TOUR PROGRAM

Tour Turkey & Greece

+Aegean Cruise

Journey of St Paul’

KNTRGR01  13nights in Istanbul Antakya Tarsus Cappadocia Yalvac Pamukkale Kushadasi, Patmos Crete Santorini Athens Kalambaka Thessaloniki Philippi with the Tour Program Itineraries

Day1. ARRIVAL ISTANBUL ( -, L, D)       Arrival at Istanbul Airport at early morning. Meet and proceed to "Old City Istanbul".  visit Hippodrome, center of sporty (chariot races, athletics) events and political activities of the old city. Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column and German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating Hippodrome. Then visit the Hagia Sophia, now called the Ayasofya Museum. Built by Constantine the Great, it was reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century and is unquestionably one of the finest buildings of all time. Afternoon, we will visit the aromatic Spice Bazaar, where the smells of cinnamon, cloves and thyme, rise from hundreds of colourful muslin bags at every store-front. Then embark on a scenic tour of the Bosphorus, the natural waterway that divides Asia from Europe, passing palaces, castles, palatial homes, and the two magnificent suspension bridges.

Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2. ISTANBUL-ANTAKYA (B, L, D)      After breakfast check-out from the hotel and transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Antakya. Arrive at noon time to Antakya and we will visit, ancient Antioch. Antioch is thought to have been founded in 300 BC. St Peter was the first to preach here, followed by St Paul and Barnabas whose extensive efforts proved to be very fruitful for Christianity. Highlights include the museum which houses a superb collection of mosaics from Antioch, Daphne and Seleucia Pieria. St Peter’s Grotto, the cave church, came to be known as the first meeting place of the early Christians. The most interesting monument here is the Tunnel of Titus, which is a tremendous canal dug for the purpose of diverting waters from the Orontes River. Another highlight is the rock tombs with their impressive facades pertaining to the Hellenistic period.  Dinner and overnight in Antakya.

Day 3. ANTAKYA – TARSUS - CAPPADOCIA (B, L, D)      In the morning drive to Tarsus, the birthplace of St Paul. Highlights include St Paul’s well and Cleopatra’s Gate. Then we drive off to Cappadocia. Further on, we come to Cappadocia, which reminds the visitor of a village out of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Our stop is Derinkuyu, an underground city carved into soft rocks resembling a huge labyrinth of tunnels, rooms, kitchens, wine cellars and passageways. A huge chimney ventilates this 8-level dwelling, which was used by Christians hiding theirself from the Roman persecutors. Their colourful frescoes remain as vibrant as when they were first made.

Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 4. CAPPADOCIA (B,L,D)       OPTIONAL (Early in the morning): Exlusive one hour hot air balloon ride.      After breakfast, visit Natural Fortress in Uchisar, where you can capture a panoramic view of the beautiful plateau. Next visit Pasabagi in Zelve area where monks used to live in seclusion in rock cut rooms.  Then, we visit the Valleys of Goreme to explore the unusual troglodyte dwellings, remains of the early churches comprising complicated rooms hollowed out of the cones of volcanic ash and decorated with scratched frescoes. We will visit Goreme Open Air Museum include the Apple Church, the Church of Sandals, and the Church with a Buckle. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. Then visit Avanos Village followed by the famous local pottery and carpet shows allowing ample time for shopping.

Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 5. CAPPADOCIA-YALVAC-PAMUKKALE (B,L,D)      After breakfast we will drive to ancient Psidian (Yalvac) where St. Paul opened Christianity to the world. Yalvac's history goes back to 280 B.C. During St. Paul's time the population was a mixture of Jews, Romans and Greeks. Very little is left of ancient Psidian today. There is the propylaea of the acropolis with a number of carved stones and the remains of a Byzantine church. Than drive to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 6. PAMUKKALE -  SARDIS - KUSADASI (B,L,D)      In the morning visit the Antique City of Hierapolis where Calcareous hot springs descending over cliff shave created fascinating travertines in the form of white terrace and basins. Then stop at Laodicea where we find here two Theaters, a large Stadium, a Water Tower and an Odeon. The city is named by Antiochus II in honor of his wife, Laodicea. St. Paul wrote a letter to the church here (Acts:4:16).  Drive to Alasehir. Visit Philadelphia which was an important Christian centre during Byzantine times. Then proceed to Sardis whose history dates back to 12th century B.C. Sardis felt the influence of Christianity very early and was included in the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. During the Byzantine times it was the seat of a bishopric. Highlights will be a Synagogue, Gymnasium, Byzantine Church and the Temple of Artemis. Drive to Kusadasi.   Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 7. KUSADASI - EPHESUS – KUSADASI (B,L,D)      In the morning drive to Selcuk Town and stop at Leather Outlet on the way, see leather fashion show and shopping time,. Then visit the famous ancient city of Ephesus, one of the world’s finest archaeological sites. Highlights include the Library of Celcius, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Theatre.  Afternoon visit the Basilica of St John “the Evangelist” who came here with the Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel in Ephesus. We will also stop by the House of Virgin Mary (on top of Mt Coressos). She was believed to have spent her last years in this area. On 18 August 1961, Pope John XXII proclaimed this place to be sacred.  Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 8. KUSADASI - PERGAMON – KUSADASI (B,L,D)       In the morning drive to Izmir and  visit one of the Churches of Revelation in Izmir (Symra). Then drive to Thyteria to see the remains of the church. This was one of the principle towns where Christianity spread quickly. Proceed to Pergamon. Among the impressive structures of this city, dating from 399 B.C., we will see the Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysus and the 200,000 volume library which was surpassed only by that found in Alexandria at the time.  Back to Kusadasi.    Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi

