Christian Heritage Tour of Turkey: 10 Days with Full Board
Overview
Christian Heritage Tour of Turkey: 10 Days with Full Board
This 9-night, 10-day itinerary traces the roots of Christianity across western Turkey. It opens in Istanbul with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, then flies to Izmir, the starting point for ancient Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira.
From there the route moves on to the biblical cities of Philadelphia, Sardis and Laodicea, the white terraces of Pamukkale and finally the great ruins of Ephesus. You also spend quiet time at the House of the Virgin Mary and visit places linked to the journeys of the Apostle Paul, with plenty to learn about both faith and the wider history and culture of the region.
The package is full board, with breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. You stay 9 nights in 4-star or equivalent hotels, travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional guide, and admission fees for the sites in the itinerary are included. Optional extra tours or activities are not.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul & Welcome Dinner
Overnight: Istanbul. Meals: dinner.
When you land at Istanbul Airport or S.Gokcen Airport, our representative is waiting to greet you and help with the transfer to your hotel. After check-in the rest of the day is yours, so you can rest or take a look around the neighbourhood at your own pace.
- Arrival at Istanbul Airport
- Welcome by the tour manager and guide
- Transfer to the hotel
- Welcome dinner at the hotel
Day 2 – Istanbul Old City Sightseeing
Overnight: Istanbul. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
The tour normally runs from around 09:30 and finishes by 17:00 at the latest. Your guide meets you at the hotel at 09:30 AM for a full day on foot through the old centre, the core of Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul.
- Topkapi Palace (optional): the former home of the Ottoman sultans, with fine buildings and a long history.
- Blue Mosque: one of the symbols of the city, known for its scale and its blue tiles.
- Hippodrome: the old chariot-racing ground, where the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain still stand.
- Hagia Sophia (optional): a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a vast interior and outstanding Byzantine architecture.
- Grand Bazaar: the oldest covered market in the world, a busy place to shop for souvenirs, spices and textiles.
At the end of the day you are driven back to your hotel in Istanbul for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 3 – Flight to Izmir: Clock Tower, Kemeralti & Agora of Smyrna
Overnight: Izmir. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- 04:00 AM: pick-up at your Istanbul hotel and transfer to the airport.
- 07:00 - 07:30 AM: flight to Izmir, with views of the land below as you fly.
- 09:00 AM: on arrival, meet your guide and head into the city.
- 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM: the Izmir Clock Tower in Konak Square, a famous landmark and symbol of the city's past. The square is lively and a good place for photos.
- 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Kemeraltı Bazaar, a colourful, busy market where you can browse local crafts and try traditional snacks.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: lunch at a local restaurant, with regional Turkish dishes full of Aegean flavour.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: the Agora of Smyrna, a marketplace that dates back to Roman times. Walk among its ruins and picture the city as it once was.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: an easy walk along the Izmir Waterfront, with views across the Aegean Sea and the bustle of the promenade.
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: the historic Asansör (Elevator), which gives a panoramic view over Izmir.
- 04:00 PM: transfer to your hotel in Izmir. The tour ends at 4:00 PM.
Day 4 – Pergamum & Thyatira
Overnight: Izmir. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- 09:30 AM: leave your Izmir hotel for a day among the biblical sites of the region.
- 10:00 AM: arrival in Pergamon. On the Acropolis you see the steepest theater in the world, with wide views and fine examples of ancient Greek building. Nearby stands the Altar of Zeus, called the “Throne of Satan” in the Book of Revelation, a place of great historical weight.
- 11:30 AM: the Asklepieion, a famous healing centre in Roman times. Learn how doctors and priests treated the sick in this sanctuary, where faith and medicine went hand in hand.
- 12:30 PM: a one-hour lunch break at a local restaurant, with dishes from the region.
- 01:30 PM: the Pergamon Library, the second-largest library of the ancient world, which once held around 200,000 parchments and was a major centre of learning.
- 02:30 PM: the Red Basilica (St. John's Church), an impressive building of its era and a window onto the spiritual life of the first Christians.
- 03:30 PM: drive to Thyatira (today's Akhisar).
- 04:30 PM: tour of Thyatira, where the remains of a basilica and other Roman-period buildings survive. Your guide tells the story of Lydia, the seller of purple from Philippi, who came from Thyatira and played an important part in the early Christian community.
- Evening: return to your hotel in Izmir.
Day 5 – Philadelphia & Sardis to Pamukkale
Overnight: Pamukkale. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- 08:00 AM: leave your hotel in Izmir and drive toward Philadelphia (today's Alasehir).
