Arrive Istanbul, a world-class city that bridges the continents of Europe and Asia.  Ever since its founding in the 7th century B.C. Istanbul has attracted travelers, traders and conquerors from East and West.  Before going to the hotel cruise on the Bosphorus (see left) by private boat. At the end of the cruise transfer to your hotel for overnight.  Dinner at hotel or local restaurant.

Our tour begins with visit of Kariye Museum (the Church of St. Saviour in Chora), the walls of which are adorned with splendid frescoes and mosaics, proceed to Sultanahmet, the heart of historical monuments. Here we walk across the Byzantine Hippodrome, where chariot-races were held.  Then we visit the famous Blue Mosque (see right) with its priceless coloured tiles and the 1500 years old St. Sophia, the Imperial Church of Byzantine Emperors. End the day wandering round the covered Grand Bazaar, the largest in the world (with some 4,000 shops). After dinner at local restaurant transfer to the airport for the evening flight to Kayseri upon arrival transfer to the hotel in Cappadocia. Overnight at hotel.

We spend all day exploring the history and scenery of Cappadocia (see left).  First off, we’ll visit the gently folding volcanic rock formations and “fairy chimneys” of Goreme Open Air Museum.  These rock formations are not only beautiful, but functional as well. Many early Christian communities lived and worshipped deep in the rocks and crags, leaving their frescoes and paintings to be marvelled at centuries later.   Other communities lived underground and we’ll visit these dwellings too.  To protect themselves from Roman persecution and marauding bandits, local people began to live in underground caves forming “cities” that reach a depth of up to 7 stories below the surface.   Other sites include the Natural Citadel of Uchisar and the small, picturesque village of Avanos – famous for their red clay pottery.  In Avanos we’ll visit “The Potter’s Place: Gift Shoppe and Cultural Centre” and have time for visiting local potter for a demonstration and maybe try your own hand at the potter’s wheel. Dinner at hotel.

Depart early today for Yalvac.  Visit Pisidian Antioch which was a major Roman colony that was visited by St. Paul on his First Missionary Journey and continue to Colossae mentioned in Bible: Colossians 1:2, (at the present time there is not any ruins left).  End your day in Pamukkale (see right) which means “cotton castle” where you see fantastic dazzling white limestone terraces formed by travertine deposits from hot water springs running over the chalk cliffs.

After breakfast depart for Hierapolis which is located right over the travertine terraces and which was a fashionable spa center in Roman times.  Visit the Temple of Apollo, a breathtaking theater, the fascinating necropolis and some church ruins.  Proceed to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches addressed by John in the Revelation.  See the recently excavated town and its theatre.  Then drive to Philadelphia and Sardis (see left), the ancient capital of the state of Lydia, where gold and silver coins were first minted.  Sardis was also a center very receptive to early Christian teaching and had a substantial community of believers by the 1st century AD.  Visit the pre-Christian ruins in the Sardis area which includes the Temple of Artemis, the stadium and the Roman theatre.  Continue to Thyatira, which is one of the Seven Churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.  Dinner & overnight at hotel in Kusadasi.

Today you visit Ephesus (see right), the capital of Roman Asia Minor, and where St. Paul preached and taught for over two years.  View the magnificent harbor and the great amphitheater which seated nearly 25,000 people.  See Marble Street, the Library of Celsius, a gymnasium and the Temple of Hadrian.  You will also see the Temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the site of the scene of religious riots.  St. Paul had founded the Church here and was also imprisoned in Ephesus.  Visit the Basilica of St. John, whose later life and death are associated with Ephesus before returning to Kusadasi for overnight

In the early morning depart from the hotel for Izmir (ancient Smyrna). Visit ancient agora and drive to Bergama (ancient Pergamon, see left). Parchment was invented here. This was the home town of Galen, renowned doctor and surgeon and site of his temple devoted to healing, the Asclepion & visit also Acropolis. Continue to Canakkale. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast visit Troy, the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy and Trojan Horse (see right), which was destroyed and rebuilt nine times. And drive to Istanbul.

Dinner at hotel or local restaurant.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight back to home.

£549 per person sharing in a twin/double bedded room.

£794 in a single room (Limited spaces in single rooms, subject to availability on first come first serve basis)

Included:

Lovely 4* hotels included

All flights from London Heathrow to Istanbul return including domestic flight in Turkey

All touring lead by licensed English speaking tour guide, all transfers.

Not included:

Gratuities/tipping suggested at £50 per person

Lunches

Travel Insurance

Visa (currently $35 per person applicable online)