Full Itinerary - Connoisseurs Tours

C h r i s t E p i s c o pa l C h u r c h
Traveling into the New Testament
presents
through
M i s s i o n a ry J o u r n e y s
The
ancient
St. Paul
of
C u lt u r e s
of
Turkey
and
St. John
and
Greece
O ctober 16, 2013
w i th
Fat h e r Davi d Lu c kenb ac h
O cto b e r 2
through
Traveling
i n to t h e
N e w T e s ta m e n t
October 2, 2013
We depart our home city for Istanbul.
October 3 Day 01.
Arrive in Istanbul, where we transfer to our
hotel, the Yasmak
Sultan Hotel in
Istanbul. This
evening, we will have
a welcome reception
and dinner at our
hotel. Overnight in
Istanbul. (D)
October 4 Day 02. Istanbul
Today’s sightseeing begins with a visit to the
magnificent Topkapi Palace, once home to the
great Sultans;
it is filled with
treasures and
antiquities,
including
twelve
thousand
pieces of
fine Chinese
porcelain. We
then explore
the unique
Blue Mosque,
built in 1609 by
Sultan Ahmet.
The interior
walls are
covered with
twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles. Next stops
are the Hippodrome and Basilica of St. Sophia,
which has inspired religious leaders for over
fifteen hundred years. Constructed in 326 by
Constantine the Great, it has been a cathedral,
a mosque, and now a museum. Overnight in
Istanbul. (B,L,D)
October 5 Day 03. Istanbul – Fly to Cappadocia
Today we will have a short flight to Nevsehir and
visit Ihlara Valley, the small canyon which has
C onnoisseurs T ours
E
1 T iffany P lace
E
O c to b e r 2
t h r o ugh
O c to b e r 16, 2 0 1 3
rock-carved churches and dwellings belonging
to the Byzantine era, and Selime Monastery,
the biggest rockcut
monastery
of Cappadocia.
Christians carved
some 3,500 cave
churches from
the tufa rock.
The beauty and
quaintness of these chapels, with numerous wall
paintings and Christian symbols, is astonishing.
Persecuted Christians - tens of thousands of them
- escaping into the earth to flee Arab invaders in
the tenth century, tunneled out more than twenty
underground cities of refuge here in Cappadocia.
Overnight in Cappadocia at the Cappadocia
Cave Suites. (B,L,D)
October 6 Day 04. Cappadocia
Our sightseeing begins with a visit to the
fascinating Goreme Valley. The lunar like
landscape of this region is eerie, yet beautiful.
Over
thousands of
years, the rain
has eroded
this landscape
to give rise to
strange rock
formations
known
as “Fairy
Chimneys”. Many of these have homes and
churches carved into them. Some of the grottos
are magnificently decorated with colorful
frescoes depicting biblical scenes.
Such cities, with carved rooms for kitchens,
sleeping quarters, stables, and chapels for
worship,
descendfive to
ten stories into
the earth. We
will explore the
underground
City of Kaymakli.
As deep as
S avannah , GA 31406
e
1-800-856-1045
e
1-912-351-9525
Traveling
i n to t h e
N e w T e s ta m e n t
two hundred and seventy five feet with eight
different levels, several thousand people lived in
this subterranean city. Overnight in Cappadocia.
(B,L,D)
October 7 Day 05. Cappadocia – Konya
We continue our exploration of this intriguing
region with a visit to the hidden, monastic valley
of Zelve, which has a large
number of carved
rock houses and churches,
and Avanos to see the
techniques of ceramic art
dating from 12th B. C. to
3rd B. C. periods. In the
afternoon, we drive to
Konya (Iconium), visited
by St. Paul on his first and
second missionary journeys. Overnight in Konya
at the Ozkaymak Hotel . (B,L,D)
October 8 Day 06.
