Journey to the Roots of Christianity
A 12-day spiritual journey through the ancient lands of Anatolia, tracing the early days of Christianity to the present. From Ankara to Antioch, from Cappadocia to Tarsus, this route includes the most significant centers and holy sites of early Christianity.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1Arrival in Ankara, capital of modern Turkey and center of ancient Galatia (Acts 16:6; 18:23; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:2; 3:1; 2 Timothy 4:10; 1 Peter 1:1). Hotel transfer. Dinner and overnight in Ankara.
Day 2Morning visit to the citadel; detailed tour of the "Museum of Anatolian Civilizations". After lunch, visit to the Column of Julian; tour of the Temple of Augustus (containing the Monumentum Ancyranum, recording Augustus's achievements). Visit to Atatürk's Mausoleum and departure for Hattusas. Dinner and overnight near Hattusas.
Day 3Visit to Hattusas. Detailed tour of the Hittite capital and nearby Yazilikaya Open Air Temple. Then journey to Cappadocia (Acts 2:9; 1 Peter 1:1). Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 4Visit to Göreme; detailed tour of Byzantine monasteries and painted rock churches. Walk through Pigeon Valley. Then visit to underground city. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 5Visit to Uçhisar, tour of Monks Valley; view of Fairy Chimneys, then visit to abandoned village of Zelve. Optional visit to see the ancient art of carpet weaving. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 6After breakfast, visit to Kayseri, viewing Seljuk period kumbets (tomb monuments). Then journey to Kahta. Overnight at the foot of Mount Nemrut (2150m). Morning climb to Mount Nemrut summit for sunrise and tour. Dinner and overnight in Kahta.
Day 7After breakfast, departure for Harran, viewing Atatürk Dam (Genesis 11:31-34; 12:3-5; 24:10, 27:43; 28:10; 29:4; 2 Kings 19:12, Ezekiel 27:23; Isaiah 37:12). View of Trulli houses in Harran where Abraham lived. Then to Şanlıurfa, ancient Edessa. Visit to Pool of Abraham and mosque. Dinner and overnight in Şanlıurfa.
Day 8Morning departure to Carchemish via Gaziantep (Jeremiah 46:2; Isaiah 10:9). Tour, dinner and overnight in Gaziantep.
Day 9After breakfast, departure for Antioch, center of early Christian community on the Orontes River (see Acts 13:1; 14:26; Galatians 2:11). Visit to St. Peter's Church, view of Charon Relief and tour of Mosaic Museum. Dinner and overnight in Antioch.
Day 10Visit to ancient port city of Seleucia where Paul began his first missionary journey (Acts 13:4). Tour of ancient city and passage through rock tunnel from Flavian period. Then to Karatepe via Iskenderun. Dinner and overnight in Adana.
Day 11Visit to Tarsus, birthplace of Paul (Acts 22:28; 9:11; 21:39 and 22:3). View of Cleopatra's Gate and "Paul's Well". Then to Silifke, ancient Seleucia ad Calycadnum (where Frederick Barbarossa drowned in the Göksu River during the Third Crusade). Dinner and overnight in Adana.
Day 12Breakfast and transfer to airport.