This fifteen-day private tour traces the journeys of St. Paul and the early Church across Turkey, from his birthplace in Tarsus to the Seven Churches of Revelation in the west. It covers some 3,000 km with an English-speaking guide, 14 nights in 4- and 5-star hotels with breakfast, and all entrance fees, starting and ending in Istanbul.
After a day in Istanbul at Topkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar, the route heads to Ankara for the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Temple of Augustus, then to Cappadocia, where Byzantine Christians carved churches into the rock in Ihlara Valley, Göreme and Zelve. Via the underground city of Kaymaklı you reach Tarsus, Paul's home town, with the well named after him and the old city gate, and Antioch, where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26), with the cave church of St. Peter and the Hatay mosaic collection.
The Mediterranean coast follows: Side, Perge, where Paul and Barnabas preached on their first journey (Acts 13–14), and the Roman theatre of Aspendos. Inland you visit Laodicea, the lukewarm church of Revelation, and Hierapolis above the travertines of Pamukkale, linked to the martyrdom of St. Philip.
The final days visit the churches of Revelation one by one: Sardis and Philadelphia (Alaşehir), Ephesus with its theatre and the Basilica of St. John, Smyrna and the church of St. Polycarp, Thyatira (Akhisar) and Pergamum with its Acropolis and the site of the Altar of Zeus. The journey ends at İznik, ancient Nicaea, where the Nicene Creed was formulated in 325, before returning to Istanbul.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 15 Days 14 Nights |
| Price | From €3,724 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 15 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours · TÜRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Arrive at Istanbul Airport, where your guide meets you and transfers you to the hotel. After check-in, join a welcome drink and briefing in the lobby. Overnight in Istanbul.
Explore Istanbul, capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires for nearly 1,600 years. Visit Topkapı Palace with its Treasury, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, scene of chariot races and of the Byzantine riots, followed by free time in the Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.
Drive to Ankara, Turkey's capital, and visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Temple of Augustus, which carries the emperor's account of his deeds, and Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Atatürk. Overnight in Ankara.
Continue south with a break in Aksaray, then walk into Ihlara Valley, a canyon lined with Byzantine rock-cut churches and frescoes. Drive on to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Discover a landscape shaped by ancient volcanic ash, with rock cones, cave churches and dwellings. Visit Uçhisar, the Göreme Open-Air Museum with its painted churches and the abandoned cave town of Zelve, then a pottery workshop in Avanos. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Visit the underground city of Kaymaklı, where early Christians found refuge, then drive through the Taurus Mountains to Tarsus, the apostle's home town. Here you visit the well that bears his name, the Roman-era city gate known as Cleopatra's Gate and a section of excavated Roman street. Continue to Adana. Overnight in Adana.
Full-day excursion to Antioch, where Peter, Paul and Barnabas preached and the followers of Jesus were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Visit the cave church of St. Peter and the Hatay Archaeology Museum, famous for its Roman mosaics, then pass İskenderun on the way to Mersin. Overnight in Mersin.
Follow the scenic coastal road west along the Mediterranean, with a stop at Anamur and the remains of the ancient city on the shore, before continuing to Alanya. Overnight in Alanya.
Visit Side, the ancient harbour city with its temple of Apollo on the sea, then Perge, where Paul and Barnabas preached after arriving from Cyprus (Acts 13–14), and Aspendos, home to the best-preserved Roman theatre in Anatolia. Drive to Antalya. Overnight in Antalya.
Visit Laodicea, the church described as lukewarm in the Book of Revelation, then Hierapolis above the white terraces of Pamukkale, where St. Philip is said to have been martyred. Walk through the necropolis and along the avenue of tombs. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Travel west to Alaşehir, ancient Philadelphia, one of the Seven Churches, to see the remains of its Byzantine basilica. Continue to Sardis, capital of ancient Lydia, with the Temple of Artemis, the remains of a church and a stretch of the Royal Road. Drive on to Kuşadası. Overnight in Kuşadası.
Drive to Selçuk to visit the Basilica of St. John, built over the apostle's traditional tomb, and Ephesus, where Paul lived and preached for over two years. See the Library of Celsus, the stadium and the Great Theatre, scene of the riot of the silversmiths (Acts 19). Return to Kuşadası. Overnight in Kuşadası.
Drive to İzmir, ancient Smyrna, and visit the church of St. Polycarp. Continue to Akhisar, ancient Thyatira, then to Bergama, ancient Pergamum, to explore the Acropolis high above the plain with its temples and the site of the Altar of Zeus. Overnight in Bergama.
Take the long drive north to İznik, ancient Nicaea, where the First Ecumenical Council formulated the Nicene Creed in 325, and see its historic centre before continuing to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Transfer to Istanbul Airport for your flight home.
Istanbul – Arrival → Istanbul – Old City → Ankara – Capital Tour → Cappadocia – Ihlara Valley → Cappadocia – Full-Day Tour → Tarsus – Birthplace of St. Paul → Antioch (Antakya) → Anamur – Alanya → Side, Perge, Aspendos – Antalya → Laodicea & Hierapolis → Sardis & Philadelphia – Kuşadası → Ephesus & Basilica of St. John → Smyrna, Thyatira & Pergamum → Nicaea (İznik) – Istanbul → Istanbul – Departure
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Istanbul – Arrival, Istanbul – Old City, Ankara – Capital Tour, Cappadocia – Ihlara Valley, Cappadocia – Full-Day Tour, Tarsus – Birthplace of St. Paul, Antioch (Antakya), Anamur – Alanya, Side, Perge, Aspendos – Antalya, Laodicea & Hierapolis, Sardis & Philadelphia – Kuşadası, Ephesus & Basilica of St. John, Smyrna, Thyatira & Pergamum, Nicaea (İznik) – Istanbul, Istanbul – Departure.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!