8 Days
8 Days
8 Days

7 Churches of Asia Minor 2

7 Churches of Asia Minor in 8 days

Tour Details

  • HighlightsIstanbul – Troy – Gallipoli – Pergamum -Thyatira – Smyrna – Sardis – Philadelphia – Hierapolis – Laodicea – Colossae – Aphrodisias – Kusadasi – Ephesus – Izmir – Istanbul
  • Duration8 Days
  • DeparturePrivate Everyday & MINI Group every Fridays
  • Tour TypePrivate & MINI Group tour (Max. 10 pax)
  • Guiding inPrivate English - Spanish - Portuguese - French - Japanese / MINI Group tour English
Day 1 : ARRIVAL ISTANBUL 
Welcome to Turkey. Arrive in Istanbul Airport ( IST ) or to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport ( SAW ) , Our representative will meet you at the airport with your name sign and private transfer to the hotel for overnight stay in Istanbul. Its original name is Byzantium then Constantinople. It is a most fascinating city, which actually crosses two continents Europe and Asia. It is a city of amalgamation of bazaars, minarets, mosques, churches, palaces, and restaurants catering to every one’s taste, museums, customs and twelve million people. Check into our hotel and overnight.
 
Day 2 : ISTANBUL WALKING TOUR (Breakfast)
Discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. First visit Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar): The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other concievable herb and spice then Boat trip on the bosphorus : A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway seperating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages.  We will continue visiting St. Sofia, (church of the holy wisdom), converted to a mosque from a Christian basilica after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. We see the Hippodrome and the Obelisk brought from Egypt. Then our next visit is the Blue Mosque with its six minarets. Before lunch we will visit the Underground cistern which was the largest covered water reservoir in Istanbul, built by Justinian I. Overnight in Istanbul.
 
Day 3 : ISTANBUL - ÇANAKKALE (Breakfast)
Morning we will visit the Topkapi Palace which was the residence of the Ottoman sultans, with its fabulous treasure chambers and Grand Bazaar for shopping. Afternoon, we will drive to Canakkale. Overnight in Canakkale.
 
Day 4 : ÇANAKKALE – TROY – TROAS - PERGAMON (Breakfast – Dinner)
After breakfast we will visit ancient Troy, see the legendary walls and the replica of the wooden horse. Then drive to Alexandria Troas, founded about 300 B.C. by one of the generals of Alexandria the Great. During the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey, it was from Troas that he received the “Macedonian call” to Europe. This is where Luke’s account changes from “they” to “we” (Acts 16:6-12), indicating that he joined Paul’s team at Troas. Returning from Macedonia during his third journey, Paul was in Troas for a week, when the young man Eutychus fell from the third loft as Paul preached. Paul soon walked some thirty miles to Assos. After Troas, we will drive to Bergama. Overnight in Bergama.
 
Day 5 : PERGAMON – THYATIRA – IZMIR (Breakfast – Dinner)
After breakfast at the hotel, we start visiting Pergamum, actually called Bergama. It is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. Here we explore the impressive Acropolis, the steepest theatre in the world, the Asklepion, famous medical center of classical times, see the Altar of Zeus which is mentioned as the «Throne of Satan» in the book of Revelation, the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan and the Library which was foremost in the world and was long a rival of the equally famous Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Its wealth of volumes was estimated at over 200,000. It inspired the invention of parchment.
Then we continue our visit to Thyatira, now called Akhisar, another one of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24; Acts 16:14]. It was a city famous for purple dyes. We visit the remains of a basilica and some architectural fragments from the Roman period. Lydia, the seller of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira.
Drive back to Izmir and check in at the hotel for dinner and overnight in Izmir.
 

Day 6 : Izmir – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea – Hierapolis (Breakfast - Dinner)
Today we depart early in the morning to one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4], Sardis, presently Sart. This was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC, portrayed as a dying church. We visit the great Temple of Artemis and restored gymnasium and reconstructed Synagogue. We also see the last several meters of the royal Persian Road from Susa to Sardis built by Cyrus the Great and the «golden» river Pactolus. 

