Though not mentioned by name in the Bible, Istanbul carries a wealth of historic and spiritual significance. In the 1st century, all the residents heard the word of the Lord (Acts 19:10). Istanbul is home to the longest-operating church in history, where believers gathered for over 1,000 years before the conquest of the Ottoman Empire in 1453.

Day 1, June 4th: TRAVEL DAY

Depart USA to Turkey

Day 2, June 5th: ISTANBUL

Welcome to Turkey! Arrive to Istanbul airport (IST) in the afternoon, where we will greet you and take you to the hotel. Free time can be spent exploring Taksim Square and the lively Istiklal Street with its vintage tram, shops, boutiques, and historic buildings. We'll end our day together, getting acquainted with our group over dinner. 

Light walking: some hills and stairs, depending on your choices for exploration. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3, June 6th: ISTANBUL

We'll explore Istanbul like the locals, using buses, trams, or the subway to visit city sights. In the morning, we'll visit Hagia Sophia, built as a Christian church that operated for over 1,000 years as a center for the Christian faith, the Hippodrome, which hosted chariot races during the Roman period, the Theodosius Cistern, and underground water system discovered in 2012, and the Grand Bazaar, a maze of 66 streets and 4,000 shops. After free time for lunch, we'll make our way to the promenade of the Bosphorus Strait, and ascend the Galata Tower to take in a breathtaking 360° view of the city. 

Strenuous walking: 2-8 miles throughout the day with hills, stairs, and some uneven terrain. Overnight in Istanbul.

In the first century AD, Antioch was a place of great spiritual movement—a place where the grace of God was present to be seen. Barnabas brought Paul to this city and together they stayed for one year, teaching a large number of people (Acts 11:22-24). After a time in prayer and fasting, it was here that Paul and Barnabas were commissioned for the work God called them to do. And we can do the same! What is the work He's called you to do? This is the place to dedicate our plans and purposes to Him.

Day 4, June 7th: ANTIOCH SELEUCIA (HATAY)

Following breakfast, we'll return to the airport for our flight to Antioch. Upon arrival in Hatay,  we'll be met by our local Turkish guide and be taken to our hotel to check in and have free time for lunch. Afterward, we'll visit Saint Peter's Church, a place of worship carved into a mountainside used by Christians centuries ago, and the Iron Gate, the ancient entrance to the city. We'll end our day at the Hatay Archeology Museum, which houses relics from the Bronze age and the ancient Hittite civilization. 

Moderate walking: 1-2 miles throughout the day with some stairs and unpaved pathways. Overnight in Antioch (Hatay). 

Paul spent many years in Tarsus after his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. Biblical scholars believe it was here that his vision and supernatural experience (2 Corinthians 12:2-4) took place. We come to receive a fresh encounter with God's heart.

Day 5, June 8th: TARSUS

In the morning, we'll leave Antioch to begin our road trip through Turkey. Our first stop will be the Titus Tunnel—an ancient Roman tunnel, the first to be carved by hand—and Beşikli Cave.  We'll reboard our motorcoach for a drive over the mountain range to Tarsus. After lunch, we'll visit the 11th-century Saint Paul's Church and Well, along with the ancient Roman Road and Old Tarsus Homes.  

Moderate walking: 2-4 miles throughout the day, with unpaved pathways through Titus Tunnel and Beşikli Cave. Overnight in Mersin.

Very few Christians today realize the Cappadocia is a region mentioned in the Bible. Peter wrote his first letter to the believers here—those who had been in Jerusalem at Pentecost, who met in cave churches to worship the Lord. This brings a whole new light to the words he shared—they were “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 1:3). We come here to receive an infusion of living hope from the One who calls us out of darkness into His light.

Day 6, June 9th: CAPPADOCIA

Following breakfast, we'll visit the Mersin Marina on the Mediterranean shore to enjoy the view and ocean air. Our motorcoach driver will then take us on a breathtaking journey through the mountains on our way to the scenic and historic region of Cappadocia. After lunch, we'll venture down into Kaymakli's Underground City, an ancient dwelling that once housed hundreds of people along with churches, kitchens, metal shops, and stables. We'll end our day in the scenic village of Göreme, home to spectacular "fairy chimneys" and volcanic rock formations.

Light Walking: 2-4 miles throughout the day with some stairs and uneven pathways. Motorcoach 3 hours. Overnight in Göreme. 

Day 7, June 10th: CAPPADOCIA

For those who are adventure-seekers, we'll begin our day at 4:30am for the ride of a life-time—a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the majestic Cappadocia valley.  After breakfast at our hotel, we'll set out to experience our first cave church in this region, Aynali Church. We'll then hike through the Dervent Valley, famous for its whimsical rock formations and fairy chimneys.  Our morning excursions end at the Zelve Open Air Museum, a cave town filled with ancient houses and churches carved into the mountain. We'll return to the hotel for an afternoon of free time with options to explore Göreme for shopping, visit the Uchisar Castle, take a walk, arrange a horseback ride, or simply rest and breathe in the views. 

Strenuous walking: 2-8 miles throughout the day with hills, stairs, and some uneven terrain. Overnight in Göreme.

Day 8, June 11th: CAPPADOCIA/ICONIUM

After breakfast at our hotel, we'll begin our day at the Crusader Church, a 10th-century cliffside cave church with ornate, stunning relief carvings. We'll then transfer to the Göreme Open Air Museum, a tapestry of cave churches and underground chapels with impressive frescoes. As we leave Cappadocia, we'll stop at the Three Beauties, a spectacular vista, and have lunch in a local village before we make our way to Iconium (Konya) for the night.

