Arrive in the city of Bodrum today. Most flights arrive in Bodrum by 1:45PM (or earlier). Transfer to the quaint port of Bodrum and join the yacht. We will be in port this evening, and you will have an opportunity to settle into your cabin, have a cool drink on your new yacht, or meander around the tiny shops and marina for some great people watching. The city of Bodrum has a small early church history, but the bulk of the Bible is ahead of us. Dinner together, time for fellowship on the deck this evening.

Early this morning, possibly while you are sound asleep, you will hear us pull out of the port of Bodrum. We sail this morning for 4 hours to the tiny Greek island of Leros. Leros is a darling island where you can explore its Castle of the Virgin atop Pityki Hill, wander around the quaint town, enjoy coffee shops and amazing architecture, or just set up a place of rest on its expansive beach near the yacht. We are here all day with a fresh fish lunch late this afternoon ashore. Dinner with our crew this evening. Plenty of time to swim, enjoy the local culture, and catch up on some rest for what is ahead of you!

We depart Leros in the very early hours this morning, stay in bed, or grab your morning coffee and soak in The Word and some fellowship on deck. We will arrive on the island of Patmos just before lunch. On arrival at Patmos today, we will board a bus and meander up the hill to the precious cave where John received the Book of Revelation.  The entire day is ours to explore this precious island! Joel will be teaching outside the cave this evening, and we will be able to visit the ancient museum and monastery that houses some of the ancient Biblical manuscripts, including the Purple Codex and other important documents that have been entrusted to this fellowship. While here, you will gaze up and down this mountain and see how thorny and harsh it is. This is where he had been sent to live: alone and away from all that he knew – yet almost within view of where he ministered to so many. You may choose to enjoy the view of the monastery and cave from the deck of your yacht this evening or walk the lovely, long beaches that are just steps from our dock and pier. Our yacht will be right in the tiny town and harbor. Late this afternoon, for those who have never been baptized, you will have an opportunity to be baptized in the actual place where John himself baptized the locals. There is a tiny memorial on a beach that documents the island’s conversion to Christianity two thousand years ago! Tonight, you will have great fellowship at a favorite beachfront restaurant that has amazing food! We will overnight on the island of Patmos tonight.

This morning, you can rise early and have your last cup of coffee facing the island. We will sail back into Turkey today. At Bodrum, we will have a lovely lunch and then visit the magnificent site of Ephesus! Ephesus is well known as the diamond of the Mediterranean. For us, this is where John died, where Mary, Jesus’ mother, died, where Paul boldly spoke to the Ephesians (Acts 19), and where much of the Early Church thrived. At the end of our day, Joel will be teaching us from the very same theatre that Paul spoke from; the views and acoustics are impeccable. It is the finest archaeological wonder in the Mediterranean. We will overnight this evening at the beautiful seafront, Swissotel Efes, Izmir, where we will stay for two nights. Dinner.

Breakfast and then drive along the Mediterranean Sea as we approach our second of the Seven Churches of Revelation, Thyatira: It has spectacular columns and a beautiful, ancient roadway. Next is a visit to Philadelphia.

You will stop for lunch and then visit perhaps the most compelling of all the Seven Churches – Pergamon. This is one of our favorite teaching sites because Jesus stated that this was the location of Satan’s throne. Today, that throne sits in Berlin. It was moved by Hitler’s Army to a museum in Berlin. There is much to say about the use of this throne in modern history by both Adolf Hitler and our former President Barack Obama, but the site itself has impressive, 40-mile views. The theatre sits perched high above – a high place, just as Satan desires. It is so high up that you will actually visit the site via a funicular!

Our return drive takes us back to our stunning Swissotel on the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner.

You will have breakfast this morning and then be driven for about a 70-minute drive to arrive at the church of Sardis. This is one of our favorite archaeological visits. There is an amazing ancient gymnasium here and a synagogue that is very pristine. This church is one that Jesus spoke against because of their weakness. Stop for a sumptuous Turkish lunch at a favorite restaurant. Next, another jewel, and the newest entrant for archaeological excellence, the site of Laodicea, which is one of the Seven Churches. You will likely be very impressed with what has been uncovered and with the mystery of where you are standing. Our hotel this evening takes full advantage of the hot thermal pools of Pamukkale by capturing them for us inside our hotel! While you are soaking in the hot water, you will be treated to a bird’s-eye view of the snowcapped mountain towering above us. Be sure to bring your suit and float in the rich mineral baths. This will have been a big day, and the soak will put you right to sleep! You will have dinner at the simple resort this evening. Everything in this section of Turkey is small and quaint.

