ESCORTED PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Round trip flights NYC-Istanbul and domestic flight Istanbul-Adana. Other departure cities available.

• Airline fuel surcharges

• 11 nights First Class accommodations

• 4 nights Istanbul

• 1 night Antakya

• 2 nights Cappadocia

• 1 night Pamukkale

• 1 night Kusadasi

• 1 night Izmir

• 1 night Ayvalik

• All transfers

• 24 meals: 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 10 dinners

• Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motorcoach and private boat

• Services of an English-speaking tour escort/manager

• Services of local guides in all major cities

• Entrance fees per itinerary

• Donations to local churches

• Restaurant tips

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Basilica of St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), Istanbul

• Blue Mosque, Istanbul

• Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

• Bosphorus Cruise, Istanbul

• Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary, Kusadasi

• Churches of Revelation, Izmir

• Wine, mineral water & coffee with all included dinners

• Soft drink & coffee with all included lunches

NOT INCLUDED: airport taxes, fees and September 11th Security Fee, and tips to guides, driver, and tour escort/manager (call for terms and conditions).

TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1, Monday
Depart New York for Istanbul, Turkey. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey

DAY 2, Tuesday
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. This evening, enjoy an orientation meeting with your tour escort, followed by a welcome dinner at your hotel (D): ISTANBUL

DAY 3, Wednesday
Today's full day tour of Istanbul city begins at the Roman Hippodrome, and continues to visit the Basilica of St. Sophia, which was conceived by Emperor Constantine and later rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. The tour continues to visit the famous Sultanahmet Mosque or Blue Mosque, a 17th century Ottoman church whose vast domed center and interior walls are adorned with some of the world's most skilled and decorative mosaics. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to view the Suleymaniye Mosque, considered the most beautiful of all the Imperial mosques, and the Topkapi Palace. The tour concludes with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world, featuring over 58 streets and more than 4000 shops. Enjoy dinner on your own this evening (B, L): ISTANBUL

DAY 4, Thursday
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short flight to the ancient agricultural centre of Adana. Upon arrival, enjoy a relaxing drive to Antakya, the ancient biblical town of Antioch. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore Antakya on your own. This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel (B, D): ANTAKYA

DAY 5, Friday
This morning, depart for the ancient city of Tarsus, St. Paul's birthplace and home to a leading University in Paul's time. Upon arrival, visit St. Paul's Well across the square where he worked as a tentmaker. Continue to view Cleopatra's Gate and the Tomb of Sardanapulus, and afterwards, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant nearby. After lunch, continue to Cappadocia for dinner and overnight (B, L, D): CAPPADOCIA

DAY 6, Saturday
Today's tour takes you into the heart of Cappadoccia, a region known for its rock-carved cities, churches, and monasteries. Enjoy visits to some of the dozens of churches with frescoes dating back more than a thousand years, before continuing to the underground city of Kaymakli. Comprising an intricate system of shafts hollowed out of the mountainside, this 7th century city was built by the Christians of the region to escape the invading Roman armies. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the hotel (B, D): CAPPADOCIA

DAY 7, Sunday
Celebrate Sunday Mass early this morning, and then depart for Yalvac (Psidien Antioch), where St. Paul first preached to the pagan world. Upon arrival, visit the ancient Hieropolis, which, during the Byzantine era, was the site of a large Christian church dedicated to St. Philip, who was martyred there in 80 A.D. Continue to Pamukkale this afternoon (B, D): PAMUKKALE

DAY 8, Monday
This morning, travel to Ephesus where St. Paul spent two years teaching the gospel. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone structure believed by many Christians the retreat of Mary and John the Apostle after Christ's crucifixion. Though some Evangelical and religious scholars question Mary's relocating to Ephesus, many agree that John did return, and that Ephesus was indeed the site where he wrote the three epistles. Continue to visit the Basilica of St. John, constructed by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century on the slopes of the Ayasoluk Hill. The Tomb of St. John, which is situated beneath the Basilica's central dome, became one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the Middle Ages. Following lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight (B, L, D): KUSADASI

DAY 9, Tuesday
Depart Kusadasi for the ancient city of Philadelphia, an important Christian centre during Byzantine times. Upon arrival, visit Sardis, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Afterwards, continue to Izmir, the ancient city believed to be the birthplace of Homer (B, D): IZMIR

DAY 10, Wednesday
This morning, travel to Thyatira, the ancient Christian centre Paul visited on a number of occasions during his missionary travels. Upon arrival, tour the city, including a visit to the Church of Thyatira, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Afterwards, continue to Pergamum, one of the richest and most powerful kingdoms during the ancient Hellenistic period (289-129 B.C.). Here, you will visit the Acropolis, which houses the Temple of Trajan, the Heroon shrine, the Sanctuary of Athena, the Altar of Zeus, the Theater, and the Library of Pergamum, built by King Eumenes II, and whose collection came second only to that of Alexandria's. From here, visit the Asclepion, a leading health center of the ancient world. Continue to Ayvalik in the late afternoon (B, D): AYVALIK

DAY 11, Thursday
Today, travel to the classical city of Troy, the city made immortal by Homer's epic poem the Iliad. Upon arrival, enjoy a tour of this 4000-year-old city and legendary center of the Trojan War. Following your tour of Troy, cross the Dardanelles by ferry and continue to Istanbul for dinner and overnight (B, D): ISTANBUL

DAY 12, Friday
This morning, enjoy a half day Bosphorus cruise; and in the evening, celebrate your last night in Turkey at a farewell dinner at local restaurant (B, D): ISTANBUL

DAY 13, Saturday
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home (B).

Click on image above for a larger map

DATES & RATES

2008
Sep 29	$2499

Rates are per person for double occupancy. Single and triple occupancy rates available on request.
Additional departures for groups of 20 or more available on request. Please inquire.