Sample Biblical Tour Programs (4 Days, 1 Week, & 14 Days)
We offer a range of enriching biblical tours, from shorter 4-day explorations to in-depth 1-week and 14-day journeys. Contact us for detailed itineraries and pricing.
SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION WITH BODRUM ITINERARY PROPOSAL
Arrive in Istanbul Airport. Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will be met at the airport by your guide and be transferred to your hotel. Depending on the time of your arrival, the remainder of the day can be at leisure or can be dedicated to an orientation tour or sight-seeing. Overnight at your hotel in Istanbul.
After breakfast, meet your guide at the lobby for your private full day tour and spend the day exploring Istanbul. Our first stop will be at the Church of Divine Wisdom (Aya Sofya in Turkish, Sancta Sophia in Latin, Hagia Sofia in Greek). Aya Sofya was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th Century and reigned as the grandest church in Christendom until its conversion into a mosque by Sultan Mehmet II just after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Then proceed to the Hippodrome which was the center of Byzantine civic life for 1000 years, including coronations, Roman chariot races and more than one royal execution. At the opposite end of the Hippodrome (At Meydani) is the elegant “Blue Mosque” of Sultan Ahmed I, with its six minarets. Built in the early 17th century, its popular name is derived from the 20.000 predominately blue Iznik tiles lining the interior walls. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue touring with a visit to the mysterious and surreal Underground Cistern which is also known as Yerebatan Sarayi, one of the grand underground cisterns which were an important source of water for the city during the Byzantine and Ottoman times. Our last stop will be the famous Grand Covered Bazaar; the largest covered marketplace in the world where a dazzling array of items-from furniture and carpets to jewellery and clothing-are sold in the bazaar’s 4000 shops… Overnight is at your hotel in Istanbul.
After breakfast, meet your guide at the lobby for your second private full day tour and spend another day exploring Istanbul. Start touring with a visit to the famous Chora Museum, an 11th century church with Byzantine mosaics and frescoes considered to be among the world’s most important. Lunch will be served within Topkapi complex. Then visit of Topkapi Palace, which used to be the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for three centuries. Now a museum, it consists of gardens and buildings of the former palace restored to hold a wealth of treasures. Our last stop will be the famous Egyptian Bazaar; this colorful covered bazaar has shops selling all sorts of exotic goodies. At the end of the day, return to your hotel. Overnight is at your hotel in Istanbul.
Today you will be transferred to the pier to embark the boat for an exciting cruise on the Bosphorus… There is no better way to get an overview of Istanbul, the 20 mile waterway linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara… Enjoy a leisurely exploration of this historic waterway between Europe and Asia. The Cruise provides beautiful views of the city, including the many traditional wooden houses, mosques, and palaces along the shore. The rest of the day will be dedicated to further sightseeing in Istanbul. Overnight is at your hotel in Istanbul.
(Istanbul – Nicea 100 miles, 2 hours / Nicea – Bursa 50 miles, 1 hour)
Leave Istanbul and drive along the Sea of Marmara to Nicea. The city achieved fame as the site of two ecumenical councils during the Byzantine period. During the Ottoman period, it was celebrated for its highest quality tiles and pottery. Our tour includes the well preserved Roman city walls and the Byzantine Church of Holy Wisdom. Continue to Bursa, where some of the finest Ottoman monuments in the Balkans can be seen. Our tour of the city includes the famous Green Mosque, the Green Tomb and the Grand Mosque. Check into the hotel for overnight.
(Bursa – Pergamum 182 miles, about 2 hours 45 min. one way / Pergamum – Thyatira 45 miles, 1 hour / Thyatira – Izmir 52 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes)
On our drive south from Bursa to Izmir, we will visit the ancient city of Pergamum (modern Bergama), one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and center of the Attalid dynasty. The oldest portion of the city is the acropolis that rises steeply to a height of nearly 1.300 feet above the plain of the Caicus River. The library on the acropolis became in the second century B.C. one of the great centers of learning of the ancient world. Here are also found the famous temples of Athena, Trajan, the famous Altar of Zeus, as well as the steepest theatre in the ancient world. At the base of the acropolis, we’ll visit the Asklepion, an important center of healing in Asia Minor and dedicated to the god of healing Asklepios. Here the famous physician Galen was not only born but taught medicine early in his career. From Pergamum, we continue our trip to Thyatira, which is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. St. Paul may have visited on his missionary journeys (Acts 19:10). Drive to Izmir, Smyrna. After visiting the Church of St. Policarp, the oldest Church in ancient Smyrna and symbolized the community of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse, check into hotel in Izmir for overnight. The visit to the Church of St. Policarp can also be replaced by the ancient agora of Smyrna.
(Izmir – Sardes 48 miles, 1 hour / Sardis – Philadelphia 31 miles, 50 minutes / Philadelphia – Hierapolis 53 miles, 1, 5 hours)
Drive to Sardes which is one of the ancient cities of Turkey whose true history cannot be separated from myth. It was the capital of the Lydian Kingdom and known as the richest city of western Asia Minor. Our tour of Sardes includes the famous temple of Artemis, the Byzantine Church, the Synagogue, and the famous Roman Gymnasium with its beautiful facade. After lunch, continue to Philadelphia, the city of Brotherly Love and visit the Church of St. John. Walk the streets of Philadelphia, and then proceed to Pamukkale, which is famous for its medicinal pools and hot mineral springs that overflow so as to cover the rocks beneath with white deposits of lime that give the appearance of a frozen cascade. It is to these formations that the Turkish name Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) is probably due. Dinner and overnight is at Pamukkale hotel.
