Suggested Itinerary

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

DAY 1: Izmir Türkiye (Turkey)
Arrive Izmir. Free time in Izmir. Group dinner included at hotel.

Day 2: Izmir Türkiye (Turkey)
Breakfast at the hotel and continue to Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17) First visit Asklepion (medical center of the ancient world). Then visit the Acropolis, Temple of Athena, 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 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: Izmir/Kayseri Türkiye (Turkey)
Breakfast and check out of Izmir hotel. Flight to Kayseri Airport (Cappadocia). Group dinner included, overnight in Cappadocia hotel.

Day 7: 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 8: Cappadocia
Visit Kaymakli Underground city visit (cave dwellings), where the Christians lived protecting themselves from invaders. Visit to Sinassos. Group dinner included.

Day 9: 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 10: Istanbul
Breakfast in Istanbul hotel. Visit Hagia Sophia Museum. Enjoy Bosphorus Cruise. Group Dinner and overnight in Istanbul hotel.

Day 11: Istanbul / Tel Aviv
Breakfast in Istanbul Hotel. Flight from Istanbul to Tel Aviv, Israel. Free time all day in Tel Aviv. Dinner at Tel Aviv hotel included.

Day 12: Tel Aviv
Breakfast in hotel. Tour Tel Aviv Bethel (If tours have resumed at Bethel). Tour Joppa; Visit Simon the Tanner’s “house” and walk down to Joppa’s ancient Port. Local cuisine for lunch, not included; after lunch visit the Valley of Elah (NEW) and then tour the Biblical Landscape Museum. Group dinner at Tel Aviv hotel included.

Day 13: Tel Aviv/Tiberias
Breakfast in hotel. Check out of Tel Aviv hotel. Visit beautiful Caesarea. Visit to Megiddo (lunch at Megiddo, not included). Guided tour of Nazareth Village – experience a memorable re-creation of Nazareth of 2000 years ago. Check into Tiberias hotel. Group dinner at Tiberias hotel included.

Day 14: Tiberias/Jerusalem
Breakfast in hotel, Tour the Sea of Galilee area: First a wonderful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes for a reading of the Sermon on the Mount. Visit Capernaum. Enjoy Galilee Fish lunch, not included. Visit ruins of the Synagogue of Magdala. Group dinner at Tiberias hotel included.

Day 15: Tiberias/Jerusalem
Breakfast in hotel. Check out of Tiberias hotel. Visit Jordan River site; Visit to Jericho. Lunch at Jericho site, not included. Take coach to Jerusalem to the Mt. of Olives, walk down to Garden of Gethsemane. Group dinner at Jerusalem hotel included.

Day 16: Jerusalem
Breakfast in hotel. Early morning visit to Temple Mount. Visit Pools of Bethesda. Tour the Western Wall Tunnel. Local cuisine Lunch not included. Guided Bible tour of Israel Museum (we have our own theocratic guide), Shrine of the Book and the huge outdoor model of ancient Jerusalem. Group dinner at Jerusalem hotel included.

Day 17: Jerusalem
Breakfast in hotel. Enjoy city walk, Visit Wohl Museum & Burnt House, continue to the City of David (enjoy excellent film of Jerusalem’s history). Visit to Gihon spring, Warren’s Shaft, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Pool of Siloam. Guided tour of Garden Tomb site. Group dinner at Jerusalem hotel included.

Day 18: Jerusalem
Breakfast in hotel. Visit Masada, using the cable car. Enjoy floating in the Dead Sea. Conclude by visiting with old “Abraham” in his tent in the Judean Desert, including Camel ride and Biblical dinner.

Day 19: Jerusalem
Breakfast at Jerusalem Hotel. Flight home

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

ISRAEL

• ISRAEL (Ancient Land): si 270-278; it-1 332-336; it-2 469-470
• JERUSALEM (Ancient): it-2 40-41, 951
• JOPPA: it-2 104
• CAPERNAUM: it-1 410-412
• SEA OF GALILEE: it-1 885
• NAZARETH: it-2 476

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

Proposed Hotels Israel:
3 or 4-star Hotels in Tel Aviv, Tiberias and Jerusalem.

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 three tour guides: one Local guide to conduct our tour (which is required by the local laws) and two 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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