the acts of the apostles

TORONTO/ ADANA

Day 1 - Friday
Depart on Turkish Airlines from Toronto at 9:05pm arriving non-stop to Istanbul at 2:10pm. Connect in Istanbul on Turkish Airlines departing at 4:55pm arriving in Cukurova Airport in Adana. 

 

ADANA

Day 2 ~ Saturday
Arrival in Adana, meet & greet with our tour guide. Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at Adana Hotel. 

ADANA – ANTAKYA – ADANA

Day 3 ~ Sunday 
After breakfast at our hotel we head to our first stop of the day, the Grotto Church of St Peter. St. Peters Grotto in Antakya undoubtedly stands as one of Christianity's most significant historical sites, where the apostle Peter himself is said to have gathered the earliest followers of Jesus Christ. When you visit this ancient cave church, you're walking in the footsteps of what many believe to be the first Christians in history. For our next stop we visit the Antakya Archaeological Museum, Turkey's Largest Mosaic Museum The Antakya Archaeological Museum opened its doors in 2014, featuring all the elements of a modern museum. The museum houses significant artifacts from various historical periods including Paleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Hittite, Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman. Next we visit Seleucia Pieria, founded around 300 BC by Seleucus I Nicator, it was established on a site known as Hydatos Potamoi, which translates to "watery rivers," due to its strategic positioning near surrounding watercourses. Initially intended to be Seleucus's capital, the city later became a vital port for the nearby city of Antioch. St Paul and St Barnabas stopped here. Our final stop today will be Taskopru/The Stone Bridge in Adana, It is estimated that the stone bridge was built by the architect Auxentios during the reign of the Roman Emperor, Hadrianus. The name of this architect is included in an inscription describing the bridge in the Adana Archeology Museum. Dinner and overnight at the Adana Hotel

ADANA – CAPPADOCIA

Day 4 ~ Monday 
This morning we head to Tarsus to visit St. Paul's Well which is the well located in the courtyard of the house where Saint Paul used to live in Tarsus. Its depth is 18 meters and its mouth width is 1.15 meters. Our adventures continue as we drive to Cappadocia and visit the Kaymakli Underground City which has 8 floors and the first floor was built during the Hittites Period. During the Roman and Byzantine periods, it was transformed into an underground city by enlarging other areas by carving. Today, 4 floors are illuminated and opened to visitors. This underground city carved into tuff rocks has the necessary sheltering conditions for a mass to live temporarily. There are rooms and halls connected to each other by narrow corridors, wine tanks, water cellars, kitchen and food stores, ventilation shafts, water wells, a church and large bolt stones that close the door from the inside to prevent any danger from the outside. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia Hotel

CAPPADOCIA

Day 5 ~ Tuesday
We begin our day with a photo stop at the Devrent Valley which is often called Devrent Imaginary Valley because some say that after thousands of years of erosion many of the rocks look like animals. Our next stop will be the Goreme Open Air Museum where you can visit structures that tell a historical adventure, with structures carved into fairy chimneys or rocks with remarkable decorations. St. Basil's Chapel, the Elmalı Church, the Monastery of Monks and Nuns are just some of them. Our next photo stop will is known as the Three Beauties. The Three Beauties Cappadocia are a trio of fairy chimneys standing side by side, creating a striking natural sculpture. Known for their distinctive “hat-like” tops, they have become a symbol of Cappadocia’s magical landscape. Next we visit Pigeon Valley which earned its name from the countless man made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Since ancient times Pigeons have been used in the Cappadocia region for food and fertiliser for the infertile soil. While pigeons no longer play such an important role in the area, their rocky homes have still been maintained by locals and can be found atop rock pillars and inside excavated cave houses and churches throughout the region, however, they are particularly numerous in this valley. Our final photo stop today is at Uchisar Citadel The natural rock citadel of Uçhisar is the tallest point in Cappadocia, visible for a great distance from the region's other towns such as Ürgüp and Avanos. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia Hotel. OPTIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE AVAILABLE FOR $350 USD PER PERSON
 

