Start City: Istanbul
NP 134-Grand Anatolia Orthodox Tour(8 Days / 7 Nights)
from 605 $ PP
The first and only Orthodox tour created by Novaportum Travel! Anatolia, from west to East, from Mesopotamia to the Greco Roman area is the seat of important biblical locations. Our tour starts from Istanbul where we will visit St.George’s Cathedral and Hagia Sophia. We will discover the south of Turkey in the Antalya region, church of St.Nicholas who inspired christmas spirit! Cappadocia is a must in Biblical tour where Goreme Open Air Museum where St.Basil founded monastery life, has been the school for the first christian illiterate communities. Underground city of Kaymaklı was the hiding place for Chiristians from Roman persecution.
Grand Orthodox tour package: Sacred places of Christianity located in Turkey, Grand Orthodox Biblical tour will be provided with the visits of Monastery & Fairy Chimneys&Churhes and Underground City. Highlights of the tour; Hagia Sophia Mosque, St. George’s Cathedral, ST. Nicholas (Demre-Myra), Goreme Open Air Museum, Cavusin Village, Pasabay Valley, Guvercinlik Valley, Dervent Valley, Kaymakli Underground City, Mustafapasa Village, Soganli Valley, Keslik Monastery. Biblical Tour, Guided Biblical Tours, Orthodox Christianity Tour.
HIGHLIGHTS
Istanbul, Antalya, Demre, Cappadocia
Day 1: Istanbul
Arrival Transfer and Check In
Welcome to Istanbul. We will pick you up from the airport and you will meet with your guide who will be with you during this tour. We will have a panoramic Istanbul tour. Arrival to hotel and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2: Istanbul Orthodox Tour (L)
Visits For Today; Hagia Sophia Mosque, St. George’s Cathedral, Bosphorus by Boat
Our tour will start in Sultan Ahmet area with the visit of most important building in Istanbul.
Hagia Sophia was built by Roman Emperor Justinianus between 532-537 A.D. This is first building to have such a huge dome in history. Till the conquest of Istanbul, it was used as a church and then it is converted in to a mosque. In 1935 with the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Hagia Sophia served as a museum till 2020 and it is a mosque now. After our visiting Hagia Sophia we will meet with our driver and private van and drive to Fener area.
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, also known as St. George Church, is among the holiest Greek Orthodox churches in the world with its 300 million followers. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Istanbul has been the spiritual center of the Greek Orthodox world since around 1600. Officially the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, it is known locally as the Fener Rum Patrikhanesi (Fener Greek Patriarch), it could be considered the Vatican of Eastern Orthodox churches. We visit Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Church (the Church of St. George) that has been active and open for service since the 1600’s. Here you will see a stunning iconostasis as well as holy relics of the Church of Constantinople, including the sacred relics of two renowned Archbishops of Constantinople.
Another special example of the Orthodox heritage is Phanar Greek Orthodox College, known locally known as the Red School. This extraordinary red brick building is an iconic piece of Istanbul architecture. Then we will stroll through the narrow and colorful streets of Balat, which have a movie set feel. A traditional daily street life still exists in this part of town. End of our visits we take a boat through the Bosphorus and witness the unique beauty of Istanbul. End of the tour transfer to hotel and overnight.
Day 3: Flight To Antalya + Transfer + Check In
Third day of our program is the transfer day from your hotel to Istanbul Airport. (Please note that any flight ticket price is not included to our tour price.)
Arrival to Antalya, transfer to hotel and overnight.
Day 4: St. Nicholas (Demre-Myra) Tour (L)
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and set out for the Demre. On the way we will follow the Mediterranean coastline, magnificent views will accompany you. Our first stop will be St. Nicholas Church. Saint Nicholas, one of the important bishops of the 4th century, is the saint of children, fishermen, traders and students, and he inspired Santa Claus, one of the important figures of today. After visiting this important church, we will move on to The Ancient City of Demre.
We will visit Myra, one of the most important Greco-Roman cities of the region. In addition to hosting very beautiful rock tombs, this city is also important in terms of being the port city where the Apostle Paul changed ships on his way to Rome.
End of the tour we will return to hotel and overnight here.
Day 5: Journey To Cappadocia By Coach + Check In (L)
On the 5th day of our tour, we will make a complete geographical change and travel towards inner Anatolia. After breakfast early in the morning, we will travel to the Cappadocia region.
