12 Days of Turkey Biblical 7 Churches

Golden Mosaic from Chora Church (Jesus Pantakrator)

WHAT TO SEE ?

Istanbul and the Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation:
- Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea with Cappadocia.

SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION & ISTANBUL TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1: SAN FRANCISCO / ISTANBUL

Today you board a magnificent 747 jetliner for your journey to Istanbul.

DAY 2: ISTANBUL (ARRIVAL) (D)

Arrive in Istanbul Ataturk Airport and proceed to Visa/luggage claim. Your tour guide will be waiting for you in arrival halls Sunlight Express Tours Meeting Point and ready to drive you to check into the hotel and you can relax till the dinner time is to be announced by the tour guide. Enjoy dinner in your hotel which offer delicious tastes of Turkish Cuisine.

DAY 3: ISTANBUL CITY TOUR (B/L/D)

The Blue Mosque

After breakfast at the hotel you will drive to Old City to visit to visit St. Sophia Church the pride of the Byzantine architecture, and see The Blue Mosque, is one of the marvels of Islamic world. In the afternoon you will enjoy lunch in a Sea Food restaurant with the wonderful view of Bosphorus Straight. Then visit Chora Church and the Fethiye Mosque was the monastery, also known as St. Mary Pammakaristos, means “The All Blessed Mother of God.” After visits return to your hotel for dinner and stay overnight.

DAY 4: ISTANBUL – IZMIR (BY FLIGHT) (B/L/D)

Topkapi Palace

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and visit the Topkapi Palace, the famous residence of the Sultans to see the Treasury, royal gardens, Sultan’s kitchen,Sacred Relics. Also Then, embark on a cruise by private boat on Bosphorus, the unique winding strait separating two continents. After lunch, you will be transferred to the airport to take a flight (1 hour) Izmir, the ancient and medieval city of Smyrna – is the third most populous city of Turkey and the country’s largest port after Istanbul. Enjoy dinner at the hotel and overnight in Kusadasi.

DAY 5: EPHESUS – HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY – ST. JOHN BASILICA (B/L/D)

Ephesus

This morning you will join Mass held in the House of the Virgin Mary (Only available on Sundays), a pilgrimage site for many people of all denominations. It has also been accepted by the Vatican as a pilgrimage destination. We then visit the Ancient City of Ephesus, which was the most influential capital city of Asia Minor (current Turkey). “Ephesus receives praise for its perseverance, but criticism for forsaking its “first love”” (Rev. 2:1-7). You will explore some of the best preserved theatres, fountains and buildings in the world. Finally visit to the Basilica of St John which stands over the believed burial site of St. John, who is identified as the apostle, evangelist (author of the Fourth Gospel) and prophet (author of Revelation). After tour return your hotel in Kusadasi. Stay overnight in Kusadasi.

DAY 6: LAODICEA – HIERAPOLIS – PAMUKKALE (B/L/D)

Pamukkale Hot Springs

After breakfast drive to Pamukkale to visit the ancient City of Hierapolis as well as the world famous travertens of Pamukkale. Lunch will be taken on the way. Then take an enjoyable drive to Laodicea located in the Lycus River Valley of western Asia Minor, a primary trade route between the cultures of the West and East. “The “lukewarm” church with a faith that’s neither hot nor cold” (Rev. 3:14-22). Check into the hotel for dinner and stay overnight. You can enjoy hot springs and thermal SPA before enjoying your dinner.

DAY 7: THYATIRA – SARDIS – PHILADELPHIA (B/L/D)

Breakfast will be taken at the hotel. Then, you will be driven to Thyatira is “praised for its increasing faith and service, but criticized for its tolerance of Jezebel, an immoral women who calls herself a prophetess” (Rev. 2:18-29). Continue to Sardis, “The church of Sardes is described as dead, and it must wake up. However, there are some who have not “soiled their clothes.”” (Rev. 3:1-6). End the day with a visit to ancient Philadelphia which was known for its variety of temples and worship centers. “The church of brotherly love that endures patiently” (Revelation 3:7-13). After visits you will drive to your hotel in Izmir where you will stay overnight.

DAY 8: SMYRNA (IZMIR) – PERGAMON – IZMIR (B/L/D)

Acropolis Theater

Early departure from the hotel and you will be driven north to the hauntingly beautiful Pergamon. Pergamum’s place in religious history is largely because of the paragraph addressed to its Christian believers by St. John in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 2:12-17 ). He characterized Pergamum as the place where Satan was enthroned. (Revelation 2:13). St. John saw a group he called the Nicolatinas as an additional threat to the believers. Who these people were is not clearly known. (Revelation 2:14-15 ) Here you will see the Acropolis famous for Greek & Roman Temples as well as the theatre built into the steep hillside. Then return to Izmir and have dinner at the hotel. Stay overnight in Izmir.

DAY 9: IZMIR / KONYA (ICONIA) / CAPPADOCIA (B/L/D)

Early wake up for a long day mostly will be spent in the bus. However, you will have chance to see untouched beauties of the country; villagers working in their farms, fertile plains and the cultural diversity between the cities. On our way to Cappadocia, we will stop at Konya to see the Mevlana Museum which shelters the tomb of Rumî, known to his followers as Mevlana, a Muslim poet and mystic. Finally, arrive in Cappadocia, the region hosts the amazing fairy chimneys, houses and underground cities that have been carved into the rock.

DAY 10: CAPPADOCIA (B/L/D)

Hot Air Balloons

You can book our optional hot air balloon tour for a wonderful experience and to enjoy the magnificent view of the valleys and the region (Optional/EXTRA). After breakfast, you will visit the marvelous construction of the Kaymakli Underground City, established in the 7th century by Christians under persecution.Then take enjoyable visits to Devrent and Pasabagi valleys, to see the amazing fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Then head to Avanos, which is famous pottery town. You can watch the potters at work using kick wheels, the technique which has remained unchanged for generations before break for lunch. After lunch, visit to the Goreme Open Air Museum for the world’s most important Byzantine cave churches and the best preserved cave wall paintings and frescos. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.