Meet and assist upon arrival at Istanbul airport and transfer to domestic lines for the flight to Adana. Meet and assist upon arrival at Adana airport and transfer to the hotel. ( D)

Early breakfast and drive to Antakya, Biblical "Antioch on the Orontes". "Antioch is where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. By the time of Paul, Peter and Barnabas, Antioch had long been an important city. There was a large Jewish community in the city and in some of the synagogues the people used the Greek language in their services, reading from the Septuagint. The size of the capital and the use of Greek in the Sabbath service suggest that the people in Antioch were not as conservative as those in the church in Jerusalem. This part of the reason why it was from Antioch rather then from Jerusalem that Christianity spread out to the world. It was from the church in Antioch that Paul and Barnabas set out on their first journey". Visit a grotto at the foot of the hills a bit east of the city known as St .Peter's Grotto (1 .Christian rock church where early Christians of Antioch used to meet in secret). Visit a crusader castle and the ruined city of Issus en route. In the afternoon, proceed to Samandag, Biblical "Seleucia Pieria" which was the seaport of Antioch in Roman times, from which Paul and Barnabas set sail for Cyprus on their first missionary journey. (B/L/D)

Leave Antakya and proceed to Tarsus which was the home of the young Paul who was born there about the time Jesus was born in Bethlehem. After the visit to Tarsus , continue to Cappadocia. (B/L/D)

Leave hotel for a full day sight-seeing of the towns of Avcilar, Ortahisar, Uchisar with their troglodyte dwellings and Goreme Valley. Remains of early churches, complicated rooms hollowed out of the cones of volcanic ash. Several hundred churches are in this area, some of which are decorated with scratched frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible or the Apocrypha. (B/L/D)

 

Leave hotel to visit to the underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli. These also were early Christian centers and must have housed several thousand people in the eighth and ninth centuries. They extend downward in the earth for at least eight floors in a maze of tunnels and rooms were easily defended by blocking the entrance with large rocks. Continue to Konya. (B/L/D)

 

Leave hotel for a full day excursion to Yalvac, Biblical "Antioch of Pisidia" mentioned in the New Teastement. "The first mention of Pisidian Antioch is when Paul on his first missionary journey arrived there from Perga and addressed the congregation   in   the synagogue on the Sabbath with his first recorded sermon. The Gentiles rejoiced that they were to be included in the change for salvation, but with the encouragement of the dissatisfied Jews, some important men and women managed to expel Paul and Barnabas from the city. Very little is left of Pisidian Antioch today. Some of the findings are in the museum of Yalvac. See the remains of a Byzantine church and those of a basilica. (B/L/D)

Leave hotel for Antalya. The area of Antalya Biblical "Attalia" is one of the most beautiful in all Turkey. lt sits on sheer cliffs above magnificent pine forests. To the west, great mountains rise straight out of the sea. " Attalia is not named when Paul and Barnabas and his cousin, John Mark, went from Paphos to Perge on their first journey, but either Side or Attalia would have been possible ports. On their way back from Iconium they came through Perga and sailed from Attalia to Antioch. No other mention is made of Attalia in the Bible, nor is there any comment about Paul's missionary work there". Departure for a city tour of Antalya including the monumental Hadrian's Gate built in A.D., Yivli Minaret Mosque which was converted from a church into a mosque in the 13th century, the archeological museum which is considered the largest in the Middle East, where you can see some evidences of early Christianity, some sarcophagi from Perge and a casket of bones reputed to be those of St. Nicholas, also some remains from the prehistoric stone age and finally the ancient harbour. (B/L/D)

Leave the hotel for a full day tour of the important ancient cities of Pamphylia. Aspendos, set on the banks of the ancient Eurymedon river, which was navigable at that time and Aspendos was a river port. Dominating the site is the best preserved theater of antiquity dating from the 2nd century A.D. The acoustics are still magnificent and performances of ancient Greek plays (in Turkish) are held here as part of the annual Antalya Festival. Proceed to Side dating from the 7th century B.C., when it was colonized by the Greeks. It was a major port and most of the remaining monuments are Roman. Opposite the entrance, outside the city walls, is an exquisite fountain and the Roman Baths which now house a museum. The entrance portal is flanked by two towers and immediately upon entering is the theater, which dominates the site. Next to the theater is the first agora. Then continue to Perge, Biblical "Perge" , on a rise not far from the Cestrus River (Aksu) which was navigable in Paul's time, and was an old city even in the first century. Its name (which is not Greek) indicates that its origin dates from pre-Greek times. Paul and Barnabas went through Perge on their way to and from Antioch on their first journey. John Mark was with them at first but left them at Perge to return to Jerusalem. In Perge , see the colonnaded road, agora, the courtyard, theater and the stadium which could seat about fourteen thousand people and is one of the best preserved in Turkey. (B/L/D)

