Join Pastor John Boyd on the Light and Life Turkey Couples Tour.
Depart London Stansted airport @14:00 on flight XQ 941 and arrive Izmir airport @ 20:45, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Cold plate meal and overnight at the Ontur hotel in Izmir
After breakfast visit Izmir, ancient Smyrna, and one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Smyrna is hidden under modern Izmir, but you will view the archeological remains of the Agora. And then drive to Pergamum. Once a busy trading center and famous as a “seller of purple,” the most favored of the Seven Churches, the church of Pergamum was praised for its forbearance (Rev. 2:12-17). It was here that the first Christians were executed by Rome. We’ll visit the fabled Acropolis, pass through the Royal Gates, view the foundations of the Temple of Zeus and visit the ruins of the library, which once held 200,000 volumes. Our last stop on the way to Izmir will be in Thyatira to view the ancient roadway and period columns.
Dinner and overnight at the Ontur hotel in Izmir.
After breakfast drive to Pamukkale, the cotton fortress. Enroute visit Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love. Visit the ruins of an ancient city. Today the ruins, set amid fertile fields of cotton and groves of spindly cypresses, include an elaborate Tetrapylon, or monumental gate, the foundations of the Temple of Aphrodite, the Christian bishop’s palace, a beautiful marble Odeon (small theater) in excellent condition, and a stadium still capable of seating nearly its original capacity of 30,000 spectators. The white marble theater built into the side of the acropolis is also in excellent condition.
Dinner and overnight at the Adempira hotel in Pamukkale.
After breakfast, we have a morning visit to Hierapolis, which is located right over the travertine terraces, and which was a fashionable spa centre in Roman times. Visit the Temple of Apollo, a breathtaking theatre, the fascinating necropolis, and some church ruins. Then onto Colossae, the city to which St. Paul wrote his letter from Ephesus. Proceed to Laodicea, one of the seven churches addressed by John in the Revelation meaning “Sacred City” was an ancient centre for pagan cults until it was transformed into a Christian centre in the first century.
Dinner and overnight at the Adempira hotel in Pamukkale.
After breakfast, our first stop is near Philadelphia which was referred to as the “New Jerusalem” (Rev. 3:7-13) 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. Continue to Sardis. Sardis was berated by John for its facade of strength when in reality; it was weak (Rev. 3:1-6). Here coins were minted, and the dyeing of wood originated. We’ll visit the gymnasium and synagogue.
Dinner and overnight at the Elite World hotel in Kusadasi.
After breakfast, we have a full day tour in Ephesus. Our first visit is to the Basilica of St. John, housing an immersion baptismal and believed to be resting place of John. From here we have an excellent overview of the Ephesus harbor and the Temple of Artemis, completed in its most famous phase around 550 BC and listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Continue to archaeological site of Ephesus, the city of the Bible and one of the largest restorations still in progress with miles of ancient treasures, also visit the House of Virgin Mary.
Dinner and overnight at the Elite World hotel in Kusadasi.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your return flight to London Stansted airport on Sun Express airlines flight XQ 940 arriving @11:30.
Price £1138.00 per person sharing a double/twin room
COUPLES TOUR
Price £1362.00 in a single room
Price includes the following:
Not included:
Please note:
Visas and Passports:
All passports must have at least 6 months validity remaining from the date of your departure. Non-BRITISH/EU/USA passport holders may require a visa and are advised to check with the Turkish Embassy Consulate Section.
Name Changes
Please note: all itineraries, flight details and hotels are subject to change.
Tour based on a minimum of 35 paying participants.
