Welcome to Turkey's Izmir Airport. Meet with TSG staff, transfer to your hotel, and check in. You will be given your room key, and the rest of the day is yours to explore Izmir. Overnight in Izmir.
Please remember that you do not need to wait until tomorrow to explore the attractions. You can relax with TSG's optional Turkish Bath Tour, or join the optional Selcuk Turkish Night Show and see the traditional Anatolian dances.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Bergama, also known as Pergamon. It is one of the locations of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev. 1:11; 2:12). Here, we explore the impressive Acropolis, home to the steepest theater in the world. Visit Asklepion, a well-known classical medical facility, and see the Trajan's Temple marble columns and the Altar of Zeus, which the Book of Revelation refers to as the "Throne of Satan."

Furthermore, the library, which was the largest in the world and had long been a rival of the equally well-known Library of Alexandria in Egypt, was thought to contain more than 200,000 books. It served as the basis for parchment's creation. The Red Basilica (St. John's Church) is another place we go. Then we proceed to Thyatira, which is now known as Akhisar and is one of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:18–24; Acts 16:14]. The city was well-known for its purple dyes. We stop by some Roman-era architectural remnants and the ruins of a basilica. Lydia, the seller of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira. Next, we drive to Izmir, where we enjoy a panoramic ride over Smyrna, the third largest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 2:12-17]. Smyrna is the old name for the ancient city here, a city scarred by a bloody history of trade and warfare. After the tour, drop back to the hotel. Overnight in Izmir.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive to one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1–4].

Sardis is our first stop. It was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC, and it was described as dead. In Sardis' ancient site, we will see the great Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, which later became a Byzantine church. We'll also stop by the renovated synagogue, the renovated gym, and the final few meters of Cyrus the Great's "golden" river Pactolus, which runs from Susa to Sardis.

A lunch break will be given en route. Then we continue our journey to Philadelphia, nowadays called Alasehir, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:7], and the only church not censured. There we will see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of brick with a bit of a high arch and some 11th-century frescoes.

We drive to the healing city of Hierapolis, also called Pamukkale, the white "cotton fortress," where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs, forming pools, channels, and stalactites. The therapeutic waters were known to Hierapolis' founders and Laodicea in 190 BC. We go to the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip in Hierapolis, where he was martyred during the persecutions that Domitian ordered [Col. 4:13].

Proceed to the Laodicea ancient site (present name Denizli), yet another of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor [Rev. 1:11; 3:14; Col. 2:1; 4:13–16]. The ancient theater, the remains of basilicas and ancient stone water pipes, the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, the 2nd century AD theater, the Nymphaeum, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium, and the Necropolis are on our "to-see list." After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Pamukklae and check in. Overnight in Pamukkale.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Ephesus to see the Basilica of St. John and the other important sites of the city. The Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and lived here for three years. This church also received an epistle from him. We visit the magnificent ruins of this formerly significant city, which was founded in the tenth century BC, where excavations are still ongoing. In Ephesus, walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Theater. The Temple of Artemis of the Ephesians, another of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built in this city. We will visit the Basilica of St. John and the House of the Virgin Mary.

While Sirince promises a cute village visit, it can impress you with its religious gems. In St. Dimitrios Church, explore the interior decoration and architecture. Learn about the history and significance of the church and the Orthodox Christian community in the area. After that, take a short walk to St. John Baptist Church. The distinctive octagonal design of the church will charm you. Take some time to walk around the charming streets of Sirince and explore the traditional houses, shops, and cafes. Sirince is known for its well-preserved historical architecture and traditional way of life, so there is much to discover and enjoy. After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi and check in. Overnight in Kusadasi

(Breakfast included)

One of TSG's adventures comes to an end after breakfast. However, you can sign up to take advantage of TSG credits, and this is the best way to snag credits and use them for your next trips as a discount, as well as to hear about the hot deals according to your interests.