14 Days Biblical Turkey Tour: Ephesus, Pergamon, Cappadocia & Antioch

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, meet your representative and transfer to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)

Enjoy a full-day guided tour of Istanbul’s historic Old City. Explore the Sultanahmet district and visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)

Enjoy a guided Bosphorus cruise and visit Dolmabahçe Palace. Explore the aromatic Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, then cross to Istanbul’s Asian side and head to Çamlıca Hill for panoramic city views. During the cruise, admire Ottoman-era waterfront mansions, marble palaces and fishing villages. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)

Take an early morning flight from Istanbul to Izmir. On arrival, meet your guide and drive to Pergamon (Bergama), one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Revelation 2:12–17).

Explore the Acropolis, set on a hill overlooking the modern city, and see its grand theatre, renowned for its acoustics. After lunch, visit the Asklepion, an ancient healing center associated with the physician Galen, and the Red Basilica. After sightseeing, drive to Kusadasi, check in to your hotel and enjoy an overnight stay.

(Breakfast included)

Explore Ephesus, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Revelation 1:11; 2:1–7; Acts 18:19–28; 19:1–41; Ephesians) and a major center of the worship of Artemis. Discover the ancient city’s Marble Road, Great Theatre, Celsus Library, stadium and the site of the Temple of Artemis. Visit the Church of Mary, also known as the Double Church, and learn about the Lecture Hall of Tyrannus, where Acts records that Paul held daily discussions for two years.

Continue to Selçuk to visit the Basilica of St. John, traditionally associated with the apostle’s burial place. Then head to the House of the Virgin Mary, a Christian pilgrimage site traditionally linked to her final years near Ephesus. Return to Kusadasi for the overnight stay.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, drive to Sardis, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Revelation 3:1–6). Visit the Temple of Artemis and the nearby Byzantine church, then explore the restored gymnasium and the Great Synagogue.

After lunch, continue to Philadelphia (modern Alaşehir), another of the Seven Churches (Revelation 3:7–13), whose name means “brotherly love.” In the afternoon, drive to Pamukkale to see its white travertine terraces, formed by calcium-rich thermal waters and often called the “Cotton Castle.”

Explore the ruins of Hierapolis, including the octagonal Martyrium of St. Philip. The city was also associated with early Christian writer Papias and Stoic philosopher Epictetus. Overnight in Pamukkale.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, visit Laodicea, located near Denizli and mentioned among the Seven Churches of Revelation (Revelation 3:14–22; Colossians 2:1; 4:13–16). Then drive to Aphrodisias, an ancient city renowned for its worship of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Explore its well-preserved stadium, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Odeon, theatre, Agora and Hadrian’s Baths. Return to Pamukkale for your overnight stay.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, drive to Cappadocia. En route, stop in Konya (ancient Iconium) to visit the Mevlana Museum, then continue to Sultanhanı Caravanserai. Arrive in Cappadocia for your overnight stay.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, discover Cappadocia on a guided tour. Visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum and its cave churches, Devrent Valley, Uçhisar Castle, the fairy chimneys of Paşabağ, and Avanos. Overnight in Cappadocia.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, explore more of Cappadocia. Visit one of the region’s underground cities, then discover Soğanlı Valley and the mosaics at the Sobesos Archaeological Site. Continue to Keşlik Monastery and the historic village of Mustafapaşa, formerly known as Sinasos and celebrated for its Greek-Ottoman heritage. Overnight in Cappadocia.

(Breakfast included)

Walk through Ihlara Valley along the Melendiz River to Belisırma. Along the way, discover rock-cut churches decorated with frescoes depicting biblical scenes. Stop for lunch at a local riverside restaurant in Belisırma, then continue to Selime, near the end of the valley, to see its cave dwellings and dramatic rock formations. Return to Cappadocia for the overnight stay.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, drive to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. After your visit, continue to Hatay (Antakya), the site of ancient Antioch. Overnight in Hatay.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, visit the Hatay Archaeology Museum, home to an extensive collection of Roman mosaics. Then head just outside Antakya to St. Pierre Church, a cave church traditionally associated with St. Peter’s preaching and the early Christian community in Antioch. The church is recognized as a Christian pilgrimage site. Overnight in Hatay.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, transfer from Hatay to Çukurova International Airport, near Adana, and board your flight to Istanbul.