Turkey Group Tour
7 Churches of Asia Minor & Istanbul
September 6-13, 2025
6 Nights / 7 Days
Join us on this fully escorted and special group tour of Turkey rich in culture and biblical sites.
We explore Turkey’s Seven Churches of Revelation where St Paul and John ministered. Visit all the interesting sites in Istanbul, fly to Izmir and visit: Izmir, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodacea, Hierapolis, Pamukale, Ephasus, Kusadasi and Istanbul.
Tours to Turkey from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban
Grab the opportunity to experience these tours with Heavenly Tours’ Christian Tours to Turkey.
Join us on this special Weekly tour departing ORT Johannesburg and
grab the opportunity for a weekly guaranteed departures, fully escorted tours of Turkey’ rich in culture and biblical sites. We explore Turkey’s Seven Churches of Revelation where St Paul and John ministered. Visit all the interesting sites in Istanbul, fly to Izmir and visit Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodacea, Hierapolis, Pamukale, Ephasus, Kusadasi, House of Marry and Istanbul
Deposit: 5,000 per person
Final Payment: Due 10 weeks prior departure
Tour Includes:
4 star Hotels breakfast & dinner
6 breakfast and 6 dinners
All sightseeing & entrance fees
Bible Oriented professional Tour Guide
Departure transfers
A/C transportation. Max. 10 participants in a coach
Daily itinerary
DAY 1, SEPTEMBER 6: Meet at Istanbul airport – Flight to Izmir – ( Dinner )
Upon our arrival at Izmir airport or Kusadasi port or Cesme Port , our guide will meet you with your name sign and assist and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Izmir
DAY 2, SEPTEMBER 7: Pergamum – Thyatira – Izmir (Breakfast – Dinner)
At 08:30 your guide will meet with you at your hotel lobby and you will drive to 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 Centre 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 your hotel.
Overnight in Izmir
DAY 3, SEPTEMBER 8: 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 the 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.
Overnight in a Thermal Hotel
Day 4, SEPTEMBER 9: 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 5, SEPTEMBER 10: Flight to Istanbul – Full Day Istanbul Tour (Breakfast – Dinner)
Transfer to Izmir airport for flight to Istanbul. Tour of Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul – its three names span more than 2600 years, nearly 1600 of them as the capital of two of the greatest empires the world has known, Byzantine and Ottoman. We visit the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place. Boat trip on the Bosphorus, a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages.
Overnight in Istanbul
Day 6, SEPTEMBER 11: Istanbul (Breakfast – Dinner)
Free day. Visit the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar.
Overnight in Istanbul
Day 7, SEPTEMBER 12 : Istanbul – Flight home (Brekafast)
Transfer to Istanbul airport
