8 Days / 7 Nights Tour of The Seven Churches

Información

Visit the seven biblical churches that paved a religion and centuries of Christianity, now resting in the heart of Islamic Turkey. Istanbul - Smyrna (Izmir) - Pergamon - Sardis - Philadelphia - Pamukkale / Hierapolis - Laodicea - Ephesus - Istanbul.

Day 1: arrival day.
Welcome to Turkey. Arrive in Istanbul airport, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul (breakfast included).
Our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. We will visit the Topkapi Palace, St. Sophia, The Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: Smyrna and Pergamon (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
Depart approx 08:30am for transfer from hotel to Istanbul airport for flight to Izmir. Arrival in Izmir. Drive to ancient Smyrna where the second one of the seven Christian churches in Asia Minor existed and to which St. John the Divine wrote (Revelation l - 11). In the afternoon proceed to Thyatira, another one of the Seven Churches. See the remains of a Basilica and other ruins from the Roman Period. Dinner in hotel and overnight in Izmir.

Day 4: Pergamon (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
Depart approximately 08:30am to drive to Pergamon (1.5 hours). Visit the Acropolis with its pagan temples and Altar of Zeus. Continue to the healing centre, Aesculapius. Return to Izmir 17:00pm, dinner in hotel and overnight in Izmir.

Day 5: Sardis, Philadelphia and Pamukkale (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
After breakfast depart for Sardis, just over an hour’s drive from Izmir and place of another one of the Seven Churches mentioned by St. John. Continue to Philadelphia to another one of the Christian congregations, and a city built in 2 BC by King Eumenos. Lunch break at 13:00pm the move on to Pamukkale and the ancient site of Hierapolis. Watch the sunset over the petrified waterfalls. Dinner in hotel and overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 6: Laodicea and Ephesus (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
Depart approximately 08:30am to visit Hierapolis and then Laodicea, whose church was mentioned in the Book of Revelations for not being effective, before continuing to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary. Said to be the final abode of the Virgin Mary, located on Mount Nightingale above Ephesus, this is a beautiful spot sanctified by the Catholic Church. The tour continues to the ancient city of Ephesus to see the spectacular ruins of an old synagogue, the 24,000 seater amphitheatre where St. Paul preached (Acts 10), the Library of Celsus and Hadrian’s Yemple amongst many other sights. Finish approximately 17:00pm after short drive to hotel in Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Istanbul (breakfast included).
Transfer to Izmir airport after breakfast for the flight to Istanbul. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Free time to explore the city and shop for souvenirs. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 8: end of the tour (breakfast included).
After breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

Meeting/pick-up point: Istanbul Airport.
Duration: 8 days.
Start/opening time:According to client's flight times.
End/closing time: According to client's flight times.
Languages: Private tour: English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chinese. Shared tour: English.
Others: Included: arrival airport transfer from Ataturk airport, domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Izmir, domestic Flight tickets from Izmir to Istanbul, 3 nights in 5* hotel in Istanbul, 2 nights in 5* hotel in Izmir, 1 night in 5* hotel in Pamukkale, 1 night in 5* hotel in Kusadasi, 7 open buffet breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, all entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary, transportation in a fully air - conditioned and non - smoking coach, return airport transfer.
Not included: international flights, all types of insurance, Turkey entry visa, items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, and laundry, any others expenses which are not mentioned at the "included" section.