CAPPADOCIA –KONYA

Day 6 ~ Wednesday 
Our day begins at the Caravanserai of Tepesidelikhan. A caravanserai was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across the network of trade routes covering Asia, North Africa and Southeast Europe, most notably the Silk Road. We then head to Ancient acropolis of Iconium/ Alaaddin Hill located in the city center of Konya and is one of the symbols of the city. The history of the hill dates back to ancient times. Excavations and archaeological studies conducted today reveal that this area has been a settlement for humans since prehistoric times. In ancient times, Alaaddin Hill was a mound (höyük) and hosted various civilizations. It is known that many civilizations such as the Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, and Romans had an influence on this region. The historical background of the hill proves that Konya has a deep and rich historical heritage. Dinner and overnight in Konya Hotel

KONYA –ANTALYA

Day 7 ~ Thursday
After breakfast we drive to Antalya to visit Duden Waterfall Park. These beautiful falls are a hidden gem on the outskirts of the modern coastal city of Antalya. Just 10 kilometres from the city centre, the Upper Duden Falls sit inside a nature park that breaks up the urban landscape. Our next stop is Perge Ancient City, Perga or Perge was originally an ancient Lycian settlement that later became a Greek city in Pamphylia.It was the capital of the Roman province of Pamphylia Secunda. Dinner and overnight in Antalya Hotel

ANTALYA

Day 8 ~ Friday
Our first stop today is the Antalya Archaeology Museum which is is one of the simplest venues of its kind in Turkey. The exhibits shown here come from the archaeological sites from Antalya Province and make an excellent addition after visiting these places. Next we visit Antalya Harbor, the Roman harbor of Antalya, nestled within the enchanting old town of Kaleiçi along Turkey's Mediterranean coast, is a captivating testament to the city's ancient maritime heritage. Its history dates back to the Hellenistic era when Antalya was known as Attaleia, but it flourished particularly during the Roman period under the reign of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. Our tour takes us to the Hidirlik Tower which sits in the the center of Antalya, on the edge of the cobbled stone old town and on the border of Antalya's pretty cliff top coastal park, its a lovely view point and popular photo spot. Our last stop of the day is The monumental Hadrian’s Gate which was built to commemorate the visit of the Roman emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138) to Attaleia. The original structure stretched between two towers and has three equally spaced vaulted arches. Dinner and overnight in Antalya Hotel

ANTALYA- PAMUKKALE

Day 9 ~ Saturday 
Our first stop today will be the Colossae Ruins, the unexcavated site of Colossae sits near the modern city of Honaz at the base of Mt. Cadmus (in modern Turkey). It is located near the sites of Laodicea and Hierapolis, which also appear in the Bible. next we visit Laodicea Ancient City, Laodicea holds a special place in Christian history as one of the seven churches mentioned in the Bible's Book of Revelation. In the 4th century CE, the city became an important Christian pilgrimage site. The city's early Christian complex includes a church, a baptistry, and other religious structures. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale Hotel 

PAMUKKALE – IZMIR

Day 10 ~ Sunday 
Today our tour takes us to Pamukkale & Hierapolis Ancient City, the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis offer a unique experience as part of the wider Pamukkale tourist attractions, but the ruins themselves are quite spectacular. The old city was likely founded in the 3rd century BC by the Seleucid Empire, but also features prominent Roman and Byzantine era structures. see “Cotton Castle” or Pamukkale’s magical and unique terraces & castles created by deposits of white limestone from thermal springs. You will soak your feet in the white terraces thermal springs water before going to hotel. Our next visit is to the Philedelphia Ruins it was established in 189 BC. The city is perhaps best known as the site of one of the seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation. Our next stop will be Sardis Ancient City best known as the capital of the Lydian Empire. After the fall of the Lydian Empire, it became the capital of the Persian satrapy of Lydia and later a major center of Hellenistic and Byzantine culture. Also one of the seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation. Our last stop for the day will be The Temple of Artemis at Sardis, the fourth largest Ionic temple in the world, is situated dramatically on the western slopes of the Acropolis, below the mass of the Tmolus Mountains in a broad valley opening into the ancient Pactolus River bed. Dinner and overnight in Izmir Hotel
 