Konya – Antioch in Pisidia - Pamukkale
We journey through the lovely Anatolian
countryside to Antioch in Pisidia, one of the
centers of St. Paul’s missions, where
nearly the whole
city came to hear
Paul preach during
his first missionary
journey (Acts 13:1452). The marvelous
excavations include
the ancient church
and the great first-century Temple of Augustus.
Today, we will travel the Royal Road that once
connected Ephesus with distant Babylon.
We will visit the unexcavated site of ancient
Colossae by the village of Honaz. The Apostle
Paul wrote one of his prison epistles to the
church at Colossae, a city situated on the Lycus
River. At Hierapolis (Pamukkale), enjoy the
“Cotton Castles” of travertine- brilliant white
calcium carbonate which emerges when hot
C onnoisseurs T ours
E
1 T iffany P lace
E
O c to b e r 2
t h r o ugh
O c to b e r 16, 2 0 1 3
mineral waters
emerge from the
earth, cascade over
cliffs, and become
a kind of marble.
As the water
cools, the calcium
precipitates and
clings to the cliffs,
forming snowy white travertine (waterfalls of
white stone), which give credence to the name
Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle.” This
enchanting place is one of the natural wonders of
Asia Minor. Overnight in Pamukkale at the
Colossae Hotel. (B,L,D)
October 9 Day 07. Pamukkale – Laodicea –
Philadelphia – Sardis - Kusadasi
Traveling west, we’ll have a break at
Philadelphia, whose people were told that
because they “have kept my word, and have not
denied my name” they would become “pillars
of the temple” (Revelation 3:7-13).” Philadelphia
was rebuilt
with help
from Emperor
Tiberius.
In Sardis,
part of the
Romanprovince
of Asia in New
Testament
times, they were called to confess the name of
God and to repent (Rev. 3:1-5). Centuries earlier,
following the destruction of Jerusalem in 586
B.D., the phrase “rich as Croesus” was coined.
Croesus (560-546 B.C.) was the king of Lydia, and
Sardis was his capital. The fabled Royal Road
connected Sardis with the Persian cities to the
east. Our visit to Sardis will include the imperial
court and the ancient Jewish synagogue. We will
read from the book of Revelation while we rest in
the shade of the Temple of Artemis. Overnight in
Kusadasi (three nights) (B,L,D)
S avannah , GA 31406
e
1-800-856-1045
e
1-912-351-9525
Traveling
i n to t h e
N e w T e s ta m e n t
October 10 Day 08.
Kusadasi Miletus – Thyatira – Kusadasi
Today’s excursions begin in Thyatira; where
the Christians had been seduced by Jezebel. We
continue to Miletus, home of ancient philosopher
Thales (640-546 B.C.), one
of the fathers of Greek
geometry, astronomy,
and philosophy. It was
here, in the first Christian
century, that Paul, on his
third missionary journey,
called for the Ephesian
elders and preached a
powerful message to
them (Acts 20:15-38). It
was also here that Paul
left his friend Trophimus,
who was too ill to
continue (II Timothy 4:20). As a port at the
mouth of the Meander River, Miletus was a
natural outlet for Phrygian trade. Like the one
at Ephesus, however, Miletus’s sea harbor
eventually filled with silt, and commerce
dwindled. The city’s remote quietness makes it
special to devout students of Scripture. Its ancient
ruins include the marvelous 15,000-seat theatre.
Time permitting,
we will visit
Didyma, and the
massive Temple
to Apollo, one
of the most
impressive sites
in Anatolia.
Ordinary people
did not reside in ancient Didyma. This was home
only to a priestly family whose oracle came from
Delphi and who lived in luxury, as they guarded
their temple treasuries supplied by the people
they deceived. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L,D)
October 11 Day 09. Kusadasi
Today we visit Ephesus. It was to Ephesus that
Paul wrote his letter from prison describing
God’s eternal plan for mankind. Included is
C onnoisseurs T ours
E
1 T iffany P lace
E
O c to b e r 2
t h r o ugh
O c to b e r 16, 2 0 1 3
a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary where
the Apostle John cared for the mother of Jesus.
