Detailed Tour Program
Day 1 · Arrival in Istanbul
Meet at the airport and transfer privately to the hotel. Overnight in former Constantinople, a centre of Eastern Christianity for more than a millennium.
Day 2 · Christian Constantinople
Hagia Sophia, whose dome was central to Christian architecture for nine centuries; the Roman Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern and Byzantine mosaics of Chora (Kariye), associated with the flourishing of Palaiologan art.
Day 3 · Nicaea (İznik) · Bursa
Travel to Nicaea, site of the First Council (325), where the Nicene Creed was formulated, and the Seventh Council (787). Roman walls, Hagia Sophia of Nicaea and the submerged basilica in Lake Ascania. Continue to Bursa. Dinner at the hotel.
By road: 280 km · approximately 4 hr
Day 4 · Pergamon · Izmir
Pergamon, the church associated with the 'throne of Satan': the Acropolis, Asclepion and Red Basilica, originally an Egyptian temple later converted into a church. In the afternoon, Izmir: the Roman Agora and Kadifekale hill, associated with St Polycarp's martyrdom.
Churches 2 and 3 of Revelation. Overnight: Izmir.
By road: 300 km · approximately 4 hr
Day 5 · Thyatira · Sardis
Thyatira (Akhisar), associated with Lydia the seller of purple cloth, and Sardis, the capital of Croesus: the Temple of Artemis, Roman gymnasium and its well-preserved synagogue.
Churches 4 and 5. Dinner at the hotel.
By road: 190 km · approximately 3 hr
Day 6 · Philadelphia · Laodicea · Hierapolis
Philadelphia (Alaşehir), the church of the 'open door', and Laodicea, the 'lukewarm' church, with its colonnaded avenue and two theatres. Finish in Hierapolis and the Martyrium of St Philip, beside the Pamukkale terraces.
Churches 6 and 7. Overnight: Pamukkale.
By road: 220 km · approximately 3 hr
Day 7 · Ephesus and Miletus
Ephesus, the first of the Seven Churches: the Library of Celsus, Marble Street and the great theatre associated with St Paul's preaching. Basilica of St John, House of the Virgin Mary and Cave of the Seven Sleepers. In the afternoon, Miletus, the setting for Paul's farewell address to the elders of Ephesus.
Acts 19–20. Overnight: Kuşadası or Selçuk.
By road: 230 km · approximately 3 hr 30 min
Day 8 · Aegean coast · Antalya
Travel towards the Mediterranean and arrive in Attalia, the port from which Paul and Barnabas sailed back to Antioch. Visit Perge, where they preached during their first missionary journey.
Overnight: Antalya.
By road: 480 km · approximately 6 hr
Day 9 · Pisidian Antioch · Iconium
Ascend to the plateau to visit Pisidian Antioch, with St Paul's basilica built above the synagogue associated with his first sermon, and arrive in Iconium (Konya), a stop on his three journeys.
Overnight: Konya.
By road: 450 km · approximately 6 hr
Day 10 · Konya · Cappadocia
Mevlana shrine and departure for Cappadocia, stopping at a Seljuk caravanserai. In the afternoon, walk through Ihlara Valley among rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes.
Overnight: Cappadocia.
By road: 240 km · approximately 3 hr
Day 11 · Cappadocia · Flight to Istanbul
Göreme Open-Air Museum, the Church of St John the Baptist at Çavuşin and an underground city used as a refuge by early Christian communities. Fly back to Istanbul.
Overnight: Istanbul.
Cappadocia–Istanbul flight · 1 hr 15 min
Day 12 · Departure
Private transfer to the airport for the international flight. End of services.
Included & Not Included
Included services
- Included admissions: Hagia Sophia
- Chora
- Nicaea
- Pergamon and Asclepion
- Sardis
- Laodicea
- Hierapolis
- Ephesus and Basilica of St John
- Miletus
- Perge
- Pisidian Antioch
- Mevlana
- Ihlara Valley
- Göreme
- Eleven nights' accommodation with breakfast at the planned hotels
- Official Spanish-speaking guide specialising in Christian heritage throughout the itinerary
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Admissions to all sites and museums in the itinerary
- Domestic Cappadocia–Istanbul flight
- Five dinners at circuit hotels outside Istanbul (Bursa, Izmir, Pamukkale, Antalya and Konya)
- Private arrival and departure transfers
- Mineral water in the vehicle
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches
- All drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Liturgical celebrations and religious services, which can be arranged on request
- Any service not specified
