| Destination | Izmir |
| From | Dublin |
| Date | June – October 2010 |
| Duration | 7 nights |
| Price | Multiple prices |
| Flight Details | Depart 11:20 arrive 20:05 |
| Depart 07:45 arrive 10:20 |
Details are for guidance only and are subject to change
Introduction to 7 Churches Tour of Turkey
The Seven Churches of the Revelation of St John
The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John. I was in the Spirit of the Lord’s Day and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet. Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and what you see, write in a book and send it to the Seven Churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia and to Laodicea’
Itinerary
Day 01: ARRIVE ISTANBUL – connect to IZMIR
Arrive at Istanbul Ataturk Airport and connect onwards to Izmir.
On arrival meet and transfer to the hotel in Izmir, dinner at the hotel.
Day 02: IZMIR – SARDES – KUSADASI (b, l, d)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Start the day with a visit to the St Polycarp Church in central Izmir, ancient Smyrna, birthplace of Homer.
Continue with a panoramic city tour including the Kordon promenade and the Kemeralti historical bazaar area.
Depart for Sardes.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Visit the ruins of Sardes founded by the Lydian King Croesus and where the first coins were minted.
The ancient synagogue, the Gymnasium, the temple of Artemis and the remains of the St John church will be visited.
Continue to Kusadasi.
Dinner at the hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 03: KUSADASI (b, l, d)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today’s visits concentrate on the Selcuk region with its ancient ruins and seaside resorts.
Before arrival at Ephesus, visit the remains of the Artemision, one of the ancient world’s Seven Wonders.
Visit the ancient city of Ephesus. Highlights will be the Odeon, Celsus Library, Hadrian’s Temple, Trajan’s Fountain, the Agora, the Scolasticia Baths, the Marble Street, the Amphitheater with its 25.000 seating capacity and the Arcadian Way leading down to the port which is now silted up.
In the Selcuk Museum we will see the statues of the Goddess Artemis and later visit the Isabey Mosque from the Seljuk era.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon visit the Basilica of St John.
On Mount Nightingale, the House of Mary (Meryemana), a pilgrimage site where Mary is believed to have spent her last days, will be visited.
Return to the hotel after the visits.
Dinner at the hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 04: KUSADASI – APHRODISIAS – LAODICEA – PAMUKKALE(b,l,d)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for Pamukkale.
Visit the ancient marble city of Aphrodisias en route.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Before reaching Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) visit the remains of the ancient city of Laodicea, the lukewarm city of the Revelations.
Before checking in at the hotel in Pamukkale we visit the natural miracle of the Pamukkale and the ruins of the Hierapolis with its Roman baths converted to early Christian churches, the amphitheater, the Martyrium of St Philip and the extensive necropolis featuring the various architectural styles of ancient Asia Minor.
Dinner at the hotel in Pamukkale.
Day 05: PAMUKKALE – BERGAMA – ASSOS (b, l, d)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for Bergama. After a short drive we reach Alasehir where the ruins of Philadelphia will be visited.
Continue to Akhisar where we visit the ruins of Thyatira.
Continue to Bergama where we have our lunch.
On the way up to the Acropolis of Pergamon we first visit the Red Courtyard, ancient temple of Serapis and eventually the Church of St John. At the Acropolis, the breathtaking amphitheater, the temples of Trajan and Athena, the foundations of the Altar of Zeus (Satan’s seat?) are visited.
After the visit continue to the Aegean resort town of Assos.
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 06: ASSOS – TROY – CANAKKALE – ISTANBUL (b, l)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for Canakkale.
View the Hollywood production wooden horse of Troy and proceed to a visit of the ruins of ancient Troy of Homer’s Iliad. Ferry across the Strait of Dardanelles back to Europe.
Lunch at a local restaurant at Gallipoli.
Return to Istanbul.On arrival transfer to the hotel.
Dinner at leisure.
Day 07: ISTANBUL (b, l)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Fullday city tour with a visit to the main historical center of Istanbul, Sultanahmet with its Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments.
The monuments to be visited are the Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome (Obelisk of Theodosius, serpent column, brick column, Kaiser Wilhelm II fountain), the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace with its Treasury and Sacred Trust sections.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
Afternoon visit the Grand Covered Bazaar. Shopping for local handicrafts at reputable shops.
After the visits return to the hotel.
Dinner at leisure.
Day 08: ISTANBUL – DEPARTURE (b)
Breakfast at the hotel.Day at leisure.
Check-out from the hotel
Transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for the departure flight to Dublin
Price inclusions
- Return flights from Dublin
- Accommodation suggested at the hotels mentioned with breakfast included
- 7 dinners at the hotels including Istanbul
- 6 local lunches
- All tours and airport transfers as per itinerary
- Museum entrances as per itinerary
- English speaking licensed guide
- Air-conditioned tour bus or minibus depending on group size
- Tips at hotels and restaurants
- Daily 1 lt bottled water per person (2 x 0.5 lt per day)
- All taxes
Booking remarks
- Non refundable or transferrable booking deposit 10% per person
- Full payment due on confirmation
- 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
- Optional Insurance €48 (conditions apply)
- Single room supplement €210
- Prices are correct at time of going to press, flight supplements may apply depending on availability of negotiated airfares
Accommodation details
Istanbul 4 star The President, Zurich or similar, Izmir 4 star Kaya Prestige or similar, Kusadasi Korumar, Charisma or similar 5 star hotel, Pamukkale Richmond Thermal or similar 4 star hotel, Assos Eden Gardens or similar 4 star hotel.