9 Days Biblical Tour

The TUTA team will greet you at Istanbul Airport and escort you to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Istanbul.
UTA advises: A half-day Dolmabahce Palace Tour can be an inspiring alternative for those who do not want to wait until tomorrow to explore the city, or the Whirling Dervish Show, Bosphorus Dinner Cruise, or Rythm Dance Show might be better for the night.

(Breakfast included)
The tour will start after breakfast. Today you will visit one of the most special churches in Istanbul. Like the old city destinations, these churches are worth seeing. We will visit the Patriarchate at Fener, which dates back to the early days of Christianity and is an architectural masterpiece that blends Byzantine, Ottoman, and Neoclassical styles. One of the oldest and most important Greek Orthodox churches in Istanbul, Aya Yorgi Greek

Orthodox Church, is our next destination. Despite being damaged by fires several times, the most valuable item in the structure, the patriarchal throne, has survived. It is believed that the throne dates back to the 5th century.

The Church of St. Mary Pammacaristos, considered one of Istanbul's finest examples of Byzantine art, will be our next stop. The interior decoration is a mixture of Byzantine and Ottoman features, and its beauty will enchant you. The Bulgarian St. Stephen Church, on the other hand, is one of the few cast-iron construction churches around the world. It was recently restored and made accessible to the public.

The Church of Panagia of Blachernae is one of the Unesco World Heritage Sites and is the home of magnificent 14^th century mosaics and frescoes, which we will visit before our last stop at St. Savior in Chora. In St. Savior in Chora, you will be impressed with the masterpieces of Byzantine art. Overnight in Istanbul.

Please Note that due to restoration, St. Saviour in Chora could be temporarily closed. The other destinations are open for visits during the day, and Sunday rites are held regularly. 

(Breakfast included)
The UTA team will pick you up from the hotel after breakfast around 8:00 a.m. for "Bosphorus by Boat,". a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shoreline is home to dozens of old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages.

You will have the opportunity to see the 19th-century Ottoman masterpiece Dolmabahce Palace, Yildiz Palace, one of the unique samples of the last period of Ottoman architecture, and Ciragan Palace with its amazing marble facades from the boat. Additionally, the Rumeli Fortress, one of the most exquisite examples of Ottoman military architecture, the harmony of eastern and western architectural styles at the Beylerbeyi Palace, the iconic view of Ortakoy, and more can be seen during the boat tour.

After lunch, the UTA team will take you to the bazaar, where you can find authentic goods. The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme, and various herbs, Turkish baklava, Turkish delight, and fresh Turkish coffee, as well as handicraft souvenirs. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
After breakfast, we depart at 6:00 or 6:00 a.m. for Gallipoli, through the European lands of Turkey. We will cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferry. A lunch break will be given en route. Visit ancient Troy, see the legendary walls, and see the replica of the wooden horse. The Iliad, an epic poem by Homer, describes the Trojan War, a conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans, which made it famous. From the Early Bronze Age to the Byzantine era, the city was inhabited for thousands of years, and since the 19th century, archaeologists have been excavating its ruins. Today, the site of Troy is a popular tourist destination, and the archaeological remains of the ancient city can be seen in the city of Canakkale.

Drive to Canakkale, which is located on the Asian side of the Dardanelles strait. It is an important transportation hub and a gateway to the Gallipoli Peninsula, which was the site of a major World War I battle between the Ottoman Empire and Allied forces. Additionally, the city is a popular destination for tourists who want to visit the nearby ruins of Troy and explore the surrounding area. Overnight in Canakkale.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Bergama, also known as Pergamon. It is one of the locations of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev. 1:11; 2:12). Here, we explore the impressive Acropolis, home to the steepest theatre in the world. Visit Asklepion, a well-known classical medical facility, and see the Trajan's Temple marble columns and the Altar of Zeus, which the Book of Revelation refers to as the "Throne of Satan."

Furthermore, the library, which was the largest in the world and had long been a rival of the equally well-known Library of Alexandria in Egypt, was thought to contain more than 200,000 books. It served as the basis for parchment's creation. The Red Basilica (St. John's Church) is another place we go.

Then we proceed to Thyatira, which is now known as Akhisar and is one of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:18–24; Acts 16:14]. The city was well-known for its purple dyes. We stop by some Roman-era architectural remnants and the ruins of a basilica. Lydia, the seller of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira.

Next, we drive to Izmir, where we enjoy a panoramic ride over Smyrna, the third largest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 2:12-17]. Smyrna is the old name for the ancient city here, a city scarred by a bloody history of trade and warfare. After the tour, drop back to the hotel. Overnight in Izmir.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive to one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1–4].

Sardis is our first stop. It was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC, and it was described as dead. In Sardis' ancient site, we will see the great Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, which later became a Byzantine church. We'll also stop by the renovated synagogue, the renovated gym, and the final few meters of Cyrus the Great's "golden" river Pactolus, which runs from Susa to Sardis.

A lunch break will be given en route. Then we continue our journey to Philadelphia, nowadays called Alasehir, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:7], and the only church not censured. There we will see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of brick with a bit of a high arch and some 11th-century frescoes.

We drive to the healing city of Hierapolis, also called Pamukkale, the white "cotton fortress," where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs, forming pools, channels, and stalactites. The therapeutic waters were known to Hierapolis' founders and Laodicea in 190 BC. We go to the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip in Hierapolis, where he was martyred during the persecutions that Domitian ordered [Col. 4:13].

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
Proceed to the Laodicea ancient site (today's Denizli), yet another of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor [Rev. 1:11; 3:14; Col. 2:1; 4:13–16]. The ancient theater, the remains of basilicas and ancient stone water pipes, the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, the 2nd century AD theatre, the Nymphaeum, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium, and the Necropolis are on our "to-see list."

Aphrodisias is our next stop. We visit the best-preserved ancient stadium ever excavated, where the seating capacity is 30, 000. We see the Odeon with its extraordinary blue marble stage, the Temple of Aphrodite that marks the site of ancient veneration, Hadrian’s Bath, and the Bishop’s Palace. Lunch is on the way.

Then we drive to Kusadasi, which is a coastal resort town in western Turkey's Aydn province. The town, which is on the Aegean Sea, is well-known for its stunning beaches, exciting nightlife, and proximity to important historical and cultural sites. overnight in Kusadasi. One of the main attractions of Kusadasi are its beaches, its marina, where visitors can rent boats or take a cruise along the coastline, and several historical and cultural landmarks such as Ephesus. Overnight in Kusadasi.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Ephesus to see the Basilica of St. John and the other important sites of the city. The Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and lived here for three years. This church also received an epistle from him. We visit the magnificent ruins of this formerly significant city, which was founded in the tenth century BC, where excavations are still ongoing. In Ephesus, walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Theater.

The Temple of Artemis of the Ephesians, another of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built in this city. We will visit the Basilica of St. John and the House of the Virgin Mary next.

While Sirince promises a cute village visit, it can impress you with its religious gems. In St. Dimitrios Church, explore the interior decoration and architecture. Learn about the history and significance of the church and the Orthodox Christian community in the area. After that, take a short walk to St. John Baptist Church. The distinctive octagonal design of the church will charm you. Take some time to walk around the charming streets of Sirince and explore the traditional houses, shops, and cafes. Sirince is known for its well-preserved historical architecture and traditional way of life, so there is much to discover and enjoy. After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi and check in. Overnight in Kusadasi.

(Breakfast included)

One of UTA's adventures comes to an end after breakfast.  You will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to Izmir Airport for your flight home.