Stonepark Travel
Private 6 Days Biblical Tour of Asia Minor
Tour code: STP142     From 935 €
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Destinations : Istanbul ♦ Cappadocia ♦ Tarsus ♦ Adana ♦ Antakya ♦ Istanbul
Tour Style : Luxury-Private Tours
Duration : 6 Days / 5 Nights
Accommodations  : Charming Boutique & 5* Hotels
Meals included : Meals are included as shown in the itinerary
Leaders : Professionally-Licensed, English-SpeakingTourGuides
Transportation : Luxury, Private, Chauffeur-Driven Vehicles with A/C, DomesticFlights
Departures/Dates : Guaranteed Daily Departures, year-round


DAY 1: ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA [No Meal]
Arrival in Kayseri or Nevsehir airport and meet with your driver. Transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

DAY 2: CAPPADOCIA  [B, L]
Optional Hot Air Balloon Flight in the morning! (The flights are scheduled early in the morning to catch the sunrise. Pick-up and drop-off from the hotels are included)

Pick-up from your hotel after the breakfast around 09:00 – 09:30. Today the tour will start with Kaymaklı Underground City with rock-cut stables, wineries, chapels and housing - the resourcefulness of the carvers to create fully-functioning underground cities allowed these villagers to escape from marauders throughout the millennia.

Next we’ll drive to see some of the most spectacular rock formations - Devrent Valley (aka. Imagination Valley). Here the rocks have eroded naturally to form magical and interesting shapes which includes the well-known camel rock that stands at the entrance of the valley.

We’ll continue our tour with Pasabag Valley (Monk’s Valley) where the iconic Fairy Chimneys dot the landscape.  Our tour will continue with a tasty lunch at a local restaurant offering traditional Turkish dishes from the region.

The next destination is the town of Avanos, located along the longest river in Turkey. This ancient city was the center of the Hittite pottery-makers and today the same red and white clay from the surrounding hills is used to create the famous pottery.

Before our final stop we will visit the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of the Goreme Open Air Museum. Our final location of the day is at the highest village in Cappadocia - the stunning Uchisar rock-castle fortress panaroma. At the end of the tour your driver and guide will bring you back to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

DAY 3: CAPPADOCIA – TARSUS - ADANA [B]
Pick-up from your hotel early in the morning and drive to Tarsus.  On the way to Tarsus we will stop by the Gumusler Monastery. This 20th century monastery is carved from the rock. The church is built on a closed cruciform plan and has a central dome, four columns and three apses. You will have a chance to see the nativity and presentation of Jesus scene as well as several portraits of Mary, saints and angels.

Arrive to Tarsus at early afternoon. Tarsus is known to be the birthplace of St Paul. We will visit Cleopatra’s Gate and St. Paul’s Well.

Mark Anthony and Cleopatra lived in Tarsus in the 1st century BC. The Cleopatra’s Gate,  dates around 40 BC.

St. Paul’s Well located in a courtyard which is long believed to be the site of St. Paul's house. Archaeological studies have shown St. Paul's Well and surrounding areas to have Roman, Byzantium and Ottoman Period cultural layers. The site is a pilgrimage destination for some and the water from the well is believed to have healing powers.

After the tour we will drive to Adana and check-in to your hotel. Overnight stay in Adana.

DAY 4: ADANA – ANTAKYA (ANTIOCH)  [B]
Pick-up from your hotel after the breakfast and drive to Antakya.Ancient Antioch was a very important religious center throughout the centuries. First it was home to several Roman temples. It had also been the home of a large Jewish community and pleayed an important role as the base for Paul's missionary journeys.

We will start our tour with the Antakya Citadel and Walls which was built by Seleucos Nitakor I in 300 BC. These walls are among the most important buildings in the world. We will then visit Antakya Mosaic Museum which holds the mosaics from Daphne and Seleucia Pieria. 

Our next stop will be the Syrian Churches. As Antioch was an important center of commerce and the capital of Roman province of Syria at the time of Christ, The Syrian Orthodox Church was one of the most important reliogious centers of it’s time.

