2014

Bible Land Study Trip

Abrahams Country & Pauls First Missionary Journey
August 23 Sep 5, 2014
Tour Host: Dr. Kyoshin Ahn


Akdamar Church

Lake Van

Tour Itinerary:
Aug 23 Sat
pm

Depart from Chicago by Turkish Airline (TK 6) at 22:15

Aug 24
Arrive Istanbul Airport at 4:00 pm. Our tour
guide will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a 2014
Bible Land Study Trip sign. Transfer to the Wow Airport Hotel
(www.wowhotelistanbul.com) Dinner and overnight in stanbul (D)
Aug 25 Mon
Fly Van Dogubeyazit Van
05:00 AM pick up from your hotel and transfer to the stanbul Airport
for TK 2746 06:45/08:50 am fight to Van. Upon arrival, we will head
off to Dogubeyazit. A brief stop at Muradiye fall. Upon arrival at
Dogubeyazit, we will visit Ishak Pasa Palace & Mt. Ararat. Return to Van.
Overnight at Merit Sahmaran Hotel www.meritsahmaranotel.com located
at Lake Van. (B,D)
Aug 26 Tue
Van Batman (Hasankeyf) Diyakbakir Todays
touring begins with a short cruise across Lake Van to Akadamar Island
Church. After lunch, we drive South to Batman to visit Hasankeyf, a
small village located along the banks of the Tigris River in southeastern
Turkey. Overnight Dedeman Hotel http://www.dedeman.com/otel-diyarbakir/dedeman-diyarbakir.aspx in Diyakbakir. (B,L,D)

Aug 28 Thu
Mount Nemrut Sanliurfa Harran Urfa
Early morning departure (3:30 am) by minivans to see the sunrise at the top
of the Mount Nemrut, followed by a visit to the huge heads of god and kings
from 1st century Commagene Kingdom. After breakfast, depart to Sanliurfa.
First, drive to Harran (Edessa) to see its wall, mosque, caravanserai, Jacobs
well, and beehive houses. Then visit the Gbekli Tepe temples 30 kilometres in north of Urfa. Late afternoon visit to the traditional birth Cave of
Abraham, and the pool of sacred fish. Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn www.
hilton.com.tr/tr/Hilton-Garden-Inn-Urfa in Sanliurfa (B,D)

Beehive Houses, Haran

Aug 29 Fri

Urfa Zeugma Gaziantep Antioch

Early morning departure from Hotel to Zeugma and see its new excavation,
followed by a possible visit to Carchemish (Jer 46:2). We will visit the new
Gazintep Mosaic Museum, ranked number 1 mosaic museum in the world.
Drive to Antioch to check into Anemon Hotel in Antakya for Dinner and
overnight http://www.anemonhotels.com (B, D)

Aug 30 Sat
Antioch (Antakya)
Antioch is the place where the followers of Jesus were first called
Christians. Here you will visit the Church of St. Peter, a grotto discovered by
the Crusaders and reputed to be the cave church where early Christians met
in secret. Morning visit of Peters Grotto. Sabbath worship. Then, you will go
to the Seleucia Pieria, the ancient port town of Antioch from which Paul
and Barnabas set out on their first journey and where Paul returned
afterwards. Dinner and overnight in Anemon Hotel in Antioch (B,L,D)

Hasankeyf
Aug 27 Wed
Diyarbakir Mount Nemrut
City tour of Diyakbakir: the walls of the city; a visit to the Ulu Mosque, one
of the oldest mosques in Turkey; and, the Malabadi bridge with the widest
arch width among all arch bridges in the world. Continue to Mount Nemrut
to visit the remains from the Commagene Kingdom. A ferry boat ride across
the Euphrates. Overnight at Hotel Euphrat www.hoteleuphratnemrut.com
(B,D)

Aug 31 Sun
Issus Karatepe Tarsus Cappadocia
Depart from hotel to visit Kinet Hyk near Issus, the site of Alexander
the Greats battle with the Persians, then visit the summer Hittite fortress
at Karatepe. We will drive to Tarsus to visit Pauls home town. You will
visit the Church of St. Paul as well as the recently excavated remains of
the Roman Tarsus in the town center. You will take a short walk to the
site known as the Well of St. Paul . In the afternoon you will continue with
a drive to Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight at Tourist Hotel (
www.touristhotel.com.tr (B,D)

Cappadocia

Sep 01 Mon
Cappadocia
Half day tour of the Greme valley to see many early churches. Our visit will also
include the citadel of Uchisar. Zelve Open Air Museum, Urugup, and the Avanos.
Afternoon free. Optional tour possible at your own expense: 1) Early morning
balloon ride costs around 170 euros; 2) Hiking at Rose Valley. The view is fantastic.
There are lots of naturally colored stones in lovely shape, caves and churches on the
way. It takes around 4 hours (including rest and photo-taking time) to finish the trails
of Rose and Red Valley; 3) ATV or Scooter tour. You can rent a scooter or ATV for
your own tour at your own risk! Dinner and lodging at the Tourist Hotel
(www.touristhotel.com.tr) in Goreme (B, D)

ISTANBUL

ANKARA

TURKEY

HATTUSHA

GORDION
CAPPADOCIA

Sep 02 Tue
Cappadocia Hattusha Yazilikaya Ankara
Drive to Bogazkoy via Salt Lake. Visit Hattusha, the capital city of the Hittite
Empire. Then visit Yazilikaya and continue to Ankara, the capital city of
modern Turkey. Diner and overnight at Moevenpick Hotel. http://www.
moevenpick-hotels.com (B,D)

Sep 03 Wed
Ankara Gordion Ankara Istanbul
Our tour begins at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. After stopping
to see the Roman remains of the Temple of Augustus, we will break for
lunch. We then drive to Gordion. We will have an opportunity to enter
the largest tumulus, known as Midass tomb, and to visit the vast acropolis
of the Phrygian city. Return to Ankara in the afternoon for a fight to
stanbul via 18:00 fight (TK 2163). Arriving in stanbul at 19:00. Meet and
transfer to the Wow Airport Hotel (B,D)

Sep 04 Thu
Istanbul Tour: Our touring begins at the fabulous
Archaeological Museum. We will also visit the Church of Kariye Camii.
Afternoon will be at leisure to explore the city or visit Istanbuls fascinating
Grand Bazaar. Late in the afternoon we will board our chartered boat
for a sunset Bosphorus cruise. Overnight in Istanbul. (B,D)

Sep 05 Fri

Return to Chicago (TK 5: 13:30pm/17:25pm)

VAN
MOUNT

TARSUS

NEMRUT

GAZIANTEP

DIYARBAKIR

URFA

ANTIOCH

IT

Tour Rates:

$2890 Per person in double occupancy

$ 450 Single Room Supplement

INCLUDED TOUR FEATURES:

* International round flight between Chicago and Istanbul
* Domestic flight between Istanbul and Van & between Ankara and
Istanbul
* Transfers between hotels and airports.
* Lodging and meals (breakfast and supper)
* Transportation
* Entrance Fees
* Tips to tour guide and bus driver

NOT INCLUDED:

* Visa fee to Turkey. Currently $ 20 for U. S. citizen obtainable at the

Istanbul airport upon arrival Turkish Visa can also be obtained online
before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr Citizens of ALL other countries are
responsible for checking their own countries visa regulations for travel.
* After meal beverages, personal expenses, valet service, phone calls,
cables, travel and baggage insurance and any other services that are not
specifically included
* Additional Travel Insurance
* Passport and visa
***This itinerary is tentative, and may be changed at the discretion of
the tour ho

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul