Today your journey begins as you depart from your home airport. Plan to arrive at the airport for departure 2-3 hours before your flight to ensure plenty of time to check bags, go through security, and relax before boarding your flight. *We recommend you buy or refill water bottles after security to ensure you have plenty of water to stay hydrated on the flight. We’ll see you soon!

When you arrive in Istanbul Travel the Text will meet you at the airport, and provide group transportation via motorcoach to your first hotel for the next three nights. We will have some orientation time together at the hotel, and depending on arrival time, an optional outing to orient you to the Old Sultanahmet historical areas in the afternoon/evening including a visit to the Blue Mosque. Dinner and overnight at Sultanahmet area Hotel in Istanbul.

We begin our trip exploring a city that spans two continents. Our first site is a visit to the ancient Roman Hippodrome​, largely renovated by Constantine in the early 4th century AD. We will then make our way to the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum before exploring Hagia Sophia, one of the largest and most significant church buildings ever constructed, the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, and (time-permitting) the Basilica Cistern​. We will include optional time for visits to experience the markets at the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

This morning, we transfer early to the airport and fly to Antalya (“Attalia” in the Bible). On arrival, we will enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant before visiting the large archaeological site of Perga, where John Mark left Paul and Barnabas on Paul’s first journey, and where one can walk on the very road on which Paul and Barnabas walked. We also plan to visit the Saint Paul Cultural Center, a modern-day ministry in Turkey, and the Antalya Museum​, where many of the beautiful finds from Perga reside. Dinner and overnight at the Best Western Plus Khan Hotel (or similar) in Antalya.

Our travels continue today to the area of the ancient harbor of Magydos, where Paul and Barnabas first landed after leaving Cyprus on Paul’s first journey. Weather-permitting, we will view this location by boat, including the spectacular Duden Falls. We will enjoy a beautiful drive through the Taurus Mountains to Colossae, Philemon’s hometown and where archaeologists are just beginning to excavate. Then we will study near the hot springs of Pammukale (Turkish for “Cotton Castle”) and the ancient site of Hierapolis, mentioned in the New Testament. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale at the Doga Thermal Hotel (or similar).

This morning we will begin our day in the impressive ruins of Laodicea, the lukewarm church in Revelation. After lunch, we will continue our study at the beautiful ancient city of Aphrodisias, one of Caesar Augustus’ favorite cities and near some of the greatest marble querries. We will return to our hotel with time available for a mid-trip relaxing afternoon at the hot springs, pools, and spa facilities. Dinner and our final night in Pamukkale at the Doga Thermal Hotel.

Today, we continue our discussion of Revelation. Our first visit includes a beautiful cable car ride to the impressive remains of the ancient site where it is said, “Satan has his throne” - the Pergamum Acropolis and the Asklepion. Dominating the landscape, Pergamum served as one of the most powerful cities of Asia Minor, and its library rivaled Alexandria. After studying and exploring here, we will enjoy lunch together before visiting Thyatira, where people tolerated Jezebel. Dinner and our final night at Movenpick Hotel (or similar) in Izmir.

Today we finish strong, exploring the ancient city of Priene, which carries the ethos of the New Testament world and serves as a model of an ideal Hellenistic city, before we go to the Apollo temple at Didyma, where the oracle there was said to deliver a word from the gods. After lunch we will explore the ruins of Miletus, where Paul said good-bye to the Ephesian elders, before returning to Kusadası for our final dinner and overnight together in Turkey.

We arrive bright and early into the port of Athens, Greece. After disembarking, we will travel to Corinth, where Paul spent 18 months ministering to a host of people to whom he writes several letters. We will continue our study at Cenchrea, where Paul made a vow and where Phoebe lived, before making our way back to Athens to visit the Athens National Archaeological Museum. Dinner and overnight at Divani Palace Acropolis Hotel (or similar), Athens.

For our final day of study together, we begin at the magnificent Acropolis of Athens to view some of the most impressive and known ruins in the world. Our study will continue at Mars Hill, where Paul preached in Acts 17, and the State Agora, just beneath the Acropolis. After lunch together, we will explore the Acropolis Archaeological Museum and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Dinner and our final night in Athens.