Suggested Itinerary

Your itinerary will include the following. A detailed itinerary will be posted approximately 30 days from departure.

DAY 1: Thessaloniki
Arrive in Thessaloniki, transfer to hotel. Dinner included. Get acquainted. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

DAY 2: Thessaloniki-Philippi-Kavala 
Visit Thessaloniki and Philippi — After breakfast, pick up from hotel to start morning tour of Thessaloniki. Visit to the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Thessaloniki.  Enjoy the sites and the beautiful coastline. Afterwards, we will reach the town of Kavala (Ancient Neapolis) and then Philippi where Paul preached and baptized the first Christians in Europe! Visit the ‘’Baptismal’’ site, where Lydia was baptized and the place where tradition says Paul was imprisoned. Finally, we visit the Acropolis of Philippi, the Ancient Market, Basilica and Theatre. Overnight in Kavala (Ancient Neapolis) Group Dinner in Hotel included.

DAY 3: Kavala to Meteora
Kavala to Meteora – We leave Kavala. We arrive at the beautiful town of Veria (Ancient Beroea) at Northwestern Greece. Visit the Jewish synagogue in the area Paul originally preached. We continue to the Ancient town of Vergina. Go to the Royal tombs of Alexander the Great’s father, Phillip of Macedon. We finally arrive at the picturesque town of Kalambaka and go to Meteora to see the breathtaking rock tower monasteries of the 11th Century! Overnight in Kalambaka (Meteora). Group Dinner in Hotel included.

DAY 4: Kalambaka to Athens
Kalambaka to Athens — Early in the morning, we drive a few hours along the mountainous region to Athens. Make short stops at Thermopylae, the statue of Leonidas and the wonderful Tempi valley. Follow the path of the Apostle to the nations by visiting the Areopagus or Mars Hill where he preached to the Athenians (Acts 17). Visit the Acropolis. Overnight in Athens.  Group Dinner in Hotel included.

DAY 5: Corinth-Athens 
Ancient Corinth to Athens – Visit the famous Canal of Corinth, the archaeological site and the museum at Acrocorinth. Visit the biblical site of Cenchreae. Stroll around the ancient citadel while your experienced tour guide relates to you the fascinating history of such monuments as the Temple of Athena Nike, the Theatre of Dionysus. Overnight in Athens. Group Dinner in Hotel included.

DAY 6: Athens 
Visit the Greece Bethel Branch Office in Athens. Visit Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Malakasa.  Finally, enjoy the beautiful view from Lycabettus mountain and a final Group dinner overlooking Athens. Overnight in Athens.

DAY 7: Athens / Izmir
Breakfast at Hotel.  Depart Athens. Flight towards Izmir

Day 8: Izmir Türkiye (Turkey)
Breakfast at the hotel and continue to Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17) First visit Asclepion (medical center of the ancient world). Then visit the Acropolis, Temple of Athena, library, Royal Palace, Temple of Trajan, the steepest theater of the ancient world, Altar of Zeus. Continue to Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) which was a commercial center, visit remains of a church and then return to Izmir. Group dinner included at hotel.

Day 9: Izmir Türkiye (Turkey)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit ancient Agora of Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) Depart from Izmir to Ephesus, a cradle of early Christianity (Revelation 1:1; 2:1-7). Proceed to spectacular ruins from the period of Paul; see Odeon, Fountains, Temples; Library, Great theater and stadium. Temple of Artemis (one of the seventh wonders of the ancient world.) Group dinner included at hotel.

Day 10: Izmir Türkiye (Turkey)/Pamukkale 
Breakfast and check out of Izmir hotel. Visit Aphrodisias en route to Pamukkale (which was ancient Hierapolis mentioned at Colossians 4:13.) Visit the wonderful formations of stalactites and watch the Cataracts falling into the Basin at the bottom of the Mountain. Continue the tour with the ancient city of Hierapolis. Group dinner included, overnight in Pamukkale Hotel.

Day 11: Pamukkale/Izmir Türkiye (Turkey)
Breakfast and check out of Pamukkale hotel. Early morning start with a visit to the ancient city of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). Continue to Philadelphia.  (Revelation 3:7-13) Visit Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia. See the Temple of Diana, the Golden River (Pactalos) and the royal road. Then visit the reconstructed synagogue and continue to Izmir for Group dinner included, overnight in Izmir hotel.

Day 12: Izmir/Kayseri Türkiye (Turkey)
Breakfast and check out of Izmir hotel.  Flight to Kayseri Airport (Cappadocia). Group dinner included, overnight in Cappadocia hotel.

