Themed tour
Seven Churches of Revelation in 9 days
From Smyrna to Laodicea along the seven communities of Revelation, with Ephesus, Pamukkale, Konya and the rock-cut churches of Cappadocia.
Key facts
- Duration 9 days / 8 nights
- Route Istanbul → Cappadocia 11 destinations
- Quotation Quotation within 72 business hours
- Recommended months March–May, September–November
- Type Private
Frescoes with biblical scenes in a rock-cut church of Cappadocia, the last stage of the route.
Overview
A 9-day, 8-night programme designed for parishes, Bible-study groups and travellers who want to visit the seven places addressed by the letters of Revelation: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. All seven sites lie in today’s Turkish Aegean region, close enough to be covered in four days out of İzmir, with a licensed Spanish- or English-speaking guide and entrance tickets included.
The route starts in Istanbul, flies to İzmir, links the seven cities in geographical order and then turns inland: the travertines of Pamukkale beside Laodicea and Hierapolis, Konya — the Iconium of the Acts of the Apostles — and the rock-cut churches of Cappadocia, before the flight back to Istanbul. Private departures on the date the group chooses; quoted to order.
The route starts in Istanbul, flies to İzmir, links the seven cities in geographical order and then turns inland: the travertines of Pamukkale beside Laodicea and Hierapolis, Konya — the Iconium of the Acts of the Apostles — and the rock-cut churches of Cappadocia, before the flight back to Istanbul. Private departures on the date the group chooses; quoted to order.
Route: IstanbulİzmirEphesusPergamonThyatira (Akhisar)SardisPhiladelphia (Alaşehir)LaodiceaPamukkaleKonyaCappadocia
- Physical level: Moderate
- Languages of the guided visits: Spanish, English
Highlights
- The seven sites of the letters of Revelation in geographical order: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, with entrance tickets included.
- Ephesus in full: Curetes Street, the Library of Celsus, the great theatre, the Church of Mary, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St John.
- Hierapolis and the martyrium of St Philip, with the barefoot descent of the Pamukkale travertines.
- Konya, the Iconium of the Acts of the Apostles, and the Seljuk caravanserai of Sultanhanı on the road to Cappadocia.
- The monastic churches carved into the rock at the Göreme Open-Air Museum and an underground city of Cappadocia.
- A licensed English-speaking guide throughout, with the Istanbul–İzmir and Cappadocia–Istanbul domestic flights included.
What is included and what is not
Included
- 8 nights’ accommodation in total: 2 nights in Istanbul, 3 nights in İzmir, 1 night in Pamukkale, 1 night in Konya and 1 night in Cappadocia (or similar distribution, subject to availability).
- Daily breakfast at the hotels.
- Airport–hotel–airport transfers in Istanbul.
- The necessary hotel–airport–hotel/next city transfers in İzmir and Cappadocia.
- Domestic flights according to the itinerary, economy class (for example Istanbul–İzmir and Kayseri or Nevşehir–Istanbul; the exact combination is stated in the offer).
- Transportation by air-conditioned tourist vehicle for all the visits and journeys listed in the programme.
- Services of a licensed English-speaking guide throughout the circuit (other languages on request, subject to availability).
- Entrance fees to the monuments, museums and sites listed in the itinerary, including the seven sites of the churches of Revelation.
Not included
- International flights (home country – Istanbul – home country).
- Lunches and dinners (unless stated as included in a specific offer).
- Optional activities: hot-air balloon flight in Cappadocia, sema ceremony of the whirling dervishes in Konya or Cappadocia, Turkish night in Cappadocia and the Dark Church at Göreme.
- Personal expenses (shopping, minibar, drinks not mentioned, laundry, room service, etc.).
- Tips for the guide, the driver, porters and restaurant and hotel staff.
- Visa fees and visa handling services, if required.
- Travel insurance (recommended).
- Any service not explicitly mentioned as included.
