Twenty days in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, from the heart of Anatolia to the classical cities of Greece. This grand private pilgrimage follows the route of the early Church across Cappadocia, Tarsus — Paul's own birthplace — the Mediterranean coast, the Seven Churches of Revelation in the Aegean, Byzantine Istanbul, and onward to Philippi, Thessaloniki, Meteora, Delphi, Athens and Corinth. Planned in-house by Inca Tour, a TURSAB-licensed operator, and guided in English throughout, it weaves scripture, archaeology and landscape into a single unforgettable journey across two countries.
The pilgrimage begins in Ankara and crosses to Cappadocia, where the Ihlara Valley, the Ozkonak underground city and the rock-cut churches of the Goreme and Zelve open-air museums recall the hidden life of the early Christians. From Tarsus, the birthplace of Paul, with its St Paul's Well and Cleopatra Gate, the route follows the Mediterranean through Antakya — ancient Antioch, where the Church of St Peter is carved into the mountainside — past the Harbiye Waterfall and the ruins of Anemorium to Antalya, with the great theatres and temples of Perge, Aspendos and Side.
Turning north, you walk the white terraces of Pamukkale and the ruins of Hierapolis and Laodicea, then trace the Seven Churches of Revelation through Philadelphia, Sardis, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Library of Celsus at Ephesus, the wine village of Sirince, Smyrna (Izmir) and the acropolis and Asclepion of Pergamon. After Byzantine Nicea and a day in Istanbul with its Hagia Sophia and a cruise on the Bosphorus, the journey crosses into Greece — to Philippi and the baptistery of St Lydia, Thessaloniki, the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora, the oracle of Delphi, the Acropolis and Areopagus of Athens, and finally ancient Corinth, where Paul preached and wrote. It is a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage that joins the scattered sites of the New Testament into one coherent, deeply moving whole.
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Welcome to Turkey. You are met at Ankara airport and transferred to your hotel in the capital. After settling in you gather for a welcome dinner and an overview of the pilgrimage ahead. Overnight in Ankara.
You begin at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Temple of Augustus, then pay your respects at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk. Driving east you reach Cappadocia, stopping at the Ihlara Valley and the Ozkonak underground city. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
A full day among the fairy chimneys: Uchisar Castle, the rock-cut churches of the Goreme Open-Air Museum, the Zelve Open-Air Museum and the pottery town of Avanos. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
You travel to Tarsus, the birthplace of St Paul, to see St Paul's Well, the St Paul Memorial Museum, the Cleopatra Gate and the ancient Roman road. Continuing through Adana you reach Hatay for dinner and overnight.
In Antakya — ancient Antioch, where the followers of Christ were first called Christians — you visit the cave Church of St Peter, the Habib Neccar Mosque, the renowned Hatay Archaeology Museum and the Harbiye Waterfall. You continue along the coast to Mersin for dinner and overnight.
Following the Mediterranean shore you stop at the ruins of Anemorium near Anamur, with a lunch break along the way, before arriving in Antalya. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
A classical day near Antalya: the colonnaded streets of Perge, the superbly preserved theatre of Aspendos and the seaside temples of Side. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
You drive inland to Pamukkale to walk the white calcium terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis, and to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
Tracing the Seven Churches you visit Philadelphia and Sardis, with its Temple of Artemis and ancient synagogue, before descending to the Aegean coast at Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
A full day at Ephesus: the Library of Celsus, the Grand Theatre, the Temple of Artemis, the Basilica of St John and the House of the Virgin Mary. In the afternoon you visit the hillside wine village of Sirince. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
You tour Izmir, the ancient Smyrna of Revelation, including the Church of St Polycarp, the Agora and the seafront with its Clock Tower. Dinner and overnight in the Izmir region.
At Pergamon (Bergama) you climb to the steep acropolis with its theatre, the Altar of Zeus and the Temple of Trajan, and visit the healing centre of the Asclepion and the site of the ancient library. Dinner and overnight nearby.
You travel north by way of Nicea (Iznik), where the first Ecumenical Council was held, and continue to Istanbul. On arrival you begin with the Hippodrome, the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpent Column. Overnight in Istanbul.
A full day in Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, the Chora church and the Grand Bazaar, followed by a guided cruise on the Bosphorus past the Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi palaces and the Rumeli Fortress. A lunch break is included during the day. Overnight in Istanbul.
You leave Turkey and cross into Greece, driving via the border to the port city of Kavala on the Aegean. Dinner and overnight in Kavala.
At Philippi you see the agora, the early Christian basilica, the theatre and the baptistery of St Lydia, the first European convert, as well as the traditional prison of Paul and Silas. You continue to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.
You explore Thessaloniki — the Roman Agora, the Rotunda and the White Tower — and the Bema of Veria where Paul preached, then travel to Kalambaka beneath the astonishing clifftop monasteries of Meteora. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.
After visiting the monasteries of Meteora you drive south to Delphi, the ancient oracle on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, with its Temple of Apollo, theatre and museum. You continue to Athens for dinner and overnight.
You cross the Corinth Canal to Ancient Corinth, where Paul lived and preached, seeing the Agora, the Temple of Apollo and the Bema. Returning to Athens you climb the Acropolis to the Parthenon and visit Mars Hill (the Areopagus), where Paul addressed the Athenians. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
After breakfast your pilgrimage comes to an end. You are transferred to Athens airport for your onward flight. We wish you a safe journey home.
Handpicked 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels along your route. Choose your category — the price adapts.
Exact hotels are confirmed on booking based on availability and your chosen category; equivalent alternatives may be offered.
Ankara → Cappadocia → Tarsus, Adana, Hatay → Antakya, Mersin → Anamur, Antalya → Perge, Aspendos, Side → Pamukkale, Hierapolis → Philadelphia, Sardis, Kusadasi → Ephesus, Sirince → Izmir → Pergamon → Nicea, Istanbul → Istanbul → Kavala → Philippi, Thessaloniki → Meteora, Kalambaka → Delphi, Athens → Athens, Corinth → Athens
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
👥 54 Seats
👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
👥 55 Seats
👥 54 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 46 Seats
👥 37+2 Seats
👥 37 Seats
👥 35 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 12+1 Seats
👥 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route — Ankara, Cappadocia, Tarsus, Adana, Hatay, Antakya, Mersin, Anamur, Antalya, Perge, Aspendos, Side, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Philadelphia, Sardis, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Sirince, Izmir, Pergamon, Nicea, Istanbul, Istanbul, Kavala, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Meteora, Kalambaka, Delphi, Athens, Athens, Corinth, Athens.
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Other private and group tours that visit the same destination.
Fill in your details and we confirm your private departure within 24 hours.
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!