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PRIVATE BIBLICAL GROUP JOURNEY TURKEY

Footsteps of Paul Turkey Tour for Church Groups

Follow sites connected with Paul across Turkey—from Antioch and Tarsus to Ephesus, Miletus, and Alexandria Troas—on a customizable 14-day private group journey.

Planning inquiries for 2027 and 2028

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No obligation · Reply within 24 hours

Duration14 Days
RegionTurkey
Group stylePrivate group journey
Planning2027–2028 inquiries
Serving groups since 1997Experienced planning for churches, ministries, and faith-based groups
Licensed local operatorCrossroads Travel · TÜRSAB 3716 registration is visible for verification
Reply within 24 hoursWe will respond to your inquiry with practical next steps

FOR CHURCH AND MINISTRY LEADERS

01 / BEFORE YOU PLAN

Is This Paul Journey Right for Your Group?

This route is a private, customizable starting point for groups that want to explore places connected with Paul while allowing time for teaching, reflection, and a pace suited to their travellers.

View the 14-Day Itinerary
  • Church and ministry groups
  • Pastor-led and Bible-study journeys
  • Groups planning for 2027 or 2028
  • Private groups needing a flexible pace

FOLLOW PAUL ACROSS TURKEY

02 / THE BIG PICTURE

A 14-Day Journey Through Key Biblical Sites

View the full itinerary

This fourteen-day route follows places associated with Paul and the early church across Turkey. It travels from Istanbul to Antioch and Tarsus, through Cappadocia and central Anatolia, then along the Mediterranean and Aegean regions to Ephesus, Miletus, Pergamon, and Alexandria Troas.

Guide explaining a site while a group listens

Day-by-day route

14-Day Journey

Start with the journey overview, then open the complete itinerary for full day details.

  1. Day 1

    Arrival in Istanbul

    Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel.
    Overnight
    Istanbul

  2. Day 2

    Istanbul to Adana

    Tour Istanbul’s historic center, then fly to Adana.
    Overnight
    Adana
    Travel & timing
    The current itinerary includes an afternoon flight from Istanbul to…

  3. Day 3

    Antioch

    Travel to Antioch, visit St. Peter’s Grotto and the mosaic museum, then return toward Adana.
    Overnight
    Adana

  4. Day 4

    Tarsus to Cappadocia

    Visit Tarsus, the birthplace of Paul, then continue to Cappadocia.
    Overnight
    Cappadocia

Operational overview

Every day at a glance

Use this quick view to understand the rhythm of the route. Open the full itinerary below for the complete Biblical focus, visits, meals, and teaching notes.

  1. Day 1

    Arrival in Istanbul

    Overnight
    Istanbul
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  2. Day 2

    Istanbul to Adana

    Overnight
    Adana
    Travel & timing
    The current itinerary includes an afternoon flight from Istanbul to Adana.
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  3. Day 3

    Antioch

    Overnight
    Adana
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Antioch, where followers of Jesus were first called Christians in Acts 11:26.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  4. Day 4

    Tarsus to Cappadocia

    Overnight
    Cappadocia
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Tarsus as the birthplace of Paul.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  5. Day 5

    Cappadocia

    Overnight
    Cappadocia
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  6. Day 6

    Cappadocia to Konya

    Overnight
    Konya
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  7. Day 7

    Iconium and Pisidian Antioch

    Overnight
    Antalya
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Iconium and Pisidian Antioch on Paul’s missionary route.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  8. Day 8

    Perge and Aspendos

    Overnight
    Antalya
    Travel & timing
    The existing itinerary describes this as a short driving day.
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Perge on the route of Paul and Barnabas.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  9. Day 9

    Colossae and Laodicea

    Overnight
    Pamukkale
    Travel & timing
    The existing itinerary describes the drive to Colossae as more than four hours.
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Colossae and Laodicea in the New Testament and Revelation.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  10. Day 10

    Hierapolis, Philadelphia, Sardis and Smyrna

    Overnight
    Kusadasi
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Four locations connected with the early church and the letters in Revelation.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  11. Day 11

    Ephesus and Miletus

    Overnight
    Kusadasi
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Paul at Ephesus and Miletus, together with the early church history of Ephesus.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  12. Day 12

    Thyatira, Pergamon and Alexandria Troas

    Overnight
    Assos
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Thyatira and Pergamon in Revelation, and Paul’s Macedonian vision at Troas.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  13. Day 13

    Troy to Istanbul

    Overnight
    Istanbul
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  14. Day 14

    Departure from Istanbul

    Overnight
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

Approximate timing, walking expectations, meals, overnight location, Biblical focus, and teaching space are shown when currently confirmed. Items marked for confirmation are finalized with your group proposal and group pace/access needs.

Complete itinerary

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel.

Arrive in Istanbul, meet the local team, and transfer to your hotel for the first night of the journey.

