Day 1: Istanbul - Cappadocia
Arriving to Istanbul Airport and meeting with your guide
at the airport. Take the evening flight to Cappadocia
at 16:00 pm and transferred to the hotel for dinner and
overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 2: Cappadocia
Visit the underground city of Kaymakli, which extends
beneath the surface 14 stories. We leave the breathtaking
landscape of Cappadocia for a while, and descend to the
centre of the earth at Kaymakli Underground City. Kaymakli
is where the early Christians, escaping persecution, fled
to seek sanctuary underground. It is here that they built
complete cities where they could live for months at a
time undetected. They have certainly been a well-hidden
secret. Only small portions of the approximately 40 discovered
underground cities have been excavated, and an even smaller
portion is available for public viewing. There are probably
more cities that have not been found. We end the day hiking
up to the top of Uchisar Castle, which is the highest
and the most dominant point, giving us a breathtaking
panorama. Dinner, and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 3: Cappadocia
Today we introduce you to the lunar landscape of Cappadocia
at Dervent Valley, then we head on to Zelve Open Air Museum,
which is one of the earliest inhabited and latest abandoned
monastic settlements of Cappadocia. Seeing the best examples
of the fairy chimneys at Pasabag (Monks Valley) Fairy
Chimneys Valley, we drive further to Avanos, where we
have lunch at a local restaurant. The Hittites skill of
pottery making which is famous in Avanos. We will visit
a local pottery factory where you will see the act of
making pottery.Goreme Open Air Museum is where we visit
the rock carved churches and colorful frescoes.We will
have a sunset barbacue valley peak landscape of Cappadocia.
Than a wonderful night. Dinner and overnight at our hotel
in Cappadocia.
Day 4: Laodikea - Hierapolis - Pamukkale
This afternoon, explore the recently excavated theater
of Laodikea (Denizli). Then on to Hierapolis, the home
of St. Philip the Evangelist to explore the necropolis,
churches and baths. Nearby, enjoy the view of Pamukkale's
cascading tiers of white limestone. Dinner and Overnight
in Pamukkale.
Day 5: Smyrna - Izmir
Today you'll be able to visualize a trinity of Biblical
references from visiting the cities of Sardis and Philadelphia
where St. Paul preached, to staying in the city of Smyrna
(Izmir), which St. Paul praised for its peoples' faithfulness.
Visit the church of Polycarp. Dinner and Overnight in
Izmir.
Day 6: Efes - Izmir
"There are no gods made with hands" are the
words said by St. Paul. Sit in the theater in Ephesus
where St. Paul preached these very words. Stroll along
the marble roads past the Library of Celsius and Hadrian's
Temple. Visit the nearby Basilica of St. John and the
last earthly home of the Virgin Mary. Dinner and Overnight
in Izmir.
Day 7: Thyatira (Akhisar) - Pergamum
Visit Thyatira (Akhisar) known for its guilds of artists
in the time of St. Paul. Then, onto Pergamum, home to
the famous physician Galen. Explore the remains of the
Asclepion, the theater built into the steep hillside and
the red court of Pergamum, (also known as the red church).
Dinner and Overnight in Pergama.
Day 8: Istanbul
Visit Nicea, the Byzantine capital for 100 years upon
the occupation of Constantinople in the 13th century.
Continue onto legendary Constantinople (Istanbul) and
seat of the Holy Roman Empire. Istanbul, with its natural
beauty, rich historical heritage, many lodging facilities
and developed transportation system is one of the most
important tourism centers of Turkey. The point of entry
for the majority of the tourists coming into Turkey is
Istanbul. Dinner and Overnight in Istanbul. We will continue
our stay in Istanbul until departure.
Day 9: Istanbul
This morning see two masterpieces of Byzantine art -
the Kariye and St. Sophia museums. Savor the beauty of
the colorful biblical mosaics and frescoes that adorn
the insides of both museums which now live side-by-side
with Islamic calligraphy. St. Sophia was the first Christian
cathedral built in the world. Then visit the more worldly
pleasures of the Topkapi Palace and the stain glass, Iznik
tiled interior of the Blue Mosque. Dinner and Overnight
at the hotel in Istanbul.
Day 10: Istanbul
Bid a leisurely farewell to Istanbul with a cruise on
the Bosporus. After lunch browse through colorful labyrinth
tunnels of the Grand Bazaar. One could visit Istanbul
for the shopping alone. The Grand Bazaar, in the old city
is the logical place to start. This labyrinth of streets
and passages houses more than 4,000 shops. The names recall
the days when each trade had its own quarter: the goldsmiths'
street, the carpet sellers' street, and the street of
the skullcap makers. Still the commercial center of the
old city, the bazaar is the original shopping mall with
something to suit every taste and budget. Dinner and overnight
in Istanbul.
Day 11: Istanbul
Transfer to airport. Leaving Turkey.
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