May 15-26, 2027
Itinerary and Registration
Saturday May 15
Arrive Antalya, Turkey airport. Proceed via own arrangements (taxi, Uber, etc.) to Divan Talya Antalya Hotel.
Dinner on your own.
Sunday May 16
Recovery/rest day
Optional boat trip and/or guided town walk.
Welcome dinner together at local restaurant (first official activity)
Overnight at the Divan Talya.
Monday May 17
We will begin the day with a visit to Perge (Perga), an ancient and extensive Roman city visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, their landing place back on the Asian mainland after their initial ministry on Cyprus. (Acts 13:13). It was here that John Mark left them to return home. Departing from Perge, we travel on to Aspendos.
We will have lunch together at a local restaurant, before returning to our hotel for a relaxing afternoon.
We will have dinner together in a restaurant in the Old Town of Antalya.
Tuesday May 18
We begin our day by departing for the area of Pamukkale, famous for its hot springs and in the region of the "triplet" biblical cities of Colossae, Hierapolis, and Laodicea. After lunch together at a local restaurant, we will visit the Tel of ancient Colossae, and then proceed to the impressive archaeological site of Laodicea, one of the recipients of the Seven Letters to the Churches of Revelation (Rev 3:14-22).
From there we will continue to our nearby hotel in Pamukkale for dinner, where we will also have the option to enjoy the warm waters of the thermal springs which make the area famous.
Wednesday May 19
As we depart the hotel, we will make a short drive to the excavations of Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13), where we will walk among the travertines, which are the shallow pools fed by the local sulfuric springs. We will also visit on this site the location of the purported tomb of the apostle Philip.
After lunch, we will drive to the west coast of Turkey to visit Aphrodisias, an impressive site originally dedicated to the worship of Aphrodite. And from there we will travel north up the coast to the resort city of Kusadasi, host to nearby Ephesus and the port gateway to the Aegean.
We will enjoy an extensive dinner buffet at our hotel in Kusadasi, which will be our home for three nights.
Thursday May 20
We will begin the day at the nearby Basilica of John, the ruins of a church dedicated to John the apostle and the purported site of his burial. From there we are mere blocks away from our next stop, the Ephesus museum, home to the various treasures uncovered at the ancient site.
We will enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant.
Our afternoon will be spent exploring the very extensive excavations and restorations of the ancient site of first century Ephesus, evangelized by the apostle Paul (as recorded in Acts 19) and the location of the huge theater where occurred the silversmith riot ("Great is Artemis of the Ephesians"). This UNESCO world site is probably the crown jewel of Turkish archaeology, and filled with aspects rich in biblical significance.
Friday May 21
Like the apostle Paul, today we journey south away from Ephesius to Miletus, where Paul summoned the Ephesian elders to himself at the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 20). Incidentally, Miletus is the literal birth pace of Greek philosophy and the whole western intellectual tradition that arose from it.
We will have lunch together in a traditional restaurant in a local village. After lunch, we will visit the ruins of Dydima ("twin"), home to the massive temple of Apollo, the twin brother of Artemis. This site gives critical insight into the idolatry of Paul's day, and what it would have required for first century Romans to have "turned from idols to serve the living God." (I Thess 1:9)
Later, we will return to our hotel in Kusadasi, and later to dinner together in a local restaurant.
Saturday May 22
Departing Kusadasi and the area of Ephesus, we follow the route of the ancient letter carriers to move north to Pergamum, another recipient of a Letter to the Seven Churches (Rev 2:12-17). This is the site of the "throne of Satan" - the altar of Zeus at Pergamum, as well as the intact and steeply pitched theater dedicated to Dionysius. Also at this site is an Asklepion, dedicated to the ancient god of healing.
After this tour, we will resume our northerly travels to our hotel in the seaside city of Ayvalik, where we will go together to a local restaurant for dinner together.
Sunday May 23
On this day we will travel to Alexandrian Troas, where Paul received the "Macedonian vision" to depart from the Turkish/Asian mainland and to extend the scope of gospel ministry by initiating his European ministry - from here Paul and Luke and others set sail for Philippi and what we know today as Greece. Also nearby are the excavations of ancient Troy, the site of the Trojan War as immortalized in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.
After touring these sites and enjoying lunch locally, we will make the short trip to our hotel in Canakkale.
Monday May 24
We will complete our travels by moving on to Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and rich in historical significance. We will arrive in time for an afternoon tour of the major sites of the historic district (including the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Roman hippodrome, and more).
We will check into our Istanbul hotel (for two nights) and then go together to dinner in a local Turkish restaurant.
Tuesday May 25
This day will allow you to enjoy free time exploring, or shopping, in this exotic city. We will conclude the day with a "Farewell Dinner" together in a local restaurant.
Wednesday, May 26
Breakfast will be available at the hotel buffet. Depending on flight times, you will return to the Istanbul airport for your return flights to the United States, or carry on your travels on your own.
Costs and registration:
The nearly all-inclusive cost for this tour is $5695 (per person, double occupancy), which includes all accommodations, travel once the tour begins, site admissions, local guides, and most meals.
This rate does not include international travel to Antalya or home from Istanbul, a few meals, drinks, travel insurance, tips for guides and drivers, and personal expenses.
To reserve your place on this tour, use the link below to submit a $2000 per person deposit, after which you will also receive a registration form to complete and sign to finalize registration, as well as information about future payment schedule, securing flights, etc.
Registration Deposit for May 2027 Biblical Tour of Turkey with Jeff an – Historical Footsteps
If you wish to avoid the service fee associated with payment by credit card, you may send a check for $2000 per person to:
Historical Footsteps, 615 West Street, Chesterton, IN 46304
Please include a note indicating your name and email address.
Please feel free to contact us at bryan@HistoricalFootsteps.com with any additional questions.