Key visits
Istanbul
Overnight
Istanbul

Tour Istanbul’s historic center, then fly to Adana.

Explore Istanbul’s historic center with Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia. After lunch, transfer to the airport for the flight to Adana.

Key visits
Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia
Travel & timing
The current itinerary includes an afternoon flight from Istanbul to Adana.
Overnight
Adana
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Travel to Antioch, visit St. Peter’s Grotto and the mosaic museum, then return toward Adana.

Drive to Antakya, ancient Antioch on the Orontes, where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians according to Acts 11:26. Visit St. Peter’s Grotto and the mosaic museum before returning toward Adana.

Biblical focus
Antioch, where followers of Jesus were first called Christians in Acts 11:26.
Key visits
Antioch, St. Peter’s Grotto, Hatay Mosaic Museum
Overnight
Adana
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Visit Tarsus, the birthplace of Paul, then continue to Cappadocia.

Continue to Tarsus, identified in the itinerary as Paul’s birthplace. Visit the surviving sites connected with the city, including St. Paul’s Well and Cleopatra’s Gate, then continue toward Cappadocia.

Biblical focus
Tarsus as the birthplace of Paul.
Key visits
Tarsus, St. Paul’s Well, Cleopatra’s Gate
Overnight
Cappadocia
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Explore the Goreme Open-Air Museum, Uchisar, Pasabag, and the valleys of Cappadocia.

Explore Cappadocia with the Goreme Open-Air Museum and its frescoed churches, then continue through viewpoints over Uchisar and Goreme Valley, Pasabag, Pigeon Valley, and Avanos.

Key visits
Goreme Open-Air Museum, Uchisar, Pasabag, Pigeon Valley
Overnight
Cappadocia
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Visit Derinkuyu, Ihlara Valley, and Sultanhan Caravanserai on the way to Konya.

Travel toward Konya with visits to Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, and Sultanhan Caravanserai. Continue to Konya for the overnight stay.

Key visits
Derinkuyu, Ihlara Valley, Sultanhan Caravanserai, Konya
Overnight
Konya
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Visit Konya, ancient Iconium, and continue to Pisidian Antioch before reaching Antalya.

Explore Konya, ancient Iconium, and visit the Mevlana monuments before continuing to Pisidian Antioch, where Paul preached. Proceed to Antalya for the overnight stay.

Biblical focus
Iconium and Pisidian Antioch on Paul’s missionary route.
Key visits
Konya (Iconium), Pisidian Antioch, Antalya
Overnight
Antalya
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Visit Perge and Aspendos on a day route from Antalya.

Take a shorter driving route from Antalya to Perge and Aspendos, locations associated in the itinerary with Paul and Barnabas. Have lunch in the Aspendos area before returning to Antalya.

Biblical focus
Perge on the route of Paul and Barnabas.
Key visits
Perge, Aspendos, Antalya
Travel & timing
The existing itinerary describes this as a short driving day.
Overnight
Antalya
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Travel from Antalya to Colossae and Laodicea, then continue to Pamukkale.

Travel from Antalya toward Colossae, a journey the current itinerary describes as more than four hours. Explore Colossae, continue to Laodicea, and finish in Pamukkale near Hierapolis.

Biblical focus
Colossae and Laodicea in the New Testament and Revelation.
Key visits
Colossae, Laodicea, Pamukkale
Travel & timing
The existing itinerary describes the drive to Colossae as more than four hours.
Overnight
Pamukkale
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Visit Hierapolis, Philadelphia, Sardis, and Smyrna before continuing to Kusadasi.

Visit Hierapolis and its necropolis, baths, and theatre, then continue to Philadelphia and Sardis. After the sites of ancient Lydia and the Sardis church, travel to Izmir for a short city visit before continuing to Kusadasi.

Biblical focus
Four locations connected with the early church and the letters in Revelation.
Key visits
Hierapolis, Philadelphia, Sardis, Smyrna
Overnight
Kusadasi
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Explore Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John, and Miletus.

Explore Ephesus, including the theatre where Paul preached, the Library, the Odeon, and the Double Church. Continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John, and Miletus, which the itinerary identifies as a place Paul visited twice.

Biblical focus
Paul at Ephesus and Miletus, together with the early church history of Ephesus.
Key visits
Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary, Basilica of St. John, Miletus
Overnight
Kusadasi
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Travel through Thyatira and Pergamon to Alexandria Troas and Assos.

Depart for Thyatira, then continue to Pergamon and its Acropolis. After lunch, travel to Alexandria Troas, the port city associated with Paul’s vision of a man calling him to Macedonia, before continuing toward Assos.

Biblical focus
Thyatira and Pergamon in Revelation, and Paul’s Macedonian vision at Troas.
Key visits
Thyatira, Pergamon, Alexandria Troas, Assos
Overnight
Assos
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Visit Troy, cross the Dardanelles by ferry, and return to Istanbul.

