardis, coins were minted and
the dyeing of wool originated. You'll be impressed by the
massive scale of the Temple of Artemis and by the white marble
Royal Road, the gymnasium and the synagogue. Philadelphia is
also one of the Seven Churches and we will visit it also.
Today, not much is left to mark the spot. You'll see an
ancient wall and the remains of a Byzantine basilica.
Overnight in Bergama.
Day 10
Pergamum (Bergama) and Troas
The most
favored of the Seven Churches was Pergamum.
Christianity reached the city very early and the church was
praised for its forbearance during hard times . In
Pergamum, the first Christians were executed by Rome.
Towering 1000 feet above the town and commanding a spectacular
panorama is the fabled Acropolis. As you pass through the
Royal Gates, you will enter one of the great centers of classic
Greek culture. You'll see the foundations of the Temple of
Zeus, The Temple of Athena and the ruins of the Library which
once held 200 thousand parchment volumes. You see the
remains of the Temple of Trajan, the Grand Theatre, the
Gymnasium, and the Health Center (Aesclepion). Not far away is
Troas. Here, on his second missionary journey, Paul had a
vision in which he was called to Macedonia . Later, during
his third journey Paul spent a week in Troas preaching and
resurrected Eutychus . Overnight in Canakkale.
Day 11
Troy (Truva) and Istanbul
In Troy, history
is buried in myth and mud. Nine layers of the fabled city
have been found. Homer's lliad relates the legendary story
of the Trojan war. Travel to Istanbul via the beautiful
Dardanelles. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 12
Departure
Say good-bye to
Turkey and return to the USA with a lifetime of memories.
CAPPADOCIA
2-DAY PRE-TOUR
DAY 1 USA to
Turkey
Your adventure
begins as you board an overnight trans-Atlantic flight to
Istanbul.
DAY 2 Istanbul
You will be met
upon arrival by our airport representative and transferred to
your hotel for a two-night stay.
DAY 3 Istanbul
Enjoy a full day
of sightseeing in Istanbul (see day 3 of the Istanbul tour). You
will have the evening free in Istanbul with time to explore on
your own.
DAY 4 Istanbul
and Cappadocia region
Fly this morning
from Istanbul to the city of Kayseri where your motorcoach waits
to begin the sightseeing excursion through the region of
Cappadocia. Famous for its cone-shaped rock formations and
underground cities, there are an estimated 3,000 rock churches
in Cappadocia. During your stay, you'll visit the Rock Churches
of Goreme, the Cave village of Avcilar, and the Monastic Complex
of Zelve. Spend the night in Cappadocia.
DAY 5
Cappadocia region and Adana
Travel southward
by motorcoach to Adana, known as the "biggest village in
Turkey," due to its rural atmosphere. Adana is also home to
the 5000 US service men and women at Incirlik Airbase. This
evening you will join the group at your hotel in Adana for the
remainder of the "Footsteps of Paul in Asia Minor"
tour (which is Day 3).
2002
Turkey Departures and Prices (FP02)
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FP0314
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MAR
12 TUE
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MAR
14 THU
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MAR
25 MON
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$1898
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$328
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FP0502
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APRIL
30 TUE
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MAY
2 THU
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MAY
13 MON
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$2248
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$348
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FP1003
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OCT
1 TUE
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OCT
3 THU
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OCT
14 MON
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$2248
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$348
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FP1107
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NOV
5 TUE
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NOV
7 THU
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NOV
18 MON
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$1898
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$328
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Single Supplement
(No Triple Reduction): $450
Land Prices (Add
Gratuities):
March $1298
April - October $1498
November $1298
(Land Price Includes Turkish Domestic Air)
NOT INCLUDED
Taxes: $99
Gratuities: $49
Turkish Visa Fee
to be paid upon arrival (currently $47).
CAPPADOCIA
PRE-TOUR
Single Room
Supplement $100
(No Triple Reduction)
Gratuities $15
QUALITY
HOTELS
- ISTANBUL:
Mercure
- ADANA:
Buyuk Surmeli Hotel
- SIDE: Grand
Corinthian
- PAMUKKALE:
Richmond Hotel
- KUSADASI:
Fantasia Hotel
- BERGAMA:
Asude Hotel & Tusan Hotel
- CANAKKALE:
Akol Hotel
YOUR
ESCORTED TOUR INCLUDES
- Scheduled
trans-Atlantic flights from USA to Istanbul via IATA Carrier
- Transfers for
airports and hotels
- Deluxe
air-conditioned motorcoaches
- Accommodations
in Superior First Class hotels, based on twin-bedded rooms
with private bath
- Breakfast and
Dinner daily
- Comprehensive
sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary
- Professional
services of the Educational Travel Services representatives
in Turkey
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