Moderate walking: 2-6 miles throughout the day with hills, stairs, and some uneven terrain. Overnight in Iconium (Konya).

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to suffering. Yet there were certain places where he seemed to suffer more significant harm than others. He reminded Timothy of “the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra”  (2 Timothy 3:11). In these places of persecution and suffering, God released an outpouring of miracles, signs, and wonders. His presence is still strong in this place.

Day 9, June 12th: ANTIOCH, ICONIUM, LYSTRA

We'll begin our day in the biblical city of Iconium, now a thriving metropolitan city, one of the most religiously conservative areas in Turkey. Our first stop is Lystra, an unexcavated mound where Paul was stoned. A short drive away is Kilistra, a village with cave dwellings that offered a safe haven for early believers. We'll drive to Beysehir Gölü, a lake-side town for lunch, then continue on to the Antioch Pisidia Archeology Site, the site of the synagogue where Paul preached the lengthiest sermon in Scripture (Acts 13:14-41).  

Moderate walking: 2-4 miles throughout the day, with some hills and stairs. Overnight in Isparta.

Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis are a triad of ancient cities located in the Lycus Valley. These early believers were closely connected to one another, evidenced in Paul's letter as he addresses each of these communities (Colossians 4:13). To these early Christians, God poured out a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding. This spiritual wealth is for us to receive, too (Colossians 1:9).

Day 10, June 13th: COLOSSAE, LAODICEA, HIERAPOLIS, PAMUKKALE

After breakfast at our hotel, we'll transfer to the unexcavated ruins of Colossae where Paul wrote incredible words of exhortation to the early believers, words that resonate still today.  We'll visit the ancient ruins of Laodicea, the first of the seven churches of Revelation on our journey. Following a buffet lunch, we'll drive up the hill to the site of Hierapolis/Pamukkale—an ancient Roman spa city founded in 190 BC, and the site of Philip's martyrdom. You'll have free time to explore this historic site, and have an opportunity to take a dip in the natural spring thermal pool, a gift from Marc Antony to Cleopatra.

Moderate walking: 2-5 miles throughout the day, with some sandy hills, inclines, and stairs. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Philadelphia, Sardis, and Smyrna were communities of faith that were given direct messages from the Lord in the book of Revelation. Two of these communities received only praise and encouragement—while one received a strong rebuke. Nevertheless, each community was given an inheritance to receive, reserved for the overcomers. Our spiritual inheritance is to be the ones who overcome, too.

Day 11, June 14th: PHILAPELPHIA, SARDIS, SMYRNA

Our morning will begin with a drive to the church of Philadelphia—literally meaning "the one who loves his brother." We'll visit Saint John Church which houses these ruins in the middle of the town center. Our next stop is Sardis Ancient City, another church of Revelation whose history spans centuries. We'll see the largest ancient synagogue discovered from this time period, adjacent to the Roman gymnasium and a marketplace agora of Christian and Jewish shops. Our final stop will be at the Smyrna Agora, founded by the Greeks in the 4th century BC. 

Light walking: 2-4 miles throughout the day, with some uneven walkways and stairs. Overnight in Izmir.

Pergamum was once the seat of government and power, the place  “where satan's throne is” (Revelation 2:13). Its culture carried a strong similarity to our own.  In direct contrast, Thyatira was considered weak and unimportant. The king of Pergamum established the city in the valley below to be a buffer from invading forces against his kingdom. And yet, in the midst of these powerful pagan societies, Christianity made a remarkable impact. There is a spiritual inheritance here for us to shine as lights in the darkness, receiving power and authority from the Lord over the enemy of our souls. 

Day 12, June 15th: PERGAMUM AND THYATIRA

After breakfast, we'll take off for Pergamum, our fifth stop on our tour of the churches in Revelation. Situated on top of a mountain precipice 1,000 feet above the valley, we'll take a cable car to the Acropolis of Pergamum, now a World Heritage Site with the steepest theater of the ancient world.  Following a buffet lunch, we'll drive to Thyatira, a blue-collar community and the least significant of the churches according to the culture of the time—but not according to God, as they received the longest message of all the churches. 

Moderate walking: 2-4 miles throughout the day, with some uneven walkways and stairs. Overnight  in Kuşadasi.

Ephesus was a place of wealth and opulence, a city of power and beauty, the “Crown Jewel of Asia Minor”—and it was a notoriously evil place. Into this evil, God sent the Apostles Paul and John, who each left a deep impact on the growing community of faith, and a lasting legacy for us through their inspired writings. We come to Ephesus to receive all that God has for us here—a new filling of power, strength, and encounter with His love, above and beyond all we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:14-20). 

Day 13, June 16th: EPHESUS AND MILETUS

In the morning, we'll make our way to Ephesus Ancient City, walking along Harbor Way which in Paul's day connected the ocean to the theater where the mob gathered in anger against him. We'll explore the Terrace Houses, former luxury Roman villas that give a glimpse of family life in the first century.  After lunch, we'll stop at Saint John's Church and then drive to the Miletus Archeology Site, where Paul said his final emotional goodbyes to the people of Asia Minor (Acts 20:15-38). In the early evening, we'll return to our hotel for our final goodbye dinner together.

Moderate walking: 2-5 miles on uneven pathways and some stairs throughout the day. Overnight in Kuşadasi.

Day 14, June 17th: TRAVEL DAY

Our motor coach will leave at 5:30 am to the airport in Izmir, arriving at 7:00 am for connecting flights to Istanbul and beyond.