Jun 8 Tue Depart New York – Fly Istanbul

Jun 9 Wed Arrive Istanbul Airport
Your tour guide will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a “BAS-TUTKU” sign. Meet and transfer to the hotel in Istanbul. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (D)

Jun 10 Thu Byzantium – Constantinople – Istanbul
Today we explore the wonders of Istanbul. Beginning with the stunning, subterranean Basilica Cistern, we move on to the Golden Mile of the Egnatian Way, Hippodrome Square, and the breathtaking Blue Mosque as well as the magnificent, 1700-year-old Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, we will make our way to Istanbul’s Archaeological Museum—one of the most celebrated collections in the world. Among its treasures are the Siloam inscription, the Gezer calendar, and the beautiful “Jerusalem mosaic” depicting Orpheus. (B,D)

June 11 Fri Istanbul Airport – Fly Antalya – Perga & Museum
Transfer to the airport for morning flight to Antalya. Our day begins with an exploration of Perga, where we’ll experience the Pamphylian city that Paul and Barnabas visited during their first journey (Acts 13:13-14). Then we will visit the award winning Antalya Archaeology Museum. We then return to Antalya for a walking tour of the old city of Kaleiçi, where we will see the harbor that Paul and Barnabas departed from in Acts 14:25, as well as Hadrian’s Gate – a beautifully preserved testament to Roman architecture. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,D)

Jun 12 Sat Antalya – Myra – Andriake – Embark Gulet Boat
Our morning begins with a breathtaking drive along the Mediterranean coast, after which we will arrive at the harbor city of Phaselis (1 Maccabees 15:23). After a short visit, we will drive to Myra, with its Roman theater and Lycian tombs. Today Myra is best known as the city of St. Nicholas, where he served as bishop in the fourth century A.D. After visiting Myra we will continue to Andriake, where Paul changed ships on his way to Rome (Acts 27:5). There we will see the newly discovered synagogue. We’ll then embark our Gullet Boat at Fethiye. We will have dinner onboard. Overnight on the gulet. (B,D)

Jun 13 Sun GULET BOAT – Antiphelos – Kas
After breakfast on board, we will ride to Gemiler Island, which was on important stop along the way for pilgrims. The island has many church remains from Byzantine period. Dinner and overnight on board. (B,L,D)

Jun 14 Mon GULET BOAT – Kalkan
Enjoy swimming along the coast where there are many nice coves and bays. Dinner and overnight on board at Gemiler Island. (B,L,D)

Jun 15 Tue GULET BOAT – Xanthos – Patara – Kalkan
We will depart to the South Kalkan. It’s a couple of hours ride along the beautiful Mediterranean Coast. Kalkan is a nice little town with its unique character, lovely narrow streets and traditional houses. Dinner and overnight on board at Kalkan (B,L,D)

Jun 16 Wed GULET BOAT – Letoon
Today we will get on a bus to tour around. We will visit Patara, Xanthos and Letoon. Back to the boat for dinner and overnight stay. (B,D)

Jun 17 Thu GULET BOAT – Oludeniz (Dead Sea)
After breakfast, depart further south for Kaş, enjoying the coastline with its many coves. There will be swimming opportunities along the way. There will be time for exploring the lovely town of Kas, which was a Lycron city. There are remains of an ancient theater and rock tombs. Dinner and overnight on board at Kas. (B,L,D)

Jun 18 Fri GULET BOAT – Telmessos – Fethiye
Depart from Kas towards Fethiye. Stop along the way at Cennet Cove for swimming time and overnight stay. (B,L,D)

Jun 19 Sat Disembark – Didyma – Miletus – Kusadasi
Disembark in Fethiye. Drive to Didyma, not a city but religious site devoted to Apollo. The temple here built in his honor was most impressive, consisting of 122 columns six feet in diameter and reaching six stories high. Although only three full columns have survived, the remaining stunted columns demonstrate why this shrine was a notable rival to the famous temple of Apollo at Delphi with its renowned oracle. Drive Miletus which, due to its four harbors and strategic location on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, became one of the great cities of commerce in the ancient world. Of the surviving buildings, the finest is the 15,000-seat theatre originally built in the Hellenistic period and expanded in Roman times. Other buildings include the council chamber built during the reign of the infamous Antiochus IV (175-164 BC), the Sacred Road leading to the Apollo Temple in nearby Didyma, the gymnasium and the well-preserved Baths of Faustina dating from AD 43. Paul stopped in Miletus on the return leg of his third missionary journey where he summoned the elders from Ephesus to meet with him and hear his poignant farewell speech (Acts 20:17-35). Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Jun 20 Sun Izmir Airport – Fly back to USA
Today we conclude our wonderful adventure in the land of legend and hospitality as we transfer to the Izmir airport for our flight back to the U.S., arriving in USA the same day. (B)

OR JOIN THE GLOBAL SMYRNA MEETING on the SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION www.globalsmyrnameeting.com