Western Turkey Tour 2

Day 1Flight to Izmir, ancient Smyrna; pearl of the Aegean. The most important trading city of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century and birthplace of Homer. Today a metropolis of one million.
Transfer to hotel.
Dinner and overnight in Sardis.
Daily distance: 130 km.

Day 2Journey to Sardis, one of the most important kingdoms of the world (Revelation 3:1-6). Here we will see a gymnasium, synagogue, agora, shops, and part of the Royal Road. Then we'll visit the Hittite relief in Kemalpaşa, Karabel.
Later, we'll go to the Agora of Izmir. This agora from the Roman period (2nd century AD) was built in a grid form with three stories according to the plan of Greek architect Hippodamos near the city center. This agora is one of the largest and best-preserved agoras remaining from the Roman period.
Dinner and overnight in Kuşadası.
Daily distance: 240 km.

Day 3Detailed exploration of Hellenistic-Roman Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7): Agora, public buildings, terrace houses, Celsus Library, main street, theater where silversmiths gathered against Paul (Acts 19), council church, and walk to Paul's Cave. Site and museum of the Temple of Artemis, once considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
Basilica of St. John, built from the stones of the Temple of Artemis and rising on Ayasuluk Hill. The current structure dates to the 6th century, during the reign of Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian. The column capitals of the basilica, built by Justinian and his wife Theodora, bear their monograms. The stones of the basilica were later used in the Isa Bey Mosque. We will also visit the mosque built by Seljuk bey Isa Bey in 1375.
Dinner and overnight in Kuşadası.
Daily distance: 100 km.

Day 4After breakfast, we go to Aphrodisias. We will visit this impressive ancient city known not only for its sculptors, philosophers, and medical school but also as the center of the Aphrodite cult.
Then we'll visit Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22; Colossians 4:15-16). Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013, this city is described as "an important Roman city gushing from underground like a flood." The city has two theaters, Anatolia's largest stadium, largest baths, and three additional baths.
Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
Daily distance: 260 km.

Day 5After breakfast, we'll visit the ancient city of Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13; episcopal center of Papias): Baths, theater, colonnaded street, necropolis, and museum. Opportunity to walk to St. Philip's Martyrium and white travertine terraces. Later, we'll climb to the hill of Colossae (Colossians 1:7; 4:12; Philemon 23).
Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
Daily distance: 70 km.

Day 6After breakfast, we go to Burdur. We'll visit the museum in this city famous for its tectonic lake and 153 km² surface area.
Then, we'll visit the ancient city of Sagalassos, located at approximately 1500 meters altitude. Thanks to the excavations of Belgian archaeologist Marc Waelkens, this city has become one of Turkey's most important archaeological sites. We'll see structures such as the Imperial cult temple, Temple of Apollo Klarios, lower agora, odeion, upper agora, Macellum, Bouleuterion, and theater.
Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
Daily distance: 340 km.

Day 7After breakfast, we go to Derbent Canyon. This canyon, one of the roads connecting Pamphylian and Pisidian cities in ancient times, was used during Byzantine and Seljuk-Ottoman periods and until recently was the path of nomads. This stone-paved road, used for 2000 years, gave its name to the Döşemealtı district.
Then, we go to the ancient city of Perge (Acts 13:13-14), visited by St. Paul on his first missionary journey. We'll see remains such as the theater, stadium, walls, gates, and acropolis.
Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
Daily distance: 100 km.

Day 8 We travel along the Lycian coast to Demre. We'll visit the remains of the ancient city of Myra where St. Nicholas was bishop, the theater, rock tombs resembling Lycian houses, and St. Nicholas Church.
From Andriake Harbor (Acts 27:5), we'll take a boat tour to the sunken city of Kekova. The ancient harbor of Myra was one of the most important ports for the grain fleet from Egypt during the Roman Empire period. Church remains, aqueduct, agora, and especially the granarium (grain storage) capable of storing 6,000 cubic meters of grain are among the places to be seen.
Dinner in Ulupınar.
Overnight in Antalya.
Daily distance: 300 km.

Day 9After breakfast, we visit Antalya Museum. Then transfer to airport.
Daily distance: 20 km.