Day by day itinerary
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Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul
Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST or SAW) and meeting with our representative. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. Depending on arrival time, the rest of the day is free to rest or take a first walk around the hotel’s neighbourhood. In the evening the guide meets the group to go through the programme for the coming days and answer practical questions. -
Day 2
Istanbul: Christian Constantinople and the historic peninsula
A day devoted to the city that was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. It starts at the Hippodrome, where the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpent Column survive, and continues with Hagia Sophia, the 6th-century basilica whose visitor route runs along the upper galleries and their mosaics. Then the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern, the great underground cistern of the same period as Hagia Sophia.
In the afternoon, a walk through the Grand Bazaar and free time. The guide places on the map the seven cities to be visited from the following day and explains why the letters of Revelation were addressed precisely to them.Notes for the day: Hagia Sophia is a working mosque: the visitor route is suspended during prayer times and the visiting rules may change without notice. A walking day on cobbled streets.
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Day 3
Flight to İzmir: the city of the letter to Smyrna
Transfer to the airport and domestic flight to İzmir, ancient Smyrna, the second of the seven churches and the see of Bishop Polycarp, martyred in the 2nd century. Arrival, meeting with the vehicle and visit to the Roman agora, the archaeological complex in the city centre, with its vaulted galleries and civil basilica. The day continues up to Kadifekale hill, the acropolis of the ancient city, overlooking the bay.
In the afternoon, a walk through the Kemeraltı bazaar and along the Kordon seafront. The guide explains the church of St Polycarp, the oldest Catholic parish in the city, with an interior visit when opening hours allow.Notes for the day: Domestic flight Istanbul–İzmir of about one hour. The day’s programme follows the confirmed flight time.
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Day 4
Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St John
Departure for Selçuk, some 80 kilometres south of İzmir. The morning is devoted to Ephesus, the first of the seven churches and the city where Paul lived for more than two years: Curetes Street, the Library of Celsus, the great theatre where the riot of the silversmiths described in the Acts of the Apostles took place, and the Church of Mary, around which the Council of Ephesus was held in 431.
In the afternoon, the drive up to the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana) on Mount Bülbül and a visit to the Basilica of St John in Selçuk, built in the 6th century over the tomb attributed to the apostle, overlooking the remains of the Temple of Artemis. Return to İzmir.Notes for the day: Ephesus is visited on foot for around three hours, on polished marble with little shade. Closed shoes, a hat and water are advisable.
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Day 5
Pergamon and Thyatira
Departure for Bergama, some 110 kilometres to the north. Pergamon, the third of the seven churches, was the capital of the Attalid kingdom and home to one of the great libraries of antiquity. The visit covers the acropolis, with the steepest theatre of the Hellenistic world, the Temple of Trajan and the site of the Altar of Zeus, which Christian tradition links to the “throne of Satan” of the letter to Pergamon. Then, in the lower town, the Red Basilica, a 2nd-century temple of Egyptian deities later converted into a church, and the Asclepion, the city’s healing sanctuary.
In the afternoon, on to Akhisar, ancient Thyatira, the fourth church, a city of guilds and of Lydia, the seller of purple cloth in Acts. In the town centre the remains of a basilica and a Roman-period portico survive. Return to İzmir.Notes for the day: Around 300 kilometres of driving in total. The acropolis of Pergamon is reached by cable car or by road depending on the day’s operation; the site of Thyatira is small and takes under an hour.
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Day 6
Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea; arrival in Pamukkale
Departure inland along the Gediz valley. First stop at Sardis, the fifth church and capital of the kingdom of Lydia, where the first coins were minted: the Temple of Artemis with the small church attached to its corner, the gymnasium with its restored marble façade and the synagogue, one of the largest of antiquity. Then on to Alaşehir, the Philadelphia of the sixth letter, where three pillars of the Byzantine basilica of St John still stand.
In the afternoon, Laodicea, the seventh church, a large site under excavation next to Denizli: the colonnaded street, the two theatres and the early 4th-century church, excavated from 2010 onwards. Arrival in Pamukkale in the late afternoon.Notes for the day: Around 280 kilometres of driving with three open-air sites. It is the longest day of the programme; the order of the stops is kept because it follows the road.