- 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Philadelphia, a city with an important place in early Christianity, remembered for its endurance and steady faith. Walk its old streets and reflect on its past.
- 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: continue to Sardis, once one of the richest cities of the ancient world.
- 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: explore the ruins of Sardis, including the Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, and imagine the life that once filled them.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: a filling lunch at a local restaurant.
- 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: finish the visit to Sardis and set off toward Pamukkale.
- 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: transfer to Pamukkale, famous for its travertine terraces. Known as the “Cotton Castle”, it has drawn travellers for centuries.
- 05:00 PM: arrive in Pamukkale and check in at your hotel, with time to reflect on the sites of the day.
- Evening: at leisure in a place where natural beauty and biblical history meet.
Day 6 – Pamukkale & Laodicea
- 10:00 - 10:30 AM: pick-up at your hotel for a day at Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis, known for its well-kept ruins and its long history.
- 10:30 - 12:00 PM: start at the Necropolis, a vast ancient cemetery. Walk among tombs and mausoleums left by peoples of the distant past.
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM: the Theater, a grand building that has survived the centuries. Admire its fine design and wide views, and picture the shows once staged here.
- 1:00 - 2:00 PM: lunch at a local restaurant, with regional food and time to rest.
- 2:00 - 3:00 PM: the Cleopatra Pool (swimming costs extra). Legend says Cleopatra herself bathed in its warm, healing water, and you can take a dip and enjoy the calm.
- 3:00 - 4:00 PM: the high point of the day, the travertines of Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk across the soft white terraces and their mineral-rich pools and enjoy the views.
- 4:00 - 4:30 PM: Pamukkale Natural Lake and Park, a quiet green spot to end the visit.
- 4:30 PM: return to your hotel.
Day 7 – House of the Virgin Mary & Selcuk, Pamukkale to Kusadasi
Overnight: Kusadasi. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Today's main visit is the House of the Virgin Mary.
- 07:00 AM: early pick-up at your hotel and departure for the coastal town of Kusadasi, on a day rich in history.
- 10:00 AM: the House of the Virgin Mary, a holy site believed to be the final resting place of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Take your time in this peaceful place of prayer and history.
- After the visit: drive on to Selçuk through pleasant countryside.
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM: lunch at a local restaurant in Selçuk, with regional dishes and time to talk over the morning.
- 1:00 - 3:00 PM: shopping in the boutiques and markets of Selçuk. Look for fine handicrafts, real Turkish textiles and souvenirs that reflect local culture, meet the artisans and enjoy Turkish hospitality.
- 3:00 PM: the tour ends and you head back to your hotel.
- 3:30 PM: arrival at your hotel in Kusadasi for the night.
Day 8 – Ephesus & Kusadasi
Overnight: Kusadasi. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- 08:00 AM: pick-up at your hotel for the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the key places in the story of early Christianity.
- 08:30 AM: tour of Ephesus. See the Library of Celsus, a monument to ancient learning, and the great Theatre, where the first Christians may have gathered to listen to the Apostle Paul. Continue to the Temple of Aphrodite and the Temple of Hadrian, both signs of the city's cultural wealth, and end at the Temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of antiquity, with its own place in biblical history.
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM: lunch at a local restaurant, with traditional Turkish food and time to share what you learned in the morning.
- 1:00 - 3:00 PM: visit the Town Overlooks. From these viewpoints, look out over the land where early believers lived their faith, and think about the first church and the teachings of Christ that shaped so many lives.
- 3:00 PM: the tour ends with the drive back to your hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 9 – Flight from Kusadasi to Istanbul & Farewell Dinner
Overnight: Istanbul. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
- Morning flight back to Istanbul
- Free time for last shopping or optional tours
- Farewell dinner
Day 10 – Departure from Istanbul
Meals: breakfast.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel. Our representative helps with your transfer to the airport, and our services end here.
If you would like to stay longer in Istanbul, simply add extra days to your package through the booking form.
Important Notes
Optional add-ons
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (GOREME): $310
- Extra night at an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
- Upgrade to a private tour: $500
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily)
- ✓9 nights in 4-star or equivalent hotels
- ✓Professional guide
- ✓Air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓Admission fees in the itinerary
- ✕Optional additional tours or activities.
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Christian heritage tour of Turkey in 10 days with full board: the key facts
This package follows the early Christian sites of western Turkey over ten days and nine nights, with all meals included. It begins with two nights in Istanbul and a guided day in the old city. On Day 3 you fly to Izmir for ancient Smyrna, then visit Pergamum and Thyatira, Philadelphia and Sardis, Hierapolis at Pamukkale and Laodicea, the House of the Virgin Mary and Ephesus, before flying back to Istanbul for a farewell dinner. Taken together, the route covers the seven churches named in the Book of Revelation.
