Wiiliam Liversidge                 Patrick Williams

 

03 May, Monday / Turkey

Arrive in Izmir and transfer to the hotel. Overnight  Izmir (D).  

 

04 May, Tuesday

After leaving the hotel at 09:00 and then visiting Smyrna Agora at 09:15 drive to Pergamum. After visits to the Asclepion, Acropolis and Red Courtyard, that served as Temple of Serapis and later symbolized one of the Seven Churches of Anatolia, drive back to Izmir via Thyatira. Overnight Izmir (B, D).

 

05 May, Wednesday

Departure for Sardis, the capital of Lydian Kingdom which houses one of the seven churches, and see the ruins of the largest Jewish synagogue ever excavated. Also, visit the nearby Artemis Temple. Continue to Alasehir (Philadelphia) to see the Church of St. John. Drive on to Kusadasi for overnight (B, D).

 

06 May, Thursday

Ephesus Antique City*, the most visited ancient Biblical site of Turkey with many acres of carefully excavated ruins, also sites of the palace and the temple of Domitian, the Caesar who exiled John the Revelator to Patmos, and amphitheater where the crowd rioted because of the success of Paul’s evangelism for Pergamum. Selcuk Ephesus Museum, St. John Church and Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Overnight in Kusadasi (B, D). 

 

07 May, Friday

Proceed to Miletus, the famous Ionian city that had also been visited by St. Paul during his missionary trip. Then drive on to Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite; visit the Museum, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Theatre, the Stadium, the Agora, the Hadrian Baths, the Odeon, and the Bishop's Palace. Drive to Pamukkale for overnight (B, D).

 

08 May, Saturday

In the morning, drive to the recently excavated Roman city Laodicea to have Sabbath worship service. Then continue on to Colossae. Drive back to Pamukkale to visit ancient Hierapolis with the Theatre, Apollo Temple and magnificent Necropolis, the graveyard. Overnight Pamukkale (B, L, D)

 

09 May, Sunday

Drive to Yalvac to visit (Antiochus in Pisidia) and then drive on to Konya. Visit to the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic figure (B, D). 

 

10 May, Monday

Drive to Cappadocia to visit Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors, the Pigeon Valley near Uchisar, Open Air Museum in Goreme with the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various Biblical scenes, Avanos where the meandering Kizilirmak (Hallys), the longest river of Turkey, deposits the red clay on its banks that has been the raw material of pottery for centuries. Overnight in Cappadocia (B, D).  

 

11 May, Tuesday

Optional balloon tour at sunrise. Depart from the hotel at 09.30-10.00 depending on the arrival time of the balloon participants. Then drive to the Hittite capital. Before visiting the main capital proceed to Yazilikaya (Bogazkale) to see the open air sanctuary. In the afternoon visit to the capital of Hattusas with Lion’s Gate, Tunnel, King’s Gate, Citadel and Grand Temple.Continue on to Ankara and overnight (B).

 

12 May, Wednesday

After visiting the Anatolian Civilizations Museum at which numerous remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and many others are on display, drive on to Istanbul for overnight (B).

 

13 May, Thursday

Full day tour with St. Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in A.D. 536 by Emperor Justinian; Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art; Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and political activities of the old city where one can also see today the “Obelisk of Theodosius” from Egypt, “Serpentine Column” from Delphi, the “German Fountain of Wilhelm II” and the “Colossus”. Yerebatan Underground Cistern. In the afternoon, Topkapi Palace - Harem section is excluded -  built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury, Chinese porcelains, weapons, calligraphy section, etc. Grand Covered Bazaar, which is one of the most attractive shopping centers in the world with nearly 4000 shops. Return to the hotel (You may also prefer returning to the hotel on your own if you like to spend longer time in the Bazaar) (B).

 

14 May, Friday

A morning tour to visit the aromatic Spice Bazaar (Closed on Sundays) from 1663 with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs along with a wide variety of commodities, also known as Egyptian Bazaar as it was once endowed with the Cairo imposts. Then proceed to the pier so as to embark the public ferry. Sailing through the waterway separating the two continents - Asia and Europe - with a possibility to take pictures of the marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials. During this trip Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges as well as Rumelian Fortress, historical armament built by the Conqueror in 1452 to control and protect Bosphorus, will be visible from the sea. After having disembarked the boat get into the coach to get back to the city to visit the Archaeological Museum. Optional “Turkish Night Dinner Show”. Overnight in Istanbul (B). 

 

15 May, Saturday

Worship in the  Istanbul SDA Church on Sabbath morning. In the afternoon visit Kariye Museum (St. Savior in Chora) and then free time to visit selected museums Overnight in Istanbul (B).

 

16 May, Sunday

Bus transfer to the airport for the departure flight (B)

 

B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner

 

Per Person Price (In a Double Room): $1.595

Single Supplement: $345

($250 p.p. deposit at the time of sign-up and the balance payment until March 31st, 2010)

 

Rates (in American dollar) are inclusive of accommodation at 4-star (5-star in Cappadocia) hotels on basis as specified on the above given itinerary, guidance in English, air-conditioned transportation, admission fees, meal courses as specified on the itinerary above, parking and taxes. International airfares are exclusive.