(Pamukkale – Laodicea 10 miles, 15 minutes / Laodicea – Kusadasi 116 miles, 2, 5 hours)
After breakfast at your hotel, depart from Pamukkale. In the morning, we’ll explore the ancient city of Hierapolis overlooking the Lycus river valley with its well-preserved theatre and large necropolis. The Martyrium of St. Philip the Apostle is also here. A short drive from Hierapolis will take us to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Our tour includes the stadium, the ancient theatre, and the Church. Lunch will be served in Pamukkale or along the way to Kusadasi. Later, we’ll journey through the famous Meander River Valley to the seacoast city of Kusadasi. Overnight is at your hotel in Kusadasi.
( Kusadasi – Ephesus 10 miles, 20 minutes one way)
Today we drive to Ephesus, the greatest of all the Roman cities in Asia Minor. Famous throughout history for its Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this city was also the most important shrine of the Asia Minor and was amongst any of the cities visited by St. Paul where he stayed longest. It is here that St. John lived and died and according to a legend where Virgin Mary spent her last years.
We can start our tour with a visit to the Temple of Diana which is a must in order to understand the dynamics and logistics of Ephesus. It was built in honor of the Greek goddess of hunting, wild nature, and fertility, Artemis and was counted among the seven wonders of the ancient world. Proceed on to the main site. Our tour of the main site of Ephesus will include the Gymnasium, Odeon, Agora, Prytaneion, Nymphaion, Domitian Temple, Celsius Library, Commercial Agora, the Grand Theater, Harbor Street etc…, and also a special visit to the Roman villas of Ephesus with their elaborate wall paintings and with their mosaic decorated floors. After a lunch break, we will visit the house of Virgin Mary which is located on top of the Nightingale Hill and which can be reached after a bendy but very scenic drive up the hill. We will continue touring with a visit to the museum of Ephesus and then end our tour with a visit to the Basilica of St. John where he was buried. Return to Kusadasi in the late afternoon. Overnight is at your hotel in Kusadasi.
KUSADASI TO PRIENE IS ABOUT 45-50 MINUTES ONE WAY. THEN FROM PRIENE TO DOGANBEY HALF AN HOUR, TO KARINA 15-20 MIN., DIDYMA IS ANOTHER 45 MINUTES OR SO. ARRIVING IN BODRUM TAKES ANOTHER HOUR AND A HALF.
Today we will head south and drive to Bodrum, visiting some nice places on the way. Our first stop is at Priene, an important and fascinating ancient Ionian city dramatically overlooking the fertile plains of the Meandre Valley. (walking) It used to be an ancient harbor city, however probably had to change its location when the harbor was threatened by the silt of the Meander River.
We will then explore Doganbey, a former Greek village located by the ancient Mykale Mountains. This little village was part of the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey in 1924. Turks living in Greece were exchanged with the Greeks living in Turkey. This is one of the rare exchange villages. After this exchange in 1924 the village was hit by an earthquake in 1959 and abondoned. The villagers founded a new settlement and named as ”Yeni Doganbey” meaning the ”New Doganbey”. We will walk on the cobble stone streets. The streets and majority of the homes are restored and in very good condition. A picturesque town. The village today is like an open air museum and so quite in the winter, it was like visiting a ghost town. We would have lunch at a fish restaurant located at the coastal village of Karina and then head to Didyma, the cult center, which was famed as a prophecy center dedicated to Apollo, with the great temple of Apollo, a sacred place of pagan worship. It was one of the most colossal temples in the Hellenic World, venerating the God Apollo. In the late afternoon, we will drive to Bodrum. Depending on the time of arrival in Bodrum and upon your will, the remainder of the day can either be at leisure. Bodrum was named as Halicarnassus in the ancient times, the birthplace of Herodotus and the home of one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Mausoleum. Dinner will either be served at the hotel or at a local restaurant in Bodrum at your own expense. Overnight at your hotel in Bodrum.
Today, in half a day, we will discover the highlights of Bodrum. Starting with the Castle of St. Peter built in the 15th century, dating from the time of the Crusades and which now houses the Museum of Nautical Archeology. Bodrum was named as Halicarnassus in the ancient times, the birthplace of Herodotus and the home of one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Mausoleum which we will also visit. The Ancient theater of Halicarnassos (the old name of Bodrum) Myndos gate (where Alexander the Great entered the city) and the Mausoleum will all be visited. Later in the afternoon, drive to a local village (half an hour journey) to see village life, visit a local home, see local handicrafts and have a home cooked lunch in a traditional style. Dinner will be served in one of the local restaurants in Bodrum city center at your own expense. Overnight at your hotel in Bodrum.
Today is dedicated to discovering the beautiful bays of Bodrum peninsula on board a privately chartered wooden boat called “gullet” on a day basically for relaxation. We set out to cruise the turquoise seas of the Bodrum coastline. We will visit a few bays where you can swim and snorkel in crystal-clear water or simply relax in the mild breeze, enjoy the stunning views. You will be taken to some bays for swimming and relaxation and your day on board the gullet will definitely give you a touch of a gullet experience. “Gullet” is a typical wooden sailing vessel mostly built in the shipyards of the southwestern coast of Turkey. During your exploration of the beautiful bays around Bodrum Peninsula, you will be cruising on one of these traditional wooden sailing vessels which were once used by fishermen in these bountiful waters. Lunch will be served on board and you will have the opportunity of swimming, snorkeling or simply relaxing in the mild breeze. Return to Bodrum Harbor in the late afternoon. Dinner will either be served at the hotel or at a local restaurant in Bodrum at your own expense. Overnight at your hotel in Bodrum.
Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Istanbul. End of services.
The above itinerary is a sample program. It is customizable. To tailor the program to your own interest or for more information and prices, please contact us.
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