Biblical Turkey Tour: Seven Churches, Cappadocia & Istanbul, 10 Days
Overview
Biblical Turkey Tour: Seven Churches, Cappadocia & Istanbul, 10 Days
Over ten private days you trace the steps of Saint Paul and the first Christian communities of Anatolia. The trip opens in Istanbul, the city once called Constantinople, then moves on to Cappadocia, where early believers sheltered in underground cities and carved churches into the rock.
All Seven Churches of Revelation
Next you follow the apostle's missionary road to Konya, the ancient Iconium, and on to Pisidian Antioch. The route then takes in every one of the Seven Churches of Revelation: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Along the way you stand in the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St. John, walk through Hierapolis and cross the white travertines of Pamukkale.
Included in the Package
Hotels are chosen with care, and the price includes domestic flights, private transport, a professional licensed biblical guide, breakfast every day, airport transfers and selected lunches. It suits pilgrims, Christian travellers and church groups well.
Tour Info
Choose your hotels
This package comes with a mid-range hotel. To stay somewhere else, pick another hotel below and we add only the difference in price. We confirm availability with you.
Select a check-in date and the exact prices for those dates will appear.
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Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul and Private Transfer
A member of our team meets you at Istanbul Airport (IST) and drives you privately to your hotel. After the flight, use the rest of the day as you like: rest, or take a first walk through the old streets of Istanbul.
- Landing at Istanbul Airport
- Welcome by our team
- Private transfer from the airport
- Check-in at your hotel
- Free time in Istanbul
- Welcome information and tour briefing
Night in Istanbul.
Day 2 – Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar
Following breakfast, you discover the imperial past and Christian legacy of Istanbul, the former Constantinople. Hagia Sophia, a landmark of Christian architecture, comes first, followed by the Blue Mosque, the old Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace, where the Ottoman sultans lived. You finish with free time in the Grand Bazaar, among the oldest covered markets anywhere on earth.
- Hotel breakfast
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Hippodrome
- Topkapi Palace
- Grand Bazaar
- Lunch in a local restaurant
Night in Istanbul.
Day 3 – Flight to Cappadocia and Red Tour
After breakfast, a transfer takes you to the airport for the included flight to Cappadocia. This unusual landscape gave early Christians an important place of refuge. Your sightseeing covers the Goreme Open-Air Museum, Pasabag with its fairy chimneys, Avanos and its potters, and the wide views from Uchisar Castle. You then check in to your cave hotel.
- Hotel breakfast
- Transfer to Istanbul Airport
- Domestic flight to Cappadocia
- Goreme Open-Air Museum
- Pasabag (Monks Valley)
- Avanos, the pottery town
- Uchisar Castle
Night in Cappadocia.
Day 4 – Optional Balloon Flight, Kaymakli Underground City and Selime Monastery
If you wish, you can rise over Cappadocia at sunrise on an optional hot air balloon flight. After breakfast you go down into Kaymakli Underground City, a hiding place for early Christians in years of persecution. Then you visit Selime Monastery, the largest monastery carved from the rock in the whole region.
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight (optional)
- Hotel breakfast
- Kaymakli Underground City
- Selime Monastery
Night in Cappadocia.
Day 5 – Iconium (Konya) and Pisidian Antioch, Drive to Pamukkale
After breakfast you leave Cappadocia by road for ancient Iconium, today's Konya. The Book of Acts records that Saint Paul and Barnabas came here on their first missionary journey, and the city was one of their main stops. Your guide tells the story of the early Christian community that took root here.
The road continues to Pisidian Antioch (Yalvac), the setting of one of Saint Paul's most important sermons. From there a drive across rural Anatolia brings you to Pamukkale, where you check in.
- Hotel breakfast
- Ancient Iconium (Konya)
- Places connected with Saint Paul
- Pisidian Antioch
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Private transfer to Pamukkale
- Check-in at the hotel
Night in Pamukkale.
Day 6 – Laodicea, Hierapolis and the Pamukkale Travertines
Breakfast is followed by a visit to Laodicea, listed among the Seven Churches of Revelation. It was for the Christians of this city that the Apostle John wrote down Christ's message. Next comes Hierapolis, with its well-kept Roman remains, its ancient theatre and a long early Christian past.
