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DAY 1 |
Arrive in ANKARA (Capital of Turkey), Meet your guide who will transfer you to your Hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Ankara.
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DAY 2 |
After breakfast, sightseeing of Ankara: see the Anatolian Civilisation Museum, the Temple of Augustus and Atatürk's Mausoleum. Continue to CAPPADOCIA with a lunch / rest stop in AKSARAY before a short ride to IHLARA VALLEY, to see the impressive, Byzantine rock carvings and frescoes. Enjoy your dinner and overnight stay in CAPPADOCIA.
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DAY 3 |
Full day excursion of CAPPADOCIA to see the surreal landscapes of volcanic ash, formed 3 million years ago: spectacular red rock cones,. trogladyte churches and homes dating from 4000 B.C. Now visit UCHISAR, GOREME and ZELVE, then AVANOS, to visit one of its famous, pottery workshops. Later return to your hotel for overnight stay.
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DAY 4 |
Visit KAYMAKLI, a unique underground city. Then drive to TARSUS, birthplace of St. Paul. See St. Paul's Well, Cleopatra's Gate and the ancient city. It was near here that a Great Fish "vomited out Jonas upon the dry land" Next to ADANA for dinner and overnight stay
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DAY 5 |
Full day excursion to ANTAKYA (Antioch). Here Jesus' followers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26) Peter, Paul and also Barnabas preached here. Visit St. Peters's Grotto and the exquisite Mosaic Museum. View the old city of ISKENDERUN before beginning the return drive to MERSIN for dinner and overnight stay.
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DAY 6 |
Depart westward along the Mediterranean shoreline, a famous coastal road. Take a lunch break in ANAMUR. See City of the Monophystie Archbishop of Seleucia. Continue via ALANYA to the ancient city of SIDE, the old port where Paul, Barnabas and Mark landed during their missionary journies. Later they sailed from here to ANTIOCH. Next drive to ANTALYA for dinner and overnight stay.
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DAY 7 |
This morning go to PERGE, where St. Paul preached when arriving from Cyprus (Acts 13-14), and to ASPENDOS with its magnificent theater. Next proceed to LAODICEA which was condemned by St. John in Revelation 4:15. Drive to HIERAPOLIS, now called PAMUKKALE, St. Philip was martyred here in 1st AD. Walk the Necropolis and famous Avenue of Tombs.Overnight stay.
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DAY 8 |
Drive to SELCUK. Visit the monastery of St. John and EPHESUS , the best preserved city in the world. see the Library of Celsus, a Stadium where Paul Preached (Acts 19), and the Theater. Depart for KUSADASI, a port near Ephesus. Then have dinner and overnight stay.
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DAY 9 |
This morning take a beautiful drive to IZMIR (ancient SMYRNA), today a busy port and Turkey's third largest city. Take an orientation tour of t
he Bay and City, and enjoy some leisure time on your own. dinner and overnight stay.
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DAY 10 |
Early departure to BERGAMA (Pergamum) , to visit the Acropolis, high above the plain. See the pagan Temples and Altar of Zeus.Proceed to BURSA, first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Tonight dinner in your hotel.
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DAY 11 |
Drive by the Green Mosque and Tomb, and then continue to IZNIK (Nicea), where the Nicean Creed was formed. Depart for ISTANBUL by ferry, later lunch at the TOPKAPI PALACE , Now tour Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and also the Great Bazaar, Overnight Istanbul.
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DAY 12 |
Visit the Spice Market, followed by the BOSPHORUS CRUISE to the Black Sea; then enjoy a special fish lunch in SARIYER, Now return to ISTANBUL, with your afternoon free for shopping, souvenir hunting, and personnel activities.
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DAY 13 |
Today drive to the Airport and return flight home, arriving the same day with fresh memories, souvenirs and a renewed interest in Turkey, the land of culture, faith and mystery.
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