Christian Heritage Turkey Tour (7 Days & 6 Nights)
Highlights: Istanbul, Smyrna (Izmir), Pergamum,Thyatira, Philadelphia, Sardes and Pamukkale
Operates: All year-around - Only on private basis
Package Rate: Please fill the form and tell us your travel dates & choice of hotels
Optional Tours: Turkish Bath (Hamam), Turkish Night Show & Whirling Dervishes Performance
Note: Christian Heritage Turkey tour is insuranced by TURSAB (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies)
Day 1 Arrival in Istanbul
Arrival to Istanbul Ataturk or Sabiha Gokcen Airport and meet for transfer to hotel. Rest of day at leisure as per arrival time. Overnight in Istanbul (Note: If coming from Greece Islands this tour can be done in reverse order).
Day 2 Istanbul City Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast at hotel meet with guide to depart on a full day tour to explore the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, Hippodrome & Obelisk, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace. After tour, return to hotel with evening at leisure.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3 Smyrna (Izmir) & Pergamum (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Breakfast at hotel, check out and transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for the morning flight to Izmir. On arrival meet with thetour guide to begin your 7 Churches of Revelations Tour. Drive to Izmir and visit St Polycarp Church and Kadifekale (translated meaning Velvet Castle) for panoramic views over the bay and city. Then depart to Bergama and ruins of Pergamum, 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 Acropol and the Asclepion with its theatre. Overnight in Bergama.
Smyrna Biblical Reference - Revelation: 2:8-11
Pergamon Biblical Reference - Revelation: 2:12-17
Day 4 Thyatira, Philadelphia, Sardes & Pamukkale (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast and check out, time to depart on to visit the ruins of Thyatira which was founded by the Lydians. Then to magnificent Sardes which was the wealthy capital of the Lydian Empire. Enroute to Pamukkale also stop to visit the church in Philadelphia which was important for the spreading of thought patterns and activities of the Hellenistic civilisation and Christian faith. Our day will end on arrival to Pamukkale with a visit to the natural formation of the travertens (Cotton Cliffs) and the ruins of Hierapolis. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Thyatira Biblical Reference - Revelation: 2:18-29
Philadelphi Biblical Reference - Revelation: 3:7-13
Sardes Biblical Reference - Revelation: 3:1-6
Day 5 Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Breakfast, check out and depart to visit the ruins of Laodicea which is mentioned in Revelations as the "City of Compromise". Next then drive to Selcuk and visit the Ancient City of Ephesus which represents many different facets of Ancient Greek and Roman culture. Last by not least, visit the House of Virgin Mary where she is said to have spent the last of her days. Transfer to Izmir Airport for the return flight to Istanbul, evening at leisure. Overnight Istanbul.
Ephesus Biblical Reference - Revelation: 1:11:2:1-7 and Acts 18:19-28:19
Laodicea Biblical Reference - Revelation: 3:14-22
Day 6 Free day in Istanbul (Meal: Breakfast)
After breakfast at hotel, remainder of day at your leisure to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 7 Istanbul / Home (Meal: Breakfast)
After you have checked-out from your hotel, we will arrange for the transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your onward flight. Have a nice trip and thanks for choosing Commodore Tour & Travel
What's Included:
* Hotel accommodations in choice of preferred class
* Professional Tour Guides licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
* Noted sightseeing tours on private guided basis
* Main entrance fees to sights mentioned by the itinerary
* Meals mentioned by the itinerary - Vegeterian meals available
* Required land transport including roundtrip airport transfers with A/C non-smoking minivans
* Required internal flight tickets (Istanbul/Izmir/Istanbul)
* Local taxes & handling services