15-27 MARCH 2025 TURKEY

DETAILED ITINERARY

Saturday 15-March Istanbul    

Arrive Istanbul. Free time for sightseeing Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar and visit with All Saints church.

Sunday 16-March Istanbul

Tour Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, add Basilica Cistern. Travel to Canakkale

Monday 17-March Dardanelles Peninsula

At the Dardanelles peninsula visit WWI battlefields of Gallipoli (Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Chunk Bair). Cross the Dardanelles Strait by car ferry. Proceed to Alexandrian Troas, the important port founded by Alexander the Great. Overnight in Assos

Tuesday 18-March Pergamum - Thyatira.

Pregamum acropolis is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Turkey. Its attractions are hard to surpass: a 10,000-seat theatre on the side of the acropolis, the magnificently restored temple of Trajan; a library of 200,000 volumes second in size only to that in Alexandria; the base of the Altar of Zeus; the temple of Dionysus; John warned the church here that they were living in a place of “Satan’s throne”. We will also visit the ancient city of Thyatira. Travel to Izmir

Wednesday 19-March Smyrna Agora - Sardis - Philadelphia.

Firstly Smyrna Agora then, we drive to Sardis to see the remains of the magnificent temple of Artemis, the beautifully reconstructed gymnasium and public baths, and the largest known synagogue outside Palestine. Our next stop is Philadelphia where much of this ancient city in an earthquake-prone area has either been destroyed or lies buried under the modern city. Then Smyrna Agora and its latest excavations, including the graffiti section which is closed to public. Drive to Sardis, capital of the ancient Lydia where first coin of the world was invented. See the remains of another massive Artemis Temple. Continue to Hierapolis, a World Heritage site and site of the church mentioned in Colossians, on to Philadelphia. Travel to Pamukkale.

Thursday 20-March Colossae - Laodicea - Hierapolis

Firstly unexcavated Colossae, then on to Laodicea. Laodicea was a major city in Roman times, given the size of the ancient site, its two theatres, stadium, aqueduct and major street lined with shops. Laodicea had a close relationship with the nearby churches of Colossae and Hierapolis which we visit next. With its hot thermal springs well-known already in the ancient world for its medicinal qualities as well its spectacular white travertine terraces, Hierapolis remains just as popular with travelers today as it was in biblical times. Equally impressive are the remains of the ancient city: the Arch of Domitian, a colonnaded street and marketplace, ancient baths, a 20,000-seat theatre built in 200 BC, the largest ancient graveyard in Anatolia containing over 1,200 tombs, tumuli and sarcophagi, and the Martyrium of St. Philip.

Friday 21-March Aphrodisias – Kusadasi

Drive to Aphrodisias and visit the well preserved stadium, the Odeon, the theater and the agora. Continue to Miletus which, due to its four harbors and strategic location on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, became one of the great cities of commerce in the ancient world.

Saturday 22-March Ephesus

Today we visit the most impressive biblical site of our trip: The former glory of this city can still be easily appreciated from its well-preserved streets, temples, fountains, public baths, terraced houses and theatres. Ephesus was the site of the Artemis temple—one of seven wonders of the ancient world—and a 24,000 seat theatre, spectacular Terrace Houses, Basilica of John, and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. Travel to Izmir

Sunday 23-March Miletus – Didyma

A tour of Miletus which, due to its four harbors and strategic location on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, became one of the great cities of commerce in the ancient world. Onward to Didyma, a religious site devoted to Apollo. The temple here built in his honor was most impressive, consisting of 122 columns six feet in diameter and reaching six stories high. Although only three full columns have survived, the remaining stunted columns demonstrate why this shrine was a notable rival to the famous temple of Apollo at Delphi with its renowned oracle. Travel to Izmir.

Monday 24-March Cappadocia

Fly in to Cappadocia. Visit the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations in Devrent Valley. Visit to Pasabag “fairy chimneys”. Lunch in Avanos, centre of terracotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rockcut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Continue to panoramic view point Esentepe with a spectacular view over Goreme. Then visit Uchisar Castle. This tall rock, the highest point of the Goreme region.

Tuesday 25-March Cappadocia

Cappadocia tour and optional early morning Hot Air Balloon ride (own cost and weather depending). Tour to Derinkuyu Underground City, one of the largest and deepest underground city in Cappadocia. Drive to Ihlara Canyon; walk to Belisirma village,  the ancient Peristrema: ”Valley of the Sky” along the Melendiz River. Rock-cut churches spread across a wild plantation. Lunch at a local restaurant in Belisirma by the river. Continue to Selime, a cave house village.

Wednesday 26-March Cappadocia

Visit the Fairy Chimneys in Urgup, the offical symbol of both Urgup and Cappadocia. Enjoy a 4km hiking tour in Red Valley, one of the most attractive valley's of Cappadocia. Visit Cavusin, one of the earliest inhabited and latest abandoned monastic settlements of Cappadocia. Fly to Istanbul early evening

Fly to Istanbul early evening

Thursday 27-March Istanbul

Departure date. Transfer to Istanbul Airport

 

Please note this itinerary is subject to change based on in-country conditions, tour speed and factors outside our control.

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