To finish, you take off your shoes and walk across the Pamukkale travertines: white mineral terraces with thermal water, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Then you head back to the hotel.
- Hotel breakfast
- Laodicea, a church of Revelation
- Hierapolis Ancient City
- Barefoot walk on the Pamukkale travertines
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Free time to take photos
Night in Pamukkale.
Day 7 – Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary and Basilica of St. John
After breakfast the drive takes you to Ephesus, a city of great biblical importance and home of a church later named among the Seven Churches of Revelation. You stroll its marble-paved streets as far as the Great Theatre. It was here that the Apostle Paul spoke to the Ephesians.
Later comes the House of the Virgin Mary, held to be the final home of Mary, mother of Jesus. Next is the Basilica of St. John, which stands over the traditional grave of the Apostle John. The day ends with a transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi.
- Hotel breakfast
- Ancient Ephesus
- Great Theatre of Ephesus
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Basilica of St. John
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Transfer to Kusadasi
Night in Kusadasi.
Day 8 – Smyrna, Sardis and Philadelphia
After breakfast, today's programme adds three further churches of Revelation. First is Smyrna, modern Izmir, one of the few churches that Revelation praises for keeping faith under persecution. Then you travel to Sardis, once the rich capital of the Lydian Kingdom. Revelation gave its church a stern message.
Philadelphia, today's Alasehir, is the final stop. Its church was commended for holding firm in its faith. Afterwards the road leads back to your Kusadasi hotel.
- Hotel breakfast
- Smyrna, one of the Seven Churches
- Ancient Sardis
- Philadelphia (Alasehir)
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Scenic drive across western Anatolia
Night in Kusadasi.
Day 9 – Pergamon, Thyatira and Flight to Istanbul
After breakfast you head to Pergamon (Pergamum), another of the Seven Churches, and explore what remains of its Acropolis, set high above the ancient city. Then you continue to Thyatira, modern Akhisar. The Book of Revelation carries Christ's message to its Christian community, and with this stop you have seen all Seven Churches.
Next comes a transfer to Izmir Airport for the included flight to Istanbul. On arrival our representative meets you and drives you privately to your hotel.
- Hotel breakfast
- Pergamon, one of the Seven Churches
- The Acropolis of Pergamon
- Thyatira (Akhisar)
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Transfer to Izmir Airport
- Domestic flight to Istanbul
- Private transfer from the airport to your hotel
Night in Istanbul.
Day 10 – Departure from Istanbul Airport
Enjoy breakfast and check out. At the agreed time a private transfer drives you to Istanbul Airport (IST) for your international flight.
- Hotel breakfast
- Check-out from the hotel
- Private transfer to the airport
- Arrival at Istanbul Airport
- International flight home
Our services end here.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Breakfast and 9 nights in a mid-range hotel chosen from our list, booked subject to availability and once you approve it
- ✓Some lunches on the days with guided touring
- ✓A professional biblical guide, licensed and English-speaking
- ✓Personal meet and greet at the airport
- ✓Airport transfers on a private basis
- ✓Flights within Turkey
- ✓Private vehicle for the whole trip
- ✓Visits to all Seven Churches of Revelation
- ✓Konya, the ancient Iconium
- ✓Antioch in Pisidia
- ✓The Goreme Open-Air Museum
- ✓Underground city at Kaymakli
- ✓The Selime Monastery
- ✓Ruins of Ephesus
- ✓Visit to the Virgin Mary's House
- ✓St. John's Basilica
- ✓Izmir, the ancient Smyrna
- ✓Ruins of Pergamon
- ✓Akhisar, the ancient Thyatira
- ✓Ruins of Sardis
- ✓Alasehir, the ancient Philadelphia
- ✓Ruins of Laodicea
- ✓Ruins of Hierapolis
- ✓The travertine terraces of Pamukkale
- ✓Istanbul tour of Christian heritage sites
- ✓Hagia Sophia
- ✓The Blue Mosque
- ✓Topkapi Palace
- ✓The Grand Bazaar
- ✓Entry tickets for every museum and attraction
- ✓Pick-up from and drop-off at your hotel
- ✓Every tax and service charge
- ✕International Flights
- ✕Turkey Visa Fees (If Required)
- ✕Travel Insurance
- ✕Personal Expenses
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at no charge until 7 days before your tour and you receive a full refund. If you cancel within the final 7 days before the tour, no refund is given. All times shown are local.
