Quick Details
Experience the best of Greece and Turkey on this 17-day tour! Visit iconic landmarks like the Acropolis and the Parthenon in Athens, explore the ancient city of Ephesus, and take the opportunity to visit Cappadocia. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see two of the most fascinating countries in the world.
DAY 1: Thessaloniki
Arrive in Thessaloniki, and transfer to the hotel. Dinner included. Get acquainted. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
DAY 2 Thessaloniki-Philippi-Kavala
Visit Thessaloniki and Philippi — After breakfast, pick up from the hotel to start the morning tour of Thessaloniki. Visit the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Thessaloniki. Enjoy the sites and the beautiful coastline. Afterward, 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, the Basilica, and the 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 the 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 Turkey
Breakfast at the Hotel. Depart Athens. The flight towards Izmir. Free time in Izmir. Group dinner included at hotel.
Day 8 Izmir 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 the remains of a church, and then return to Izmir. Group dinner is included at the hotel.
Day 9 Izmir 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 is included at the hotel.
Day 10 Izmir 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 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 a Group dinner included, overnight in the Izmir hotel.
Day 12: Izmir/Kayseri 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 a hot air balloon ride (not included) in the early morning (5 AM). Exploring the 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 the hotel. Flight from Kayseri Airport 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
All itineraries are subject to adjustment as required. Confirmed, final, and detailed itineraries (and additional important travel details) are posted on your Personal BCT Travel Desktop, approximately one month from departure.
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
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.
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.
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.