Visit the ancient city of Troy, then cross the Dardanelles by ferry and return to Istanbul. The published day includes lunch and a farewell dinner before the final night in Istanbul.

Key visits
Troy, Dardanelles, Istanbul
Overnight
Istanbul
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Transfer to the airport for the journey home.

Enjoy free time until the transfer to the airport for the journey home. The current itinerary also notes that other guide languages may be available on request for groups.

Key visits
Istanbul

Your group, your pace

Want this route shaped around your church?

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Route and destinations

Follow the Journey

Starts IstanbulEnds Istanbul

This 14-day route starts in Istanbul and ends in Istanbul. The complete destination order is shown below and can be refined during group planning.

Istanbul → Adana → Antioch → Tarsus → Cappadocia → Konya → Pisidian Antioch → Antalya → Perge and Aspendos → Colossae and Laodicea → Hierapolis → Philadelphia → Sardis → Smyrna → Ephesus and Miletus → Thyatira and Pergamon → Alexandria Troas and Assos → Troy → Istanbul

Footsteps of St Paul Turkey Tour route mapIllustrated route map with numbered stops following the published itinerary order.TRAVEL BIBLICAL · ROUTE OVERVIEWNUMBERED STOPS FOLLOW THE ITINERARYTURKEYGREECE01Istanbul02Adana03Antioch04Tarsus05Cappadocia06Konya07Pisidian Antioch08Antalya09Perge10Colossae11Hierapolis12Philadelphia13Sardis14Smyrna15Ephesus16Thyatira17Alexandria Troas18Troy19Istanbul
Main routeBiblical or historical siteOvernight or base
Published route map for Footsteps of St Paul Turkey Tour. Use the ordered route and day-by-day itinerary for the full sequence.

Journey sequence

  1. Istanbul
  2. Adana
  3. Antioch
  4. Tarsus
  5. Cappadocia
  6. Konya
  7. Pisidian Antioch
  8. Antalya
  9. Perge and Aspendos
  10. Colossae and Laodicea
  11. Hierapolis
  12. Philadelphia
  13. Sardis
  14. Smyrna
  15. Ephesus and Miletus
  16. Thyatira and Pergamon
  17. Alexandria Troas and Assos
  18. Troy
  19. Istanbul

SHAPED AROUND YOUR GROUP

Use the Itinerary as a Starting Point

We can refine the route around your planning year, group size, preferred pace, teaching priorities, hotel category, and accessibility needs.

Biblical focus

Teaching, worship, and reflection time

Pace and accessibility

Daily rhythm and traveller needs

Route and logistics

Dates, hotels, arrival cities, and suitable extensions

Request Your Group Itinerary

GROUP PRICE & PLANNING GUIDE

Plan Around Your Year, Group Size, and Priorities

Share your planning year and estimated group size. We will prepare itinerary and group price guidance around your dates, route, and requested services.

Group price guide

Travel together with clarity and care.

Transparent pricing and thoughtful planning so your group can focus on the journey that truly matters.

Minimum-group pricing

From $3,245 per person

Minimum group: 20 travellers

Price basisPer personMinimum group: 20 travellers
Planning statusCurrent planning pricePublished planning prices remain in effect until Travel Biblical updates this catalog.
Line itemsIncluded & separateIncluded: Airport transfers on arrival and departure · Accommodation in double occupancy at 4-star and 5-star class… Separate: International and domestic flights · Gratuities for the guide and driver

Published planning prices remain in effect until Travel Biblical updates this catalog. A 2027–2028 proposal is confirmed around travel dates, hotel category, flights, and requested services.

Request Your Group Itinerary & Price Guide

Pricing clarity: No unlisted mandatory charges are added after your proposal is confirmed. Optional upgrades are listed separately in the itinerary.

Typically Included

  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • Accommodation in double occupancy at 4-star and 5-star class hotels (single supplement applies; final hotels confirmed in your proposal)
  • Meals as indicated in the daily itinerary (B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner)
  • Transportation in air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicles
  • English-speaking official tour guide
  • Entrance fees to the sites listed in the itinerary

Typically Not Included

  • International and domestic flights
  • Gratuities for the guide and driver
  • Beverages
  • Personal expenses
  • Any item not listed as included in your group proposal

Hotel category, flights, and the final inclusion list are confirmed in your group proposal.

Frequently asked questions

Questions Before You Plan

The current itinerary states that other languages are available on request for groups.

No. The current exclusion list states that both international and domestic flights are excluded.

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  1. 1Share your group outline

    Tell us your estimated group size and what you need help planning.

  2. 2Receive an initial itinerary

    We will review the route and prepare practical next steps.

  3. 3Refine the journey together

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