Steps of Paul and Churches of Revelation Tour
Overview
Reservations deadline: June 17, 2022
Style | Biblical Journeys Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout |
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Departures | |||
What to Expect | Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Domestic round-trip airport from Boise to San Francisco
- Round trip flights from San Francisco to Istanbul returning from Athens to San Francisco via Turkish
- 11 overnights in 4- and 5-star hotels
- Airlines including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
- English speaking licensed guide for sightseeing & touring as per itinerary
- Deluxe motor coach for transfers & touring as per itinerary
- Farewell dinner at local restaurant in Athens
- Entrance fees to archaeological sites & museums as per itinerary
- Porterage at hotels
- Private boat from Kusadasi to Patmos
- English speaking local guide for St. John’s Monastery and Grotto of Apocalypse
- Audio headsets for entire tour duration
- All tips INCLUDED for land services (coach drivers, tour director and hotel staff)
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 September 21: Depart USA
- 2 September 22: Arrive Istanbul
- 3 September 23: Istanbul
- 4 September 24: Istanbul/Izmir/Philadelphia/Sardis/Laodicea (Pamukkal
- 5 September 25: Hierapolis (Pamukkale)/Laodicea/Colossae/Kusadasi
- 6 September 26: Kusadası/Ephesus/St. John Basilica/Artemis Temple
- 7 September 27: Patmos
- 8 September 28: Kusadasi/Thyatira/Pergamun/Canakkale
- 9 September 29: Troy/Kavala
- 10 September 30: Kavala/Philippi
- 11 October 1: Meteora
- 12 October 2: Athens/Ancient Corinth
- 13 October 3: Depart Greece/Arrive USA
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 September 21: Depart USA
- Depart from Boise for San Francisco to board your overnight flight to Istanbul.
Day 2 September 22: Arrive Istanbul
- Arrive at Istanbul Airport
- Transfer by private coach to the hotel for check-in
- Meet & greet by our English-speaking assistant
Occidental Taksim or similar Dinner
Full Day ItineraryDay 3 September 23: Istanbul
- Tour Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque and Basilica of St Sophia
- Visit the Topkapi Palaca Museum and Grand Bazaar
- Enjoy a private cruise of the Bosphorus
Occidental Taksim or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, begin your exploration with a stroll through Hippodrome Square, once ancient Constantinople's sporting and social center. Visit the Blue Mosque, a masterpiece of Ottoman religious architecture, and the Basilica of Saint Sophia, one of the largest Christian shrines ever built. Continue to the Topkapi Palace, the offices and residence of the Ottoman sultans. Marvel at the magnificent exhibits of the imperial treasury, Chinese porcelain, weapons, and holy relics.
A highlight of the day is a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's largest and oldest covered markets, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops selling antiques, jewelry, gold, carpets, leather, and other goods. Afterward, relax and enjoy a private boat cruise on the Bosphorus, the narrow strait of water separating the Asian and European continents and the lifeblood of Istanbul. Along the shores, view magnificent palaces, restored Ottoman villas, impressive fortresses, and the waterside residences of Istanbul's elite.
Day 4 September 24: Istanbul/Izmir/Philadelphia/Sardis/Laodicea (Pamukkal
- Early Morning flight to Izmir
- Visit Izmir, Philadelphia & Sardis
- Visit the Temple of Cybele & Diana and the gymnasium
Richmond Pamukkale Thermal Resort or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryTransfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Izmir, biblical Smyrna, and the first of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Visit the Roman Agora, then drive to Philadelphia, founded during the reign of Attalus II and another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. This afternoon, visit Sardis, the capital of ancient Lydia, which ranked as one of the Seven Sister Churches and as a center of religious importance. Visit the temple of Cybele and Diana (which later became a church), the beautiful synagogue, and the gymnasium.
Day 5 September 25: Hierapolis (Pamukkale)/Laodicea/Colossae/Kusadasi
- Visit Hierapolis (Pamukkale) and the “Cotton Castles”
- At Laodicea, explore the Byzantine church, the Great Laodicea Theatre, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium, and ruins of Laodicea
- Visit Colossae
- Arrive in Kusadasi
İlayda Avantgarde or similar Dinner
Full Day ItineraryAt Hierapolis (Pamukkale), enjoy the brilliant white calcium rock formations and hot-water travertines, where hot mineral waters emerge from the earth and cascade over cliffs. The calcium clings to the cliffs as the water cools, forming snowy white waterfalls of stone. This enchanting place is one of the natural wonders of Asia Minor.
Adjacent to Pamukkale City, you find Hierapolis, founded during the Hellenistic period as a control point of trading routes connecting East to West. In the Roman Period, Hierapolis became a center of worship to Hades and Apollo and a thermal center where massive Roman Baths served the Romans that visited the city from around the ancient world.