Cappadocia is a very special place with it is history and natural beauty. Starting from 60 thousand years back with volcanic eruption, ashes and lava covered a large area. Within many centuries climate chances, wind, rain is forming Cappadocia land. As the ash plaque is softer than lava and stones during many centuries nature formed fairy chimneys. As it is easy to dig and shape this land people use this for their benefits. They dig caves, deposits, churches, houses… Ancient people dig underground city to run away from wild animals or threat of other nations and first Christians used these underground cities to run away from the threat of Pagan-Roman Empire. First three centuries of Christianity was uneasy. Because the Roman Empire who were ruling hole Minor Asia was Pagan and Christianity was illegal for them. Even for all oppression Cappadocia became a home for the first Christians where they can breathe and live their religion. All these made Cappadocia a very special place for visitors. Let’s discover Cappadocia with a private biblical tour!
Day 6: Basil The Great (Cappadocia Orthodox) Tour (L)
Visits For Today; Goreme Open Air Museum, Cavusin Village, Pasabay Valley, Guvercinlik Valley, Dervent Valley
After breakfast in your hotel, you will start your 1st day in Cappadocia region.
Goreme Open Air Museum is the most important visit in Cappadocia to be able to understand monastery life and monks. This place housed thousands of monks and students from IV century to XIII century. As reading was one thing that only high society can reach in this monastery monks teach people Christianity with frescos. So, walking and visiting this place where first Christian communities learn the religion is so special. Cavusin Village is an abandoned Christian Village which is formed as cave houses and churches. A very special and unique town. Visits to valleys gives you chance to walk where monks used to walk and you can see pigeonholes that monks collected pigeon dung to give poor public first Christians of the area to use on their farms as a fertilizer. This help made Christianity more caring for people.
End of the tour transfer to the hotel.
Day 7: Cappadocia Biblical Tour (L)
Visits For Today; Kaymakli Underground City, Mustafapasa Village, Soganli Valley, Keslik Monastery
Second day in Cappadocia starts after your breakfast.
There are more than 150 underground cities in Cappadocia region but Kaymakli is the largest underground city. History of the place goes back to 3000 B.C.; in Christianity period it is used by first Christians as a hiding place. It has eight floors underground and has kitchen, winery, ventilation windows, wheels, churches.
Mustafapasa was one of the Christian villages of 14 century which is preserved as original from those times. You will discovery city by walk between old traditional Cappadocian houses.
Soganli Valley is like Goreme Open Air Museum where monastery life was running but larger than Goreme Museum.
Avanos Village is founded both sides of Red River-longest river- in Turkey.
Afternoon walk by the Red River is a very relaxing time.
Day 8: Return Transfer + Return Flight
Depending on the flight time, we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.
Image Gallery
Tour Maps
Important Information
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Prices
Child Rate Policy :
0-2 FOC
2-8 %50 of adult rates
ABOVE 8 years FULL Price
| NUMBER OF PAX | |||
| 1-2 PAX | 3-4 PAX | 5-6 PAX | 7-8 PAX |
| 1853 $ PP | 1021 $ PP | 744 $ PP | 605 $ PP |
Important Notes
- All above rates are in US DOLLAR currency
- Topkapı Palace is closed every Tuesday
- Grand Bazaar is closed every Sunday
- Hot Air Balloon ride is forbidden for children under 6 y/o and for pregnant woman due to safety.
*Please note that %30 of the payment required on booking, the rest will be received as cash at airport.
PAYMENT ON CREDIT CARD : %3 Transaction fee and %20 V.A.T will be added in total amount on CC will be paid by your side.
MONEY TRANSFERS VIA BANKS : 10 $ International Money Transfer Fee and %20 V.A.T will be added in total amount on bank transfer. International Money Transfer Fee will be paid by your side.
%18 V.A.T will be charged even in case of refund.
When the trip is canceled by the client 60 or more days prior to the start of the trip, he/she shall be able to request and receive a full refund. When cancellation happens between 59 and 30 days prior to the start of the trip, the client will be able to obtain a refund of 50% of the trip price. When cancellation is requested less than 29 days prior to the start of the trip, he/she will not be able to obtain any refund whatsoever.
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