Footsteps of St. Paul Tour

Visited Sights: Hagia Sophia - Blue Mosque - Topkapi Palace - Hippodrome - Obelisk of Theodosius and Grand Bazaar

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel by the tour guide and start to full day Old City Tour. Istanbul is a city full of famous iconic sites that today you will experience for yourself from the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia with their breathtaking silhouettes that make the skyline so unique to the Topkapi Palace, a beautiful Ottoman palace once home to the Ottoman Sultans and the first president of Turkey. Spend some time where the gladiators of ancient Roman Constantinople, entertained the crowds at the site of the Hippodrome today you will see the Obelisks that have stood the test of time and are adorned with beautiful markings, taking us back in time. Our last station is the Grand Bazaar, Turkey’s the largest covered market at the heart of the Old City, offering excellent shopping. You will get the chance to wander through the Grand Bazaar and soak up the atmosphere of this incredible delight.

At the end of the day, you will be taken to the Istanbul Airport for your flight to Adana. When you arrive at the airport, you will be welcomed by our representative at the first exit door. You will then be taken to your hotel. Overnight in Adana.

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked from your hotel and depart to Antakya. Here Jesus' followers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26) Peter, Paul and also Barnabas preached here. Visit St. Peter's Grotto and the exquisite Mosaic Museum.

At the end of the tour, we will drive to your hotel. Overnight in Adana.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up and drive to Tarsus and visit the Apostle Paul's well, the Gate of Cleopatra, and the latest excavations. Then we will travel to Cappadocia. Today our last destination will be one of the widest underground city of Cappadocia region; it was carved out underneath a rock hill. The first three floors were probably carved out by Hittites about 2000 B.C. There were those underground cities where the first Christians hid excaping the persecution of the Roman authorities.

At the end of the tour, we will drive to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up and visit the Cappadocia, with its centre in Caesarea, was once the heart of the Hittite Kingdom of the Old Testament. This vast area is one of the most photogenic landscapes in the world. Extraordinary rock formations have become symbolic of this region, where you will enjoy the Valley of the Fairy Chimneys and Goremes breathtaking Open Air Museum. Watch the potters at their craft, in the famous pottery producing town of Avanos. Finally, savor the natural wonders of the Citadel of Uchisar Valley.

At the end of the tour, we will drive to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up and drive to Konya. When we arrive we will visit the Mevlana Museum and the 13th century Whirling Dervish Monastery. Continue on to Lystra, where a mob stoned Paul during his first journey and where Timothy joined him during the second journey.

At the end of the tour, we will drive to your hotel. Overnight in Konya.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up and drive to Yalvac, ancient Antioch of Pisidia. Paul visited this town on his first missionary journey and it is here that he addressed the congregation in the synagogue on the Sabbath with his first recorded sermon. Immerse yourself in the excavations of ancient city here and also a visit the Yalvac Museum to see the artefacts unearthed from the very same city. They frustrated the authorities there and were warned in time to escape from being attacked. Then we will depart to Antalya and visit the Old City (Kaleici).

At the end of the tour, we will drive to your hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up and depart for Perge, one of the largest ancient cities in the Pamphylia region. Perge was the capital of Pamphylia. The Roman Baths, the Agora, Colonaded Street, Nympharium and the stadium are all on the visit. Then we depart for the Aspendos Ancient Theatre. This incredibly well preserved ancient theatre was built in the 2nd centrury A.D. It has a capacity of 15,000 people and its still being used for festivals and music concerts. We have a lunch break at a restaurant then depart for Side. Side is one of the best classical ancient cities in Turkey, it was a port city that served the largest slave market in this region. During Roman times much construction took place in Side including a large theatre, Roman Baths and the Temple of Apollo.

At the end of the tour, we will drive to your hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

There is no schedule on your programme today. You will be free to discover the city on your own. Overnight in Antalya.

Ps. If you like, we can also arrange Boat Trip. Please ask for availability!

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up and drive to Pamukkale where you will explore beautiful nature and fascinating history. Pamukkale has hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing and cooling water. It seems like cotton that’s why it is called Cotton Castle. After having lunch we will visit to Hierapolis Ancient City as a Unesco World Heritage Site and used to be visited by people to soothe their aliments during the retirement and also die there. Then we will visit the Laodicea, an early center of Christianity and one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.

At the end of the tour, we will drive to your hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up and drive to Sardes, an extremely important ancient city and the capital of the Lydia Kingdom with its beautiful gymnasium and marble paved synagogue and the Temple of Artemis including ancient Christian Chapel of the 4th Century. Then we will proceed to Philadelphia in Alasehir, a favorite city of Paul and John. 

At the end of the tour, we will drive to your Kusadasi hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Kusadasi port and take a ferry to Patmos. We will buy your ferry tickets and when you arrive at Kusadasi Port from Patmos we will welcomed you and transfer you to your Kusadasi hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Ps. There is no Patmos ferries during the winter season. If there is no Patmos ferry, will be given a free day in Kusadasi instead of Patmos.

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel by the tour guide and drive to Ephesus where St. Paul stayed a while, visit the ancient city, House of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John, and continue to Miletos where St. Paul gave a speech to spread Christianity. 

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Izmir.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up and depart for Smyrna. First of all, we will start your trip in ancient times known as Smyrna, visiting the outside of St Polykarp Church & the ruins of the Agora. Then depart to Bergama and ruins of Pergamon, previously a renowned cultural and political center used by the Romans as an administrative center for the province of Asia. Here visit the ruins of the Acropolis and the Asclepion with its theatre. Then we will visit the ruins of Thyatira, which was founded by the Lydian’s.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Izmir.

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel by the tour guide and drive the archaeological site of this 5000 years old city, scene of the legendary Trojan War as described in Homer's Iliad. See a reconstruction of the fabled Wooden Horse, the city ruins from a succession of 9 civilizations, the Roman Bouletarion, Theatre and onsite Museum. St. Paul travelled through the southern city of Troas nearby here several times. Then we will drive to Troas and Assos. Troas was a busy port situated on the north-west coast of Asia Minor. During his stay in Troas, St. Paul had a dream in which he saw a vision of a man asking him to "Come over to Macedonia and help us" after which he decided to go to Europe. All in all, he stopped and preached here 3 Footsteps of St Paul Tour – Troytimes. Arriving at Assos on foot from Troas, St. Paul preached here and climbed down to the little port on the shore to board the boat on his return journey to Jerusalem. 

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Canakkale.

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel by the tour guide and drive to Bursa visit the Green Mosque and Green Tomb. The Ulu Mosque is completely Seljuk in style, a big rectangular building with immense portals and a forest of supporting columns inside. After a stop at the Ottoman House Museum then drive to Nicea. The city was founded around 1000 B.C. In 325, the First Ecumenical Council was held here for the purpose of condemning the heresy of Arianism. The Seventh Ecumenical Council was also held here in the St. Sophia Church, which we will visit first. The church was built in the 4th century and has a mosaic floor which dates to the 6th century. All gates and walls date from the Byzantine times.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

According to your international flight time, you will be transferred to airport 4 hours before your flight. You will be able do self check-in. This is the end of our services.