• Visas - approximately $50
• Lunches
• Luggage fees at airport if applicable
• Tips for meals not at hotels

• Travel Insurance (highly recommended):  available at AIG Travel Guard
• Single occupancy
• Gifts/personal expenses
• Land Only passengers are not guaranteed airport meeting and assistance, including transfers to & from the airport

 

 

 

Day 1: Sunday (Oct 22)

• Depart Newark @ 6:10pm for Frankfurt
• Depart Frankfurt @ 9:10am for İstanbul

 

 

 

Day 2: Monday (Oct 23) – Night 1 (İstanbul)

– İstanbul –

• Arrive in İstanbul (ancient Constantinople)
• Visit the Hagia Sophia. The center of Eastern  Christianity for almost 1,000 years, it was built by  Emperor Justinian in the 4^th century AD and is a  masterpiece of Byzantine architecture.  Dinner @ Hotel in İstanbul.

 

 Day 3: Tuesday (Oct 24) – Night 2 (İzmir)   

– Smyrna – Pergamum –

• In the morning, take a short flight to İzmir and visit ancient Smyrna—one of the seven Churches of Revelation (Rev 2:8-11). Polycarp (c. 65-155 AD) was the bishop of Smyrna and one of the disciples of John the Revelator.
• Travel to Bergama and visit ancient Pergamon (Greek)—the capital city of the Hellenisic Kingdom of Pergamon. Pergamum (Latin) is one of the seven Churches of Revelation (Rev 2:12-17). Antipas was martyred here according to Revelation 2:13. Pergamum was the site of many pagan temples but Christianity took a stronghold here as early as the 2nd century, attested by the monumental size of the Basilica of St. John. The Pergamenese Library was the second richest library of the ancient world after the library in Alexandriapolis, Egypt. The city of Pergamon was also where parchment paper was invented.
• Visit the temples of Zeus and Emperor Trajan, the Hellenistic theatre, and the library site. 
• Dinner @hotel in İzmir.

 

 

Day 4: Wednesday (Oct 25) – Night 3 (Pamukkale)

– Sardis – Philadelphia –

• Visit Polycarp’s Church in Smyrna.
• Travel to and visit Sardis—one of the seven Churches of Revelation (Rev 3:1-6). Sardis was the capital city of the Iron Age Lydian Kingdom and a very rich metropolis of Asia Minor. Lydians are said to have invented and minted the first coins in the world. The site is presently under the excavation of Harvard and Berkeley Universities.
• Visit one of the oldest synagogues in the world—ancient Lydia had a large Jewish population—which was later converted into a church.
• Visit the monumental Artemis Temple and the impressively restored Roman Imperial Hall.
• Travel to and visit ancient Philadelphia—one of the seven Churches of Revelation (Rev 3:7-13) to see the remaining walls of a monumental church.
• Travel to Pamukkale.
• Dinner @ hotel in Pamukkale.

 

 

Day 5: Thursday (Oct 26) – Night 4 (Kuşadası)

– Hierapolis – Laodicea –

• Visit Hierapolis where Philip the Apostle likely lived, spread the Gospel, and was martyred. Known for their thermal springs, Hierapolis is mentioned in Paul's epistle to the Colossians (Colossian 4:13) and had a large Jewish population during the Hellenistic period.
• Vist one of the richest cemetery grounds of the ancient world, the main Domitian Gate and the main avenue.
• Visit the white travertine cascades of Pamukkale. Pamukkale is a unique site in the world, declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO Cultural Department.
• Travel to and visit nearby Laodicea—one of the seven Churches of Revelation (Rev 3:14-22). Recent archeological excavations are possibly revealing the walls of a monumental church.
• Travel to Kuşadası.
• Dinner @ hotel in Kuşadası.

