Churches of Revelation
7 Day Biblical FAM Tour

Price Per person double occupancy

Dates	Land Only No Transfers	Single Supplement
2025
March 6-12	$849	$300
Companion Rate	$949
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Price Includes: First class (4 Star) lodging, breakfast and dinner daily, modern transportation, sightseeing as listed.

Not Included: Air fare (low cost fares available nationwide), fuel charges, air taxes, travel/cancellation insurance, Turkey visa fee (U.S. $30.00, Canadian $60.00 USD)

Please Note: As of December 23, 2023, US Passport holders are no longer required to obtain a Turkey E-Visa for entry. If traveling from another country, please review entry requirements as Turkey Entry Visas must be completed prior to arrival. Visas can be obtained in advance online using this link: Click Here

Airport transfers are included only when airfare is purchased from Pilgrim Tours. Taxi service is available for those purchasing their airfare elsewhere.

Deposit Required: A $300 per person US Dollar deposit (which includes a $100 non-refundable service fee) is required to secure a reservation.

Day 1: Departure from US

Today we embark on our Journey to the lands of ancient treasures and Christian history with an overnight flight to Turkey. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Get some rest on the flight…Tomorrow you will be walking where the apostles walked!

Day 2: Arrive Turkey, Smyrna

We arrive in Izmir and transfer to our lodging for the evening. Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey and a long time center for Jews and Christians.

Day 3: Ancient Pergamum & Thyatira

Our highlight today is Pergamum. Once a busy trading center and famous as a "seller of purple," the most favored of the Seven Churches, the church of Pergamum was praised for its forbearance (Rev. 2:12-17). It was here that the first Christians were executed by Rome. We'll visit the fabled Acropolis, pass through the Royal Gates, view the foundations of the Temple of Zeus and visit the ruins of the library, which once held 200,000 volumes. Other things of special interest are the mountainside theatre, the series of underlying stone archways used to support agora, temple and acropolis areas. A stop will be made in Thyatira to view the ancient roadway and period columns before returning to Izmir for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Sardis, Philadelphia, the “Cotton Castle” Pamukkale

In Paul's day, Izmir was known as Smyrna and was another of the Seven Churches (Rev. 2:8-11). Here we'll pass by the church of Polycarp and visit the ancient agora. We depart Izmir and travel inland to Sardis. Sardis was berated by John for its facade of strength when in reality, it was weak (Rev. 3:1-6). Here coins were minted and the dyeing of wool originated. We'll visit the gymnasium and synagogue. Our next stop is Philadelphia from where we are challenged to “hold fast” and look forward to the coming of the "new Jerusalem" (Rev. 3:7-13) in the Book of Revelation. Not much is left of the city except for the ancient wall and the remains of a Byzantine basilica in the modern city of Alasehir. We continue east to our lodging for the evening in a lovely hot springs spa hotel in Pamukkale. Time will be allowed today for you to take advantage of the many services offered by your spa hotel.

Day 5: Hierapolis, Laodicea & Colossae

This morning we visit Laodicea containing many acres of ruins to visit including a stadium and remnants of a sophisticated water system. From here we visit nearby Hierapolis, meaning "Sacred City," an ancient center for pagan cults until it was transformed into a Christian center in the first century. According to tradition, the Apostle Philip lived and was martyred in Hierapolis. It was likely the hot springs of Hierapolis in contrast to the cold mountain springs near Colossae that combined to bring application to the "lukewarm" Laodiceans (Rev 3:14-22). This connection between the cities lies behind Paul’s reference to Hierapolis and Laodicea in his epistle to the Colossians (Col 4:13). Nearby Colossae is well-known throughout Christian circles as the receiver of Paul's letter to the Colossians. We set out later this afternoon for the coast of the Aegean. Our lodging for the next two nights will be in the charming seaside village of Kusadasi.

Day 6: Ephesus

We travel to the nearby town of Selcuk for a visit to the Basilica of St. John, housing an immersion baptismal and believed to be resting place of John. From here we have an excellent overview of the Ephesus harbor, the Mosque of Jesus and the Temple of Artemis, completed in its most famous phase around 550 BC and listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We spend the remainder of our day in Ephesus, the city of the Bible and one of the largest restorations still in progress with miles of ancient treasures. Ephesus was once a thriving port town of 250,000 people. Today you can still see the spectacular excavations of the major streets in this ancient city where we view the Library, Agora, theatre, colorful mosaics in the aristocratic Terrace Houses, a panoramic view of the surrounding ancient port area including a wealth of church history and cultural insight. The day will not be complete without a visit to a local Turkish Rug cooperative.

Day 7: Depart for Home

This morning we transfer to the Izmir airport for our flight back home.

*The tour itinerary is subject to change or be slightly modified in order to best meet the interests of the group.