Civilizations of Asia Minor

Flight to Antalya via Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast we begin with a tour of Perge, an important city of ancient Pamphylia, which Saint Paul visited on his first missionary journey. The photogenic Seljuk bridge crosses the Köprüçay River beside the road to Aspendos. The Theatre of Aspendos is the best-preserved ancient theatre, with a capacity of 15,000 spectators. Its galleries, stage decorations and acoustics, still in use today, bear witness to the architect’s success. Nearby are the remains of a basilica, an agora and one of the largest aqueducts in Asia Minor. We continue to Side, one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey, once an ancient port whose name meant pomegranate. Among the ancient ruins are the well-preserved remains of Roman baths, temples, churches, mausoleums, theatres and an agora.
Visit to the Manavgat River and waterfall. Return to Antalya. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.

After that we begin a beautiful drive along the Mediterranean coast, past the ancient cities of Phaselis and Olympos. We will visit Myra with its fine Roman theatre and Lycian tombs. Myra is best known as the city of Saint Nicholas, where he served as bishop in the fourth century AD. After visiting the Church of Saint Nicholas, we continue the drive to Kalkan. Dinner and overnight in Kalkan.

After breakfast we set off to visit Patara, a seaside town with the longest sandy beach, 18 kilometres long!
During the Roman Empire Patara was an important trading city, and later also a Christian centre. Yet Patara is best known as the birthplace of Santa Claus - or Saint Nicholas. Saint Paul also passed through Patara during his pilgrimage, and the Byzantine period left deep marks on the place.
We continue our journey towards Ölüdeniz Bay – the blue lagoon – and the town of Fethiye. Fethiye is a town in south-western Turkey at the foot of the Lycian mountains, covered with cedar and pine forests. After the tour we continue towards the town of Dalyan. On arrival in Dalyan, check-in at the hotel. Dinner, overnight.

After breakfast we set off on a tour of the town of Dalyan, which lies in the delta of the river of the same name; Dalyan stands on the site of the ancient city of Kaunos, which existed before the Common Era. Kaunos was a developed and wealthy city with a large bay on the Aegean Sea. Dalyan is also known as the town where Turtle Island is located. Iztuzu Beach is home to giant sea turtles called Caretta caretta. After the tour we continue towards the town of Akyaka, a place where you can commune with nature. All the buildings in the town are built of wood. The Azmak River in Akyaka has charming surroundings and a calm flow that will drain away your negative energy. After the tour we continue towards Bodrum. On arrival in Bodrum, check-in at the hotel. Dinner, overnight.

Breakfast. After breakfast we set off on a tour of the town. The first mention of a town on the site of Bodrum dates back to the 5th century BC. The site of today’s town was occupied by ancient Halicarnassus, then the capital of Caria. This ancient city was famous for its mausoleum, which is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
We continue the drive towards Ephesus. Today will probably be the highlight of the tour for most of the group, as we visit the impressive biblical site of Ephesus. The tour begins in the upper city at the State Agora, and then we descend to the famous Library of Celsus and the Tetragonos Agora. We will take a gentle detour to see the excellent Terrace Houses, where the rich and famous citizens of Ephesus lived. Our city tour ends at the theatre, where 24,000 citizens shouted "Great is Artemis!" in a riot that began in response to Paul’s ministry there (Acts 19:1–20:1). We will make a short stop to see the remains of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the afternoon we will visit the Church of St. John, where tradition says the Apostle and Revelator is buried. Dinner and overnight in Kuşadası.

After breakfast we head up the hill where the House of the Virgin Mary is located. Then a drive to Izmir.
Izmir is an ancient city founded more than 3,500 years ago under the name Smyrna. Izmir experienced its greatest flourishing during the Achaean period and the era of Alexander the Great, when the city became a metropolis.
Dinner, overnight in Izmir.

Free time until the transfer. Departure to the airport. Flight from Izmir.