Then we continue our journey to Philadelphia, nowadays called Alasehir, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:7], and the only church not censured. There we see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of brick, with a bit of high arch and some 11th century frescoes. Continue to visit to Laodicia. The city established in the C3 BCE by the Seleucid Antiochus II, the city was named after his wife Laodicea. Built on the Lycus Tributary of the Meander River, it was surnamed Laodicea on Lycus, to distinguish it from other similarly named cities. Laodicia is the last of the seven churches. As a crossroad of two important roads, this city had an important commercial and logistical position. We drive to the healing city of Hierapolis, actually Pamukkale, the white «cotton fortress» where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The therapeutic waters were known to the founders of Hierapolis and of Laodicea in 190 BC. Check in at hotel for dinner and overnight in a Thermal Hotel.

Day 7 : Ephesus – Kusadasi (Breakfast - Dinner)
Drive to Ephesus visit to the ancient city of Ephesus including the Basilica of St. John. The Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and lived here for three years. This church also received an epistle from him. We tour the spectacular ruins where excavations still continue in this once great and important city, which was founded in the 10th century BC.
Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Theatre. The Temple of Diana of the Ephesians, another of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built in this city. We visit the Basilica of St. John. Visit The House of Virgin Mary before drive to Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.

 
Day 8 : IZMIR – ISTANBUL – HOME (B)
Pick up from hotel and transfer to Izmir airport for flight back home.
 
Update for St. Sophia interior visit : 
Live guiding is not allowed in St. Sophia after the 15th January 2024. Guests have to have their smart phones and headphones during their visit. If guests do not have a headphone, they can buy at the entrance at the cost of 3,5-USD
The system is similar to audio guide system. Guests who does not have smart phones will follow the signs and the given informations on the signs . For more information https://ar.demx.org.tr can be visited on your smart phone.

Tour Includes

✅ 7 nights accommodations based on bed and breakfast
✅ 7 breakfast and 4 dinners
✅ Professional licensed Bible Oriented Tour Guide
✅ Private airport transfers
✅ Transportation with brand-new Mercedes A/C Minibus
✅ All entrance fees to the sites stated above the itinerary
✅ Izmir – Istanbul flight ticket


Tour Excludes
  • ❌ Personal expenses
    ❌ Meals & drinks not indicated in includes section
    ❌ Drinks during meals
    ❌ Tips to driver & guide


Tour Rate
Per Person
MINI Group Tour (Max 10 people) 
Departs: Every Friday
Price ( Min. 2 pax Reservation) 2.539-US$
Single Supplement 435-US$
Tour Rate
Per Person
Private Tours (Guaranteed Departurs Everyday)
2 - 3 Pax 2.899-US$
4 - 5 Pax 2.689-US$
6 - 10 Pax 2.539-US$
Single Supp. 435-US$
Tour Rate
Per Person
MINI Group Tour (Max 10 people) 
Departs: Every Friday
Price ( Min. 2 pax Reservation) 2.539-US$
Single Supplement 435-US$
Tour Rate
Per Person
Private Tours (Guaranteed Departurs Everyday)
2 - 3 Pax 2.899-US$
4 - 5 Pax 2.689-US$
6 - 10 Pax 2.539-US$
Single Supp. 435-US$
Do you have a Question ?
E-mail:turkey@curiotravel.com
WhatsApp : +905336401103

Hotels in Hotel Name Type
Istanbul
  • 4 Star Boutique
  • 4 Star Boutique
  • 4 Star Boutique
  • 4 Star Boutique
Çanakkale
  • 4 Yıldız
  • 4 Yıldız
Izmir
  • 4 Star
  • 4 Star
Pamukkale
  • 5 Star
  • 5 Star
Kusadasi  
  • Boutique class
  • 4 Star
  • 4 Star
 
%20 Special Discounted Dates for 2021 Reservations
Months Days
May 5, 11, 19
June 7, 26
July 6, 12, 13, 15
August 13, 16, 29
September 1, 19
October 12, 21
November 7, 10, 19
December 6
We would like to offer you these optional visits below to make your tour more tasty and memorable. You may add them into your itinerary during reservation.

 Please note that all optional activities can not be added into all itineraries and/or one reservation due to lack of time. 
Please see optional visit list below.