Explore 7 Churches of Asia Minor on a 10 Days Tour

Explore 7 Churches of Asia Minor on a 10 Days Tour

The Seven Churches of Revelations or the Churches of Apocalypse that are in the book of John refer to seven major cities through Western Turkey: Thyatira-Sardis-Laodicea-Philadelphia-Hierapolis-Aphrodisias. All these places provided a relatively safe haven for the Early Christians. For those looking to make a spiritual journey, Turkey cannot be overlooked. For a more in-depth discovery of Biblical Turkey, join our tours where you can choose to do a small group tour or a private tour.

Explore some of the best highlights of Turkey and see some of the amazing places of history and stunning landscape that this beautiful country has to offer. Throughout your trip, you’ll visit Istanbul’s highlights, including Hagia Sofia and cruise between two continents on a Bosphorus cruise.

Visit the magical and mesmerising Cappadocia and see the stunning landscape of the fairy chimneys and tour the Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Day

Stop At: Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Sanayi, 34906 Pendik/İstanbul, Turkey
Upon arrival in Istanbul and meeting at the airport where we will transfer you to your hotel and the rest of your day is at your leisure.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 2: Sultanahmet – Old Istanbul

Stop At: Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya), Ayasofya Square, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Today you will have a tour of Istanbul starting with a visit to St. Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian and was the largest building in the world for more than 1000 years. See its intricate, beautiful mosaics and sizeable central dome.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Continue to the Topkapi Palace, used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries and see the splendid collection of priceless crystal, jewels, silver and porcelain, robes adorned by the sultans and the relics of the prophet Mohammed (entrance to the Harem is an extra charge).

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
After lunch, see the Blue Mosque, erected for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a magnificent piece of architecture with six minarets and features over 20,000 beautiful and intricate Iznik tiles.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Obelisk of Theodosius, Sultanahmat Meydani Sultanahmet, Fatih, Istanbul Turkey
Visit the ancient Hippodrome with its Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and the German Fountain of Wilhelm II.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Grand Bazaar, Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Wander through the back streets of Old Istanbul and explore the Yerebatan underground Cistern and shop at the Grand Covered Bazaar (except on Sundays).

*This may be done as a walking tour if your hotel is centrally located.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise with Beylerbeyi

Stop At: Mısır Çarşısı, Rüstem Paşa, Erzak Ambarı Sok. No:92, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market located on the Golden Horn and take in aromas of all the herbs and spices on offer before you board your cruise of the Bosphorus which separates the two continents Europe and Asia.

Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Rumeli Fortress, Tarabya Yenikoy Cad., Istanbul Turkey
Cruise past the Rumeli fortress, constructed by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prepare for his conquest of Istanbul.


Stop At: Sadberk Hanim Museum, Piyasa Cad. 27-29 Buyukdere, Istanbul Turkey
We will then visit the museum of Sadberk Hanim, which has an excellent private collection of artefacts that dates back to the prehistoric period and an ethnographic section that is housed in an old Ottoman building.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Beylerbeyi Palace, Abdullahaga Cad., Istanbul Turkey
After you have enjoyed lunch in a seaside fish restaurant, cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia where you will visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill, for a magnificent view of Istanbul.

Cruise is done by a public boat unless other arrangements are made.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 4: Istanbul - Cappadocia

Stop At: Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Sanayi, 34906 Pendik/İstanbul, Turkey
You will be collected from your hotel 2 hours before flight departure. Where you will take an early morning flight from the Airport in Istanbul to Cappadocia.

Arrive at the airport, and you will be met just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name with your driver.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Turkey
Transfer to Cappadocia to begin your tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sobesos Ancient City, 1 mile from Sahinefendi, Urgup Turkey
Drive to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos ) where you will see the Byzantine Period Mosaic Art and Archaeological excavation site. Villages in the valleys that are surrounded by the “tabletop” mountains are spectacular.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Keslik Monastery, Urgup Turkey
Continue to Keslik Monastery near Cemil that hides its frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer before continuing to Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old houses; excellent examples of late Greek settlements and architecture.


Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Red Valley, Nevsehir Ortahisar, Nevsehir 50650 Turkey
Continue with the panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations and is located in the heart of Cappadocia but away from the tourist crowd.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Cappadocia

Day 5: Cappadocia

Stop At: Devrent Valley, Devrent Mevkii No:1 Aktepe Koyu Turkey
In the morning you will first meet with the incredible lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations that are beyond belief in Devrent valley.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Fairy Chimneys, Goreme Turkey
Take a journey into the past with its troglodyte houses, visit Pasabag's “fairy chimneys” where the sound of the wind mixes with the “songs of fairies” near Zelve.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Avanos Oren Yeri, Kapadokya Cd., Avanos 50500 Turkey
Lunch in Avanos the centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC and you will get a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Göreme Tarihi Milli Parkı, Ürgüp/Göreme/Nevşehir, Turkey
Afternoon time you will visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Uchisar Castle, Uchisar Turkey
The you will go to see the stunning Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Cappadocia