Ephesus, major port city
on the Aegean, was the
commercial, political, and
religious centre of all of
Asia Minor. After a lunatic
completely burned the
Temple of Diana (Artemis)
on the night that Alexander
the Great was born in 356
B.C., the Ephesians worked
for 120 years to complete a
magnificent reconstructed
temple, one of the Seven
Wonders of the ancient world. The city became
part of the Roman Empire in the second century
B.C. the Roman
capital of Asia
Minor. The
Apostle Paul’s
first visit to
Ephesus was
brief—during his
second missionary
journey (Acts
18:19-21). His second visit lasted about three
years—during his third missionary tour (Acts
19:1 to 20:31). Luke’s account of the worship of
Diana appears in Acts 19:34-35. The Great Theatre
(stadium) mentioned in Acts 19:29-31 could seat
25,000 people. We will walk the marble-paved
street with grooves made by chariot wheels, view
the Fountain of Trojan, the Library of Celsus,
and the Great Theatre. We will visit the Chapel
of the Virgin Mary (Double Church), where
the Third Ancient Council convened. We will
enjoy St. John’s Basilica (built on the site of the
Apostle John’s tomb), ponder the remains of the
Temple of Diana and enjoy a visit to the Ephesus
Museum. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, D)
October 12 Day 10 Patmos
Today we say good bye to our charming Turkish
Guide and join our Greek guide aboard our
S avannah , GA 31406
e
1-800-856-1045
e
1-912-351-9525
Traveling
i n to t h e
N e w T e s ta m e n t
ferry/cruise ship which will be our home for
the next two nights, as we travel to Patmos
this afternoon. (All staterooms are outside
standard staterooms with windows and private
bathrooms).
Patmos
“I John, who also am your brother, and
companion in tribulation and in the kingdom
and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that
is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for
the testimony of Jesus
Christ. I was in the Spirit
on the Lord’s Day and
heard behind me a great
voice, as of a trumpet,
saying, I am Alpha and
Omega, the first and
the last: and, what thou
seest, write in a book,
and send it unto the
seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus,
and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos and unto
Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia,
and unto Laodicea.” (Revelation 1:9-11 KJV)
October 13 Day 11 - Crete / Santorini
Today, we have a full day at leisure to enjoy
the two islands our ship will visit; Crete and
Santorini.
We have not
included any
shore excursions
on Crete or
Santorini.
This is a day
for personal
exploration to
C onnoisseurs T ours
E
1 T iffany P lace
E
O c to b e r 2
t h r o ugh
O c to b e r 16, 2 0 1 3
meander on your own or participate in one of the
tours offered by our ship. On Crete, you can visit
the excavations at Knossos, where the brilliance
and refinement of the Minoans are revealed in
the excavations found here. The largest palace
of the period on Crete, Knossos is a labyrinth of
corridors, stairways, and chambers decorated
with frescoes illustrating life as it was 4,000 years
ago.On
Santorini,
you can
enjoy an
afternoon
view from
the beautiful
village of
Phira. In
the second
millennium B.C., volcanic eruptions shrouded the
island in a blanket of pumice and ash, preserving
many buildings in the town of Akrotiri. At the
time of the eruptions, Akrotiri was inhabited
by a sophisticated Bronze Age society. Visit
the Nomikos Exhibition, where excellent
reproductions of the frescoes at Akrotiri
are on display, and the Prehistoric Museum of
Thira. Then visit the unspoiled town of Oia and
enjoy time at leisure.
October 14 Day 12 Athens
Today we arrive in Athens and proceed to
Corinth. The Apostle Paul visited Corinth
in the 50s AD and later wrote two letters to
the Christian
community at
Corinth (the
books of 1 and 2
Corinthians). When
Paul first visited the
city (51 or 52 AD),
Gallio, the brother of Seneca, was proconsul of
Corinth. Paul lived in Corinth for 18 months
(Acts 18:1-18), working as a tentmaker and
converting as many Jews and pagans as he could.
