Greece & Turkey Tours
11-Day Best of Greece & Turkey
with Optional Cappadocia Extension
A Journey of a Lifetime
via Swiss Air
DAY 1 – DEPART USA / ATHENS
Today we depart aboard a jumbo jet for Athens, capital of Greece.
After take-off a delicious dinner will be served.
DAY 2 – ATHENS
Early afternoon arrival at Athens International Airport where we
are met and assisted through customs and baggage claim formalities,
then transferred to our hotel. Remainder of day is at leisure
for browsing and shopping in the 'Plaka Area'. Dinner and overnight
in Athens.
DAY 3 – ATHENS / CORINTH
This morning we visit the House of Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier, Theatre of Dyoneseus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus,
then to the famous Acropolis. Entering past the graceful Propylea
visit the marble Temple of Wingless Victory, the incredible Parthenon – considered
the world's most perfectly proportioned edifice. Also Mars Hill
where Paul preached to the populace of Athens. After stopping
for lunch our sightseeing includes an excursion to ancient Corinth.
A drive along the Saronic Gulf across the Corinth Canal through
rolling vineyards to ancient Corinth which was the most beautiful
and frivolous city of Roman Greece. Visit the Doric style Temple
of Apollo, the market place, museum, the Fountain of Pirene,
the Agora, and the Bema from which Paul preached so well. Dinner
and overnight in Athens.
DAY 4 – ATHENS / METEORA / LARISSA
Depart for Meteora in Western Thessaly where the world-famous Byzantine
monasteries perch precariously on top of strange rock formations.
Meteora is a cluster of gigantic large rocks of varied and beautiful
shapes. Dinner and overnight in Larissa.
DAY 5 – LARISSA / BEREA / THESSALONIKA / KAVALA
Today we travel to Salonika (Thessalonika) passing through Berea,
where the scriptures say the people were "More noble than in
Thessalonika". We will visit Kavala on the site of ancient Neapolis.
St. Paul landed here with his disciples Timothy, Silas and Luke,
coming from Troas. See the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the
Acropolis. Dinner and overnight in Kavala.
DAY 6 – KAVALA / PHILIPPI / GREEK - TURKISH BORDER /
CANAKKALE
This morning we continue to Philippi where Paul preached his first
evangelical sermon on European soil and the first Christian was
baptized. We see the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica
and Theatre. We arrive to Turkish border gate, transfer to your
Turkish bus and drive through the First World War battlefields
of Galliopoli and cross by ferry to the Asian Minor side. Dinner
and overnight in Canakkale.
DAY 7 – CANAKKALE / TROY / PERGAMUM / THYATIRA / IZMIR
Today we will visit the Troy of Homer, view Alexander's Troas from
a distance it was from here that Paul set sail for Philippi.
Continue driving south to Pergamum, see the majestic Acropolis
with the Altar of Zeus (Throne of Satan), Red Church and the
Aesculapium, the earliest healing center. Continue to Thyatira,
to see the remains of another one of the Seven Churches of Revelations.
Dinner and overnight in Izmir.
DAY 8 – IZMIR/SARDIS/PHILADELPHIA/LAODICEA/PAMUKKALE
This morning we drive to Sardis, visit the Temple of Artemis, the
recently constructed gymnasium and the largest Synagogue in Asia
Minor. Continue to ancient Philadelphia, see the remaining walls
of another one of the Seven Churches. Drive to Laodicea where
Paul called its people "Lukewarm". Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
DAY 9 – PAMUKKALE/HIERAPOLIS / COLOSSEAE / EPHESUS
/ KUSADASI
In the morning we will visit the ruins of Hierapolis, the natural
pools and drive through the meandering Valley of Ephesus. We will
visit the last house of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John
and the ancient city of Ephesus. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 10 – KUSADASI/IZMIR / ISTANBUL
Early morning transfer to Izmir airport for your flight to Istanbul.
On this day visit the Church of St. Savior, famous for its mosaics,
the Byzantine Hippodrome, St. Sophia Church, the impressive Blue
Mosque. In the afternoon cruise on the Bosphorus by boat along
the European and Asian shores. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 11 – ISTANBUL/U.S.A.
Morning transfer to the airport for our return flight home. The
close of an unforgettable tour.
Optional Cappadocia Extension
DAY 11 – ISTANBUL / ANKARA
Arrival to Ankara airport and transfer to hotel.
DAY 12 – ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA
Tour starts in the morning with the tour of Ankara. The first site
is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which is located in
a restored bazaar Prehistoric Era. The Mausoleum of Ataturk is
the next stop. The magnificent structure serves as a tribute
of modern Turkey. Lunch will be taken in Ankara and the drive
for Cappadocia will start after lunch. Dinner and overnight is
at the hotel in Cappadocia.
DAY 13 – CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast will be served at the hotel and the full day tour of
Cappadocia begins with the natural citadel of Uchisar which will
enable you to get a panoramic view of the day. This valley houses,
the Goreme open air museum with its churches hewn out of rock
and the colorful frescoes which decorate them. The next stop
is Zelve and the caves of this ancient village continuing with
the Avanos and cavusin villages. Lunch will be served enroute
at a typical regional. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel
in Cappadocia.
DAY 14 – CAPPADOCIA / ANKARA / ISTANBUL
Breakfast will be taken at the hotel and the morning visits will
begin with underground city of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu which are
refuges carved out in the early Christian Era as safehavens from
persecutors. Lunch will be taken on the way to Ankara. After
arrival in Ankara you will be transferred to the airport for
your flight to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight will be at the
hotel in Istanbul.
DAY 15 – ISTANBUL/BRUSSELS
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the airport for your
flight to Brussels. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred
to your hotel.
DAY 16 – BRUSSELS / U.S.A.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight
back to the USA. You will return with a much deeper appreciation
and understanding of Paul's work.