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Day 7
Hierapolis and the travertines of Pamukkale; road to Konya
Early in the morning, a visit to Hierapolis, the Roman spa city mentioned alongside Laodicea in the Letter to the Colossians: the necropolis, the Frontinus Gate, the theatre and the martyrium of St Philip, the apostle who according to tradition died here. The route descends the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, barefoot on the limestone, past the thermal pools.
After a stop for lunch, at the traveller’s expense, departure for Konya across the central Anatolian plateau, some 400 kilometres with stops en route. Arrival in the late afternoon in ancient Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas preached on their first journey.Notes for the day: The travertine terraces are walked barefoot; bring a bag for your shoes. An afternoon drive of around five hours.
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Day 8
Konya and the rock-cut churches of Cappadocia
In the morning, a visit to the Mevlana Museum, the former lodge of the whirling dervishes where the mystic poet Rumi is buried, and a walk on Alaeddin hill, the centre of ancient Iconium. Departure for Cappadocia with a stop at the 13th-century Seljuk caravanserai of Sultanhanı on the old caravan road.
In the afternoon, the Göreme Open-Air Museum: a group of monastic churches carved into the rock between the 10th and 12th centuries, with frescoes of scenes from the Old and New Testaments. The guide links these churches to the 4th-century Cappadocian Fathers — Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory of Nazianzus — and to the monastic life that gave rise to the complex. Arrival at the hotel at dusk.Optional activities
- Turkish night in Cappadocia, with dinner and folk show
- Dark Church at the Göreme Open-Air Museum (separate ticket)
Notes for the day: Around 230 kilometres of driving. Photography of the frescoes is not allowed inside the Göreme churches, and the Dark Church has a separate ticket.
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Day 9
Cappadocia: valleys and underground city; flight to Istanbul
Morning in Cappadocia. The visit covers one of the region’s underground cities, Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu, dug on several levels and used as a refuge by the Christian communities, and the viewpoints over the valleys with their fairy chimneys and the rock castle of Uçhisar. Those who wish can start the day with the hot-air balloon flight at dawn, optional and weather permitting.
Transfer to Kayseri or Nevşehir airport and domestic flight to Istanbul, scheduled to connect with the international flight home. End of the programme.Optional activities
- Sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the valleys of Cappadocia (weather permitting)
Notes for the day: If the international flight leaves the following day, a night in Istanbul is added on request. The underground cities have low, narrow passages and are not recommended for anyone with claustrophobia.
How the rate is calculated
Rate tailored to the season, the hotel category and the number of travellers. Request a quotation.
Departures
Tailor-made departures: any date
The programme is operated privately for your group: you choose the starting day and the itinerary is built around that date. There is no fixed departure calendar and no outside group to join.
Route map
Istanbul → İzmir → Ephesus → Pergamon → Thyatira (Akhisar) → Sardis → Philadelphia (Alaşehir) → Laodicea → Pamukkale → Konya → Cappadocia
Operational notes
- The order of the visits may change according to opening hours, traffic and the day’s operation. The content of the programme stays the same.
- Domestic flights are issued in economy class and the checked and cabin baggage allowance depends on the airline and the fare issued; the exact allowance is shown on the ticket. Schedules may be rearranged and the day’s programme follows the confirmed flight.
- The seven churches of Revelation are open-air archaeological sites, some under excavation (Laodicea, Thyatira) and with areas that may be temporarily closed for works. They are visited on foot, on uneven ground and with little shade.
- The commentary is given by a licensed guide. The programme does not include spiritual assistance, religious services or the booking of places of worship; if the group travels with its own priest or pastor, say so in the request so that we can check what is possible at each stage.
- Hagia Sophia is a working mosque. Foreign visitors follow a dedicated tourist route along the upper galleries, which is suspended during the five daily prayers and, on Friday at midday, for a longer period. The visiting rules and hours depend on current regulations and may change without notice; if access is restricted on the day of the visit, the monument is explained from outside.
- To enter mosques, shoes must be removed and shoulders and knees covered; women must cover their hair. At the House of the Virgin Mary and in working churches the same discretion in dress is requested, with silence during services.
