Footsteps of Paul

Footsteps of Paul Tour

Footsteps of Paul

Footsteps of Paul Tour

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About Footsteps of Paul Tour

Trace Apostle Paul's Journeys in Turkey

St Paul was born in Tarsus, the Roman city in the Mediterranean region of modern Turkey. During this 18 day trip you can see not only the places Paul visited during his missionary journeys in Asia Minor, but also some other important Christian sights in Turkey.

Footsteps of Paul Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul

  • Arrival to Istanbul. Your guide meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.
  • Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul Old City Tour

hagia sophia

  • Full day tour in Istanbul.
  • Visit Hagia Sofia,
  • Underground Byzantine Cistern (Yerebatan),
  • Hippodrome of Istanbul,
  • Blue Mosque (The Sultan Ahmed Mosque),
  • Topkapi Palace including Harem section and Grand Bazaar.
  • Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 3: Istanbul Tour and Boat Trip

  • We will first visit the Old Spice Bazaar in the morning.
  • Afterwards you will have a 2 hour Bosphorus cruise by ferry to see the Anadolu Hisari, Rumeli Hisari, old mansions, waterfront wood houses, imperial palaces, hunting lodges, modern villas on both the European and Asians shores of the strait while cruising.
  • Your last stop during this tour will be Chora Museum (Church of Holy Savior in Chora).
  • Return to hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4: Hatay (Antakya)

the church of Saint Peter

  • Early morning transfer to airport to fly to Adana; arrival to Adana.
  • Transfer to Hatay (also known as Antioch). After Rome and Alexandria it was the 3rd largest Roman city and St. Paul began his missionary journeys from there. The city became home to the first Christian church outside of the land of Israel and was the first place in which followers of Jesus were referred to as Christians. St. Peter also visited Antioch (Galatians 2:11).
  • After lunch you will visit St. Peter Church and the famous mosaic museum.
  • Overnight stay in Hatay.

Day 5: Hatay (Antakya)-Tarsus

  • We will drive to the town of Samandag (Seleucia Pieria) where Apostle Paul and Barnabas set sail for Cyprus on their first missionary journey cruise.
  • Then we proceed to Tarsus, birthplace of St. Paul. You visit St. Paul’s Church which has been put under protection since 1993. Because of lack of community, regular services are not held, however ceremonies are held for groups of pilgrims.
  • Overnight stay in Tarsus.

Day 6: Ihlara Valley

cappadocia tour

  • After breakfast we will drive to Cappadocia and on the way will visit Ihlara Valley, which itself alone needs almost a half day to complete.
  • Overnight stay in a cave hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 7: Cappadocia Tour

  • Visit Goreme Open Air Museum to see Byzantine Frescoes,
  • Basil Church, St. Barbara church,
  • Dark church, St. Catherine Chapel,
  • Nunnery,
  • the Troglodyte Village of Avcilar,
  • Ortahisar and Avanos Village and see the fairy chimneys and St. Simeon church at Pasabag (Monk) Valley.
  • Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 8: Cappadocia Tour

  • Optional hot air balloon flight early in the morning (05:00-08:00) which is subject to availability due to weather conditions.
  • Full day tour in Cappodocia (Cappadocia Derinkuyu Underground city, Uchisar Castle to see the panoramic points and the cone of Uchisar, Guvercinlik Valley, Love valley).
  • Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 9: Konya and Yalvac

sufi

  • After breakfast we will drive to Konya.
  • You will visit Konya, ancient Iconium; Konya was visited by St. Paul during his first missionary journey and it is believed that he and Silas visited it again during his second missionary journey (Acts 13:51; 14:1-21;16:2,II Tim. 3:11).
  • You will also visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret.
  • After lunch we will drive to Yalvac to visit Psidian Antioch. That is the place where Apostle Paul preached his first recorded sermon and uttered his famous words ”Now we turn to Gentiles” (Acts 13:14-52).
  • Overnight stay in Yalvac.

Day 10: Antalya

  • After breakfast we will to drive Aspendos to see the world’s best preserved Greco-Roman Amphitheater.
  • Then we will visit the Greco-Roman city of Perge where St. Paul gave his first speech on Christianity in the area.
  • After a short walking city tour of Antalya you will return to hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 11: Pamukkale

  • After breakfast continue to Pamukkale (Hierapolis) to visit the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, Necropolis and St. Philip’s tomb.
  • Overnight stay in Pamukkale.

What Did They Say About Footsteps of Apostle Paul Tour?