 Day 13: Cappadocia
Possibility to take hot air balloon ride (not included) at early morning (5 AM). Exploring Monastic center of Goreme, dark churches and Buckle church. Touring Pasabag Valley. Visit pottery town Avanos. Group dinner included.

Day 14: Cappadocia
Visit Kaymakli Underground city visit (cave dwellings), where the Christians lived protecting themselves from invaders. Visit to Sinassos. Group dinner included.

Day 15: Cappadocia/Istanbul
Breakfast and checkout from hotel. Flight from Kayseri Airport to to Istanbul.
Visit Grand Bazaar & Egyptian Spice Market. Group dinner included, overnight in Istanbul Hotel.

Day 16: Istanbul
Breakfast in Istanbul hotel. Visit Hagia Sophia Museum. Enjoy Bosphorus Cruise. Group Dinner and overnight in Istanbul hotel.

Day 17: Istanbul
Breakfast in Istanbul Hotel.  Flight home from Istanbul

Note: For reasons beyond our control, it may not be possible to visit everything listed above. However, every effort will be made to include as much as reasonably possible.

Listed below are most of the locations we will be visiting on our Bible Lands Tour. We have included references to our Christian publications so that you can look up this information in advance. This reference list does not include everything we have published on the locations we will be visiting, but will help get you started on preparing:

TÜRKIYE (TURKEY)

• Ephesus: it-1 734 -735
• Smyrna: it-1 982
• Pergamum: it-2 607-608
• Thyatira: it-2 p. 1099
• Sardis: it-2 864
• Philadelphia: it-2 626
• Laodicea: it-2 204

GREECE

• Athens: it-1 pp. 209-211
• Beroea (Veria): it-1 p. 291
• Corinth: it-1 pp. 508-509
• Cenchreae: it-1 pp. 424-425
• Neapolis (Kavala): it-2 pp. 478-479
• Philippi: it-2 pp. 629-630
• Thessalonica: it-2 p. 1092

Proposed Hotels Türkiye (Turkey):
3 or 4-star Hotels in Izmir, Pamukkale and Istanbul

Proposed Hotels Greece:
3 or 4-star Hotels in Thessaloniki, Kavala, Kalambaka and Athens

Included / Not Included

What’s Included

• Transportation each day for touring and sightseeing.
• Entrance fees for scheduled touring sites.
• Airfare between countries for those traveling to multiple countries.
• Breakfast and Dinner as noted on the day-by-day itinerary.
• Rooming in a 3 star or higher hotel.
• Prices include two tour guides: one Local guide to conduct our tour (which is required by the local laws) and one Jehovah’s Witness guides. The Witness guides will be Appointed Brothers. Your tour will be biblically accurate and of the greatest encouragement to you.
• Airport / Hotel shuttle service for those with full packages.
• Representatives to meet & greet at both airport & hotel.
• Tips for your local guides and bus drivers.

What’s Not Included

• Tips to the hotel staff
• Tips for your BCT guides.
• Lunch as noted on the day-by-day itinerary.

Pricing

All prices quoted below are in USD. You will choose the price applicable to you when you book your tour.*

NOTE: A 6% convenience (secure processing) fee will be added for reservations made online and a $30/person discount will be added. Booking over the phone, no convenience fee will be added, nor will you receive a $30/person discount.

All prices herein are per person and are subject to change without notice. 'Full Package' prices are especially subject to change due to the fluctuation in airfare. For Instance: Travelers can expect to pay additional airfare for summer tour dates if their tour includes New York. We will notify you three months, or less, before your departure of any additional fees. *Should the prices noted herein differ from that shown when booking your tour, the price you select on checkout will be the one that is validated.

Regarding Land Package Pricing:

Land Package prices signify that…
BCT will provide your transportation during the tour but you will be required to arrange your own transportation (be that airfare or train or car) at the beginning and after the tour.

Unless the arrival and departure hotels provide complimentary hotel/airport shuttle service Land Package travelers will need to arrange their own airport/hotel transportation. For Instance: On most NY trips the BCT-provided arrival/departure hotel(s) may provide complimentary hotel/airport shuttle service. However on many of BCT’s international trips arrival and departure hotels may not.

BCT is not responsible for any cost associated with the cost of your transportation (be that airfare or train or car) at the beginning and after the tour. Including penalties, fees, and/or rebooking costs when a trip is canceled or moved.
Click here to read about the advantages of booking a ‘full package' trip versus a ‘land package’ trip.

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