Antioch, Cappadocia, and Churches of Revelation

Day 1 (Oct 30 Sat) FLIGHTS TO ISTANBUL. Tour participants depart on Turkish Airlines from the United States to Istanbul (non-stop) from one of the following airports: Seattle, LAX, Houston, Chicago, New York JFK, Washington DC.

BIBLICAL ANTIOCH AND PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS

Day 2 (Oct 31 Sun) FLIGHT TO ANTAKYA (ANTIOCH). Arriving in Istanbul, we go through customs and take a domestic flight to Antakya (Antioch). We get our luggage and drive to our amazing 5-star Museum Hotel.

Day 3 (Nov 1 Mon) ANTIOCH AND PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS. After breakfast we experience a guided tour of the ancient Roman ruins and mosaics located under our hotel. After the mosaic tour, Dr. Jackson will teach on the early church of Antioch and Paul’s three missionary journeys (sermon series preparation for pastors). Following the teaching session, we will visit the Cave Church of Peter (built in the late 300s or early 400s). Dinner and overnight at the Museum Hotel.

Day 4 (Nov 2 Tues) ANTIOCH REGION. After breakfast we meet Turkish Christian leaders ministering in Antioch. We then drive to tour the famous mountain monastery ruins of Simeon, and then drive on to the historic Mediterranean harbor Seleucia Pieria from where the Paul and Barnabas sailed to Cyprus on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:4). Dinner and overnight at the Museum Hotel.

TARSUS AND CAPPADOCIA

Day 5 (Nov 3 Wed) TARSUS AND CAPPADOCIA. After breakfast we drive to Tarsus and visit the hometown of the apostle Paul. We then drive up through the historic mountain pass of the Cilician Gates into the spectacular landscape of the Cappadocia region of central Turkey. On our way to the hotel, we visit the underground city of Kaymakli. Dinner and overnight at our 5-star Barcelo Hotel. Day 6 (Nov 4 Thurs) CAPPADOCIA. 

Day 6 (Nov 4 Thurs) CAPPADOCIA. After breakfast (an early balloon option for participants, cost is around $400 per person) we visit the Göreme Open Air Museum with its many fresco-covered cave churches. We then visit and walk through the Zelve Valley where Christian monks lived and carved out cave churches. At the Zelve Valley, Dr. Jackson will share on the famous ministries of the early church fathers—Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus—of Cappadocia. We then drive to the Uçhisar Castle (highest point in Cappadocia) where you can climb to the top for a beautiful panoramic view. Dinner and overnight at the Barcelo Hotel.

THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION

DAY 7 (Nov 5 Fri) SMYRNA. After breakfast we take a morning flight to Izmir (Smyrna). After getting settled into our hotel, Dr. Jackson will teach on the seven churches of the book of Revelation (sermon series preparation for pastors). Later in the afternoon, we tour the Roman agora of biblical Smyrna (Revelation 2 8-11), and see the location where the early apostolic church father Polycarp (a disciple of the apostle John) was martyred. Dinner and overnight at the 5-star Movenpick Hotel.

DAY 8 (Nov 6 Sat) PERGAMUM. After breakfast we drive to biblical Pergamum (Revelation 2:12–17), and tour one of the most impressive acropolis and archaeological sites in Turkey. It was called the Seat of Satan in the book of Revelation. Here we visit a 10,000-seat theater on the side of the acropolis that is the steepest in the ancient world, the temple of Emperor Trajan, and the remains of a library of 200,000 volumes second in size only to the library in Alexandria, Egypt. We then drive back to Izmir and enjoy a special dinner on the Aegean Sea with Levent Oral, the owner of Tutku Tours. Overnight at the Movenpick Hotel.

DAY 9 (Nov 7 Sun) SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA, COLOSSAE. After breakfast we drive from Smyrna to the beautiful Lycus River Valley. On this journey we tour the archaeological biblical sites of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Colossae. At Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) we tour the remains of the magnificent temple of Artemis (later converted into a church), the beautifully reconstructed gymnasium, and the largest known synagogue outside Palestine. We drive to Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) and visit the Basilica of the Apostle John built in the AD 500s. We then drive to Colossae where Paul sent his letters of Colossians and Philemon. Dinner and overnight at the 5-star Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel.

Day 10 (Nov 8 Mon) LAODICEA AND HIEROPOLIS. After breakfast we tour the massive archeological sites of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22, Colossians 4:13) and Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Colossians 4:13). At Laodicea we visit two large theaters and several excavated early churches, and at Hierapolis we tour the martyrdom site and tomb of the Apostle Philip. Dinner and overnight at the Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel.

BIBLICAL EPHESUS: PAUL, TIMOTHY, JOHN

Day 11 (Nov 9 Tues) EPHESUS REGION. After breakfast we drive to the Ephesus region where we visit the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, the remains of the Basilica Church of Saint John (where the apostle John was buried), and the modern Turkish town of Selcuk where we meet the locals and shop. Dinner and overnight at the 5-star Korumar Deluxe Hotel on the Aegean Sea.

Day 12 (Nov 10 Wed) BIBLICAL EPHESUS. After breakfast Dr. Jackson will teach on the Ephesus ministries of the Apostle Paul, Timothy, and the Apostle John (sermon series preparation for pastors) at the hotel. We then tour the archaeological biblical city of Ephesus, a magnificent reconstructed Greco-Roman city and walk through the spectacular first century Terrace Houses. Dinner and overnight at the Korumar Deluxe Hotel.

Day 13 (Nov 11 Thurs) DEPARTURE AND TOUR ENDS. After breakfast we drive to the Izmir Airport where we fly to Istanbul and board our international flights.

• Roundtrip international flights on Turkish Airlines from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Houston, or Atlanta.
• Domestic flight - Istanbul to Hatay (Antioch)
• Domestic flight - Kayseri (Cappadocia) to Izmir (Smyrna)
• Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
• Licensed Turkish guide (English speaking) during tours & transfers
• Land transportation: Private fully A/C van/bus with driver throughout the tour
• Entry fees for itinerary sites and museums
• Daily breakfasts and dinners at the hotels
• Tips for the Turkish tour guide and bus driver
• Tolls, parking fees, fuel, guide’s and driver’s expenses
• Service charges, accommodation taxes, & local taxes
• Personal headsets (whispers)
• 3 Nights at the Museum Hotel (Antakya/Antioch) or similar
• 2 Nights at the Barcelo Hotel (Cappadocia) or similar
• 2 Nights at the Movenpick Hotel (Izmir) or similar
• 2 Night at the Adempira Termal & Spa Hotel (Pammukale) or similar
• 2 Nights at Korumar Hotel (Kusadasi, Ephesus) or similar

• Daily lunches and drinks
• Any special drinks at dinners
• All personal expenses
• All medical expenses
• Health and travel insurance
• Hot air balloon in Cappadocia