Day 12: Laodicea-Colosae-Philedelphia-Sardis

  • After breakfast short drive to Laodicea. The final letter of the churches of ancient Asia Minor is to the church in the city of Laodicea.
  • We will see the Christian Ruins as well as the Statue of Emperor Augustus, Aquaduct, Stadium, Ephesian Gate. Then drive to the unexcavated city of Colossae (Honaz, Ancient metropolis of Phrygia, the recipient of Paul’s letter). The book of Colossians was addressed to the Church here (Col 1:2) and that Philemon lived in this city.
  • Then continue to Philadelphia (brotherly love), which is not so ancient as other cities of Asia Minor, it was founded after 189 BC. It was the seat of the ‘Seven Churches’ (Revelation 3:7-12).
  • Then we will drive to Sardis. Here was one of the seven Asiatic Churches (Revelation 3:1-6) and the capital city of ancient Lydia. You will see the early church remaining in Sardis (Sardis Gymnasium, Jewish Synagogue, Diana Temple).
  • Overnight stay in Sardis.

Day 13: Thyateira, Miletos

didyma miletos priene tour

  • After the breakfast we will drive to Thyatira. It was one of the Seven Churches (Revelation 1:11;2:18-28); Lydia, the seller of purple, who sold her dyes in Philippi was from this city ( Acts 16:14).
  • Then we will continue to the great Ionian port of Miletus, where Paul farewelled the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38) and then visit the newly excavated remains of a synagogue.
  • Overnight stay in Kusadası.

Day 14: Ephesus Tour

ephesus private tours

  • After breakfast we drive to Ephesus; St. Paul visited Ephesus briefly during his second missionary journey and stayed more than three years. Both St. Paul and Apostle John wrote letters to the Ephesians.
  • You will also visit Baths of Scholastica, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, the Theater and Temple of Artemis which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
  • You will visit the the Basilica of St. John to see John’s burial place.
  • Our last stop during this tour will be the House of Virgin Mary.
  • Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 15: Izmir (Smyrna), Pergamum

izmir

  • After breakfast we will drive to Smyrna (Izmir), the third largest city of Turkey.
  • It was the second city to receive a letter from Apostle John in the book of Revelation ( Acts 19:10). The letter in Revelation (2:8-11) is filled with the affection and joy that comes from triumph over hardship and persecution.
  • We will visit the agora of Smyrna and Church of St. Polycarp.
  • You will then proceed to Pergamon to visit the Acropolis, Temple of Athena, Serapis Temple, Heroon, Sanctuary of Athena, Library of Pergamon, Temple of Trajan, Theatre, Zeus Altar and Red Court. Pergamon is the third of the ‘Seven Churches of Asia’ ( Rev.1:11).
  • We will drive to Assos for an overnight stay.

Day 16: Assos – Alexandria Troas – Troy

western turkey

  • Our first stop for is Assos. On the last leg of his third missionary journey, St. Paul walked from Alexandria Troas to Assos ( Acts 20:5-6,13-14) where he met his companions, who had gone ahead of him by sea.
  • Then we will continue to Alexandra Troas. Here St. Paul raised Eutychus from dead (Acts 20:5-12).
  • Our final stop is Homer’s legendary Troy where you will also see the replica of the wooden horse.
  • Overnight stay in Canakkale.

Day 17: Canakkale – Istanbul

  • Departure from hotel after breakfast and five hours driving to Istanbul.
  • Arrival to Istanbul, free afternoon and overnight stay.

Day 18: Transfer

Transfer to airport for your return flight.

The Best Biblical Tour Guide for You!

Our Biblical tour guides are locals who have very good knowledge not only about the sights in the area, but also about the history of Christianity.

They are all fluent in English, and some of them guide also in other languages.

Have the best experience in Ephesus with our expert local guides...

Testimonials

  • As a young Catholic priest I was a little apprehensive to travel in a Muslim country with as much tensions as there has been in the recent past, but I was really looking forward to seeing the seven Churches which St John wrote to in the book of Revelations, as well as Mary’s house in Ephesus. I could not have been more impressed with your guide Ertunga’s knowledge and professionalism throughout the entire trip. I would have zero hesitations to go back or to recommend Ertunga as a tour guide. It as an incredible historical and spiritual experience.
    Frhecker Wichita, Kansas
  • Enjoyed our recent 22 day trip in Western Turkey visiting many Christian History sites. Ertunga was able to knit together much disparate info, suggesting changes as we went along to compensate for weather problems, etc. I would make the following recommendations: (1) Take Euros and Turkish Lira, not USA dollars, (2) Take eye drops and diarrhea tablets, and (3) Do not pet any cats or dogs – disease spreads rapidly. Best parts of the trip for me was Cappadocia and Priene.
    Swaby_commander - Helensvale, Avustralya
  • Our Biblical Tour of Turkey was more than what we had expected… And this was because of Ertunga and his impeccable planning and handling of our private tour. His stories made all the places we visited more alive….the ruins were impressive even dramatic but as Ertunga explained all these places to us these stones became living and breathing cities
    molgnz
  • Ertunga, was exceptional and his knowledge of history, Biblical sights, legends, myths was amazing and he had a wonderful sense of humour. We saw everything on our itinerary exactly as we had requested and the food and accommodation was great. We have no hesitation in recommending Ertunga as he made sure that we had and extremely comprehensive and fun filled trip and it was a true Turkish experience.
    Roger and Raini - Melbourne, Australia

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