Here he first became acquainted with Aquila and
Priscilla, who became his fellow-workers.
S avannah , GA 31406
e
1-800-856-1045
e
1-912-351-9525
Traveling
i n to t h e
N e w T e s ta m e n t
Although Paul intended to pass through Corinth
a second time before he visited Macedonia,
circumstances were such that he first went from
Troas to Macedonia before stopping at Corinth
for a “second benefit” (2 Corinthians 1:15). This
time he stayed in Corinth for three months (Acts
20:3). It was probably during this second visit in
the spring of 58 that Paul wrote the Epistle to the
Romans. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians,
written from
Ephesus, reflects
the difficulties of
maintaining
a Christian
community
in such a
cosmopolitan
city. In the late
afternoon we will
travel to Cape Sounion, one of the most romantic
spots in Greece.
The ruins of an ancient temple built on a cliff-top
offer spectacular views of the Aegean Sea and a
picture perfect sunset. The temple (dating back to
the 5th Century BC) was dedicated to Poseidon,
god of the sea. It can be reached from Athens,
following one of Greece’s most scenic drives
along the Apollo Coast. This evening, we will
have a special dinner at a local village near Cape
Sounion. Overnight in Athens at our hotel, The
Divani Caravel.
O c to b e r 2
t h r o ugh
O c to b e r 16, 2 0 1 3
continued to function in Roman times, and it was
there that the Apostle Paul delivered his famous
speech about the identity of “the Unknown God.”
According to the biblical account (Acts 17), a
group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began
to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What
is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked,
“He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They
said this because Paul was preaching the good
news about Jesus and the resurrection. We will
have free time today in Athens and end with a
farewell dinner.
October 16 Day 14 Depart - for the United States
October 15 Day 13
Athens - City Tour/Parthenon/Museum
Athens - City Tour/Parthenon/Museum
Today we tour the ancient “high city” topped
with marble temples, dedicated to the city’s
goddess Athena, which dates back to the Late
Bronze Age. Following our climb to the top, we
will be rewarded with a visit to the architectural
masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens:
the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the
Erechtheion, and finally, the Parthenon. Next
we travel to The Areopagus or Mars Hill, a bare
marble hill next to the Acropolis in Athens. The
Areopagus, like most city-state institutions,
C onnoisseurs T ours
E
1 T iffany P lace
E
S avannah , GA 31406
e
1-800-856-1045
e
1-912-351-9525
Traveling
i n to t h e
N e w T e s ta m e n t
TOUR CONDITIONS
AIR TRANSPORTATION
The price of the tour is land only. Connoisseurs
Tours Travelers come from many different parts of the
country. Therefore we have found that most travelers
prefer to have flexibility in their air transportation. We
will provide a suggested air schedule that includes
the group’s international flights coordinated with
flights from your home city to suit your particular
preference. After you have placed a deposit on this
tour we will contact you regarding your air schedule.
PRICE OF TOUR
October 2 through 16, 2013; $3995.00 per person
double occupancy
$ 995.00 per person supplement for sole occupancy
in hotels and on board the ship
Inner Turkish flight: One-way flight from Istanbul to
Kayseri - approx. $150.00 per person **
** This one-way airfare price may change due to
currency exchange at time of ticketing. Tour price
includes all hotel, entrances, transportation, meals as
per the itinerary and outside staterooms on the ferry/
cruise with port charges included.
RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT
DEPOSITS SHOULD BE SENT TO CONNOISSEURS
TOURS IN THE AMOUNT OF $350.00 PER
PASSENGER TO RESERVE A PLACE ON THE TOUR
The balance of the payment is due July 02, 2013.
Checks should be made to CONNOISSEURS TOURS.
Payment can be made via personal checks or any
major credit card.
CANCELLATIONS
A $200.00 per person cancellation fee is charged for
any cancellations after the deposit has been paid.
