DAY 1, Friday, December 2, 2011 - Depart the United States for our trans-Atlantic flight with superior in-flight service. Dinner on board the aircraft. D
DAY 2: Saturday, December 3, 2011 - Arrive Izmir (Ancient Biblical Smyrna). We meet our guide and driver after obtaining our luggage and a visa for Turkey. {visas are $20 and must be paid in cash.} Please have $20 in US currency available upon landing. We proceed to our hotel for overnight and a welcome dinner. Overnight in Kusadasi. BLD
DAY 3: Sunday, December 4, 2011 - We will visit “The Last Abode of the Virgin Mary” and the Monastery of St. John the Beloved Disciple. We will have lunch in Selcuk and then proceed to Ephesus where we will explore “The Most Excavated City in the World”. We will visit the Double Church of St. Mary (site of the Ecumenical Council). We will celebrate Holy Eucharist in the ruins of the Double Church before we return to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. BLD
DAY 4: Monday, December 5, 2011 - This morning we will drive to Bergama, (Pergamum) one of the Biblical Seven Churches (Rev. 2:12). to see The Acropolis, Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysus and the Theater. We visit the first “whole health center”, the Asclepieum and begin to understand more about the world Paul inhabited. We return to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. BLD
DAY 5: Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - After checking out of our hotel we drive to the airport to catch our flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in this beautiful and mysterious city, we will enjoy lunch at Topkapi Palace and after a quick tour of the Palace, we will visit the world famous Hagia Sophia, once the largest church in Christendom, then a mosque and now a fabulous museum. Overnight in Istanbul. BLD
DAY 6: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - This morning we will continue our exploration of Istanbul with a visit to the Ancient Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque and the spice market. Then we will board a private ship to cruise the Bosphorus to the gateway of the Black Sea. We will have a special fish lunch at the seaside. If his schedule permits, we will have see the Greek Patriarchate and then visit the ancient Cistern this afternoon. Overnight in Istanbul. BLD
DAY 7: Thursday, December 8, 2011 - Today we will visit, St. Saviour in Chora. Afterwards, we will visit the Grand Bazaar for some shopping time. We will return to our hotel for our farewell dinner. Overnight in Istanbul. BLD
DAY 8: Friday, December 9, 2011 - Breakfast and then we board our coach and transfer to the airport where we bid our driver and guide goodbye and board our return flight to the United States. There will be time on the way home to reflect on those sights and experiences you will want to be a part of the pilgrimage you lead when you return with your own group to this “second Holy Land” in 2012 or 2013. BL
Price: $699.00. Price is based on double occupancy with roundtrip air from Washington's Dulles Airport without airline taxes and fuel surcharges. Air transportation available from other cities. Single supplement: $199.00
Cost does not include airline taxes and fuel surcharges currently estimated to be $380.00 +
$200.00 per person deposit due with application
Final payment due October 15, 2011
Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until October 14, 2011: $100 per person plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After October 15, 2011: NO REFUND
An application for travel insurance will be included with the receipt for your deposit. We strongly recommend that you seriously consider this coverage.
Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner, M Meals on Aircraft
The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.
