TURKEY AND ISRAEL BIBLICAL TOUR
Day 1: Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul airport, meet your driver and private car, will be ready to transfer you to the hotel. A welcome package with your tour vouchers, a tourist map, and any other touristic information that you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your hotel. There is no plan for this day unless you are interested in experience the traditional Turkish bath nearby your hotel.
Meals: No Meals
Day 2: Istanbul
Today you will have a full day tour of visiting St Sophia Museum, Byzantine Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and enjoy shopping in the world’s largest covered bazaar with 4000 shops, is known as Grand Bazaar. After lunch, you will visit Topkapi Palace including ; Imperial Treasury, gardens, Sultan’s kitchen, Sacred Relics (The Harem section is not included in the tour).
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 3: Istanbul - Cappadocia
In the morning a visit to the Spice Market, where locals still shop for herbs and spices coming from all over the world. Then, embark on a cruise by boat on Bosphorus, the unique winding strait separating two continents. After cruise drop off your hotel. Pick up from your hotel in the afternoon and transfer to the airport with your private car and driver. You will take a direct flight from Istanbul to Capadoccia which is about 1 hour. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Urgup which is a combination of cave rooms and suites. Enjoy your stay in this authentic hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Cappadocia
You can book our optional hot air balloon tour for a wonderful experience and to enjoy the magnificent view of the valleys and the region. Otherwise take enjoyable visits to Devrent and Pasabagi valleys, Avanos, Goreme Open Air Museum and Uchisar castle.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 5: Izmir - Ephesus - Kusadasi
Airport transfer with your private car and driver. Take flight from Cappadoccia to Izmir with a stopover in Istanbul. Airport transfer with your private car and driver. Enjoy the tour to Ephesus with your own private car and guide by visiting the world-famous ancient City of Ephesus, including the Arcadian Way, the Antique Theater, the Roman Baths, and the Celcus Library.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Pamukkale
After taking 2 hours drive you will reach to Hierapolis, the ancient Greco-Roman city on top of hot springs located nearby Denizli. Also amazed by travertines, (the terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water) on which you will take an enjoyable barefooted walk. On your way back from Pamukkale, you may see local farmers working in the cotton fields and how they pick the cotton. Return Kusadasi for stay overnight.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 7: Izmir - Istanbul
Upon your request, we can also arrange you a private tour of Pergamon. Otherwise, transfer to the airport with your private car and driver. Take a direct flight from Izmir to Istanbul. Arrive in Istanbul airport and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Istanbul - Jerusalem
Transfer to airport to take a flight to Jerusalem connected in Istanbul. Upon arrival into Ben Gurion International Airport, you are met and assisted by our airport representative and brought to your guide. Proceed to your hotel in Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Caesarea - Megiddo - Haifa - Acre
Following a delicious Israeli buffet, depart Tel Aviv. Drive north along the coastal plain to Caesarea (Acts 9.30 Acts 10 24-48), capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of this ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct. Continue to Megiddo (1 Kings 4.28, 9,15, 2 Kings 23,29 & Revel. 16.16), identified as the site of Armageddon. Visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo, including the well-preserved water supply system. Drive to the beautiful port city of Haifa, nestled on the Mediterranean Sea. Visit the world famous Persian Gardens at the Bahai Temple. From Haifa, drive to Acre (Micah 1.10), capital of the Crusaders for more than a century. Visit the ancient city and harbour before continuing eastwards across the plains of the Galilee to Kibutz hotel Lavi , not far from the Sea Of Galilee dinner and overnight . Evening lecture by one of the Kibutz members about life in a Kibutz .
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10: Tiberias - Capernaum - Banias
After a short tour of the Kibutz grounds we take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (Matt. 4.13 13.54, 17.24, Luke 7, Mark 1.2, John 4.46-54). Visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. Proceed to Tabgha (Matt. 13, Mark .33-45, & John 21), the site of the miracle of fish and loaves, and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor. Continue to the Mount of the Beatitudes (Matt. 5,6,7,8), where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Banias Spring and Waterfall (Matt. 16.13 and Mark 8.27), where Jesus was recognized as The Messiah by His Disciples. Tour the Golan Heights, with its valleys, grazing land and snow capped mountains. Return to Kibutz Lavi for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 11: Nazareth - Beit Shean
Begin the day with a drive to Nazareth (Luke 1.26, 4.16-29, Matthew 2.23) via Cana of Galilee (John 2.1-11). In Nazareth, we shall visit the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s Well. Next on our program is the Jordan River and the Baptismal site . Continue to Beit Shean, one of the ancient Decapolis cities (Mark 5.20, 7.31), and visit the Roman theatre. This is the city where Saul and his son Jonathan were nailed to the walls (1st Samuel 31.10). Judges 1.27 also mentions Beit Shean. Continue south along the shores of the River of Jordan. Passing Jericho, we proceed westward and climb to the Golden City of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 12: Jerusalem - Old City
Today we visit the Old City of Jerusalem. Our appreciation of this Golden City begins with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, overlooking the walls of the old city and the ancient Jewish cemetery. Enter the Old City to begin exploring the wonders of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of All Nations. Proceed to Mount Zion to see the tomb of King David and the nearby Room of the Last Supper (Mark 14.13, Luke 22. 10-38, Matt 26 17-29, Acts 1.13 and Acts 2 The Pentecost). Walk through the Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem 2000 years ago. View the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried His Cross. Continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Matt. 27. 33-57, 28.10). No visit to Jerusalem is complete without a walk through the colourful Arab bazaar (a chance to test your negotiating skills). Visit the garden tomb. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 13: Jerusalem - New City of Bethlehem
Today’s program is dedicated to the new city of Jerusalem. Visit the model of ancient Jerusalem .Continue to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Enter the site by walking along the Street of the Righteous Gentiles, dedicated to the non-Jews that risked their lives in order to save their Jewish neighbors. Continue to Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptists (Luke 1.39-80). This Spanish style church and Mary’s well is where Mother Mary met her cousin Elizabeth. Proceed to Bethlehem * to visit the Church of the Nativity. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 14: Dead Sea - Massada
Drive through the Judean Desert to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found in 1947 by a Bedouin boy. Visit the ancient city of Qumran and drive along the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Massada, the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. Ascend Massada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod’s Palace.Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 15: Departure
Transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport for your flight back home.
Meals: Breakfast
We do not have an online booking system because most of our services are personalized and different conditions may apply for specific requests. You can call us, send an email, or complete a tour request form so that our Turkey travel specialists can help you to select the best tour for your travel needs. When you submit our tour contact form, one of our specialists will contact you within 24 hours to confirm availability.
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Fill out a customized tour request form that provides us with useful insight on how to design a trip that will suit your travel needs. If you are interested in customizing one of our tour packages, you can email us the name of the tour package and estimated date you have chosen to start the tour.
Can TSC design a customized trip for our group’s interests?
We will gladly work with you to offer a Turkey tour package tailored to your group’s interests. For this, you need to provide us your group details, interests, and travel needs.
Is airfare included in programs? Can I book my international flight through you?
Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point. You can purchase your airfare tickets through the internet or a wholesaler. By booking your own flight, you have more flexibility and control of your choices - in real time.
What type of accommodation do we use?
TSC Travel use hotels situated at excellent locations and close to all amenities. Room types range from double rooms to junior suites, depending on the package of choice. Amenities and facilities may differ from those in South America, North America, Australia or Malaysia.
What type of transportation is used on tours?
TSC Travel utilize a variety of transportation methods including public and private minivans, cars, coaches, trains, flights, ferries, boats, etc. We use whichever method provides travellers with the safest and most efficient transportation option.
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Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We require a deposit payment at time of booking to secure your reservation. The deposit payment is payable by credit card or bank transfer.
Credit Card: For your protection, we need you to sign the credit card payment form upon receipt and return it with verification of legal identification (e.g. copy of your passport or driver’s license) after your credit card has been charged. We will inform you in advance of purchase of any credit card fees that may apply.
Bank transfer: Payment can be sent to our company bank accounts. Our representative will send you detailed information for the booking process including bank transfer details. Please note our rates do not include the transfer costs of your bank or their agents. Please be sure that all costs paid additionally!
What is your cancellation policy?
All cancellations must be made in writing directly to TSC Travel. No responsibility is taken for cancellations of airfare, hotel bookings, or any other extra services which have been made directly by the client.The following scale of charges will apply when cancellation is notified for all land packages, tours and programs;
Prior to arrival:
Charge 60 days or more: 10% of selling price (Administrative Fee)
59-46 days: non-refundable deposit 35% of selling price
45-21 days: 50% of selling price
20-0 days: 100% of selling price
* Special conditions apply for canceling of tailor-made tour programs.
The following scale of charges will apply when cancellation is notified for tours that include a Cruise program:
Prior to arrival:
Charge 60 days or more: 10% of selling price (Administrative Fee)
59-46 days: 35% of selling price
45-21 days: 50% of selling price
20-8 days: 75% of selling price.
7-0 days: 100% of selling price.
* Special conditions apply for cancellation.
If you have to withdraw from a tour after it has begun for reasons such as illness, be sure to obtain a medical certificate in support of any insurance claim. We are unable to make refunds for absences from a tour, including but not limited to missed meals or entrance tickets.
Flight/ferry/train/bus tickets are not included in the above cancellation policy. Once your program is confirmed and the tickets are purchased, any changes to the dates of the program will incur a change fee or in case of cancellation, (this is additional to the service fee), 100% cancellation fee for the tickets will be incurred regardless of the above cancellation policy. For further information, please read our Terms and Conditions page.
When and How I will receive my tour documents?
Travel documents and electronic flight tickets are usually sent 21 days prior to departure. However, you will receive tour vouchers, maps, ferry, bus or train tickets and other required information upon arrival in Turkey. This will be included in a welcome package waiting for you upon arrival at your hotel.