By foot over hot, dusty roads, by horse cart, by sailboat, St. Paul the Apostle traveled the length of the eastern coast of Anatolia from Antioch-on-the-Orontes (Antakya) to Alexandria Troas (south of Troy) during the middle years of the first century. Beginning with Antioch about A.D. 40 St. Paul’s influence and that of the early disciples spread Christianity throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Three centuries later Christianity had become the major religion of Asia Minor. Paul was born in Tarsus. As a boy he learned the trade of tent making. While studying in Jerusalem he was an accomplice in the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian Martyr. But later, after seeing a vision of Jesus he devoted himself body, mind and spirit to preaching Christ’s word.

Arrival in Ankara. Transfer to your hotel. Then we visit the internationally recognized Anatolia Civilizations Museum. The Museum is a good starting point for the tour, because it explains the chronology of the civilizations that have arisen in Anatolia. Overnight stay in Ankara.  

Early departure to Cappadocia, where troglodyte dwellings and several hundred churches are hollowed out of the cones, which are the remnants of an ancient volcano. The frescoes in these churches depict scenes from the Bible or the Apocrypha and are amazingly well preserved. Then we visit the Underground City, which housed thousands of Christians who fled their prosecutors. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Full day excursion in Cappadocia. Visit the unique Valley of Göreme and the Open Air Museum, with its well preserved churches. After that we visit Valley of Zelve. After lunch we visit the fortress of Uchisar that crowns the cliff and is dotted by caves. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Early departure to Antakya (Antioch on the Orontes). This is where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. (Acts 11:26) It was from the church at Antioch that Paul and Barnabas started their first journey (Acts 13:4), and to which Paul returned from his first and second journeys. We will visit St. Paul's Grotto and the fabulous mosaic museum, which clearly display the glamour of Antioch as a main metropolis of the eastern Mediterranean. After lunch we drive to Tarsus where Paul was born. One can feel Paul's pride for his city when he speaks to a commander of the garrison in Jerusalem and says, "I'm a Tarsian, a citizen of no mean city." Today, very little remains of the Tarsus, Paul called home. After our visit we drive to Adana for our overnight stay.

After breakfast we drive to Konya. Its ancient name was Iconium. The Bible doesn't say much about what happened to Paul and Barnabas in Iconium except that their work was sufficiently effective to antagonize the people there. They had to flee. Though not much of the city from Paul's time is left, Konya is still spiritually important as the center of the Whirling Dervishes, who preach friendship, tolerance and divine love. After lunch we visit the monuments of this mystic order. Overnight in Konya.

In the morning we go over the Taurus Mountains on our drive to Antalya. We visit the famous Aspendos Theatre and Perge, where Paul and Barnabas stopped on their way to and from Antioch. (Acts 13:13 and Acts 14:25) In Perge ancient buildings have survived the ravages of time. After lunch we visit the Antalya Museum. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.

Early departure to Pamukkale. We will visit the ancient city of Hieropolis. Traditionally, St. Philip is connected with the early church in Hieropolis. St. Paul also played a role in the history of the city when he condemned "the people who go in for self-mortification and angel worship." (Colossians 2:18 and Colossians 4:13) Pamukkale is a magnificent and a natural wonder. The scale and grandeur of this unique geological formation never fails to impress its visitors. For countless millennia a spring located high on the plateau has plunged over the mountain's side creating enormous circular pools, which are fringed with stalactites. Dinner and overnight in Kuşadasi.

Full day excursion to Ephesus and the Basilica of St. John. Certainly, the highlight of the day will be at the theater at Ephesus where 35,0000 Ephesians following the silversmith, Demetrius, shouting "Great is Artemis of Ephesians" in reaction to St. Paul's preaching "that there should be no man-made gods." Dinner and overnight in Kuşadasi.

Miletus is where Paul met the elders of Ephesus on his last journey. Here you can almost hear Paul saying, "Happiness lies more in giving than in receiving." Dinner and overnight in Kuşadasi.  

Early departure for Pergamum. Visit the Acropolis. Its grandeur makes up for the missing Altar of Zeus (in the Berlin Museum), which was referred to in the Bible as "Satan's Seat." Pergamum was a great center of scholarship and learning. Anthony took the library from here with its 200,000 rolls and transferred it to Alexandria as a present for Cleopatra. After the Acropolis we will visit the Asclepion, the ancient hospital. The ruins here are so complete that walking among them one can relive the methods employed in this health center from sacrifice to psychodrama. We will also visit the Church of St. John that was built into the red court. After lunch we drive to Assos. In his journey Paul went by land from Alexandria Troas to Assos. St. Luke and the others took a ship and met St. Paul in Assos. The next stop will be Troy, the city of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

Early in the morning cross over the Dardanelles and the Hellespont to Europe. We will visit the First World war battlefields of the Gallipoli Peninsula: the Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Cemetery, the original tunnels and trenches at Johnstone Jolly (Turkish and Allied), the Nek Cemetery, and the Chunuk-Bair New Zealand Memorial and Cemetery. Then we drive to Istanbul for farewell dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast we will visit Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, and the Blue Mosque. After lunch we visit St. Sophia's Museum and the Underground Palace. Overnight in Istanbul

In the morning we visit Suleymaniye Mosque then an optional trip on the Bosporus by boat. From the boat it is possible to see both the European and Asian side of Istanbul. Lunch in a fish restaurant. In the afternoon we visit the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.