FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL TOURS

Jewish Prophets tour in Turkey (11 Nights/12 Days)

Key Information
Tour Duration: 11 nights / 12 days
Days of Operation: Private Tour - Regular Tour
Destination's: Turkey
Hotel's Class: 5, 4, 3 Stars Hotel or Tourist Class
Season: All Years 2024
Scheduled / Operates on: Jan 1st 2024 - Dec 31st 2024. All years Jewish Biblical Tours Turkey
Domestic Flight Included: Yes
Tour Customizable: Yes

*Overnight Place:
3 nights Istanbul, 1 night Sanli Urfa, 1 night Gaziantep, 1 night Antakya, 1 night Konya
1 night Antalya, 1 night Pamukkale, 1 night Kusadasi, 1 night Bursa.

Tour Highlights: Istanbul - Sanli Urfa - Gaziantep - Antakya - Konya - Antalya - Pamukkale - Kusadasi - Bursa - Ephesus - Pergamum

Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul Ataturk airport.
Private transfer to your hotel, meeting with your guide. Short orientation regarding the tour program. Free time for the rest. and overnight in the hotel.

Day 2: Istanbul.
Start after breakfast for a tour in Galata, the centuries-old Jewish neighborhood with its famous tower built by the Genoese. Visit to Neve Shalom Synagogue or Ashkenaz Synagogue (upon availability). Drive to Balat along the Golden Horn, residential area of the Ottoman Jews where the “Star of David” still appears on the facades of some buildings. Visit to Ahrida Synagogue, built in the 15th century and from outside Jewish Hospital (Or-Ahayim). Visit to Zülfaris Jewish Museum of the Quincentennial Foundation and the “Oldies House” at Hasköy. The Jewish Cemetery where the martyrs of Neve Shalom are buried. Stop at Ortaköy, first disembark point of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Spain by the religious disturbance of the Spanish King and the Queen. Last visit to Chora church in Edirnekapi. and overnight in İstanbul. (B). Including: Breakfast

Day 3: Istanbul - Sanli Urfa - Harran.
After breakfast departure to the airport for your flight to Sanliurfa. Driving to Sanli Urfa, cradle of the Mesopotamian civilization. Visit the birthplace of the prophet Abraham – a cave to the south of the lake.Visit the Balikgol Lake – legendary pool of sacred fish where Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod, king of Shinar. Visit the Deyr Yakup monastery. In the afternoon visit the Suayb city and the cave where it is believed that the prophet Suayb lived. and overnight in Sanli Urfa. (B). Including: Breakfast.

Day 4: Harran - Kahta (Adiyaman) - Nemrut. After breakfast visit Harran, having been a major ancient city in Mesopotamia, located near the village Altinbasak, 44 km southeast of Sanliurfa ride Harran is associated with the biblical place Harran (Hebrew: חָרָן, transliterated: Charan). Here Abram (Abraham), his grandson Lot, and Abram's wife Sarai settled en route to Canaan, coming from Ur of the Chaldees (Genesis 11:26–32). You can see here some rock, riddled with tunnels and with the ruins of a fortress on top. Driving to the mount Nemrut (mount of Gods), located 40 km of Kahta. Visit the tomb-sanctuary with huge statues of various Greek, Armenian and Iranian gods, such as Hercules-Vahagn, Zeus-Aramazd or Oromasdes (associated with the Iranian god Ahura Mazda), Tyche, and Apollo-Mithras. Overnight in Gaziantep (B). Including: Breakfast.

Day 5: Antakya.
Breakfast. Driving to Antakya, known as Antioch, a significant place for Christianity. Visit the Cave church of St. Peter, where he had gathered the first Christian Community. Visit then the Mosaic museum. Drive to Mt. Moses (Musadag) (1 hour) where Moses learned to eat crow prepared by the obscure Prophet Hizir. Visit the ancient city of Cevlik-Seleucia Pierra, 5 km from Samandag to the North. and Overnight in Antakya (B). Including: Breakfast.

Day 6: Tarsus.
Breakfast. Transfer to Tarsus (approx. 2,5 hours). At the of St. Paul's birth and upbringing, Tarsus was the most important city in the Cilician plain (Cukurova) which was then know as Smooth Cilicia. St. Paul was proud of his birthplace. As he was being arrested, Saint Paul told the tribune: "I am a Jew and a citizen of the well-known city of Tarsus in Cilicia. Visit: St. Paul well in a courtyard believed to be the site of St. Paul’s home. The Seven sleepers cave (cave Eshab-ı Kehf) with the mosques built above the cave. and overnight in Konya. (B). Including: Breakfast.

Day 7: Antalya.
Breakfast. Driving to Antalya. Arriving at about 12- 1.00 pm. Free day. and overnight in Antalya (B). Including: Breakfast.

Day 8: Denizli - Pamukkale.
DBreakfast. Driving to Laodicea (approx. 3 hours), one of the churches of Revelation. Visit also Hierapolis ancient city with the martyrium of St. Philip. Overnight in Pamukkale (B). Including: Breakfast.

Day 9: Ephesus.
Breakfast. Driving to Ephesus. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary where she spent her last years. Tour through ancient Ephesus to see the old synagogue, the theatre where St. Paul preached (Acts 10), the Library of Celsus and other sights. theater. Visit the St. John Basilica and Seven Sleepers cave. and Overnight in Kusadasi. (B). Including: Breakfast.

Day 10: Pergamum.
Breakfast. Driving to Pergamon, Drive to Pergamon, site of one of the Seven Churches, where St. John wrote of Satan’s throne being sited. Visit the Church of Pergamon, the famous Red-Court and the Acropolis. and overnight in Bursa (B). Including: Breakfast.

Day 11: Istanbul.
Breakfast. Topkapi Palace and its Harem, Ahrida and Yanbol Synagogues in Balat, a primarily Jewish district on the Golden Horn, the Art-Nouveau-style Kamondo Staircase, built at the end of the 19th century, and Zulfaris Synagogue Museum in Karakoy, and the Etz Ahayim Synagogue in Ortakoy. Including: Breakfast.

Day 12: Istanbul.
Transfer to the Istanbul airport for the flight back home. Including: Breakfast

INCLUDING
- 11 Nights, 4 Star or 5 Star Hotel Accommodation including breakfast.
- Continental breakast (B) as per the itinaries.
- Travel Insurance.
- All Entrance Fees.
- All admission fees to the visited sites.
- Biblical expert English speaking professional tour guide.
- All meals as stated in the itinerary. Breakfast.
- Transportation with New brand Mercedes Luxury Van.
- All Taxes and service fees.

EXCLUDING
- Any tips to guide.
- Driver or staff at hotels.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast) and medical services.

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