TUESDAY OCTOBER 24, 2023 Depart USA WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2023 Arrive Istanbul International Airport. Meet our guide and private luxury motor coach and transfer to our hotel in Istanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. THURSDAY OCTOBER 26, 2023 We will visit the famous Blue Mosque, with its six minarets and sparkling interior. We will visit the Archaeological Museum and nearby Museum of the Ancient Orient — two world class museums where artifacts from all over the Near East have been collected — including the famous Jerusalem Temple Inscription and the inscription from Hezekiah’s Tunnel (also from Jerusalem). Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) that, for 1000 years, was the largest church in Christendom. Built by Justinian (532-537 AD), the church has 107 columns and beautiful glass mosaics. Visit the Underground Cisterns. Dinner and overnight Istanbul. FRIDAY OCTOBER 27, 2023 Morning leisurely boat tour along the Bosphorus—seeing both European and Asian shores of Istanbul. Visit the Spice (Egyptian) Market. Drive to Çanakkale. Dinner and overnight in Çanakkale. SATURDAY OCTOBER 28, 2023 Our morning begins with visiting the legendary site of Troy. Made famous by Homer in the Iliad, we visit the ruins of Troy and see a replica of the famous “Wooden Horse.” From Troy, we travel to Alexandria Troas (Acts 16:6-10; 20:13-16) to visit the harbor and the new excavation area. Our day concludes visiting the site of Assos (where Paul stopped on his third missionary journey; Acts 20:13-14). We drive to our hotel in Dikili for dinner and overnight. SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2023 Drive to Bergama to visit the Pergamum, one of the Seven Churches. Its acropolis is set on a hill high above the modern town of Bergama. The site boasts its famous ancient library, the Trajan imperial cult temple, the steepest theater in Turkey, and the foundation of the altar of Zeus. We will also see the healing center at the Asclepium. The famous doctor Galen lived and practiced at the Asclepium for many years. After Pergamum, we drive to Thyatira and visit the meager Roman remains in the midst of the modern city. Dinner and overnight Izmir. MONDAY OCTOBER 30, 2023 Our morning begins by visiting the ongoing excavations at the Smyrna agora and the ancient acropolis. We then drive to Sardis (Sart), one of the most picturesque sites of the Seven Churches of Asia (Revelation 1:11; 3:1-4) and the capital of the ancient Lydian Kingdom of the 6th century BC. We visit the restored gymnasium and reconstructed synagogue. We will also see the remains of the Temple of Artemis, the royal Persian Road from Susa to Sardis, and the ‘golden’ river Pactolos. On our way to the Lychus Valley, we visit the few remains of Philadelphia, before continuing to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight Pamukkale. TUESDAY OCTOBER 31, 2023 We begin the morning visiting Hierapolis that features the largest necropolis in Turkey. Near its theater in Hierapolis, we will always see the newly excavated martyrium of Philip. Paul mentions Hierapolis in his letter to the Colossians. Next, we will visit the new excavations at Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches. Then we will drive to Colossae in the Lycus Valley to see the location of the unexcavated site. Paul wrote two letters to this city – Colossians and Philemon. Return to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2023 Drive to Aphrodisias, where archaeological excavations led by the New York University have unearthed numerous fine marble statues. We will see the best-preserved stadium in Turkey as well as the temple of Aphrodite. We will also visit the newly opened museum that features statues from the Sebasteion. On our way to Kusadasi, we visit the ancient site of Magnesia (Tralles) with its forum and large stadium. Continue to Kusadasi, the holiday town on the shores of the Aegean Sea. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2023 This morning we drive to Miletus to see the well-preserved theater. At Miletus Paul delivered his speech to the Ephesian elders near one of its four harbors. As we approach Didyma, we will visit the remains of the Sacred Way that linked Miletus to this ancient oracle site at the Temple of Apollo. The Temple to Apollo at Didyma is the finest temple in the Aegean region. At Priene, we will see the best-preserved Hellenistic theater in Turkey. We will also view the remains of a synagogue in the west residential district and the city’s bouleterion. Return to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2023 This morning we visit the ancient site of Ephesus. Located near the modern town of Selçuk, Ephesus is the best-preserved classical city of the eastern Mediterranean. Paul spent nearly three years in the city during his third journey. At Ephesus we will see the Domitian Temple, the Temple of Hadrian, Celsus Library, and a theater with a seating capacity for 24,000 people. We will also tour the ongoing excavations at the terrace houses where the rich and famous of Ephesus lived. We will also visit the excellent local archaeological museum, and the site of the Temple of Artemis, the largest religious structure of the ancient world. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2023 This morning we drive to the airport in Izmir to catch our flight to Istanbul and return to the USA.