Leave the hotel early in the morning and drive to Hierapolis, but before stop at Laodicea . The city is supposed to have been named by Antiochus II in honor of his wife, Laodicea. St.Paul wrote a letter to the church here. Arrive in Hierapolis which was founded by Pergamon king Telephos and named after his wife Hiera. Most likely, the very large Jewish element in the city was an important factor in the rapid expansion of Christianity. During the Byzantine period the city became the seat of diocese with a large Christian Church dedicated to St.Philip, martyred here in 80 A.D.. Highlights include the Roman Baths, the Temple of Apollo and the Theater. (B/L/D)

Start the day by visiting Aphrodisias. This ancient city of learning, fine arts and sculpture has provided us with exquisite pieces of work which are on display on the site. Its stadium is among the best preserved in the world. The Bishop's Palace, Odeon and the Theater will be highlights here. Next stop Didyma served as a religious sanctuary to God Apollo. Oracular inscriptions in Didyma indicate that it dates as far back as 6th century B.C. Legend tells that with the arrival of Alexander the Great, the sacred spring of the Temple which had dried up, began to flow again. Further north, arrive at Miletus whose history dates back to 800 B.C. Famous Philosopher Thales comes from Miletus and he is credited with the theory that all things come from water. Highlights here are the Theater, Baths of Faustina and the Council Chamber. Next stop is Priene with its well planned streets and graceful buildings and temples. Visit the Agora, the Ecclesiasterium and the Temple of Athena Polias. (B/L/D)

Early departure from the hotel. Tour will begin with the Basilica of St. John "The Evangelist" whoto Ephesus with Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel in Ephesus. The Temple of Artemis considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was located here. St.Paul's preachings in the area resulted with the uproar of the Guild of Silversmiths and eventually the whole population of Ephesus. See the Library of Celcius, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, the Brothel and the Theater. Also stop by the house of Virgin Mary closeby where she is reputed to have spent her last years and died. You will be able to collect some holy water from the Sacred Spring. (B/L/D)

Early departure to Sardis, capital of the Lydians -inventors of coinage and the retail trade — well known for its treasures of Croesus and the golden river Pactolos. Visit the famous Gymnasium complex, ruins of Acropolis, Temple of Cybele and Diana which later became a church.the Synagogue , the Marble court. Continue to Thyatira which was a commercial center on the highway between Troy and Sardis. Visit the remains of a church. (B/L/D)

Continue to Pergamon. It was a notable cultural and medical center in the ancient world. The fabulous Acropolis, with its Temple of Athena, Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysos, Library, Agora, Theatre, Roman Baths is a pleasure to see. Finally visit the Red Basilica ( St. John's Church) originally built as a temple devoted to the Egyptian Gods and later converted into a basilica by the Byzantine. (B/L/D)

Before heading for Istanbul, visit the ancient Troy highlighted in Homer's Iliad. Visit the ruins of the site and a replica of the Trojan Horse. Leave for Istanbul by crossing the famous strait, the Dardanelles, drive through Thrace. (B/L/D)

After breakfast, transfer to old city to discover the sights of the city's glamorous past: visit Topkapi Palace - the centuries old residence of the mighty Ottomans, houses of the imperial treasury, holy relics, kitchen utensils and royal garments, Church of St.Sophia - a dedication to Christianity is one of the largest heavenly constructions with its striking mosaics and frescoes. The Blue Mosque - daylight penetrating through stained-glass windows on the traditional blue tiles with various natural patterns creates a harmony of color and soothing sense of inner peace. Hippodrome - the site of horse races, sporting events, political meetings, festivities, now bears some of the landmarks of ancient civilizations. The Mosque of Sultan Siileyman - Constructed during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Lawgiver, at the peak of the Ottoman Dynasty. Not only a mosque, it was also a complex consisting a theological school and a kitchen for the poor. One of the best samples of the work of the architect Sinan. After the tour, transfer to the apt for departure transfer. (B/L)