Today, you would depart from the USA to Bodrum, Turkey. You may purchase any air schedule that you like, but there are two choices of flight schedules if you would like to fly with our group: you can originate in Seattle, or you can originate at Washington, Dulles. For the exact schedules provided, please see the Terms and Conditions section under the title Airlines.

The flight schedule recommended for you arrives in Bodrum at 1:40PM. If you arrive at this time—or even before—you will be met and transferred to the beautiful Hotel Marmara (a small, luxury Hotel of the World) overlooking the Aegean Sea. You will have time to visit the quaint waterfront area if you like, or enjoy the pool and its surroundings. Your group should be at the hotel by 3:30PM. The hotel also has a famous spa and Turkish Hammam. You will dine together with the group this evening.

You will have breakfast at the hotel, visit the quaint city of Bodrum, have lunch, and then join your yacht. This will be your first dinner together with the ship’s crew. You will set sail in the early evening and anchor at a lovely bay for the night. You may choose to enjoy a swim in the warm waters of the Aegean Sea from your own private, floating home-away-from-home!

This morning, you will awaken in the lovely bay to enjoy the soft breezes and morning coffee on deck. You will sail today for about 4 hours, stopping at a local inlet for a visit to a small Turkish island to enjoy the waters and ambience of island life. Then you will continue sailing this afternoon, arriving on the island of Patmos, where you will have dinner at the special, waterfront, seafood restaurant. It is within walking distance of where your ship will be moored. Shops, bicycles, mopeds, and small boats are all adjacent to where you’ll be moored alongside the quaint town of Skala. The little village is awake and alive until well after midnight.

Today, you will visit the cave where the Apostle John received the book of Revelation. You will also visit the tiny monastery that has housed precious Biblical texts for centuries. After this visit, you will visit the site where the Apostle John baptized the community in the Aegean Sea. After lunch, you will set sail for one of the other Greek Islands, where you will again be moored overnight. You will have dinner aboard the ship, but you also have the opportunity to use the Zodiac to explore the beaches and treasures of this precious island.

Your breakfast will be aboard the ship! You will be switching bays this morning and enjoy another one of the scenic sites of the Turkish Riviera. You will say goodbye to your crew as you re-enter the country of Turkey! Your Turkish driver will be awaiting you, as will your guide, who is a Biblical scholar. They will be with you for the final leg of your journey.  You will be driven approximately 2.5 hours to the busy port city of Kusadasi. Upon arrival, you will tour the magnificent site of Ephesus, the first of your visits to the Seven Churches of Revelation. Afterwards, you will, very aptly, visit the burial place of the Apostle John. Tonight, you will have dinner and stay overnight at a lovely hotel by the sea.

This morning, you will be driven to the area of Pamukkale, well known for its majestic, white, mineral-covered mountains that seem to resemble cotton candy. But this mineral hot spring also provides the warm waters of the mineral springs that Jesus speaks of in his statement against the Church of Laodicea. Your first visit to this region is the archaeological emerald: the Church of Laodicea. There is very rich teaching at this site, and you will learn the historical significance of how God prepared this place in advance for the missionary journeys that built the substantial church of Laodicea. Next, you will visit the tomb city of Hierapolis and see its pool of Cleopatra, the magnificent theatre, and ruins. You will spend the evening and overnight at a lovely, new, hot springs resort.

You will be driven through the high-volume agricultural area of Turkey and arrive at the active archaeological site of the Church of Sardis. This may prove to be one of your favorite archaeological visits. There is an amazing ancient gymnasium here and a very rare Jewish synagogue that you will see today. The remains are stunning! You will then continue on to the next important teaching site, the ominous church of Pergamon. This is another favorite teaching site, as 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 former President Barack Obama, but the site itself has impressive, 40-mile views. You will then be driven on to the church of Thyatira, which has spectacular columns and a beautiful, ancient roadway. 

“18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.” Revelation 2:18-19

You will have lunch together at a lively Turkish restaurant and then arrive at the remains of the Church of Philadelphia. Philadelphia, known as the place of the remaining two, twin towers, which have long remained at the center of a bustling Turkish city. Philadelphia, though perhaps one of the least impressive archaeologically, bears the strongest resemblance to our own home churches. You will overnight in the pretty waterfront city of Izmir.

Your final visit of the Seven Churches is the precious church of Smyrna. You will be driven today via the countryside toward the Bosphorus and the metropolis of Constantine, Istanbul. You will then be stopping for lunch along the way and may even be afforded a unique view of a cave painting if the necessary permit is approved. There has been an ancient painting of Jesus and a lamb found recently, and, with the approved permit, you will be able to see it. This evening, you will arrive at the bustling city of Istanbul. Your hotel is very near the Hagia Sofia and Sultanahmet Square. You are welcome to walk through the historical area of Istanbul this evening before dinner.

You will have breakfast at the hotel, followed by a brief overview tour of the city, before you are transferred to the airport at 11:30AM for your 3:00PM departure. Extra nights in Istanbul are not allowed if utilizing our group air program, but you are certainly welcome to book and secure your own air schedule.