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Ten days through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Saint Paul's route and the Seven Churches: the essentials
Over ten private days you trace Saint Paul and the first Christian communities across Turkey, with prices from $2,750 per person. The trip starts in Istanbul, the former Constantinople, moves on to Cappadocia's underground cities and rock-cut churches, follows Paul's missionary path to Iconium (Konya) and Pisidian Antioch, and takes in every one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. The price covers nine hotel nights with breakfast, domestic flights, private meet-and-greet at the airport with transfers, private transport for the whole trip, a licensed biblical guide and selected lunches on tour days.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 10 days, 9 nights |
| Price | from $2,750 per person |
| Format | Private, led by a licensed biblical guide |
| Route | Istanbul to Cappadocia, Konya and Pisidian Antioch, then Pamukkale, Ephesus and Izmir, returning to Istanbul |
| What is covered | Domestic flights, hotels with breakfast, guide, private transport, selected lunches, the Seven Churches, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, Cappadocia sites |
| What is not covered | Travel insurance, international flights, hot air balloon (optional), Turkey visa fees where required |
What happens on each of the ten days?
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | You arrive in Istanbul |
| Day 2 | Biblical heritage of Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar |
| Day 3 | Fly to Cappadocia; Red Tour with Uchisar Castle, Goreme Open-Air Museum, Avanos and Pasabag |
| Day 4 | Sunrise balloon if you choose it; Selime Monastery and Kaymakli Underground City |
| Day 5 | Following Saint Paul: Pisidian Antioch (Yalvac) and Iconium (Konya) |
| Day 6 | Pamukkale travertines, Hierapolis and Laodicea |
| Day 7 | Ephesus, the Basilica of St. John and the House of the Virgin Mary |
| Day 8 | Philadelphia, Sardis and Smyrna |
| Day 9 | Thyatira and Pergamon; fly back to Istanbul |
| Day 10 | Private transfer to the airport in Istanbul |
Why add Cappadocia and Saint Paul's route?
For early Christians, Cappadocia was a key centre and place of refuge. Its rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes and its underground cities, where whole communities could hide, tell a part of Christian history you cannot find anywhere else. Saint Paul and Barnabas visited Iconium and Pisidian Antioch on their first missionary journey, as the Acts of the Apostles records. Add the Seven Churches, and this becomes the fullest biblical journey we have.
How does it compare with our other faith tours?
| Faith tour | Days | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Ephesus and Pamukkale biblical tour | 2 days | $720 per person |
| Revelation's Seven Churches | 5 days | $1,800 per person |
| Seven Churches plus Istanbul | 7 days | $2,050 per person |
| This tour | 10 days | $2,750 per person |
Is a balloon flight in Cappadocia possible?
Yes, on the fourth morning. Prices for the standard balloon flight at sunrise begin at $199; it is optional and paid in addition to the tour.
Does it suit church groups and pilgrims?
Yes. Because the tour is private, with a guide and vehicle just for you, readings and prayers can be part of every site visit, and the pace can be adjusted for older travellers. Let us know your group size and any needs when booking.
When should you go?
For the long days on the road and for Cappadocia, April to June and September to October work best. Inland summers are hot; in winter it is cold, and snow is possible in Cappadocia and on the high plateau near Konya.
What should you pack?
Comfortable shoes for the ancient sites, modest clothes for the churches, the mosques and the House of the Virgin Mary, layers for chilly Cappadocia mornings, a Bible if you like, and your passport for the domestic flights.
How does booking work?
Pick your dates here and submit the form, or send us your group size and flights on WhatsApp. The plan is confirmed in writing, and payment comes only after confirmation. Browse more Cappadocia tours, Ephesus tours and Turkey tour packages for other ideas.
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