12 Days 10 Nights Seven Churches Turkey & Greece 18/02/2024 – 29/02/2024

HIGHLIGHTS

Flight details:

18FEB QR945  SIN – DOH 0200 – 0505

18FEB QR241  DOH – SAW (Istanbul) 0735 – 1205

28FEB QR204 ATH(ATHENS) – DOH 1245 – 1750

28FEB QR942 DOH – SIN 2040 – 0915*

ITINERARY

Day 01 18Feb Sunday
Singapore–Istanbul (Lunch, Dinner)

Upon arrival, we will be met by a local representative. visit Hippodrome – once a stadium used traditionally for horse and chariot racing, Blue Mosque – the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets and a treasury of some of Turkey’s greatest artworks and artifacts, Then we will visit The Hagia Sophia, with its innovative architecture, rich history, religious significance and extraordinary characteristics has been fighting against time for centuries, is the largest Eastern Roman Church in Istanbul and finally The Topkapi Palace – the seat of the Ottoman Empire after it shifted its capital from Bursa to Istanbul. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 02 19th Feb Monday
Istanbul-Pamukkale (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Christianity spread quickly. After lunch, our next stop is nearby Philadelphia which was referred to as the “New Jerusalem” in the Book of Revelation. Not much is left of the city except for the ancient wall and the remains of a Byzantine Basilica in the modern city of Alasehir. After dinner, we may relax and enjoy soaking into an authentic thermal bath at the hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 03 20th Feb Wednesday
Pamukkale – Kusadasi (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. We will visit Hierapolis, meaning “Sacred City”, was an ancient centre for pagan cults until it was transformed into a Christian centre in the first century. According to tradition, the Apostle Philip lived and was martyred in Hierapolis. It was likely the hot springs of Hierapolis in contrast to the cold mountain springs near Colossae that combined to bring application to the “lukewarm” Laodeceans (Rev 3:14-22). This connection between the cities lies behind Paul’s reference to Hierapolis and Laodicea in his epistle to the Colossians (Col. 4:13). See the famous white calcium cascades of Pamukkale (the white “Cotton Castles”. Continue on to Laodicea, a city that contains many acres of ruins including a stadium and remnants of a sophisticated water system. Christianity came during the time of St. Paul, brought by Epharas of Colossae. Laodicea became the seat of Bishopric and hosted an important Ecumenical Council in the 4th century AD. It was named in the Revelations as one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Then we visit Textile Shopping. Drive to Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 04 21st Feb Thursday
Kusadasi (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today, we will visit Outlet Leather Factory & Center in order to have free time for shopping and watching Live Fashion Show. Then we start to visit to the House of the Virgin Mary on top of Mt. Coressos. It is believed that she spent years in this area. We continue our visit in Ephesus, ancient city including the view of the Library of Celcius, Agora, Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, the Theatre, colourful mosaics. Then we will also visit the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist who came here with the Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospels in Ephesus. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 05 22nd Friday
Kusadasi (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After breakfast, we drive to Sardis. Sardis was berated by John for its façade of strength when in reality, it was weak Here, coins were minted and the dyeing of wood originated. We’ll visit the Temple of Artemis to see the gymnasium and synagogue… We will finish our day with a visit the archaeological remains of the ancient city of Smyrna. Smyrna was one of the Seven Churches that the Apostle John relays the promise from God: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life”. Dinner and Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 06 23rd Feb Saturday
Kusadasi-Pergamon-Troy (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After bireakfast,drive to Pergamon and north to the hauntingly beautiful Pergamon. Among the impressive structures of this city, dating from 299 BC, we will see the Trajaneum, Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysus, Theater and the 200,000 volume library which was surpassed only by that found in Alexandria at the time. The Asclepieum of Pergamon was a famous health center where methods of treatment included blood transfusions, music therapy and meditation. Then we will visit legendary Troy where you can see a replica of the wooden horse. Once thought to be the figment of literary imagination, Troy was uncovered due largely to the efforts of Heinrich Schliemann, who steadfastly believed in its existence, using his own money to successively uncover nine different settlements in Troy. Free time and Overnight in Troy.

Day 07 24th Sunday
Troy –Ipsala Border (Breakfast)

Transfer to Ipsala Border for departure Greece. Thanks for visiting Turkey…
GREECE ARRIVAL: – PHILIPPI – THESSALONIKI (Lunch, Dinner)
Meet at the Greek side of the borders at 10.00 am and with an official English-speaking guide proceed to your Four Day Tour. Drive to Kavala, the Biblical Neapolis, and visit Philippi. See the remains of the Agora, the Octagon, the remains of the Basilicas, St. Paul’s prison, Lydias’ Baptismal site, Church of St Nicholas, Old Port, Aqua docks. Lunch at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). Late in the afternoon, drive along the coast to Greece’s second city, Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki hotel.

DAY 08 25th Feb Monday
THESSALONIKI – VERIA – KALAMBAKA (METEORA) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Breakfast in the hotel. See the White Tower, (the symbol of the city), the Church of St. Demetrious, Arch of Galerius, Rotunda, Upper City, Citadel, Byzantine Walls, Roman Agora. Drive south, into central Greece, to Kalambaka, the town nestling at the foot of Meteora. Visit the mountain town of Veria. See the spot, Bema, Mosaic Wall, from where St. Paul preached the gospel. Lunch at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka hotel.

DAY 09 26th Feb Tuesday
KALAMBAKA (METEORA) – ATHENS (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Breakfast in the hotel. Visit Meteora with its impressive scenery, ageless monasteries (2), suspended between earth and sky. The monasteries are perched on top of towers of sandstone, which for centuries provided totally inaccessible retreats for the monks. Inside the Byzantine Monasteries see priceless historical and religious treasures. Lunch at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). In the afternoon depart for Athens. Dinner and overnight in Athens hotel.

DAY 10 27th Wednesday
FULL DAY CORINTH & ATHENS TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Breakfast in the hotel. With an official English-speaking guide proceed on your Full Day Tour. Drive west, along the coastal highway, the Apollo coast and stop to see the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean and the Ionian Seas. Continue to and visit Ancient Corinth. See the Bema, the Temple of Apollo, the remains of the Agora, and Pyrene Fountain. See Diolkos. The Diolkos was a roadway with a width of 10 meters at the starting point on the Gulf of Corinth. Ships were taken to this starting point and there dragged onto the Diolkos. These ships rested initially on wooden cylinders and were then transferred to a special wheeled vehicle. Thus, the ship was dragged all across the Isthmus. Lunch at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). Return to Athens. Pass by Syntagma Square, the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Athens Academy, the University, the National Library, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896.On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the Parthenon. Completing the tour transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Athens hotel.

DAY 11 28th Feb Thursday
ATHENS DEPARTURE (Breakfast)

28FEB QR204 ATH (ATHENS) – DOH 1245 – 1750
Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Athens airport and take your international flight.

DAY 12 29th Feb Friday

Arrival Singapore