Day 6: Cappadocia – Pergamon – Thyatira – Izmir

Stop At: Kayseri Erkilet Airport, Ahmet Yasevi Mahallesi, Mustafa Kemal Paşa Blv., 38090 Merkez/Kocasinan/Kayseri, Turkey
Take a morning flight from Kayseri to Izmir (direct or via Istanbul), and upon arrival, you will be met at the airport with your name sign.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ruins of Pergamum, 8 km (5 mi) from Bergama, Bergama Turkey
We will then drive to Pergamum, actually called Bergama and is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. We explore the impressive Acropolis and is the steepest theatre in the world. Then we will visit Asklepieion an important medical centre of classical times and see the Altar of Zeus, mentioned as the "Throne of Satan" in the book of Revelation.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Pergamon Antik Kenti, Bergama Turkey
See the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan and the Library which was a rival of the famous Library of Alexandria in Egypt where its wealth of volumes was estimated at over 200,000 which inspired an invention of the parchment.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Yenidoğan, 45200 Akhisar/Manisa, Turkey
We will also visit the Red Basilica (St. John’s Church) before continuing our visit to Thyatira, which is now called Akhisar and is another one of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24; Acts 16:14] and was a city famous for purple dyes and Lydia, the trader of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira. We then visit the remains of a basilica and architectural fragments from the Roman period.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Old Smyrna, Ord. Prof. Dr. Ekrem Akurgal Cad. No: 95, Izmir Turkey
Before we arrive at the hotel in Izmir, we will enjoy a scenic ride of Smyrna and is the third largest city in Turkey and is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 2:12-17]. This city is scarred with a bloody history of trade and warfare. We then travel to Mount Pagus where you will see the Citadel of Lysimachos and the commander of Alexander the Great was erected in the 4th century BC.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Izmir

Day 7: Izmir – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea – Hierapolis

Stop At: Sardis (Sardes), Belediye Cd. No:124 Sart, Salihli 45300 Turkey
Today we will depart in the early morning and visit of the most picturesque areas of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4], Sardis which was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC and portrayed as a dying church.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: The Temple of Artemis, Ataturk, Park Ici Yolu No:12, Selcuk Turkey
We visit the magnificent Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, which became a Byzantine Church before visiting some ancient Lydian houses, and the restored gymnasium and reconstructed Synagogue.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sardis (Sardes), Belediye Cd. No:124 Sart, Salihli 45300 Turkey
Then see several meters of the royal Persian Road from Susa to Sardis constructed by Cyrus the Great and also see the golden river Pactolus.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Philadelphia Siesean Kilisesi, Soguksu Mahallesi, Ismet Pasa Cd. No: 114, Alasehir Turkey
Then we continue our travels to Philadelphia, now called Alasehir, another of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:7], and is the only church that is not censured. Here we see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of brick, with a high arch and some 11th-century frescoes.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Hierapolis, 20280 Pamukkale/Denizli, Turkey
Drive to the healing city of Hierapolis and Pamukkale, which is a white cotton fortress where hot mineral water bursts from the ground and cascades over cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The healing waters were known to the founders of Hierapolis and Laodicea in 190 BC. In Hierapolis, we visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip where he was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Laodicea, Just off Denizli - Pamukkale, Denizli Turkey
Proceed to Laodicea now known as Denizli, also a Church of the Asia Minor [Rev. 1:11; 3:14] where you will see the ancient theatre, the remains of a basilica and some ancient stone water pipes.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Temple of Apollo, Ataturk Boulevard Yenihisar, Didim 07330 Turkey
We will also visit the Gate of Domitian, the 2nd century AD Theatre, the Arcadian Way, the Nymphaion, the Plutonium, the Temple of Apollo and the Necropolis.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Pamukkale

Day 8: Ephesus - Kusadasi

Stop At: Ancient City of Ephesus, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
Drive to Ephesus where you will visit the ancient city of Ephesus, including the Basilica of St. John and the Ephesus archaeological museum.

The Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians here and lived there for three years, and the church also received an epistle from him.

We tour the splendid ruins where excavations continue in this once great and important city, which was founded in the 10th century BC.

Walk through the long history along the marble streets lined with magnificent 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.

Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House), Selcuk 35100 Turkey
Visit The House of Virgin Mary, which is claimed she spent her last days before a drive to Kusadasi for an overnight stay.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Kusadasi

Day 9: Kusadasi – Istanbul

Stop At: Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, Dokuz Eylül, 35410 Gaziemir/İzmir, Turkey
You will be collected from your hotel 2 hours before the flight departure, where you will be transferred to Izmir airport for a flight to Istanbul airport.

Upon arrival, you will then be transferred to your hotel for a free afternoon for the last chance to complete your visits.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 10: Departure Day

Stop At: Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Sanayi, 34906 Pendik/İstanbul, Turkey
Pick up from the hotel and transfer to Istanbul airport for flight back home
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.