IZMIR– PERGAMUM – THYATIRA- IZ

Day 11 ~ Monday 
After breakfast we visit Smyrna Agora Ruins, located in the heart of historical city center of İzmir, Smyrna Agora is one of the world’s largest of its kind. It was founded at the end of the 4th Century BC immediately following the reign of Alexander the Great. It served as Smyrna’s administrative, political, and judicial centre, as well as main hub of commerce and trade. Next our tour takes us to the Acropolis  at Pergamum. The word "acropolis" means "city above" in Ancient Greek. On the other hand, Pergamon Acropolis is called the “castle hill” by the public and is located just above Bergama city center. Our final stop today is Thyatira Ancient Ruins, Thyatira Ancient Ruins, Thyateira, now known as the Turkish city of Akhisar, was an ancient Greek city that was located about 50 miles (80 km) away from the Aegean Sea. It was originally called Pelopia and Semiramis, but during the Hellenistic era in 290 BC, it was renamed Thyateira. Dinner and overnight in Izmir Hotel
 

IZMIR-EPHESUS-ISTANBUL

Day 12 ~ Tuesday
This morning we will explore Ephesus. Our first stop will be the Ephesus Archeological Museum. In Ephesus, the archeological artifacts that were dug up between 1867-1905 were transported to the British Museum and findings from 1905-1923 were taken to Vienna.  With the founding of the New Turkish Republic, the government forbade taking antiques out of the country and required the artifacts that were taken outside the country back to Turkey. In 1964, the Ephesus Museum was founded and the findings from the excavations at Ephesus archeological site and around were put to this museum. Next we visit Ephesus Ancient City, One of the world’s most outstanding archaeological sites. Walk in its well-preserved marble streets to the Library of Celsius, the Odeon, Agora, Grand Theatre, Temple of Hadrian, Roman Bath etc. Our last visit for the day will be Basilica of St. John which was constructed by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 1st century on the burial site of St. John. It was one of the largest structures of its time, featuring a six-domed church with the Tomb of St. John at its center. Transfer to Izmir Airport for our flights to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul hotel

ISTANBUL

Day 13 ~ Wednesday
Our first stop today will be St. Sophia Mosque & Museum. The grand Hagia Sophia is one of the most culturally significant monuments in the city of Istanbul. Recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO, the Hagia Sophia has lived through centuries, empires and disasters to tell the tale of time. This landmark was initially constructed as a church, to serve as a pivotal point of worship for the Christian world under the east Roman Empire. While it was subsequently converted to a mosque, a museum and now back to a mosque again, the Hagia Sophia Church has a rich backstory. Next we visit the Roman Hippodrome, Istanbul’s Hippodrome served as an ancient racetrack where historical chariot races and athletic competitions were held, and was centrally decorated with the Egyptian Obelisk and other famous columns. The fascinating Istanbul Archeology Museum is our next stop. This museum is a complex consisting of three main sections: Archeology Museum, Ancient Oriental Artifacts Museum, and Tiled Kiosk Museum. Türkiye's first museum, the Archeology Museum, has more than one million artifacts from various cultures brought from the imperial lands in its collection. Our final stop for the day is the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with 61 covered streets and over 4000 shops on a total area of 30,700 m², attracting between 250.000 and 400.000 visitors daily. Overnight in Istanbul Hotel

ISTANBUL

Day 14 ~ Thursday 
After breakfast, we take a Private Bosphorus Cruise, here, you will be able to soak in the sights and sounds of Turkey’s Asia and Europe sector as you cruise through this water channel that is the very beat of life in Istanbul. From our boat ride, we transfer to the Istanbul airport for our flights home to Toronto. Depart Istanbul on Turkish Airlines at 3:30pm arriving in Toronto non-stop at 7:10pm.