Seven Churches Religious Tour of Turkey
Seven Churches of the Revelation - Religious/Biblical/Pilgrimage Tour
Explore Turkey's Seven Churches of Asia Minor, as mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation - Journey the route around the West Aegean and learn of the religious and social context of ancient biblical times. As well as visiting all major religious sites, the tour also includes those of cultural and tourist significance. From Istanbul to Izmir by return flight, explore the 7 churches at ancient Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia (Lydia), and Laodicea (Phrygia)...
Brief Itinerary - 7 days / 6 nights
Seven Churches of Asia Minor Tour
Day 1 - Arrive Istanbul. Day 2 - Istanbul Old City Tour. Day 3 - Istanbul Bosphorus Tour.
Day 4 - Fly to Izmir. Churches of Ephesus & Laodicea.
Day 5 - Churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira & Pamukkale.
Day 6 - Church of Pergamon, Smyrna & St. Polycarp. Fly to Istanbul.
Day 7 - Transfer to airport for depature.
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Seven Churches Map
Full Detailed Itinerary
All of our tours can easily be customized to suit individual preferences - This is a suggested itinerary only:
Location of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor:
Pergamon - Thyatira – Smyrna - Sardis - Philadelphia - Laodicea – Ephesus
Day 1 - Istanbul
Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Free day. Overnight in Istanbul.
 Day 2 - Istanbul (B, L)
Full Day Old City Tour:
Pick up from your hotel to visit Topkapi Palace, with royal treasury and elegant four courts. After lunch, proceed to the Hagia Sophia, a great Byzantine architectural masterpiece, whose interior is resplendent with golden mosaics.
Then admire the delicate design and Iznik tiles of the Blue Mosque. Explore the ancient Roman Hippodrome with Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column. Finally, stop off at the dazzling Grand Bazaar with over 4000 shops. Drop off to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3 - Istanbul (B)
Half Day Bosphorus Cruise Tour:
Pick up from your hotel to visit the bustling Spice Market - a colorful bazaar heaped with various sweets and spices. Stop into the beautifully tiled tiny Rustem Pasha Mosque before taking a relaxing Bosphorus boat cruise between the continents of Europe and Asia - gliding past Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, ornate wooden Ottoman mansions and mosques, Rumeli Fortress and the Bosphorus Bridge. Free afternoon at your leisure. Drop off to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
 Day 4 - Izmir-Pamukkale (B, L, D)
Seven Churches at Ephesus & Laodicea:
Transfer from the hotel to Istanbul airport. Fly to Izmir. Visit the city of Ancient Ephesus, the most important of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. See the great Library of Celsus, Agora, Odeon, Trajan Fountain, Domitianus Temple, Roman Latrines, Theater and Stadium in which St. Paul preached the gospel. Also visit the House of Virgin Mary, where she is said to have spent her final years and St. John's Basilica, a Byzantine church marking his burial place. After lunch, drive to Eskihisar, site of the Church of Laodicea, to which St. John addressed his letter concerning the city’s waning faith. Overnight stay in Pamukkale.
Day 5 - Pamukkale-Bergama (B, L, D)
Seven Churches at Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira & Pamukkale:
Pick up to visit the ancient city ruins of Hierapolis, where St. Philip was martyred in 1AD. See the Necropolis, Avenue of Tombs and Thermal Baths. Enjoy a break at Pamukkale with snow-white terraced cliff pools. Then we proceed to the ancient Philadelphia Church at Alasehir, the youngest of the Seven Churches of Revelation,visiting the remains of an early church and the city walls. After lunch, visit the site of Sardis - the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia. Walk the Royal Avenue and see the site of the Church of Sardis built on the foundations of the Temple of Artemis. Finally at Akhisar we visit the Church of ancient Thyatira, another one of the 7 churches, set in an ancient commercial town with strong ties to Troy and Sardis. Drop off to hotel.
Overnight in Bergama.
 Day 6 - Bergama-Istanbul (B, L)
Pergamon - Smyrna - St. Polycarp:
Drive to Pergamon, site of one of the Seven Churches, where St. John wrote of Satan's throne being sited. Visit the Church of Pergamon, the famous Red-Court and the Acropolis. After lunch, proceed to Smyrna (Izmir), whose early faithful were praised in a letter from St Paul. Finally visit the Church of St. Policarp and enjoy a short tour of Izmir city. Transfer to Izmir Airport. Flight to Istanbul. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 7 - Istanbul (B, L)
Transfer to the airport. Depart Turkey.
Schedule:
Operates every day all year around for 2009.
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Seven Churches of Revelation Tour (7 days) 
What's Included