It suits church groups, pilgrims and anyone who wants biblical sites explained in order, at a steadier pace than our shorter tours, with two nights in most stops. The price is from $3,625 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 10 days / 9 nights |
| Route | Istanbul - Izmir (Smyrna) - Pergamum - Thyatira - Philadelphia - Sardis - Pamukkale (Hierapolis, Laodicea) - Kusadasi (Ephesus) - Istanbul |
| Style | Listed as a group tour, guided, with full board |
| Start / end | Starts with an airport pickup in Istanbul (Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen); ends with a transfer to the airport on Day 10 |
| Included | Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, 9 nights in 4-star or equivalent hotels, guide, air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees in the itinerary |
| Extra | Optional tours and activities, including Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and swimming in the Cleopatra Pool |
Where do we stay each night?
The page gives the overnights day by day: two nights in Istanbul, two in Izmir, two in Pamukkale, two in Kusadasi and a last night in Istanbul. That is nine nights, all in 4-star or equivalent hotels according to the inclusions. Staying two nights in most places means fewer hotel changes than on a short tour. The page does not name the hotels, so ask for the hotel list in your written plan. The page lists an extra night at an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour, for $65.
Are the two domestic flights included?
The itinerary has a flight from Istanbul to Izmir on Day 3 and a flight back to Istanbul on Day 9, but neither flight is named in the inclusions list. The Day 9 title also says "Flight from Kusadasi", although Kusadasi has no airport; the usual airport for Kusadasi is Izmir, about 80 km away. Ask us to confirm in writing that both flights are in the price and which airport the return flight uses. Note also that Day 3 starts with a 04:00 AM hotel pickup for a 07:00 to 07:30 AM flight.
Is Laodicea actually visited?
The Day 6 title is "Pamukkale and Laodicea", and the overview names Laodicea, but the timed programme for Day 6 lists only the Necropolis, the Theatre, the Cleopatra Pool, the travertines and the Natural Lake and Park at Pamukkale, with a return to the hotel at 4:30 PM. Laodicea does not appear in the timings. Since it is one of the seven churches, ask us to confirm in writing when and for how long you visit it.
Are Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace included in Istanbul?
The overview says the tour opens with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, but the Day 2 programme marks both Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace as optional. Optional sites are not covered by the included entrance fees. The Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar are part of the day. For a faith-focused tour, Hagia Sophia is a key stop, so ask us to state in writing whether its ticket is included or how much it adds.
What is the pace like, and how much walking is there?
Most days start between 07:00 and 10:00 and end around 3:00 to 5:00 PM, with a lunch stop each day. The longest is Day 3 because of the early flight. Day 4 covers the Acropolis and the Asklepieion at Pergamum and then Thyatira, and Day 5 has several hours on the road between Izmir, Philadelphia, Sardis and Pamukkale, arriving around 5:00 PM. At Pergamum's Acropolis and Ephesus you walk on uneven ancient ground. Comfortable shoes and a hat are the main needs.
What should we wear at the sacred sites and at Pamukkale?
For the Blue Mosque, cover shoulders and knees, and women should bring a headscarf; shoes come off at the door, and the mosque closes to visitors during prayers, with the longest closure at Friday midday. Modest clothing also suits the House of the Virgin Mary, which is still a place of prayer. On the travertine terraces at Pamukkale, everyone walks barefoot and staff enforce this, so bring a bag for your shoes. Pack a swimsuit if you plan to use the Cleopatra Pool, which costs extra.
What is the best time of year for this route?
Spring and autumn suit a ten-day tour with this much time outdoors. The Aegean and inland sites such as Sardis, Laodicea and Pamukkale are hot in July and August, and much of the day is spent in the open at ruins. April, May, late September and October are more comfortable for the walking at Ephesus and Pergamum. Read our best time to visit Turkey guide for more on the seasons.
Can we add Cappadocia or travel privately?
The page lists a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (Goreme) for $310, but this route does not include Cappadocia, so a balloon would need extra days and travel. The Istanbul, Cappadocia and Seven Churches tour combines both. You can also upgrade to a private tour for $500. If ten days is too long, compare the 7-day Seven Churches tour or the 5-day version. All faith-focused options are on our biblical packages page.
How do I book this package?
Choose your date and group size in the booking form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We send a written plan with flight times and airports, hotel names, the full meal plan and what is included, and you check it before any payment. Please make sure it answers the open points above: the domestic flights, Laodicea and Hagia Sophia. Read the cancellation policy before you confirm. The tour is operated by Viracocha Travel Turizm, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.
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