Turkey 2023 Biblical trip!
Update (9/1/22):
This trip is going!! We have over 30 participants who have signed up…
Last year, due to covid, PCR tests and the uncertainty of international travel we needed to postpone a trip to Turkey. Finally, we have set the dates for the make up trip and we are eager to go in 2023.
I will not be personally leading this trip. My good friend Dr. Jim Martin will be our teacher - he is excellent. I will specifically be going to learn to lead the Bible study portion. I will be taking my drone, but am not sure how much time I will have to fly.
I have found in my biblical travels an odd thing: I have always believed 100% in the people, places, and events of the scriptures. I never felt like I needed to see them to believe them. But now after experiencing the archeological sites they have come alive to me in a way that is hard to put into words.
We have also come to love Turkey and can not wait to return. Please consider join us! All info is below:
2023 Turkey Paul's Journey Intro Letter and Tentative Itinerary
A number of folks have asked about the possibility of doing a trip to Turkey April 29 – May 13, 2023. In order to make this trip a reality we must have a commitment from a minimum of 16 participants.
If you wish to participate on this trip, please send a $500 *non-refundable deposit and a copy of your fully cash refundable (for any reason) airline ticket no later than August 31, 2022 to your group leader:
Craig Bertram
5000 261st Lane
Wyoming, MN 55092
Cell: 651-470-3028
Email: lotlpastor@gmail.com
* If the trip does not make the minimum number of participants, the *non-refundable deposit will be refunded by your group leader. Each participant, however, is responsible for obtaining their cash refunds from the airlines.
Turkey land cost is estimated to be $3,500 - $4,000 per person based on double occupancy and includes housing (breakfast and dinner), entrance fees, guide and bus driver tips, and land transportation.
Each participant is responsible for their own international air travel and transportation from the Istanbul (IST) airport to the Istanbul hotel as well as acquiring all necessary Turkish travel documents, insurance, medical tests, and visas.
ITINERARY (The itinerary is subject to change without notice.)
Day 1 Sat. April 29 Depart USA for Istanbul.
Day 2 Sun. April 30. Arrive Istanbul. Dinner and overnight – Istanbul.
Day 3 Mon. May 1 Introduction and orientation. Dinner and overnight – Istanbul.
Day 4 Tue. May 2 Early Breakfast – Drive (5 hrs) - Visit Ankara and nearby Hittite sites – Dinner and overnight – Ankara.
Day 5 Wed. May 3 Early Breakfast – Drive (5 hrs) to Cappadocia visiting ancient ruins at Goreme and Urgup. Dinner and overnight – Neveshir.
Day 6 Thu. May 4 Early Breakfast – Drive (3 hrs) to Konya. Continue (2 hrs) to Yalvach to the ancient site of Pisidian Antioch where we will study Paul‘s letter to the Galatians. Drive (1 ½ hrs) for Dinner and overnight – Egirdir.
Day 7 Fri. May 5 Early Breakfast – Drive (3 hrs) for visits at Antalya and Perge. Dinner and overnight – Antalya.
Day 8 Sat. May 6 Early Breakfast – Drive (3 hrs) to the sites of Laodicea (Revelation), Colossae (Letter to the Colossians) and Hierapolis. Dinner and overnight – Pamukale.
Day 9 Sun. May 7 Drive to the sites of Philadelphia and Sardis as we discuss the Letter to the Seven Churches. Return for Dinner and overnight – Pamukale.
Day 10 Mon. May 8 Drive (1 1/2/ hrs to visit the ancient site of Aphorodisias. Continue (1 1/2/ hrs) to Miletus where Paul gave his farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus. Drive (1 ½ hrs) to Kushadasi (near Ephesus). Dinner and overnight – Kushadasi.
Day 11 Tue. May 9 Full day exploration of ancient Ephesus, the burial place of the apostle John and surrounding region. Dinner and overnight – Kushadasi.
Day 12 Wed. May 10 Drive (2 hrs) to visit ancient Pergamum as we study of the Letter to the Seven Churches. Continue our drive (2 hrs) to visit the ancient site of Assos. Dinner and overnight – Assos.
Day 13 Thu. May 11 Drive to visit Alexander Troas and the ruins of Troy. Continue to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight – Istanbul.
Day 14 Fri. May 12 Full Day Istanbul – Visit the church of St Sophia and Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Dinner and overnight – Istanbul.
Day 15 Sat. May 13 Return flight to the USA.
If you have any questions please ask!! Craig
