Revelation Churches & Footsteps of Paul

Price Per person Based on Double Occupancy

Date	Price	Single Supplement
Main Tour: April 25 – May 7, 2025	$4,889*	$1,095
Extension: May 7-10, 2025 SOLD OUT	$1,269	$300
*Includes airfare from Seattle. Reservation Due: December 16, 2024 Final Payment Due: January 24, 2025

Included

Roundtrip airfare from Seattle including taxes and fees (air taxes and fuel surcharges are subject to change) – air estimated at $1,000, Internal Istanbul to Kayseri flight, 9-12 nights lodging at hotels, 2 nights on Celestyal cruise in standard inside cabin, Breakfast and dinner daily at hotels, all meals while on cruise, Unlimited drink package on board cruise at mealtimes, Full time professional English-speaking tour guides in Turkey and Greece, Professional English-speaking rep on cruise, All touring and entrances as listed on itinerary, All transportation by modern air-conditioned motor coach, Tips to guides, drivers, cruise rep, & hotel staff, Crete & Patmos shore excursions, Whisper listening devices, Pilgrim Payment Processing for check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover

Not Included

All lunches and drinks with meals except on cruise, Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride on Day 6, Optional Santorini Excursion to Oia Village – currently $99/person, Optional Travel Insurance – 7.15% or 9.55% of tour cost (CA rates current as of quote date)

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Day 1 – Friday, April 25: 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 – Saturday, April 26: Arrival Istanbul

We transfer to our hotel in Istanbul, Turkey for the next two evenings.

Day 3 – Sunday, April 27: Bustling Istanbul, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace

Our time in this city will be an unusual combination of Greek Orthodox, Roman, Ottoman and modern-day Islam including entrance into the famed Blue Mosque and St. Sophia Church. This afternoon our guide will walk us through the Basilica Cistern, a beautiful underground cistern built in the 4th century. We will also visit the fascinating Topkapi Palace housing the many priceless treasures and colorful stories of Ottoman Sultans. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 – Monday, April 28: Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, Kayseri

For those that wish to do some shopping in the Grand Bazaar, you are free to do so. Then, we will embark on a cruise of the Bosphorus, the winding straight that separates Europe and Asia and connects the Black Sea with the inland Sea of Marmara. This is our time to relish the views of the old wooden mansions, Ottoman palaces, and ancient fortresses that dot the river’s coast. We will return to the airport for our flight to the city of Kayseri, Turkey. We transfer to our lodging for the next two evenings, where the remainder of the day is free for you to relax and enjoy a leisurely dinner.

Day 5 – Tuesday, April 29: Cappadocia

We spend all day exploring the history and scenery of Cappadocia. First off, we’ll visit the gently folding volcanic rock formations and “fairy chimneys” of Goreme Open Air Museum. These rock formations are not only beautiful, but functional as well. Many early Christian communities lived and worshipped deep in the rocks and crags, leaving their frescoes and paintings to be marveled at centuries later. Other communities lived underground, and we’ll visit these dwellings too. To protect themselves from Roman persecution and marauding bandits, local people began to live in underground caves forming “cities” that reach a depth of up to 7 stories below the surface. Other sites include the Natural Citadel of Uchisar and the small, picturesque village of Avanos – famous for their red clay pottery. In Avanos we’ll visit “The Potter’s Place: Gift Shoppe and Cultural Center” and have time for visiting local potter for a demonstration and maybe try your own hand at the potter’s wheel.

Day 6 – Wednesday, April 30: Cappadocia

(Weather permitting, passengers may choose to wake up very early for an optional hot air balloon ride today.)
Today, we drive to Rose Valley, a uniquely beautiful valley of unusual rock formations tinged a lovely shade of pink. Making the short hike to the top of the Rose Valley trail, we will come to a historic cave church cut straight into the sides of the rock with lovely paintings still remaining on its walls. We move on from here to Cavusin for lunch (not included in tour cost); this is a small Greek town rich in Christian history. The remainder of our afternoon is spent touring Ortahisar Castle built within a massive fairy chimney formation. As we make our way back to our hotel, we will view the Pigeon Valley, famous for the many dovecotes carved into the soft rock. Pigeons were once a way of life in this region and were important for food and fertilizer. We have dinner and overnight this evening in Konya (ancient Iconium.)

Day 7 – Thursday, May 1: Pisidian Antioch, Colossae, Pamukkale

This morning we continue to Pisidian Antioch – one of important stops on Paul’s missionary journeys. Although only 10% of Pisidian Antioch has been excavated, the ruins from the Roman period are noteworthy. We’ll see Septimus Severus’ triumphal gate, Augustus’ Temple, the Roman baths, a theater and a church dedicated to Paul. Our visit is followed by a longer but scenic drive through beautiful mountains to Colossae. As nothing visible remains of the early church, we will make only a brief visit here before checking into our lovely spa hotel in Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – Friday, May 2: Hierapolis, Laodicea, St. John Basilica, Ephesus

Hierapolis, meaning "Sacred City," was 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). Laodicea contains many acres of ruins to visit including a stadium and remnants of a sophisticated water system. Traveling through the Turkish countryside, we arrive in the town of Selcuk for a visit to the Basilica Church of St. John, which houses an immersion baptismal and is believed to be resting place of John. From here we have an excellent overview of the Ephesus harbor, the Mosque of Jesus, and see the site of the Temple of Artemis, which is listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Finally we reach the nearby city of ancient Ephesus. 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. We view the Library, Agora, theatre, colorful mosaics in the aristocratic Terrace Houses, and a panoramic outlook of the surrounding ancient port area (including a wealth of church history and cultural insight). We overnight this evening in Kusadasi.