- The Pamukkale travertine terraces are walked barefoot by rule of the site. Photographing the frescoes inside the churches of the Göreme Open-Air Museum is forbidden; the Dark Church has a separate ticket.
- Museums and sites may have a weekly closing day and different summer and winter hours. The final itinerary follows the opening calendar in force on the departure dates.
- During the religious holidays (Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı, whose dates move because they follow the lunar calendar) museum and shop hours change, the monuments are busier and domestic flights and roads fill up.
- The balloon flight in Cappadocia is optional, booked in advance and subject to each morning’s weather clearance; when the flight is not authorised, the amount is refunded or a second attempt is made if the programme allows.
- A valid passport, the visa or electronic authorisation and compliance with entry requirements are the traveller’s responsibility. They should be checked in advance, as they depend on nationality.
Best time to travel
Recommended months: March, April, May, September, October, November
Spring and autumn are the seasons for this route. The seven sites, Ephesus and Hierapolis are open-air visits of two to four hours with almost no shade, and from June to August the inland Aegean often exceeds 35 °C at midday; in those months the visits are moved to first thing in the morning. From December to February the programme runs normally, with shorter days, a chance of rain on the coast and of snow in Konya and Cappadocia, and fewer visitors at Ephesus and Pamukkale.
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
Are all seven churches of Revelation visited?
Yes, all seven: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, spread between days 3 and 6 in geographical order out of İzmir. All are open-air archaeological sites; none has a working church surviving from that period.
Who is this programme for?
Parishes, Bible-study groups, pilgrimages and travellers interested in early Christianity. The commentary is given by a licensed guide; the programme does not include spiritual assistance or religious services, which are not part of our services.
Can a mass or a service be arranged during the trip?
The base programme neither includes nor arranges them. If the group travels with its own priest or pastor and wishes to hold a service at some stage, say so in the quote request so that we can check what is possible at each place.
When is the best time for this route?
March to May and September to November. The seven sites and Ephesus are visited on foot with little shade, and in July and August temperatures in the inland Aegean frequently exceed 35 °C. Winter is feasible, with shorter days and a chance of rain.
How much walking is there?
Between two and four hours a day, on uneven ground and sometimes uphill: the acropolis of Pergamon, the Pamukkale terraces and the underground cities of Cappadocia are the most demanding stages. The pace adapts to the group; if anyone has reduced mobility, mention it when requesting the quote.
Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The programme includes two economy-class legs, Istanbul–İzmir and Kayseri or Nevşehir–Istanbul, plus the airport transfers. The baggage allowance depends on the airline and the fare issued and is shown on the ticket.
Can the programme be extended in Istanbul or Cappadocia?
Yes. The most common additions are a night in Cappadocia for the balloon flight and the valleys, or a final night in Istanbul when the international flight leaves in the morning. Any change is quoted together with the programme.
How is it requested?
With approximate dates, the number of passengers and the hotel category required, through the quote form. Agencies receive net rates; for groups the response time is 72 business hours.
Booking conditions
- Deposit
- 30% of the total when the booking is confirmed. For bookings made 30 days or less before departure, the full amount at confirmation.
- Balance
- The remaining 70%, no later than 31 days before departure.
- Payment methods
- Bank transfer or credit card. Card payments carry a 3% surcharge; charges applied by the issuing bank are borne by the client.
- Cancellations
- More than 90 days before departure: handling fee only, plus penalties on services already issued · 89–61 days: 25% · 60–31 days: 50% · 30 days or less and no-show: 100%. Reductions in places follow the same scale. Refunds within 10–14 business days of written cancellation.
Credentials
- Legal name
- Colorido Tours Turkey Turizm Ticaret Ltd. Şti.
- TÜRSAB licence
- A-12116
- Office
- Istanbul
- Operating scope
- Turkey only. Egypt, Jordan and the Greek islands only as extensions of a Turkey itinerary.
- Guides
- Licensed guides in Spanish and English
- 24/7 emergency line during the trip
- +90 544 533 53 55
- Who handles your request
- Your request is handled by our reservations team, and the same person follows the file from quotation through to operation on the ground.
