Turkey Biblical Tour (Private)
8249P17
8249P17
8249P17
8249P17
8249P17
8249P17
8249P17
Overview
During our Bible tours, our guests can visit many magnificent churches, some nearly as old as Christianity itself, and can retrace the footsteps of Apostle Jhon and Paul from the Biblical city of Ephesus to the underground churches of Cappadocia.
Our Biblical tour guides are locals who have very good knowledge not only about the sights in the area, but also about the history of Christianity. They are all fluent in English, and some of them guide also in other languages.
If you want to visit more biblical sites in Turkey; you can contact us and we can allways customize this itinerary.
Tour at a glance
What's included
- Different hotel options are available to choose.
- Lunch
- Private tour (transport, guiding, entrances, parking fees, lunch)
- Cappadocia - Istanbul flight tickets.
Not included
- Hot Air Baloon in Cappadocia
- Dinners
- Gratitudes
Day by day
- Istanbul transfer from airport to your hotel, overnight stay
- Istanbul You will start the tour from the Byzantine Hippodrome that was used for public entertainments organised by emperors.
- Blue Mosque Also known under its official name, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, it is famous for its handmade, blue ceramic tiles that decorate its interior.
- Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque The Church of Holy Wisdom is one of the most important sites in the world when it comes to history of art and architecture. It used to be the biggest orthodox church in the world, and nowdays it is a musem/mosque, one of the most visited sites in Turkey.
- TopkapI Palace This former imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans is one of the largest palaces in the world, and a very good example of Ottoman art and architecture.
- Grand Bazaar At the end of the tour you will have chance to walk and shop in the oldest and the largest covered market place in the world with more than 4000 shops. After the tour return to hotel and overnight stay
- Bosphorus Strait During a 2 hour Bosphorous boat trip you will see the bridges of Istanbul, Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, Anadolu and Rumeli fortresses and beautiful houses around the strait).
- Misir Carsisi This covered market area is the 17 century structure that housed the majority of the city’s spice trade. After the tour transfer to airport to fly to Izmir; arrival in Izmir, transfer from airport to a hotel in Kusadasi; overnight stay in Kusadası
- Troy (Truva) After breakfast you will have short drive and you will visit Homer’s legendary Troy and see the replica of the wooden horse.
- Alexandria Troas Antik Kenti After short drive you will reach Alexandria Troas; St. Paul sailed to Greece from here ( Acts 16:8.); this is also the place where he raised Eutychus from the dead ( Acts 20:5-12).
- Assos Our final stop during this tour is Assos; on the last leg of his third missionary journey, Paul walked from Alexandria Troas to Assos ( Acts 20:5-6,13-14) where he met his companions, who had gone ahead of him by sea.
- Pergamon Ancient City Departure from Assos and 3 hours driving to Pergamon; in Pergamon you will see the Acropolis, Temple of Athena, Serapis Temple, Heroon, Sanctuary of Athena, Library of Pergamon, Temple of Trajan, Theatre, Zeus Altar, Red Coart. Pergamon is the third of the ‘Seven Churches of Asia’ (Rev.1:11). This was the place of Satan’s throne ( Rev. 2:13).
- Akhisar Our second stop on this tour is Thyatira; it was one of the Seven Churches ( Revelation 1:11;2:18-28) Lydia, the seller of purple, who sold her dyes in Philippi was from this city, (Acts 16:14).
- Izmir Then we will drive to Smyrna (Izmir) the third largest city of Turkey. It was the second city to receive a letter from the Apostle John in the book of Revelation (Acts 19:10). The letter in Revelation (2:8-11) is filled with the affection and joy that comes from triumph over hardship and persecution.
- Sardis (Sardes) After breakfast we will drive to Sardis. Here was one of the seven Asiatic Churches (Revelation 3:1-6). Sardis was the capital city of ancient Lydia. See the early church remaining in Sardis (Sardis Gymnasium, Jewish Synagogue, Diana Temple).
- Alasehir Then proceed to Philadelphia (Alasehir). Philadelphia (brotherly love) is not so ancient as many other cities of Asia Minor, it was founded after 189 BC. It was the seat of the ‘Seven Churches’ (Revelation 3:7-12).
- Pamukkale Pamukkale is a town in western Turkey known for the mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside. It neighbors Hierapolis, an ancient Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. Ruins there include a well-preserved theater and a necropolis with sarcophagi that stretch for 2km. The Antique Pool is famous for its submerged Roman columns. We will also visit the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, Necropolis and Apostle Philip’s tomb.