All deposits are non-refundable 180 days prior to
departure, 91 days to 60 days up to the departure date
50% of the of tour price is non-refundable, 59 days
up to the date of departure and later 100% of the tour
price is non-refundable. Connoisseurs Tours prepays
all hotels, cruise lines, transportation, meals, guides,
etc. in advance. Connoisseurs Tours strongly advises
passengers to purchase Trip Cancellation interruption
insurance, which is available through Connoisseurs Tours.
RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility of the operators, CONNOISSEURS
TOURS is limited. They act only as agents for the
passengers in regard to travel whether by railroad,
motor coach, private car, boat, aircraft or any other
conveyances, and assume no obligation for injury,
damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which
C onnoisseurs T ours
E
1 T iffany P lace
E
O c to b e r 2
t h r o ugh
O c to b e r 16, 2 0 1 3
may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any
vehicle or through the acts of default of any company
or person engaged in conveying the passengers
or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour.
Connoisseurs Tours can accept no responsibility for
loss or additional expenses due to delay or changes
in schedule or other causes. The right is reserved to
decline to accept or retain any person as a member
of any tour or to change or withdraw the tour as
circumstances demand. All rates are based on tariffs
in effect at the time the tour was planned and are
subject to change in the event of adjustment therein.
Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk and baggage
insurance is recommended. Final payment by the
passenger to Connoisseurs Tours shall be deemed
to be consent to the above. All carriers, steamship
lines, and other transportation companies whose
services are featured in these tours, are not to be held
responsible for any act, omission or event during the
time passengers are not on board their conveyances.
The passage contract in use by the companies when
issued shall constitute the sole contract between the
companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or
passage. CONNOISSEURS TOURS reserves the right
to substitute hotels of equal or superior quality.
INSURANCE
As people’s plans do change, we offer “Insure as
you Go” travel cancellation insurance. You will
automatically be insured for the amount of your
deposit. This means that if any unforeseen medical
emergency to you, your immediate family, or business
partner arise, a full refund of your deposit will be
made. You will have the opportunity to add the
remaining cost of the tour and airline tickets to your
coverage when additional payments are made.
Insure As You Go Travel Insurance is very
comprehensive and includes trip protection, health
and cancellation insurance. Cancel for a approved
medical reason: $299.00 per person - and receive a
100% refund. Additional insurance to include the
airfare is available through Connoisseurs Tours and
must be added within 14 days of purchasing your
airline tickets. You will pay $89.00 of the cost of your
policy when you pay your deposit. The balance of
your insurance policy $210.00 per person is due at the
time of final payment. Airline tickets may be added
for a slight increase in cost of your insurance plan –
contact Connoisseurs Tours for the additional amount
to insure the cost of your airline tickets when you
purchase your airline tickets.
VALIDITY
September 2012 through May 2014
S avannah , GA 31406
e
1-800-856-1045
e
1-912-351-9525
R E S ERVATIO N F O RM
Traveling into the New Testament
October 2 through October 16, 2013
Name: ________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
City: ______________________ State: _______ Zip: ___________
Email: ________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________________________________
Enclosed is a deposit of ______________ for _______ people.
Credit Card: ___Visa ___Mastercard ___Amex ___Discover
___Check
Card #: ________________________________________________________
Exp Date: _________ / __________
Security Code: ______________
Signature: _____________________________________________________
Date: ______ / _________ / 2012
Rooming with: _________________________________________
Please reserve _____ place(s) for this tour.
A deposit in the amount of $498.00 includes Insure as You Go
insurance protection.
q I wish to purchase single accomodations
q Please contact me about airline reservations
q I have read and understand the Terms and Conditions of this tour
Please mail your reservation form and deposit to:
Connoisseurs Tours
One Tiffany Place
Savannah, GA. 31406
(912) 351-9525 • 1-800-856-1045
www.ConnoisseursTours.com