Next we will visit the St Peter Grotto which is also known as the Cave Church of St Peter. This is and ancient cave church with a stone facade located just outside Antioch.

After the tour transfer to Hatay Airport and fly back to Istanbul. Meet with your driver and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul Hotel.

DAY 5: ISTANBUL OLD CITY  [B,L]
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will meet you to begin exploring the fascinating Old City of Istanbul. Our first stop is the famous St. Sophia.Church. Afterwards we will visit the Blue Mosque - a working mosque with 20,000 Iznik tiles. The architecture, light and colors inside this mosque are breathtaking. Our next journey takes us through and around the ancient Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius, as well as the Snake Pillar and the German Fountain of Wilhelm II.

After lunch we will visit the spectacular Topkapi Palace. This jewel of the Ottoman Sultans was used from the 15th to 19th centuries and features the sprawling palace grounds with spectacular views. Inside the palace compound we will see the impressive architecture and some smaller museum rooms with priceless artifacts from the days of the Sultans. The famed Harem of the Sultans is also located here (for an extra admission fee). At the end of the tour there will be free time to visit the famous Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sunday). After the tour drop-off to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul Hotel.

 DAY 6: ISTANBUL [B]
Pick-up from your hotel around 08:30 transfer to the airport or start your half day Bosphorus Tour. Our first stop is at the Egyptian Spice Market - this covered market is famous for the beautiful displays of exotic spices, Turkish delights and unique herbs. We continue on to board our cruise of the Bosphorus - the waterway separating the continents of Europe and Asia. Along the cruise route we will pass the Rumeli Fortress - built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prepare for his conquest of Istanbul. We will also cross under the Bosphorus Bridge - separating Europe and Asia to visit the magnificent Beylerbeyi Palace - the summer residence for the Ottoman Sultans. This cruise is done by public ferry, unless other arrangements are made.

After the tour transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for  your international flight departure out of Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Goodbye!

Customize Your Tour: Add-On Options
Flight Bookings: Domestic or International flights and upgrades. We are a full-service travel agency
Hotel Upgrades / Changes: we offer our Top Picks for hotels in each area. If you have a different hotel in mind or would like an upgrade please let us know. You may also book your own hotels and join in the tour. For more information please email us

Tour Type Luxury Private Tours
Price Starting from:  935 € Per Person
Departure Guaranteed Departures Daily

 

Hotels Hotels options in 7 Churches Tour Type
Cappadocia Best Western Premier Cappadocia or similar Special Class (BB)
Adana Adana Hilton Hotel or similar 5 Stars Deluxe (BB)
Istanbul Sisli Holiday Inn Hotel or similar 5 Stars Deluxe (BB)


Included in Tours Packages:
*Fully escorted private Tours,
*5 Nights accommodation in below mentioned hotel options,
*Pick-up & drop off from hotels on tour days,
*Airport transfers in Kayseri/Nevsehir, Hatay and Istanbul,
*Professional English Speaking Guide,
*Meals as specified at the itinerary without drinks,
*Transportation in non-smoking Luxurious Vehicles with comfortable seat s &  AC
*Entrance fees to all the sightseeing places and museums (except Dark Church in Cappadocia),
*All parking and highway fees,
*All the expenses of guide & driver
*All local taxes.

Not Included in Tour Packages (exclusions):
*International or Internal Flights,
*Meals not mentioned at the itinerary and Drinks during meals,
*Dark Church in Cappadocia is optional to see and the entance fee is extra,
*All personal expenses,
*Tips to the guide, driver and hotel personnel (Not compulsory but encouraging)

Tour Request Form
STP039 - Jeep Safari
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Number of Adults
7-12 years old
Children Aged 0-6
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4 + 7 = ?
Istiklal Cad. No:59/E 50400 Urgup / Nevsehir / Turkey • Phone: +90 384 341 8897 • Fax: +90 384 341 5348 • info@stonepark.com.tr
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