- Laodicea After breakfast we will have a short drive to Laodicea ( Lukewarm Church) . The final letter of the churches of ancient Asia Minor is to the church in the city of Laodicea. We visit the Christian Ruins as well as the Statue of Emperor Augustus, Aquaduct, Stadium, Ephesian Gate.
- Then drive to the unexcavated city of Colossae (Honaz, Ancient metropolis of Phrygia, the recipient of Paul’s letter). The book of Colossians was addressed to the Church here (Col 1:2) and that Philemon lived in this city. After the tour 3 hours driving to Kusadasi and overnight stay.
- Ephesus Museum After breakfast we will drive to Ephesus; St. Paul visited Ephesus briefly during his second missionary journey and stayed there more than three years. Both Paul and Apostle John wrote letters to the Ephesians. We also visit Baths of Scholastica, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, the Theater, Temple of Artemis which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
- The House of the Virgin Mary We will visit the house, where it is believed Mary (mother of Jesus) lived her last years.
- Basilica of St. John The Basilica of St. John was a basilica in Ephesus. It was constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century. It stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle. It was modeled after the now lost Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. After the tour you will be transfered to Izmir airport for your Cappadocia Flight.
- Goreme Panorama Esentepe Panoramic viewpoint gives an amazing landscape view over the town of Goreme in Cappadocia.
- Goreme Open Air Museum Goreme Open Air Museum is a rocky settlement area that has hosted an extreme monastery life between 4th to 13th centuries D.C.. Being UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, the Goreme Open Air Museum is also one most popular places to see in Cappadocia.
- Pasabag Vadisi Monks Valley (Paşabağ Vadisi) in Cappadocia is famous for its perfect fairy chimneys, sculpted from ancient lava, ash, and basalt. Often known as Pasabag, Monks Valley is famous for its opportunities to hike among the boulders and into the hills that ring the area.
- Avanos The old city of Avanos, whose name in ancient times was Venessa overlooks the longest river of Turkey, the Kızılırmak which also separates Avanos from the rest of Cappadocia. The most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery, it is also the most economic activity in the town. You can visit one of the pottery workshops in the area.
- Cappadocia Cave Dwellings Devrent Valley in Cappadocia (also known as Imaginary Valley) is a beautiful valley full of unique rock formations, many of which are said to resemble animal shapes.
- Kaymakli Underground City Buried beneath the surface of Cappadocia are a number of stunning underground cities built in ancient times to protect the local population from marauding armies and roving bands of invaders, but the Kaymaklı Underground City dwarfs them all with its sprawling layout. Kaymaklı Underground City contained eight floors of subterranean defense, but currently only four of the floors are open to the public.
- Red Valley interesting for walking, as you can see many vineyards and gardens throughout the valley
- Cavusin Cavusin old Greek village in Cappadocia Turkey has a 5th century church of Saint John, and a marvelous view into the Rose and Red Valleys.
- Pigeon Valley Guvercinlik Vadisi (Pigeon Valley) earned its name from the countless man made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff.
- Love Valley Out-of-the-way destination with scenic sunset views & unique tower-shaped rock formations. After the tour you will be transferd to Kayseri airport for your Istanbul flight.
Meeting & pickup
Hotel pickup is included for all travellers.
We will meet you in hotel lobby or at the airport
Schedule
Good to know
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveller reviews
My wife and I had a wonderful tour led by Umut! We were picked up promptly at 8:30am, and our tour ended around 3:30 after seeing the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, the house of the Virgin Mary, ancient Ephesus, and the Church of St. John. Umut continually referred to the Scriptures, especially Acts 19 as we were in Ephesus, and Revelation 2 where he provided detailed local context about the seven churches of Asia Minor. Wonderful seeing a location which was so profoundly impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Very quick and convenient travel with the van and our driver. Extremely glad we chose to to this tour rather than try to do it ourselves. Thanks Umut and Ertunga!
My husband and I booked a private biblical tour of Ephesus and it was amazing! Our guide, Umut, and driver, Ismail, picked us up at our hotel at 8:30 am. We saw the site of the temple of Artemis, the house and chapel of Mary, the site of the church of Saint John, and walked through the remains of the city of Ephesus. Umut gave cultural insight into the books of Revelation and Acts. He was knowledgable and able to answer our questions about Turkey, both today and during biblical times. We also stopped for lunch, which was delicious!
