Elegant Adventures

Day 1: New York / Istanbul

We take our overnight flight from JFK-New York to Istanbul. Meals and beverages served on board.

Day 2: Istanbul / Izmir

Arrival in Istanbul Ataturk Airport. After clearing the customs, transfer to domestic terminal to catch our flight to Izmir. We meet our tour guide at the airport and check in to the hotel. Overnight in Izmir. (D)

Day 3: Izmir (Smyrna) / Sardis / Philadelphia / Izmir

Smyrna was the second city to receive a letter from the St. John in the book of Revelation. Acts 19:10 states that the church there was founded during St. Paul's third missionary journey. Then, we will drive to Sardis. The city enjoyed a further period of prosperity under Roman rule. It was ravaged by an earthquake in 17 AD but was rebuilt by Tiberius. Christianity came to Sardis at an early stage through the missionary activity of St. Paul. It is mentioned in Revelations (1:11 and 3:4) as one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. Next we will drive to Philadelphia. It was founded in 189 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamum (197-160 BC), who named the city for the love of his brother who would be his successor, Attalus II (159-138 BC). Lacking an heir, Pergamum King Attalus III Philometer bequeathed his kingdom, including Philadelphia, to his Roman allies when he died in 133 BC. Rome set up the province of Asia Minor in 129 BC by combining Ionia and the former Kingdom of Pergamum. The ancient city of Philadelphia had several temples. Like nearby Sardis, it was hit with a devastating earthquake in 17 AD. The city was rebuilt with the help of Emperor Tiberius. Ancient Philadelphia was the headquarters of the sixth of Seven Churches of Revelation. Return to Izmir. The rest of the day is free to explore the city and its ancient bazaar. (B)(L)(D)

Day 4: Izmir / Ephesus / Kusadasi

Today we will drive to Ancient Ephesus and walk through the Magnesian Gate which is the entrance to the ancient city of Ephesus. See the Odeon (concert hall), the fountain of Trajan, the steam-heated Baths of Scolastica, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, the library of Celsus and The Great Theatre, where the St. Paul preached, which is the largest theater in antiquity having a capacity of 24,000 people. Our last stop here is to visit the Basilica of St. John, which was erected over his grave in the 6th century AD by the Emperor Justinian. Drive through the colorful town of Kusadasi to reach Mt. Koressos. Situated in a small valley, it is here where we will visit the humble chapel which lies on the site of the little house where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days. Despite the many controversies, the Christian world still favors this belief and the site has been officially sanctioned by the Vatican for pilgrimage. Drive to Kusadasi for Overnight. (B)(L)(D)

Day 5: Kusadasi / Patmos / Kusadasi

Today we will travel by a boat to the Greek Island of Patmos and visit the cave where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. Then, we will spend some time at St. John's Monastery. Return to Kusadasi for overnight. (B)(L)(D)

Day 6: Kusadasi / Hierapolis / Izmir (Smyrna)

Today we will tour the beautiful snow-white "frozen waterfalls" and see the Roman thermal baths, the Apollo Temple, theater, main streets, gates and Necropolis. Drive to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation and visit the Church of Laodicea and ruins. Next, we will visit Mount Honaz National Park and the Biblical site of Colossae. After lunch, we will drive to Izmir for overnight. (B)(L)(D)

Day 7: Izmir / Pergamum / Thyatira / Bursa

Early departure to Pergamum. Pergamum was an important capital in ancient times, built on a cone-shaped hill rising 1,000 feet above the surrounding valley. Its Greek name means citadel. Most of the extraordinary buildings and monuments in Pergamum date to the time of Eumenes II (197-159 BC). We will visit the famed library, the terrace of the spectacularly sited hillside theater, the main palace, the Altar of Zeus, and the propylaeum of the Temple of Athena. The ancient city is composed of the Acropolis, whose main function was social and cultural as much as it was sacred; the Lower City, or realm of the lower classes; and the Asklepion, one of the earliest medical and therapeutic centers on record. Pergamum was the one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Our next stop is Thyatira. Thyatira became an early center of Christianity. The apostle Paul visited the city on a number of occasions during his missionary travels. Lydia, the woman converted by St. Paul at Philippi, was from Thyatira (Acts 16:13-15), and the church at Thyatira was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 2.18-29)The Emperor Vespasian began great undertakings at Thyatira; it was also visited by Hadrian in the year 123, and by Caracalla in 215. We know from testimony given by St. Epiphanius that at the beginning of the third century almost all Thyatira was Christianized. A bishop of Thyatira attended the Council of Nicea in 325 and the Council of Ephesus in 431. We will visit the ruins including a public building (basilica) dating from the 5th or 6th century AD. In places it is preserved to a height of 16 ft. There are also columns and arches from an ancient portico dating from about the 4th century AD. Several Greek inscriptions lie among the ruins of ancient Thyatira. We will continue on our journey to Bursa. Rest of the day is free to explore city. Overnight in Bursa. (B)(L)(D)

Day 8: Bursa / Nicea / Istanbul

Today we will visit the Green Mosque and the Green Mausoleum in Bursa. Then we will drive to Nicea through the iznik lake road. Two Ecumenical councils were held here: the First Ecumenical Council of 325 and the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787.Visit the ruins of the St. Sophia Church where the Seventh Ecumenical Council was held. After lunch we will drive to Istanbul. Rest of the day is free to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)(L)

Day 9: Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, we will start our full day Istanbul tour. Istanbul is the only city in the world that bridges Europe and Asia, and we will explore some of Istanbul's many treasures that bridge the past and present. Our first stop will be the ancient Hippodrome, where chariot races and athletic events took place during the Roman Period. Next, visit Istanbul's most famous treasure - the Blue Mosque, named for the beautiful Iznik tiles which give the mosque its interior color, and the Museum of Hagia Sophia, a Christian cathedral built in 536 AD. Later, to the Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans. After lunch, we will visit the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent, built at the peak of the Ottoman Empire and decorated with baroque paintings. At the end of the tour we will have an opportunity to shop in the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered market places in the world. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)(L)(D)

Day 10: Istanbul

Today we will take a boat tour along the Bosporus Strait in the morning. You will have a chance to explore the city on your own for the rest of the day. Farewell dinner at the hotel. (B)(L)(D)

Day 11: Istanbul / New York

Today after breakfast in the hotel we transport to the airport and begin our journey home. We take with us new friendships, memories and inspiration to last a lifetime. (B)

Tour Includes:

• 10 Nights in 4/5 star hotels
• 8 Dinners, 8 Lunches and 9 Breakfasts
• Ground transportation by A/C buses or minivans depending on the size of the group
• Site seeing as indicated in the itinerary with English speaking guide throughout the tour
• All entrance fees to museums
• Hotel taxes, service charges, and baggage handling
• International airfare from New York to Istanbul
• Bilingual Elegant Adventure tour leader throughout the tour

Price:

• Double occupancy per person price: $2,945. Airport taxes $200-$450 not included in the price.