Turkey
Turkey features strongly particularly in the development of the early church. Here we see the first churches planted and visited by St Paul on his missionary journeys: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira and Laodicea.
These Seven Churches of Asia form a strong theme around which an exciting tour can be woven. Breathtaking scenery, beautiful coastlines and amazingly preserved classical sites are all contained in one tour, and Turkey is a very safe and friendly country and offers superb value for money.
The two itineraries shown below, for a tour of 7 days and a tour of 9 days, are merely samples. Your tour will be entirely tailor-made to your own specifications.
Sample 7 Day Itinerary
Day 1 Fly from the UK to Istanbul, connect with our onward flight to Izmir, and transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 2 After breakfast, we see the ruins of the Velvet Fortress and the Ancient Agora of Smyrna, and visit the Church of Saint Polycarp. Drive north to visit the city of Pergamum - towering above the modern city of Bergama. Dinner and overnight Bergama.
Day 3 After breakfast, drive to Thyatira, another of the Seven Churches before continuing to Sardis where we see the Temple of Artemis, a Roman gymnasium and mosaics in the synagogue. Travel to the site of Philadelphia and then to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight Pamukkale.
Day 4 After breakfast, visit spectacular Pamukkale, with its calcium pools and the spa of hot mineral water. Visit the nearby necropolis at Hierapolis, then drive to the site of Laodicea, situated on a plateau 100 feet above the Meander Valley, before heading for the coast. Dinner and overnight Kusadasi.
Day 5 After breakfast, visit one of the most extensive and impressive archaeological sites in the world at Ephesus. Travel to Selcuk to see the church and burial chamber of St John and the traditional House of the Virgin Mary. Dinner and overnight Kusadasi.
Day 6 After breakfast, a day of leisure in Kusadasi which has an interesting harbour overlooked by a fortress. Dinner and overnight Kusadasi.
Day 7 Leave for Izmir airport for our return flight via Istanbul to the UK.
Sample 9 Day Itinerary
Day 1 We travel on our flight to Istanbul and transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 2 After breakfast we visit the massive and spectacular Hagia Sophia. We see the nearby underground Justinian Cistern and then visit the serene and awe-inspiring Blue Mosque. We end at the magnificent Topkapi palace, with many beautiful buildings, containing thousands of treasures of the Ottoman Empire. Dinner and overnight Istanbul.
Day 3 After breakfast, we start with a visit to the Church of St Saviour at Chora with its stunning mosaics and frescoes, and on our return we explore the Grand Bazaar, the oldest covered market in the world, followed by a short visit to the Egyptian Spice Market, full of tantalising aromas. In the afternoon we take our flight to Izmir and transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 After breakfast, we see the ruins of the Velvet Fortress and the Ancient Agora of Smyrna, before visiting the Church of Saint Polycarp, which symbolises the site of one of the Seven Churches. We drive north to visit the city of Pergamum - towering above the modern city of Bergama. Dinner and overnight Bergama.
Day 5 After breakfast, we drive to Thyatira, another of the Seven Churches before continuing to Sardis where we see the Temple of Artemis, a Roman gymnasium and mosaics in the synagogue. From here we travel to the site of Philadelphia and then to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight Pamukkale.
Day 6 After breakfast, visit spectacular Pamukkale, with its calcium pools and the spa of hot mineral water. We visit the nearby necropolis at Hierapolis, then drive to the site of Laodicea, situated on a plateau 100 feet above the Meander Valley, before heading for the coast. Dinner and overnight Kusadasi.
Day 7 After breakfast we visit the last of the Seven Churches of Asia, at Ephesus. St Paul lived here and today it is one of the most extensive and impressive archaeological sites in the world. Much has been rebuilt and it is easy to visualize an active city as it would have been. In the afternoon, we visit the church and burial chamber of St John in Selcuk, and the traditional House of the Virgin Mary. Dinner and overnight Kusadasi.
Day 8 After breakfast we have a day of leisure and Kusadasi has an interesting harbour overlooked by a fortress. There are many shops selling carpets and other local handicrafts, as well as a beach. Alternatively, you can relax around the hotel.
Day 9 After breakfast we leave for Izmir airport for our return flight via Istanbul to the UK.