5-Day Seven Churches of Revelation Tour from Izmir: Small Group
Walk through five ancient churches across five days, with a guide who knows the Biblical history
A 5-day small-group tour departing from Izmir that visits six of the Seven Churches of Revelation across the Aegean coast, with a Bible-oriented guide, four nights in 4-star hotels and most meals included. Days move through Pergamon's Acropolis and the Altar of Zeus, Sardis and its Temple of Artemis, Hierapolis at Pamukkale, and Ephesus with the Basilica of St. John and House of the Virgin Mary. The itinerary is planned. You follow the route and the guide handles the sites.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to hotel
- Meet guide at Izmir airport
- Transfer to hotel in Izmir
- Dinner and overnight in Izmir
Day 2: Pergamum, Thyatira and Smyrna tour
- Breakfast at hotel
- Drive to Pergamum and explore Acropolis
- Visit Asklepion and Altar of Zeus
- See Temple of Trajan and Library
- Drive to Thyatira and visit basilica remains
- Panoramic ride of Smyrna and see Clock Tower
- Check in hotel in Izmir for dinner and overnight
Day 3: Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea and Hierapolis
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit Sardis: Temple of Artemis and gymnasium
- See Persian Road and Pactolus river
- Visit Philadelphia Byzantine basilica
- Tour Laodicea ancient city
- Drive to Hierapolis (Pamukkale)
- Check in thermal hotel for dinner and overnight
Day 4: Ephesus and Kusadasi sightseeing
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit ancient city of Ephesus and Basilica of St. John
- Visit House of Virgin Mary
- Visit St. John’s Basilica
- Stop at Temple of Artemis
- Sightseeing tour of Kusadasi town
- Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi hotel
Day 5: Departure from Izmir
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to Izmir airport
- End of services
The experience
The tour departs Izmir and moves through five distinct regions over four nights, each built around one or two of the Seven Churches. Day two takes you to Pergamon, where the Acropolis sits on a steep hillside and the Altar of Zeus (called the "Throne of Satan" in Revelation) stands among marble columns from the Temple of Trajan. You also visit Thyatira, now Akhisar, once famous for purple dyes, before returning to Izmir for the night. The guide carries pre-paid tickets to all major sites, so you skip the lines at the entrance.
Day three departs early for Sardis, the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom, where you walk through the Temple of Artemis and see sections of the royal Persian Road built by Cyrus the Great. The route continues to Philadelphia (Alasehir) and then to Laodicea, the last of the seven churches, before arriving at Hierapolis in Pamukkale. This town sits where hot mineral water cascades over white limestone cliffs, forming pools and channels. You stay overnight in a thermal hotel. Day four focuses on Ephesus, the largest and most excavated of all the sites. You walk marble streets lined with the Library of Celsus, the Theatre, the Baths of Scholastica and the Temple of Hadrian, then visit the House of the Virgin Mary on the nearby Aladag Mountains. The Basilica of St. John and the Temple of Artemis (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) round out the day before you transfer to Kusadasi for the night.
Accommodations are in 4-star centrally located hotels in Izmir, Pamukkale and Kusadasi. The Pamukkale hotel is thermal and the others can be upgraded to 5-star for an extra charge per person. Breakfast is included all four mornings. Dinner is included on nights two, three and four. Transport is by air-conditioned minivan, and your guide is a licensed professional with Biblical expertise. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and modest dress is mandatory at all churches and holy sites: knees and shoulders must be covered, and shoes are not worn inside mosques.
What’s included
- Four breakfasts and two dinners.
- four nights in 4-star centrally located hotels (Pamukkale thermal hotel, Kusadasi and Izmir properties).
- entrance fees to all major sites with pre-paid skip-the-line tickets.
- transport by air-conditioned minivan.
- professional Bible-oriented licensed tour guide in English.
Options for this experience
2 optionsBefore you book
Lasts 5d, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 989 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Operated by Private & Small Group Ephesus & Istanbul & Turkey Tours
Is this one for you?Choose the mini group option if you want to travel with other visitors and keep costs lower, or the private tour if your family prefers to move through the sites without joining strangers. Both cover the same five churches and archaeological sites. The only difference is whether you share the minivan and guide with up to nine other people or travel as a private party.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What exactly is the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon that the tour mentions as the "Throne of Satan"?
The Altar of Zeus at Pergamon is a massive stone structure from the 2nd century BC, decorated with a frieze depicting a battle between gods and giants. The Book of Revelation refers to Pergamon as the place "where Satan's throne is," and this altar is the landmark most scholars identify with that reference. You see it among the marble columns and ruins of the Acropolis during day two.
How much walking and climbing is involved each day on this tour?
The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Pergamon's Acropolis involves climbing steep terrain, and Ephesus requires walking marble streets and through excavated ruins. Sardis and Hierapolis also involve uneven ground. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, and you should be prepared for several hours of walking on each of days two, three and four.
Do I need to book the private tour option, or can I join a small group?
You can choose between a mini group tour with a maximum of 10 guests or a private tour for your family. Both follow the same itinerary and include the same sites, hotels and meals. The difference is group size. The mini group option is the standard booking, and the private option is available at checkout if you prefer to travel only with people you know.
What is included in the meals, and are there vegetarian options?
Four breakfasts and two dinners are included in the tour price. Dinner is served on nights two, three and four. Dinner on night one in Izmir is not included. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them at the time of booking. Any other drinks and meals beyond what is listed are not included.
Which hotel will I stay in at Pamukkale, and can I upgrade?
You stay in the Pam Thermal Hotel or a similar thermal property in Pamukkale on night three. All hotels on the tour can be upgraded to 5-star properties for an additional charge of $135 per person in a double room, payable at checkout.
What is the dress code for visiting the churches and holy sites?
Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women at all churches, monasteries, mosques and synagogues. Shoes are not permitted inside mosques. Failure to comply with these dress requirements may result in refused entry, so plan your clothing accordingly for all five days.
5-Day Seven Churches of Revelation Tour from Izmir: Small Group
5d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 989 per person