A Trip Through Secrets of Asia Minor

Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Istanbul

  Arrive in Istanbul. Meet and greet. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight at 5 Star Elite World Hotel Istanbul
• Day 2 : Istanbul

  The only city in the World spanning two continents. Visit St.Sophia Museum which is one of the world’s great- est architectural marvels and a designated World Heritage site. Short walk & visit to the fabled Topkapi Palace- Museum. Next, after a short drive, you will arrive to the Spice Bazaar where you will have a delicious lunch at a local kebab restaurant. After lunch you will visit the cavernous Egyptian Spice Bazaar where tastes and smells from the orient assault your senses. There will be ample time to stock up on saffron, Turkish apricots, pistachios and freshly made Turkish Delight. Your next visit will be the Church of Chora, with the best remaining exam- ples of Byzantine frescoes which survive today. At the end of the day return to your hotel. Overnight at 5 star Hotel in Istanbul Optional -Whirling Dervishes Sema program.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch
• Day 3 : Istanbul / Hatay - Antakya

  In the morning, you will visit the Blue Mosque with its beautiful Iznik tiles and the Roman Hippodrome which was one of the largest chariot race grounds of the Byzantine Empire. Here you can see the Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpentine Column. Next you will have time for shopping & lunch at Nakkas Rug Store. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Hatay (TK488 – 3:30pm) Antakya is the ancient Antioch from where St. Paul started his missionary journeys. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Antakya. Dinner and overnight in 5 star Hotel in Antakya.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 4 : Antakya

  Explore Antioch where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians (Acts:11:26).Visit St. Peter’s church. The first church known in the World. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Continue to the famous Mosaic Museum and a brief visit to Seleucia Peria, where St. Paul and St.Barnabas embarked for Cyprus on their first missionary journey (Acts:13:4). Dinner and overnight in 5 star Hotel in Antakya.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 5 : Antakya - Cappadocia

  After breakfast depart from hotel for Cappadocia. On the way, visit Tarsus, birthplace of St. Paul. “I am a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia” (Acts:22:3).See the well of St.Paul and remains of the house that is believed to be his. Visit St.Paul Church and have lunch at a local restaurant across from the antique gate of Cleopatra. Continue for Cappadocia. Visit Eski Gumus Monastery, one of the finest in the region. Diner & overnight in special deluxe category boutique hotel in Cappadocia.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 6 : Cappadocia

  Full day exploring Cappadocia, the land of saints and early Christians. First visit a local market for vegeta- bles and fruits. Shopping for dinner. Visit Goreme Open Air Museum with St.Basil’s Chapel, the Church of St.Barbara and Tokalı Church. Proceed to Uchisar for pottery ateliers and rug weavers. Visit Kaymakli; an im- mense rock carved underground city.Return to hotel for a culinary experience. Diner & overnight in special deluxe category boutique hotel in Cappadocia. Highlight of the program : Vegetables, herbs and other cooking materials will be purchased from the local market. A short cooking class will be held for preparing the nice samples of the traditional Turkish Cuisine, and enjoy what you’ve prepared with a glass of local wine for dinner.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 7 : Cappadocia - Konya

  Early morning optional Hot Air Baloon tour. Morning at leisure. Departure for Konya mid day. Lunch at Aksaray.. Visit a 12th century Seljuk Caravansarai on the Silk Road. Continue for Konya where St.Paul and St.Barnabas both preached in synagogue. The city was the home of the whirling dervishes in the 12th century. Visit the Mevlana Mausoleum and his museum. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Konya.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 8 : Konya - Pisidan Antioch - Pamukkale

  Drive to Pamukkale in the early morning. Visit to Pisidan Antioch on the way. It was here that St.Paul changed world history by opening Christianity to the pagan world. Visit the church which was an old synagoque where St. Paul adressed to the jews., the Roman theater and the Temple of August.. Drive to Mount Honaz National Park and the Biblical site of Colossea. Next visit Laodicea, visit the ruins. Then continue to your drive. Visit to Pamukkale once known as the ancient Roman thermal city of Hierapolis. The Martyrium of St.Philip the Apostle occurred here. Tour the beautiful, snow-white “frozen waterfalls” see the Roman thermal baths, theat- er, main streets, gates and Necropolis. Dinner and overnight at 5 star hotel in Pamukkale, and enjoy a leisurely bath in the warm mineral water of your hotel in Pamukkale

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 9 : Pamukkale - Miletus - Ephesus - Kusadasi

  After breakfast, drive to ancient Miletus, where St.Paul had his farewell talk to Ephesians on the way back from his 3rd missionary journey. Continue for Ephesus with lunch en route. Visit Ephesus Archeological Museum and St. John’s Basilica. Dinner and overnight at Special Deluxe category Hotel in Kusadasi.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 10 : Ephesus – Istanbul

  Drive to Virgin Mary’s House, on a wooded hilltop which was miraculously discovered. Visit the unforgettable classical remains of Ephesus where St. Paul spent 27 months Lunch at a local restaurant in Selcuk. Take an after- noon flight to Istanbul. Have some free time for shopping and transfer to your hotel . Overnight. Optional Turkish show with belly dancer. ( Diner & show)

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch
• Day 11 : Istanbul

  Visit the Spice market in the morning. Cruise on the Bosphorus viewing the fortresses, the palaces, mosques and old wooden traditional villas on the shore on both Asian and European sides. After lunch visit the Grand Covered Bazaar with it’s 4000 shops. Farewell dinner at a nice local restaurant. Overnight at 5 star hotel in Istanbul.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 12 : Istanbul

  End of Tour Transfer to Istanbul Airport for your flight home.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast

Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing

Terms & Conditions

This Tour is Offered by

• Yildiz Posta Caddesi Ayyildiz Sitesi B Blok No:26 Kat:1 Daire:39 Gayrettepe, Istanbul, Turkey - 34394
• XXXXXX7618 View Contact
• XXXXXXXXXX@apricottours.com View Mail ID

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