06 Nights / 07 Days Biblical Tour
THE SEVEN CHURCHES

6 Nights / 7 Days The Seven Churches Tour Programme:

Meet at IST/SAW airport & transfer to your hotel. You will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

* Visited Sights: The Old city  “Sultanahmet”  – Topkapi Palace –  Grand Bazaar – Blue Mosque – Hagia Sophia – Hippodrome – Obelisk of Theodosius – German Fountain of Wilhelm II  – Serpentine Column
Guests will be picked up around 8:00am, and brought to the Sultanahmet district, the oldest, most historic part of the city. The first stop of the day will be the Hagia Sophia, as our tour guide explains the significance of this massive building that was once a Christian church, then a mosque, and now a museum. Afterward, we will pass the Hippodrome of Constantinople, where we will see the site’s impressive obelisk, before reaching the Blue Mosque. We should be sure to take pictures of both the interior and exterior of this impressive building. Next, we will continue to the Grand Bazaar, a massive, bustling complex to find clothing, decorative furnishings, food, and more. On the way to the bazaar, we will see other historical monuments, like the Tomb of Sultan Ahmet I, the Firuz Aga Mosque, and the exterior of the Tomb of Mehmed II. After our visit to the Grand Bazaar, we will make a brief stop for lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit Topkapi Palace, the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Afterward, we will visit the Little Hagia Sophia, which is the final stop on the tour. Afterward, we proceed to Bursa and upon arrival in Bursa, we check in the hotel and have our dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Bursa.

Please Note: St. Sophia Museum is closed on Mondays, Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays

* Visited Sights:  Thyateira – Ruins of the Church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-5) – Ruins of St. John’s Church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) – Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) Cotton Castle Travertines / Hierapolis – St. Philip’s graveyard
After breakfast at the hotel, we check out from the hotel and proceed to Thyateira and its church (Revelation 2:18). Thyateira is now known as Akhisar and still located on one of the busiest trade roads as in Roman Era. ). Later on we proceed to Ruins of the Church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-5). Also, Sardis was the city where the largest Jewish community lived during the Roman Era. Afterward, we continue our trip to the Ruins of St. John’s Church in Philadelphia which is one of the Seven Churches in Minor Asia (Revelation 3:7-13)… After our visit there, we proceed to Laodicea which is one of the Seven Churches of Minor Asia (Revelation 3:14-22). Afterward, we proceed to Cotton Castle Travertines / Hierapolis to enjoy the beautiful White Travertines. Hierapolis also is known as the place where St. Philip’s graveyard is located. After we visit His grave, we proceed to the hotel and have our dinner there. Overnight in Pamukkale.

* Visited Sights:  Leather Factory Outlet – Ephesus ( Revelation 1:11, 2:1-7) – Celsus Library, Trojan Fountain, Great Theater – Mary’s Church – Virgin Mary’s House – Tomb and Basilica of St. John the Bible – Olive Oil Shop
On this morning after we have our breakfast at the hotel, we start our trip first visiting Leather Factory Outlet which is famous nationwide and the whole of Europe. After our shopping time, we proceed to Ephesus which was the Roman Empire Capital for Asian states and also was one of the Seven Churches in Minor Asia ( Revelation 1:11, 2:1-7). In the famous Ephesus, we can still see the ruins of Celsus Library, Trojan Fountain, Great Theater where St Paul speeches twice and also were captured and were sent to Grotto for a couple of months. Also, we will have a chance to visit Mary’s Church where is the place for the 4th Ephesian Council which resulted in the division of Catholics and Orthodoxes. On the same day, also we make a visit for Virgin Mary’s House which is believed to be one of the house used by the Virgin Mary and also was visited a couple of times by Pope. Before we end our trip for today, we visit the Tomb and Basilica of St. John the Bible. St. John has lived and died in Ephesus and spread Christianity for a while there. On our way to the hotel, we stop by Olive Oil Shop, and then we proceed to the hotel and have our dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.

* Visited Sights:  Smyrna/Izmir (Revelation 2:8-11) – St. Polycarp Church – Ruins of Red Hall Basilica of Pergamon (Revelation 2:12-17) – Mount Ida
After we have our breakfast at the hotel we check out from the hotel and we proceed to Smyrna/Izmir also one of the Seven Churches in Minor Asia (Revelation 2:8-11). Izmir is the third largest populated city in Modern Turkey, and also the home of many churches, among these churches we are going to visit St. Polycarp Church which is still an active Catholic Church in Izmir. After our visit there, we are going to visit the Ruins of Red Hall Basilica of Pergamon which was also one of the Seven Churches in Minor Asia (Revelation 2:12-17). By visiting Pergamon, we already visited all of the Seven Churches in Minor Asia and then we proceed to Çanakkale via Mount Ida. Upon arrival in Çanakkale, we check in the hotel and have our dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Çanakkale.

* Visited Sights:  Gallipoli Strait – Trojan Horse – Grand Bazaar
This morning after we have our breakfast at the hotel, we check out from hotel and proceed to Istanbul. First before we leave for Çanakkale, we have our photo stop by the Gallipoli Strait and Trojan Horse that was used for the movie “Troy”. Later on, we continue our trip to Istanbul and upon arrival in Istanbul, we are going to have our free time shopping at Grand Bazaar. Afterwards we have our dinner and then proceed to the hotel and check-in the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

* Visited Sights: Bosphorus Cruise – Bosphorus Strait – Istanbul City Walls – Taksim Square
After breakfast at the hotel, we check out the hotel and then start our program. First, we take a short bosphorus cruise trip and enjoy the beautiful Bosphorus Strait with hundreds of houses by the strait and many beautiful palaces from the Ottoman Era. Afterward, we have a photo stop at Istanbul City Walls that was built on 5th Century AD by the Roman Empire. Later on we have our free time at Taksim Square to enjoy time as locals do in Istanbul. After we proceed to the airport for the flight back to your home. Hope your trip will be memorable one!

Inclusions:

• 6 Nights Accomodation
• Transportation in a fully air – conditioned, non – smoking coach
• Professional English – speaking tour guides
• Hotel – airport transfers in Istanbul – PRIVATE
• 6 breakfast, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Not Include:

• All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
• Drinks
• International flights
• Insurance: All types
• Turkey entry visa
• Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry
• Any others expenses which are not mentioned at the included section