Day 9. KUSADASI / PATMOS (B,L,D) (should be Saturday)       Following breakfast, transfer to Kusadasi Port for embark on your 3 days Aegean Legends sea Cruise. Patmos, Take the included Religious tour to St. John’s Monastery and Grotto of the Apocalypse. The Holy island where St. John wrote The Revelation, known as Jerusalem of the Aegean Sea. In the Grotto you will see the triple fissure in the wall of the cave, from where St. John heard God dictating to him the Apocalypse. In the evening, enjoy the live on board entertainment or try your luck in the casino. Overnight on board..

DAY                       PORTS                                                 ARR.        DEPT.

Saturday                       KUSADASI (Ephesus), Turkey  EMBARKATION   07.00 - 13:00

Saturday                       PATMOS, Greece                                              16:00          21:00

Sunday                          CRETE (Heraklion), Greece                                 07.00          11:30

Sunday                          SANTORINI, Greece                                        16.30           21:30

Monday                         ATHENS (PIRAEUS), Greece                              07.00

NOTE: THE SEQUENCE OF THE CRUISE ITINERARY CAN NOT BE CHANGED

Day 10. CRETE (HERAKLION) – SANTORINI (B,L,D)     Heraklion, Heraklion: At leisure at the capital of Crete island and the homeland of the Minoan civilization.  Santorini: Formed by the eruption of the volcano in 1600 BC. Take the included tour Spectacular Oia village perched on the Caldera rim. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Caldera and the Volcano. The sight is the most breathtaking of all Greek islands and perhaps of the world. In the evening, enjoy the live on board entertainment or try your luck in the casino. Overnight on board.

Day 11. CRUISE ARRIVAL – CORINTH - ATHENS (B,L,D)      Breakfast on board, disembark. Meet at the Athens port of Piraeus and with an official English Speaking Guide proceed on your Half Day Corinth 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. Pass by the port of Cenchreaes from where St. Paul departed on his journey. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Athens, free time at own leisure for shopping in Plaka area and Syntagma Square (Coach & English Speaking Assistant Service Included). In the evening, transfer for dinner to the local restaurant. After dinner transfer back and overnight in Athens Hotel.

Day 12. ATHENS–KALAMBAKA (B,L,D)     Breakfast in the hotel. Then proceed on your Half Day City Tour. See Syntagma Square, the House of Parliament and the Tomb to the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the Evzones in their traditional costume. See the Athens Academy, the University and the National Library. Stop at the Panathenaic Olympic stadium, (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896). Pass by the archaeological site of the Temple of the Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. 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.  Lunch at a local restaurant .  Then leave Athens for an interesting trip through central Greece to Kalambaka, the town nestling on the foot of Meteora. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka Hotel

Day 13. KALAMBAKA-THESSALONIKI (B,L,D)      Breakfast in the hotel. Visit Meteora with its impressive scenery, visit 2 monasteries, suspended between earth and sky. Inside, see priceless historical and religious treasures.  Continue to Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. See the White Tower, (the symbol of the city), Upper City, Citadel, Byzantine Walls, Roman Agora. See the Church of St. Dimitrios, Arch of Galerius, and Rotunda.  Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki Hotel

Day 14. PHILIPPI - THESSALONIKI – ISTANBUL Departure (B,L,D)       Breakfast in the hotel. Depart to Kavala, Biblical Neapolis. Drive to and visit Philippi. See the remains of the Agora, the Octagon, the remains of the 2 Basilicas and St. Paul’s prison the Roman aqueduct and St Paul’s port. Lunch at a local restaurant.   Back to Thessaloniki. After dinner transfer to Thessaloniki airport and take the flight to Istanbul at late evening and connection flight to your international flight back to your country.

We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another KanulaTour activities. Have a safe trip back home..