Israel And Combos / Israel & Turkey

Day 1 to Day 10 - Israel - The Holy Land - See Israel itinerary

Day 11 - Istanbul
Fly to Istanbul and transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight in Istanbul.

Day 12 - Alexandrai Troas
Ferry across the Dardanelle waterway to Troas visited by St. Paul on his third journey. Continue to Assos where St. Paul was joined by St. Luke. Dinner and overnight in Assos.

Day 13 - Pergamum / Thyatira / Smyrna
Visit Pergamum and Aesculapiums, then continue to Thyatira a city of artisan's guilds in St. Paul's time. Continue to Izmir, Homer's birthplace on the Aegean coast. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

Day 14 - Ephesus / Pamukkale
Explore Ephesus with its extensive synthesis of Graeco-Roman and Christian remains. It was the home of St.Paul between 54-57 AD. Visit the Virgin Mary's House and stop at St. John's Basilica. Continue to Pamukkale, the white "Cotton Fortress" lime cascades of the Roman Spa Hierapolis. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 15 - Hierapolis / Laodicea / Sardis / Bursa
Visit Hierapolis. This was Philip the Evangelist's home. Stop at nearby Laodicea. Then continue to Philadelphia, a favourite city of St. Paul and St. John. We visit Sardis with its beautiful gymnasium and marble paved synagogue. Dinner and overnight in Bursa.

Day 16 - Nicea / Istanbul
Drive to Nicea where two Church Councils were held. The First Ecumenical Council of 325 AD and the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787 AD. Then continue to Istanbul. The afternoon is free. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 17 - Istanbul
Guided tour of the Topkapi Palace (main residence of Ottoman Sultans), the St. Sophia Basilica, ancient seat of the Byzantine Church. Visit The Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Hippodrome and finally the covered Grand Bazaar with 3,000 exotic shops. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 18 - Canada
Transfer to airport for flight to Canad