FROM ANTIOCH TO EPHESUS: BIBLICAL PILGRIMAGE

Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul

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• Arrival at Istanbul International Airport

• Meet & assist and private transfer to hotel

• Check-in and time to relax

• Dinner & overnight stay in Istanbul

 

Day 2 – Istanbul | City of Empires

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• Breakfast at hotel

• Guided city tour covering:

  • Roman Hippodrome

  • Hagia Sophia

  • Blue Mosque

  • Topkapi Palace

  • Walking tour around Sultanahmet Square

• Lunch at a local restaurant

• Free time to explore the Grand Bazaar

• Transfer back to hotel

• Dinner & overnight stay in Istanbul

 

Day 3 – Istanbul – Antioch (Hatay) – Adana

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• Breakfast at hotel

• Drive / travel towards Antioch (Hatay)

• Lunch en route

• Visit:

  • Cave Church of St. Peter, one of the earliest Christian churches

  • Hatay Mosaic Museum

• Continue journey to Adana

• Dinner & overnight stay in Adana

 

Day 4 – Adana – Tarsus – Cappadocia

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• Breakfast at hotel

• Drive to Tarsus, birthplace of St. Paul

• Visit:

  • St. Paul’s Church

  • St. Paul’s Well (opportunity to drink blessed water)

  • Cleopatra’s Gate (photo stop)

• Transfer to Adana Airport

• Flight to Cappadocia

• Transfer to hotel

• Dinner & overnight stay in Cappadocia

 

Day 5 – Cappadocia | Early Christian Heritage

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• Breakfast at hotel

• Full-day tour covering:

  • Göreme Open Air Museum

  • Soğanlı Valley

  • Rock-cut monasteries and chapels

  • Keslik Monastery

  • Panoramic views of Avcilar Valley & fortress (exterior)

• Lunch during tour

• Visit Saratli or Ozkonak Underground City

• Dinner & overnight stay in Cappadocia

 

Day 6 – Cappadocia – Konya

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• Breakfast at hotel

• Drive to Konya

• Visit Sultan Han Caravanserai on the Silk Road

• Lunch en route

• Visit:

  • Mausoleum of Mevlana Rumi

• Dinner & overnight stay in Konya

 

Day 7 – Konya – Yalvaç (Antioch of Pisidia) – Pamukkale

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• Breakfast at hotel

• Drive towards Pamukkale

• En route visit:

  • Antioch of Pisidia (Yalvaç)

  • Ruins of the Church of St. Paul, where he preached during his missionary journey

• Continue to Pamukkale

• Dinner & overnight stay in Pamukkale

 

Day 8 – Pamukkale – Hierapolis – Aphrodisias – Kuşadası

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• Breakfast at hotel

• Visit:

  • Pamukkale white travertine terraces

  • Ancient city of Hierapolis

  • Cleopatra’s Pool

• Lunch

• Continue to Aphrodisias:

  • Temple of Aphrodite

  • Stadium, Theatre & Tetrapylon

• Drive to Kuşadası

• Dinner & overnight stay in Kuşadası

 

Day 9 – Kuşadası – Ephesus

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• Breakfast at hotel

• Visit:

  • Ancient City of Ephesus

    • Library of Celsus

    • Grand Theatre

    • Agora, Odeon

    • Temple of Hadrian

    • Arch of Hercules

    • Baths of Scholastica

  • House of the Virgin Mary

  • Basilica of St. John

  • Ruins of the Temple of Artemis (Diana)

• Lunch during tour

• Dinner & overnight stay in Kuşadası

 

Day 10 – Departure

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• Breakfast at hotel

• Transfer to Izmir Airport for return flight

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