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Biblical Turkey: In the Footsteps of St. Paul & St. John

(12 Days / 11 Nights – The Ultimate Pilgrimage Tour)

Tour Code: BIB 012
Route: Antioch -> Tarsus -> Cappadocia -> Iconium -> Seven Churches -> Nicea -> Istanbul
Start: Hatay Airport (HTY) End: Istanbul Airport (IST/SAW)
Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Style: Religious Heritage / Cultural Tour (Private or Group)


Turkey is the “Other Holy Land.” From the caves of Cappadocia where early Christians hid, to the ancient streets of Ephesus where St. Paul preached, this land holds the secrets of the early Church.

This comprehensive 12-Day Biblical Tour takes you on a spiritual journey through the Seven Churches of Revelation, the birthplace of St. Paul in Tarsus, the first church in Antioch, and the Councils of Nicea.

Itinerary: A Journey of Faith
Day 1: Arrival in Antioch (The Cradle of Christianity)

Arrival: Pick-up from Hatay Airport and transfer to your hotel.

Welcome: Settle in the city where the disciples were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26).

Overnight: Antioch (Antakya).

Day 2: The First Church & The Mosaics
St. Peter’s Cave Church: Visit the first cathedral of the world, carved into a mountainside by early believers.

Mosaic Museum: Explore one of the world’s largest collections of Roman mosaics.

Seleucia Pieria: See the ancient port from where Paul and Barnabas set sail for their first missionary journey (Acts 13:4). Visit the impressive Titus Tunnel.

Drive to Adana: Scenic drive to Adana for overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 3: Tarsus (Home of Paul) & Cappadocia
Tarsus: Visit the birthplace of the Apostle Paul. Drink from St. Paul’s Well and walk on the ancient Roman street he likely walked on.

Journey to Cappadocia: We cross the Taurus Mountains via the historic Cilician Gates.

Derinkuyu Underground City: Descend into the deep shelter where thousands of Christians hid from persecution.

Overnight: Cappadocia (Cave Hotel).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 4: The Land of Early Monks
Goreme Open Air Museum: See the rock-cut churches and frescoes depicting biblical scenes.

Monks Valley (Pasabag): Walk among the fairy chimneys where St. Simeon lived in seclusion.

Uchisar & Pigeon Valley: Panoramic views and a tea break in a cave house.

Avanos & Devrent: Pottery art and imagination valley.

Overnight: Cappadocia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 5: Iconium & Pisidian Antioch
Sultanhani Caravanserai: A stop at the 13th-century Silk Road inn.

Konya (Iconium): Visit the Mevlana Museum (Rumi). Paul and Barnabas visited Iconium on their first journey (Acts 14:1).

Antioch of Pisidia (Yalvac): Visit the ruins of the Synagogue where Paul preached his first recorded sermon. See the foundation of St. Paul’s Church.

Drive to Egirdir: Overnight by the beautiful Lake Egirdir.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 6: Colossae, Laodicea & Hierapolis
Colossae: Visit the unexcavated site of the city to which Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians.

Laodicea: One of the Seven Churches (Rev 3:14). Walk the newly excavated streets and see the church buildings. “You are neither cold nor hot.”

Hierapolis & Pamukkale: Visit the Martyrium of St. Philip the Apostle and walk on the white thermal terraces.

Overnight: Pamukkale (Thermal Hotel).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 7: Ephesus (The Light of Asia)
House of Virgin Mary: Visit the shrine on Mt. Koressos where tradition says Mary spent her final days.

Ancient Ephesus: Walk the marble streets of the most significant city of early Christianity. See the Celsus Library and the Great Theatre (scene of the riot in Acts 19).

Basilica of St. John: Visit the tomb of the Apostle John.

Overnight: Izmir (Smyrna).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 8: Seven Churches (Smyrna, Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira)
Smyrna: Visit the Church of St. Polycarp (disciple of John) and the Agora. “Be faithful unto death.” (Rev 2:10).

Thyatira (Akhisar): Visit the ruins of the Basilica. (Rev 2:18).

Sardis: Explore the massive Temple of Artemis and the ancient Synagogue. “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” (Rev 3:1).

Philadelphia (Alasehir): Visit the Church of St. John. “I have set before you an open door.” (Rev 3:8).

Overnight: Pergamum.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 9: Pergamum, Troas & Troy
Pergamum: Visit the Acropolis and the site of the Altar of Zeus (“Satan’s Throne” – Rev 2:13). See the Red Basilica.

Alexandria Troas: The port where Paul had the vision of the Macedonian man (Acts 16:9).

Troy: Visit the legendary city of Homer’s Iliad.

Overnight: Canakkale.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 10: Nicea & Istanbul
Nicea (Iznik): The site of the First (325 AD) and Seventh (787 AD) Ecumenical Councils. Visit the Hagia Sophia Church of Nicea.

Drive to Istanbul: Cross the bridge between Asia and Europe.

Overnight: Istanbul.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 11: Constantinople (Christian Heritage)
Hagia Sophia: The Church of Holy Wisdom, the greatest church of Christendom for 1,000 years.

