SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA & AEGEAN CRUISE
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TOUR ITINERARY
Tuesday, October 22: Travelling day from USA (overnight /night)
Wednesday, October 23 October Istanbul Arrival
Upon arrival to Istanbul airport clear customs, collect luggage and proceed to the arrival hall area where we will meet our guide. Transfer to the hotel for check in. Time permitting we will visit the Istanbul archaelogical museum. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Thursday, October 24: Istanbul
In the morning we will visit the Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles and ancient Hippodrome, St. Sophia built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the world’s greatest architectual marvels and a designated World Heritage site. In the afternoon we will visit the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul (B&D)
Friday, October 25: Istanbul-Izmir-Pergamum-Thyatira
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer to the airport for our flight to Izmir. Upon arrival we drive to Pergamum. Visit the Acropolis with the steepest theater of the ancient world and the Temple of Trajan. We then continue 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 to Izmir for check in followed by dinner and overnight.
Saturday, October 26: Smyrna- Sardis- Philadelphia-Pamukkale
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Our day begins with a visit to the Agora of Smyrna. Smyrna was the second city to receive a letter from the apostle John in the book of Revelation. Acts 19:10 suggests that the church there was founded during Paul’s third missionary journey.
Our next visit is 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 Temple of Cybele, which became a Byzantine Church. We will also visit some ancient Lydian houses, 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 Pactolos.
We continue our journey to Philadelpia, 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. 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. Check in at the hotel of Pamukkale for dinner and overnight. (B&D)
Sunday, October 27: Hierapolis-Laodicea-Kusadasi
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
In Hierapolis [Col. 4:13] we visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip where he was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian. We visit the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, the 2nd century AD Theatre, the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium and Necropolis.
We then depart for Laodicea (present name Denizli) yet another of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor [Rev. 1:11; 3:14; Col. 2:1; 4:13-16]. We see the ancient theatre, the remains of basilica and the ancient stone water pipes.
Drive to Kusadasi and check in at the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Monday, October 28: Ephesus
This morning we enjoy a visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. Here the Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and lived 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. We will visit the exquisite Terrace Houses, the remains of the luxurious residential houses, where the rich and famous citizens of Ephesus lived. We enjoy a visit to the Basilica of St. John before returning to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight stay.
Tuesday, October 29: Kusadasi-Patmos
After breakfast we transfer to the port and will board our ship. We will have a cruise orientation meeting and discussion for Rhodes prior to sailing. In the late afternoon arrive at the island of Patmos late afternoon. Our included excursion takes us to visit the Monastery of John and the Grotto of the Revelation. Return to the ship for an overnight sailing to Rhodes. (Lunch, Dinner and overnight on the ship).
Wednesday, October 30: Rhodes
Our ship will dock at Rhodes for the day. Enjoy the day free to explore old town of Rhodes. We will have an orientation meeting about Crete and Santorini (time to be advised). (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and overnight on the ship.)
Thursday, October 31: Heraklion, Crete & Santorini
Early this morning we will dock at the port of Heraklion, Crete where you will have some free time to walk to the town center. Return to the ship and sail to Santorini at noon. Around 4:30 pm, the ship will arrive in the moon shaped caldera below the whitewashed houses of Fira along the rim of Santorini. Walk or take the cable car up to the town. After free time in Fira, the ship sails at 9:30 pm. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and overnight on the ship).
Friday, November 1: Lavrio- Acropolis Acropolis-Mars’ Hill- Ancient Agora
With an early morning arrival in the port of Lavrio, disembark after breakfast and board our four coach to visit the marble-capped Acropolis to see the Parthenon and the Erechtheum. We continue to nearby Mars’ Hill (Areopagus) (Acts 17:22) where the Apostle Paul delivered his well-known sermon. We then walk down to visit the ancient Agora, which was formally the commercial hub of ancient Athens and the birthplace of politics and philosophy. Here Paul reasoned with the most skeptical audience he met in the course of his travels. We see the very well preserved Doric Temple of Hephaestus (or Thesseion) and the Stoa of Attaios, an arcade built by Attalos II, king of Pergamum, used as a retail market. Today it is used as a museum, displayed statutes, pottery and especially coins. We enjoy a panoramic city tour viewing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Hadrian’s Arch en route to the hotel for check in. Enjoy the evening free for a stroll through the famous Plaka. (Dinner & overnight in Athens)
Saturday, November 3: Athens departure
Check out of the hotel and group departure transfer to the airport for departure flight home.
Cost:
Seven Church of Asia $3,000 per person (does NOT include roundtrip flight from US to Istanbul).
Package Rates Include:
Accommodation at below hotels or similar with daily buffet breakfast:
2 overnights in Istanbul at Radisson President Beyazit Hotel http://www.radissonhotels.com/tr-tr/oteller/radisson-beyazit-istanbul
1 overnight in Izmir at Hilton Garden Inn Bayrakli (http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/enhotels/turkey/hilton-garden-inn-izmir-bayrakli-IZMGIG/index.html
1 overnight in Pamukkale at Pam Thermal Hotel www.pamthermal.com
2 overnights in Kusadasi at Charisma Hotel www.charismahotel.com
3 night Cruise from Kusadasi, Turkey to Lavrio,
Accommodation in inside Cat IA cabin
Meals on board beginning with lunch on embarkation day and ending with breakfast on day of embarkation
Port charges, security and gratuities for cruise staff only
Select drinks included with meals during Cruise
Entertainment and daily activities on board
Shore excursion to visit Monastery of St. John and Grotto of Apocalypse in Patmos
Meeting rooms on board ship to be confirmed with reservation
2 overnights in Athens Greece at Hotel Parthenon http://www.airotel.gr/el/Parthenon-Hotel-795.htm
Accommodation tax at hotels
Daily dinners at the hotels (either 3-4 course set menu or buffet)
All land transportation and tours as outlined in the itinerary by motor coach including air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
All highway tolls
Sightseeing tours and activities with the services of local government licensed, English speaking Bible oriented guides in Turkey and in Greece
English speaking assistant for arrival, cruise and departure transfer
All entrance fees to the archaelogical, historical sites and museums as outlined in the itinerary.
1 small bottle of water per person provided during land tours in Turkey and Greece (not during shore excursion)
Whisper head sets
One Way Istanbul-Izmir domestic flight- Luggage allowance is 20 kilos check in & 8 kilos carry on.
NOT Included:
International air tickets
All personal expenses
Supplement for lunches
Meals, drinks and beverages not mentioned above
Visa for Turkey http://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ must be obtained prior to arrival
Travel & Medical Health insurance with covid-19 coverage, PCR/RAPID test expenses that may be required at time of travel.
Porterage at hotels and airport
Tips and gratuities to local drivers, guides, escorts, hotel and restaurant staff
Valid Passport for at least 6 months & visa fees (it is the responsibility of the passenger to have all necessary documentation in their possession before travelling). Consult the appropriate consulate(s) for information on their passport requirements.
Baggage insurance & excess baggage
Any other items not specifically mentioned as being included
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