 

 

 

Day 6: Friday (Oct 27) – Night 5 (Kuşadası)

– Ephesus –

• Visit the city of Ephesus—one of the seven Churches of Revelation and the center of Paul’s life and ministry for around three years (Rev 2:1-7; Acts 18:19-28, 19:1-41; Ephesians). Ephesus was the capital city of Roman Province of Asia Minor; the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the World—the Temple of Artemis, and the location of the third richest library of the ancient World—the Celsus library.
• Visit the Basilica of St. John. John the Revelator is believed to have spent his last years here and to be buried within the Basilica of St John. Roman Catholic tradition claims that John brought Mary to Ephesus and she ascended to heaven from here.
• Dinner @ hotel in Kuşadası.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 7: Saturday (Oct 28) – Night 6 (Cruise Ship)

– Isle of Patmos –

• After breakfast, board the cruise ship and sail to the Island of Patmos where John the Revelator was exiled and wrote the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:9).
• Visit the traditional location of the Cave of the Apocalypse and the 11^th century Monastery of St. John the Theologian—founded in 1088 by St. Christodoulos. Visit the monastery’s yard where the monks take their meals and the old bakery.
• Behind the chapel of St. Anne lies the entrance to the Grotto of the Apocalypse. According to Christian tradition, you will see the cross engraved by John the Revelator and the triple fissure in the wall of the cave where John allegedly heard God dictating to him the Apocalypse.
• Tour the Byzantine Church of St. John which is adorned with mosaics, a wood-carved icon screen, and important frescoes from different periods and the small museum which hosts such things as ancient manuscripts, medieval textiles, and sacerdotal vestments.
• Dinner on the cruise ship.
• Sail to Crete overnight.

 

 

Day 8: Sunday (Oct 29) – Night 7 (Cruise Ship)

– Greek Isles Cruise – Island of Crete – Island of Santorini –

• Visit Crete the home of a 1^st century Jewish community and an early Apostolic congregation (Acts 2:11; Titus 1:5). Ancient Crete was the center of the Minoan civilization including the 4,000 year old Knossos Palace with its large Central Court, Throne Room, the fresco of the “Prince of the Lilies”, the imposing Grand Staircase, and the Queen’s Megaron in the east.
• Visit the Cretan seaside city of Heraklion—founded in 824 AD. Heraklion is known for its contributors to literature and art like the Nobel winning poet Odysseas Elytis, the Renaissance painter Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) and the writer Nikos Kazantzakis.
• Sail to the Island of Santorini. This island sits on the rim of an ancient volcano that erupted in 1500 B.C.
• Visit Santorini and the ancient Megalochori village with its distinctive native architecture and character. We will then travel past other settlements like Kamari, Monolithos, and the small traditional villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli with delicate architecture and beauties, to eventually arrive at the settlement of Oia. In Oia, we will walk through the marble-paved alleys, unique shops and buildings carved into the rocks and the unusual captains’ manors, the settlement Ammoudi at the foot of the caldera.
• Dinner on the cruise ship.
• Sail to Athens overnight.

 

 

Day 9: Monday (Oct 30) – Night 8 (Athens)

– Corinth –

• Disembark from the ship in the morning.
• Travel to and visit ancient Corinth. Paul lived and ministered here for over 18 months and wrote at least four letters to this community—two of which are included in the New Testament. Corinth is where Paul met and stayed with fellow tent-makers Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-17). Walk along the stone path where Paul walked, see the remains of the 1^st century market place, the agora where Paul’s trial by Gallio took place, the Bema, the Fountain of Peirene, the Temple of Apollo, and the Acropolis.
• Visit Diolkos trackway—built around 600 BC—which allowed boats to travel overland across the Isthmus of Corinth.
• Visit the ancient Corinthian port Cenchrea. During his 2^nd missionary journey, Paul cut his hair here because of a Nazirite vow (Acts 18:18).
• Dinner @ hotel in Athens.

 

 

 

 

Day 10: Tuesday (Oct 31) – Night 9 (Athens)

– Athens –

• Visit Athens, the birthplace of democracy. Tour the Acropolis on which stands the Parthenon. The entrance to the top of the hill is through the Propylea, the gates through which the Panathinea Processions used to enter. Visit the Temple of Erectheion and Mars Hill where Paul preached to the Athenians and visit the Agora. The bus tour also includes viewing the Temple of Zeus, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Parliament, and the Panathenian Stadium where the first Olympics of modern tims were held in 1896. Visit the new Acropolis Museum. And, an optional visit to the shops and cafes of Plaka.
• Dinner @ hotel in Athens.