Chora Church (Kariye): Famous for its breathtaking Byzantine mosaics depicting the life of Christ and Mary.

Hippodrome & Blue Mosque: See the monuments of the Roman and Ottoman capital.

Topkapi Palace: The opulent home of Sultans.

Overnight: Istanbul.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 12: Bosphorus & Departure
Spice Bazaar: Smell the aromas of the East.

Bosphorus Cruise: A private boat tour between two continents.

Departure: Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Tour Package Details
Inclusions

Hotels: 11 Nights Accommodation (4 & 5-Star Hotels).

Meals: Daily Breakfast, 11 Lunches, 10 Dinners.

Guide: Expert English-Speaking Biblical Tour Guide.

Transport: Private A/C Vehicle (Van/Minibus/Coach depending on group size).

Fees: Entrance fees to all museums, churches, and ancient sites.

Transfers: All Airport Transfers.

Cable Car: Pergamum Acropolis cable car fee.

Tips: Hotel tips included.

Exclusions

Drinks during meals.

Domestic Flights (if needed).

Visa Fees.

Driver & Guide Tips.

Optional Activities (Balloon Flight in Cappadocia).

Planning a Church Group Tour? Contact us for special group rates!


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Terms & Conditions (Booking & Cancellation Policy)

Welcome to Travel Mart Turkiye. By browsing this website and booking any tours, activities, transfers, or packages with us, you agree to be bound by the following Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before making a reservation.

  1. Booking & Confirmation Process
    To ensure a seamless experience, our booking process is structured as follows:

Reservations: All bookings must be made through our official website channels, email, or verified WhatsApp lines.

Deposit & Payment: To secure your spot (especially for Hot Air Balloon flights which have limited capacity), a deposit or full payment is required at the time of booking. We accept major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex) via secure payment links or bank transfers.

Confirmation: Your booking is considered confirmed only when you receive an official “Booking Confirmation” email or voucher from Cappadocia Mart. Please check all details (dates, names, hotel) carefully upon receipt.

  1. Cancellation & Refund Policy
    We understand that travel plans can change. We aim to be as flexible as possible while respecting the operational costs of our partners. Our cancellation policy is divided by service type:

A. Hot Air Balloon Flights (Important) Ballooning is strictly weather-dependent. Here is how we handle cancellations:

Cancellation by Civil Aviation (Weather): If your flight is cancelled by the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority due to unsafe weather conditions (wind, fog, storm), you are entitled to a 100% FULL REFUND. No hidden fees, no deductions. Alternatively, we can reschedule you for the next day, subject to availability.

Cancellation by the Guest:

More than 48 Hours Notice: If you cancel more than 48 hours before the scheduled flight time, you will receive a full refund.

Less than 48 Hours: Cancellations made within 48 hours of the flight are non-refundable due to seat allocation costs and limited capacity.

No-Show: If you are not present at the designated pickup time/location, no refund will be issued.

B. Daily Tours (Red/Green/Blue Tours) & Activities (ATV, Horse, Camel)

Free Cancellation: You may cancel up to 24 hours before the tour start time for a full refund.

Late Cancellation: Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour are subject to a 100% cancellation fee (no refund).

C. Private Tours & Large Group Bookings For private VIP tours or groups larger than 10 people, stricter planning is required:

7 Days Notice: Full refund if cancelled 7 days prior to arrival.

3-6 Days Notice: 50% refund.

Less than 72 Hours: Non-refundable.

  1. Pricing & Inclusions
    Currency: All prices on our website are in Euros (€) or USD ($) unless stated otherwise.

Price Protection: Once your booking is confirmed and the deposit is paid, the price is locked. We will not charge you extra even if market prices increase later.

Exclusions: Unless specifically stated in the tour description, personal expenses, beverages during lunch, and gratuities (tips) for guides/drivers are not included in the price.

  1. Insurance & Liability
    Balloon Safety: All hot air balloon operators we partner with hold valid insurance policies covering all passengers in accordance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards.

Travel Insurance: While our tours cover basic transportation and activity insurance required by Turkish Law, we strongly recommend that all travelers purchase their own comprehensive travel insurance to cover personal health issues, lost luggage, or international flight delays.

Liability: Cappadocia Mart acts as a booking agent. We are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage sustained during the tour, except where such loss is caused by our direct negligence.

  1. Child Policy
    Hot Air Balloons: For safety and legal reasons, children under 6 years old are strictly not allowed to fly in hot air balloons. Children aged 6-12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Land Tours:

0-2 Years: Free of Charge.

3-8 Years: Discounted rates usually apply (varies by specific tour).

Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Turkey. Any disputes arising from these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Nevşehir, Turkey.

Pick-up & Drop-off Times
Pick-up times provided during the booking process are estimates. The exact time depends on the location of your hotel (Goreme, Urgup, Uchisar, Avanos) and seasonal sunrise times. We will confirm the exact pick-up time with you via WhatsApp or Email one day before the tour.

Privacy Policy
Your personal data (Full Name, Passport Number, Contact Info) is collected solely for the purpose of operational bookings and mandatory insurance requirements. We do not sell your data to third-party marketing companies.