After breakfast, you will have a surprisingly unique stop – the massive, tombed city of Hierapolis. After your walk through this “city of the dead”, we depart the thermal waters of Pamukkale and drive to one of the newest archaeological digs in the Mediterranean basin. It is a wonder that the site of Colossae has not been surveyed until they began just this year; it is rarely visited by pilgrims. We enjoy a lunch along the way, over the mountain, and we drop down in Antioch of Pisidia, this is where the Apostle Paul visited the synagogue.

While here, you will see the military road that was built by Augustus and would have been the road Paul walked on in Galatia, between Lystra, Pisidia, and Perge. Next, we come into Iconium. Iconium (Konya) was so important to the Apostle Paul that he visited there not only on his 1st missionary journey, but he also returned on his second journey. See Acts 13:51 and Acts 16:2, but most importantly, as we study the life of Paul, is how he suffered here. How grateful we are to Paul’s perseverance for the gospel message!

This is the area of Galatia or the Galatians Biblically. Dinner in Iconium and overnight at the Hilton Iconium.

Breakfast at the hotel, see the sights of antiquity, and then we drive along the route that Paul took to Lystra. Lystra was so scripturally important for us because it was the very first city that Paul and the Apostles of Jesus Christ preached directly to non-Jews (Gentiles), as Paul previously had primarily spoken in synagogues. It is also here at Lystra where a priest of the god Zeus offered sacrifices for Paul (when Paul healed a crippled man), thinking he had something to do with their gods and it is here that Barnabus cried out to the crowds to turn from such foolishness and look to The Living God, the maker of the earth and the sea in Acts 14:15. Lystra is also where the Jewish scholars dragged Paul out of the city, believing he was dead 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.  Many believe it was Paul’s time here in Lystra that specifically gave us the beautiful book of Galatians. What a blessing to be at such an important place. We will also see an important inscription that was found on a tiny hill to document the Biblical scriptures. We will drive towards the Mediterranean Sea this evening and overnight at the pretty town of Antalya at the Akra Hotel. Dinner near our hotel this evening at a wonderful Turkish restaurant.

Breakfast at your leisure this morning. 

Free morning for fellowship and a teaching near the beach late this morning. Time to enjoy the meandering around the extensive pools, beaches, and magnificent grounds facing the sea and beautiful mountain vistas! This location is quite incredible, and you will have some time to reflect on Paul’s time here, with a spectacular beach and view! Late lunch, then depart the hotel with our bags. Before we arrive at the airport late this afternoon, we will have our final visit to the site of Perge, which is tied to Acts 14:25.

Paul and Barnabus arrived at Antalya from Barnabus’ home in Cyprus. Perge is where John Mark left Paul. Our flight is at 6:45PM this evening. Those flying back to the USA tonight have an overnight in Istanbul (you can also stay longer if you wish!), and those who wish to take the Cappadocia extension will arrive in Cappadocia this evening.

Breakfast at the hotel, our group air program back to Dulles departs at 7:45AM and arrives at Dulles at 11:35AM today.ship at around 9:00AM this morning for your noon flight back to Istanbul, change planes, and arrive in Dulles (or your home airport) at 7:45PM this evening.

Depart with the group from Antalya this evening at 6:45PM, change in Istanbul, and arrive at Kayseri (Cappadocia) at 11:05PM. You will be met and transferred to the amazing cave hotel, the Yunak. 

Sleep in this morning and enjoy breakfast with an amazing view! We will be making our first tour visit to the famous Underground City. This is going to be amazing and is little known by the outside world. Imagine the Early Church hiding in this otherworldly place. Nice lunch today, and then we take a visit to a small home where the families have lived in these caves for thousands of years. Enjoy a walk through the village today, and then dinner at our hotel and a chance to enjoy the spectacular views.

For those of you who wish to take an early ballooning trip above the amazing topography, you will be leaving the hotel before sunrise and returning to the hotel for breakfast. Enjoy the day walking around the unique churches located in fairy-looking stoves. You will see the gospel story written in unchanged caves that go back 1700 to 2000 years! The day will be quite precious with time to walk around the town. Lunch together, and then stop at a quaint handiwork shop, and have a special, early dinner. Our flight to Istanbul is at 8:20PM, with transfers and a hotel to get a great night’s sleep before your international flight. If you wish, you can also stop over in Istanbul for as many days as you like. We use the air program as a good guide in planning. Turkish Airlines flies from at least 12 other US cities as well; you do not have to utilize our air from Washington Dulles.