 

 

Day 11: Wednesday (Nov 1) – Night 10 (Kalambaka)  

– Thermopylae – Meteora –

• Travel through the beautiful landscapes of central Greece.
• Visit Thermopylae to see the heroic monument of Leonidas, King of Sparta. This small monument commemorates the battle in 480 B.C. in which a small band of about 300 Spartan soldiers held off the Persian army.
• Continue traveling and visit Meteora to see the famous 14th century Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes.
• Arrive in Kalambaka.
• Dinner @ hotel in Kalambaka.

 

 

 

 

Day 12 Thursday (Nov 2) – Night 11 (Thessaloniki)  

– Berea – Thessaloniki –

• Travel to Berea (Veria) and view the ancient synagogue where Paul spoke and the Bema.
• Travel to the harbor city of Thessalonica and feel Paul’s epistles come alive by seeing the old city ramparts, the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia. We will also see St. Demetrius Basilica, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert.
• Dinner @ hotel in Thessaloniki.  

 

 

 

 

Day 13 Friday (Nov 3) – Night 12 (Athens)  

– Philippi – Kavala – Flight to Athens  

• Travel to Philippi—a leading city of the Roman colony of Macedonia during the 1^st century (Acts 16:12). Paul and Silas were praying and singing in jail here when they were set free because of an earthquake that shook open the prison doors and unlocked their chains. See the tradition site of this miracle. See the traditional baptismal site where Paul is said to have immersed the God-fearer, Lydia of Thyatira—the first recorded baptism in Europe. Visit the Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre.
• Travel to the coastal town of Kavala where Paul, accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy, first set foot on European soil.
• Return to Thessalonica airport for a short flight to Athens.
• Dinner @ hotel in Athens.

 

 

Day 14: Saturday (Nov 4)

• Depart Athens @ 7:00am for Frankfurt
• Depart Frankfurt @ 1:30pm for Newark  

Itinerary Subject to Change

 

 

Flights from the USA

 

October 22, 2023

Lufthansa#403

Departs Newark at 6:10 PM, Arrives in Frankfurt at 7:30 AM the next day (October 23)

 

October 23, 2023

Lufthansa#1298

Departs Frankfurt at 9:10 AM, Arrives in Istanbul at 1:05 PM.

 

 

Flights back to USA:

November 4,2023

Lufthansa#1285

Departs Athens at 7:00 AM, Arrives in Frankfurt at 9:05 AM.

 

Lufthansa#402

Departs Frankfurt at 1:30 PM, Arrives at Newark at 5:40 PM.

 

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October 22 to November 4, 2023 - $5,975 per person with 2 sharing a room

Deposits and Payments:   A non-refundable deposit of $300 is required from each traveler along with their reservation form to guarantee the booking as soon as possible.  The remaining balance is due in 3 payments.

• The first payment of $2,800 is due on April 15, 2023.
• The second payment of $1,900 is due on July 5, 2023.
• The final payment of $975 is due on September 5, 2023.
• A supplement of $1,299 for single occupancy must be paid in full with the final payment.

 

For those traveling on the land package only, air travel not included, the total is $4,870 including the $300 non-refundable deposit.  The first payment of $2,800 is due on April 15, 2023.  The second payment of $1,770 is due on July 5, 2023.

If using a credit card, a convenience fee (from 3.6% to 4%) will be added to the total.

Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be made in writing to Yosher Tours.  See Terms and Conditions for cancellation fees and policies.

Health Insurance: Travel insurance is also highly recommended and available at AIG: Travel Guard.

Passports:  You must provide Yosher Tours a copy of your passport by April 15, 2023.  The US State Department requires that your passport have an expiration date not less than 6 months after your date of departure from Israel (expires after May 4, 2024).