Guaranteed weekly departure

Turkey Tours
for Individuals & Families

from South Africa

4 nights / days Seven Churches of Asia Minor

Start in Izmir: Every Monday
This tour can be combined with a tour of Istanbul & Cappadocia

Istanbul, Izmir, 7 Churches of Asia Minor, Ephasus
4 Nights

This is the most popular tour. It is the least expensive, guaranteed departure from Izmir every Monday.
Before or after the tour you can add 2 nights in Istanbul, take a day tour and visit the famous grand bazaar.

A few airlines  depart from South Africa to Turkey:

* Turkish Air depart from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul and you can book online connection flight to
Izmir.
* Ethiopian Airline also depart from same cities to Istanbul. Connection flight to Izmir must be booked online
Separately.

Tour Details:

• Highlights: Izmir – Smyrna – Pergamum – Thyatira – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea – Hierapolis – Ephesus – Izmir
• Duration: 5 days
• Departure: Every Monday
• Tour Type: MINI Group tour (Max. 10 pax)
• Guiding in: Private English – Spanish – Portuguese – French – Japanese / MINI Group tour English

Tour Includes:
Accommodation in selected 4 star hotels hotels including breakfast & dinner
4 breakfast and 4 dinners
All sightseeing & entrance fees
Bible Oriented professional Tour Guide
Private arrival & departure transfers
A/C transportation
Parking, high-way fees

DAY 1 : Izmir Arrival ( Dinner )
Upon our arrival at Izmir airport, our guide will meet you with your name sign and assist and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Izmir

DAY 2 : Pergamum – Thyatira – Izmir (Breakfast – Dinner)
After breakfast meet with you and take a drive Pergamum (also called called Bergama), one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. Explore the impressive Acropolis, the steepest theatre in the world, the Asklepion, the famous medical Centre of classical times and visit the Altar of Zeus, mentioned as “Throne of Satan” in the book of Revelation. See the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan and the Library which was famous around the world and as the famous Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Its wealth of volumes was estimated at over 200,000 books. Continue to Thyatira (now called Akhisar), also one of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24; Acts 16:14]. This city city was famous for purple dyes. Visit the remains of a basilica and 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: Izmir – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea – Hierapolis ( Breakfast – Dinner )
We depart to one of the most picturesque areas of of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4]. Visit Sardis, presently called Sart. Sardis was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC, portrayed as a dying church. Visit the great Temple of Artemis and the restored gymnasium and reconstructed Synagogue. Here you can 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.Continue our journey to Philadelphia, today called Alasehir, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:7], and the only church not censured. Here 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, and was named after his wife Laodicea. Built on the Lycus Tributary of the Meander River, it was named 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, – Pamukkale, the white “cotton fortress” where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. Most impressive view. The therapeutic waters were known to the founders of Hierapolis and of Laodicea in 190 BC. We drive to hotel for dinner and
Overnight in a Thermal Hotel

Day 4 : 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. Visit 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 one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built in this city. Visit the Basilica of St. John and the House of Virgin Mary before driving to Kusadasi.
Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 5 : Izmir – Home ( Breakfast )
Pick up from hotel and transfer to Izmir airport for a flight to Istanbul or Cappadocia (see options below).

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS – ISTANBUL & CAPPADOCIA

Cappadocia (2 Nights – 2 Days)

• Highlights: Devrent Valley – Pasabag Fairy Chimneys – Avanos – Goreme Open Air Museum – Uchisar Rock
Castle – Kaymakli Underground City
• Duration: 2 Days
• Departure: MINI Group : Everyday | Private : Everyday
• Tour Type: MINI Group (Max 10 people) & Private

Tour Includes:
2 Night Accommodation in a cave hotel – Gamirasu hotel or similar
Professional Licensed Tour Guide
Airport transfers
Domestic Flight tickets from Istanbul
Transportation with A/C Van
Entrance Fees
Car Parking Fees
Local Taxes

Day 1 – Istanbul (Izmir or Antalya) to Cappadocia
Take the morning flight to Cappadocia: Direct evening flights from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir everyday; Direct flights from Izmir to Kayseri on Thursday and Friday evenings. Direct flights from Antalya to Nevsehir on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings
Arrival and meeting at the airport just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name and transfer to Hotel.
Overnight Cappadocia

Day 2 – Cappadocia (B.L)
Hot Air ballooning with sunrise (extra)
Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:30am
Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Drive to to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos )- Sobessos is newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses & Archaeological excavation site. Villages in the valleys, surrounded by the “table top” mountains, are spectacular. Continue with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides it’s frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer which we can only see by torch light. Lunch break. Visit to Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture. Visit to Saruhan Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travellers could rest and recover from the day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across a network of trade routes of Asia, North Africa and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice road. Continue with panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations, is in the heart of Cappadocia but away from the tourist crowd.
Overnight Cappadocia

Day 3 – Cappadocia to Istanbul (or other destinations) (B.L)
Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:30am
After breakfast, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; walking in Pasabag near Zelve; “fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”. Lunch in Avanos, centre of terra cotta 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 rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Transfer to airport to take the evening flight to Istanbul.

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