Day 9 – Saturday, May 3: Isle of Patmos

This morning, we embark our cruise ship and sail for a visit to the beautiful Isle of Patmos, which is under statutory protection as a historic monument. Here we have a tour to see the fortified monastery of St. John and the cave claimed to be where John received the Revelation. Back on the ship, enjoy dinner before settling in to your cabin for the night.

Day 10 – Sunday, May 4: Crete & Beautiful Santorini

Crete is the largest and the most rugged of the Greek islands. Take a tour to Heraklion and the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. This afternoon visit the island of Santorini which is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. You may choose to take an optional panoramic bus tour viewing some of the most spectacular scenery of the Aegean. Travel through countless villages and settlements with delicate architecture and beauties eventually arriving in Oia. During your time in Oia, visit the many narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques. Upon returning to the ship, we view the lace-like caldera, the little islands of Thirasia, Palea, & Nea Kameni. We arrive at the ship for dinner and evening entertainment.

Day 11 – Monday, May 5: Disembark Cruise – Ancient Corinth & Cenchreae

We disembark the cruise this morning and travel west with a rest stop and photos at the Corinth Canal. Next, we visit ancient Corinth, the city that inspired many of Paul's most familiar letters and is a highlight for the New Testament scholar. See the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples. To enjoy a devotional in the midst of the ruins of the church of Corinth and see the pillars, steps, and public worship place where Paul preached will enhance your understanding and love for the Bible. The ruins of this important cultural center are fascinating as we walk along the stone path that the Apostle Paul walked. The engineering skill and intellect of these people are evident in the water systems that still flow from ancient to modern day. Our guide will be sure to show you the room dedicated to the medical care of that period. We travel on to the top of the nearby Acropolis where our guide will speak on the worship practices and point out the bird’s eye view of what was a bustling city of around 800,000 during Paul’s stay. Another important stop is a visit to Diolkos where we view the paved trackway which enabled boats to be moved overland across the Isthmus of Corinth and served as a life line for Corinth. This shortcut allowed ancient vessels to avoid the long and dangerous circumnavigation of the Peloponnese peninsula. Before returning to Athens, we will visit Cenchreae, the ancient port region of Corinth. Acts 18:18 states the Apostle Paul stopped at Cenchreae during his second missionary journey, where he had his hair cut to fulfill a vow.

Day 12 – Tuesday, May 6: Athens

Following breakfast this morning we tour Athens, the foundation of democracy. We view Athens from atop Mars Hill where Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation; we can see the Agora below, the ancient marketplace and center of Athenian public life. We will also visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Erectheum; additional sites viewed during our panoramic bus tour are, the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential Palace. An option later this afternoon is a visit to the famous Plaka with a multitude of shops and cafes.

Day 13 – Wednesday, May 7: Home

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

(Optional Extension)
Day 1 – Wednesday, May 7: Meteora Monastery

Please prepare for a dress code today. In Meteora, women are required to wear skirts below the knee and men, pants.
From Athens, our tour travels northward past Thermopylae where we learn of the famous Spartan battle of 300. We continue through the mountains to Meteora. Here we see the world famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. Our lodging this evening will be in Meteora.

Day 2 – Thursday, May 8: Vergina, Berea, Thessalonica

Traveling northward into Macedonia we visit King Phillip's (Alexander's father) tomb in Vergina, one of the most outstanding finds in all of Greece. A stop will be made in Berea to view the ancient synagogue where Paul spoke and the Bema surrounded by mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the "more noble" church. The New Testament books of I & II Thessalonians will come alive to us today as we arrive in the delightful harbor city of Thessalonica. En route to the hotel we will view the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia. We spend two nights here.

Day 3 – Friday, May 9: Thessalonica/Philippi/Kavala – Return to Athens

We begin the day by following the massive battlement Byzantine wall to the citadel for a panoramic view of the city. Next, we will visit Philippi and Kavala. Kavala is Greece's prettiest mainland port with a most elegant harbor. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Luke, the Evangelist, also came here from Troas. This ancient city of Neapolis was later renamed Christoupolis because it was the first European city to accept Christianity. Imagine walking on the same sod as these men of the Bible! We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known since the 5th century as Kavala. Continue on to Philippi where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We will view the baptismal site where Lydia surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt dating from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre. We return to Thessalonica and visit St. Demetrius Basilica, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert. Enjoy a farewell dinner as a group before our last overnight.

Day 4 – Saturday, May 10: Homeward Bound

We transfer to the Thessaloniki Airport for our flight back to the USA.

Itinerary subject to change while touring for the best interest of the group.