Felicity Tours made our journey through the biblical, archaeological, literary, and historical treasures of the region deeply enriching and unforgettable. Every detail—from planning to execution—was handled with outstanding care and professionalism. Maria, Mehmet, and our wonderful driver went above and beyond to ensure everything ran perfectly. The service we received in both Athens and Thessaloniki was exceptional, and everyone we met along the way was kind, welcoming, and genuinely hospitable. Felicity will remain my go-to travel agency for any future tours in Asia Minor. I cannot thank the team enough for this memorable experience. With heartfelt appreciation, Dr. Daniel Auguste and the Team
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Türkiye! Ertunga and Maria were extremely professional and kind. They took care of all of the details of our travel, including domestic flights, ground transportation, itinerary, lodging, and lunches. We learned so much from our guides, and they were very knowledgeable and attentive. If you want to explore the rich Biblical history of Türkiye, especially the seven churches, we would highly recommend Ertunga and his team.
Our trip in Turkey, organized by Felicity Travel and Ertunga & Maria was FANTASTIC. We stayed 9 days and visited many different cities and places from fancy palaces to cave houses. We learned so much about Turkey, its place in history as the center of everything, and we can't wait to come back and see more. We had 3 guides during our trip, one for Istanbul, one for Cappadocia and Ertunga for our remaining days when we visited the 7 churches of Revelation. Our guides were knowledgeable, flexible and had our best interests in mind. They made the history come alive and answered all our questions. You could tell they were passionate about their country and their job. The drivers were outstanding and every day was a wonderful adventure. We stayed in clean, modern and lovely hotels and every meal we had was delicious. Everyone went out of their way to make sure we had the best vacation.
My first Tripadvisor post, simply because our 14-days Biblical Turkey tour with our guide Ertunga and driver, Mr Vecdi, was too good an experience not to share! Ertunga is a wonderful guide - patient, accommodating and knowledgable. I was unwell on the second day of the trip and he went the extra mile, hunting down toilets and medication for me. His informative sharing on the historical, cultural and geographical background of the biblical sites stoked within us, a deep stirring and appreciation for the Scriptures. Ertunga never rushed us, always giving us enough time to soak in the sights, even if it meant that he and Mr Vecdi had to end their day later. This is very much appreciated. And he fed us so well, taking us to the best places to dine! Lunch was always a feast! Many of the roads during the trip were narrow, mountainous and winding. It rained at times, reducing visibility. But we felt safe with Mr Vecdi at the wheels! With him, we get to stop by road side stalls to get fruits in season and once, we even picked persimmons off the trees! One of our most memorable moments during the trip was the trek up Termessos, and when we came back, Mr Vecdi had started a fire to roast sausages and bread for our lunch! If we do come back to Turkey again, we will still gladly have Ertunga as our guide. Thank you so much for the lovely memories you created for us in Turkey, Ertunga!
We had the pleasure of experiencing a private Biblical tour with Ertunga and our wonderful driver "Veggie!" Words can't describe our journey-from the amazing sites in Istanbul, to the Aegean coast, tracing the steps of St Paul through the seven churches, down to the Mediterranean and Antalya, to Konya and Cappadocia-everything was so well planned by Ertunga. The places we stayed were phenomenal, the food was amazing and most of all, the time we spent with Ertunga and Veggie was so impressionable. Ertunga is so knowledgable about the Christian movement in Turkey and we gained so much insight, not only from a religious perspective but the remarkable Turkish culture. We had so many wonderful conversations and really feel like we have two new, great friends. They are so kind and thoughtful-every day was a delight. we will never forget this life changing experience.
14-day trip to Turkey with Felicity Travel and Ertunga Ecir as the tour guide: The tour company, Felicity Travel, hosted a 14-day trip to Turkey with the theme being the Seven Churches of Revelation. The trip was well-organized and professionally conducted. Ertunga Ecir, the tour guide, was very knowledgeable about the people, customs, history, and geography of Turkey. He gave informational lectures each day in the van and at each site that we visited. He went well beyond the “call of duty” to help with a medical issue that one of the travelers had. The accommodations were first-rate and nicely located, and the meals were either a sumptuous buffet or order from a menu. Travel was on a comfortable Mercedes touring van with our professional driver Vegi. WIFI was always available as we traveled. The whole trip greatly exceeded our expectations. Turkey is a wonderful country to visit with its beautiful landscape and amazing archaeological ruins. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in exploring Turkey’s culture, history, cuisine, and tradition. We give it a 5+ star rating!
Reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor from verified travellers.
Product code 8249P17
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