The churches in Hierapolis, Colossae, and Laodicea once flourished under the ministry of Epaphras (Colossians 4:12-13). Explore incredible excavations at Hierapolis, including a Byzantine church, the Great Laodicea Theatre, the Temple of Apollo, and the Plutonium, which pagan cults once called "the entrance to hell."
Then continue to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches (Rev. 3: 14-22) chastised for being lukewarm, "You are neither cold nor hot" (Rev. 3: 15), and for being too comfortable combining pagan and Christian beliefs. Visit some of the newest excavations in Laodicea and the unexcavated site of ancient Colossae where Paul wrote one of his prison epistles to the church there. Late afternoon drive to Kusadasi.
Day 6 September 26: Kusadası/Ephesus/St. John Basilica/Artemis Temple
- Visit Selcuk, Ephesus and Marble Road
- Explore the Temple of Artemis, the Odeon Theatre, the Celsus Library, the Basilica of St John, and the city’s ruins
- Return to Izmir
İlayda Avantgarde or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, drive to Ephesus, once considered the most important Greek city and the most important trading center in the Mediterranean region. Ephesus played a vital role in the spread of Christianity. Starting in the first century AD, both Paul and John visited and rebuked the cults of Artemis, winning many Christian converts in the process. Visit the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Artemis, the Celsus Library, the Great Theatre, the Basilica of St. John, and the city's extensive ruins, including the theatre where silversmiths rioted against St. Paul. Continue to Izmir and check in to your hotel.
Day 7 September 27: Patmos
- Private boat tour to Patmos
- Cave of the Apocalypse
İlayda Avantgarde Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryDay 8 September 28: Kusadasi/Thyatira/Pergamun/Canakkale
- Visit Thyatira and Pergamun
- Explore Red Basilica and Pergamun Asclepion
Buyuk Truva Oteli or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, visit two more of the Seven Churches Revelation. At Thyatira, view the ruins of an ancient commercial center located in the fertile valley where the trade route passed. Lydia, a local merchant, became the first European convert to Christianity during Paul's second missionary journey. The city of Pergamum was one of the most important of the Greek East under Roman rule. The Christian community was among the earliest established in Asia Minor during the first century AD. Nearby, visit the Red Basilica, once a pagan temple and later converted into a Christian church. Finally, walk through the Pergamum Asclepion, the famous medical center of antiquity.
Day 9 September 29: Troy/Kavala
- Visit Troy
- Arrive in Greece
- Visit Kavala
Lucy Hotel or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryDay 10 September 30: Kavala/Philippi
- Visit Kavala & Philippi
- Panoramic city tour of Thessaloniki
- Visit Kalambaka
Amalia Hotel Kalambaka or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, visit the beautiful city of Kavala (ancient Neapolis), whose Old Town stretches back over 2500 years. It is considered one of the most livable cities in Greece, with culture-blending architecture, flower-filled balconies, and original, cobblestoned streets. Continue to Philippi, a Roman garrison town, where Paul founded his first congregation in Europe and Thessaloniki, an important Roman city and in modern times considered Greece’s cultural capital. Continue to Kalambaka and check in to your hotel.
Day 11 October 1: Meteora
- Visit Meteora Monasteries
- Arrive in Athens
Athens Marriott Hotel or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryDrive to Meteora, the largest archeological site of Greece, with monasteries perched atop the summits of gigantic rocks, which have been etched by nature into variety of strange shapes. The monastic history of Meteora stretches back to the 11th century A.D. when the first hermits sought peace and solitude in the rifts and caves of these rocks. The first actual monasteries were not built until the 14th century AD, reaching their peak in the 16th century. Today, there are approximately 17 monks and 50 nuns still living in the six active monasteries of Meteora. Continue to Athens
Day 12 October 2: Athens/Ancient Corinth
- Visit Athens
- Travel by private coach to Corinth
- Enjoy your farewell dinner in Athens
Athens Marriott Hotel or similar Dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, become acquainted with Athens, considered the cradle of western civilization as we know it today. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city has been dominated by the Acropolis and its monuments, a gift to the world of Greek antiquity. Visits include the Parthenon and the Erectheum, ancient temples built for Athena, and the Propylaea, monumental gateway to the Acropolis. Ascend Mars Hill, where Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians about the one and only God, and from this vantage point, view the ancient agora, former center of the Athenian public life.
Drive to Corinth along the coastal road to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Arrive at the site of ancient Corinth, Paul's beloved city and site of his most extensive ministry. Dominated by the Acro-Corinth rising 1700 feet above the ruins, the marketplace remains exactly as it stood in the days of the great Apostle. Visit the Bema (the judgment seat) where Paul stood before Galilo and preached. The museum holds a superb collection of artifacts portraying life in ancient Corinth. Return to Athens and join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner at a Greek Taverna.
Day 13 October 3: Depart Greece/Arrive USA
- Transfer to the Athens Airport for your return flight
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA, arriving later today.
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
Trip Details
- What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
- What should I know about Greece? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
- What should I know about Turkey? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.