Jacoby / Hickman North River Seven Churches Tour, Oct 9-17, 2027
+ Istanbul extension Oct 17-19
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Oct 9 Sat — Depart ATLANTA – Fly to IZMIR (via Istanbul)

Oct 10 Sun — Arrive Istanbul Airport – Take the connection flight to IZMIR
Upon arrival to Istanbul Airport, you will walk to the customs, and then take the domestic flight to Izmir. You will collect your luggage at Izmir Airport. Welcome to Izmir, Turkey! Our representative will meet you after the baggage claim with a “NORTH RIVER – JACOBY-HICKMAN” sign right after you exit the terminal building. Meet and transfer to your hotel in Izmir for check-in, dinner and overnight.

The opening dinner is also the time of the tour orientation.

Oct 11 Mon — Pergamum, Thyatira, Smyrna (Izmir)
We travel north to Pergamum, which is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Turkey. Its attractions are hard to surpass: a 10,000-seat theatre on the side of the acropolis—the steepest in the ancient world; the magnificently restored temple of Trajan; a library of 200,000 volumes second in size only to that of Alexandria; the base of the Altar of Zeus; the temple of Dionysus; and the medical center of Asclepius with its own theatre, library, underground tunnel and other buildings. John warned the church here that they were living in a place of “Satan’s throne” (Rev. 2:12-17). If time permits, we will stop briefly in the ancient city of Thyatira, where, due to the presence of the modern city of Akhisar, few archaeological remains have thus far been uncovered. John warned the church here about its toleration of a woman symbolically called Jezebel who was leading believers astray, causing them “to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols” (Rev. 2:18-29). We return to Izmir for dinner and overnight.

Oct 12 Tue — Smyrna (Izmir), Sardis
Begin the day by driving up to the acropolis of ancient Smyrna, from which there's a great view of the modern city of Izmir and its harbor. Here we think about John’s word of commendation for the Christians in Smyrna who were persevering in the faith, despite persecution (Rev. 2:8-11). Then we visit Smyrna's Agora. Our next stop is Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6). Here we see the remains of the magnificent temple of Artemis, the beautifully reconstructed gymnasium and public baths, and the largest known synagogue outside Palestine. Overnight in Sardis.

Oct 13 Wed — Philadelphia, Hierapolis
Morning visit to Philadelphia where much of this ancient city in an earthquake-prone area has either been destroyed or lies buried under the modern city. John wrote to the church here (Rev. 3:7-13), commending them for their patience endurance in spite of persecution. Our next stop is Hierapolis. with its hot thermal springs, and already well-known in the ancient world for its medicinal qualities as well its spectacular white travertine terraces. Hierapolis remains just as popular with travelers today as it was in biblical times. Equally impressive, however, are the remains of the ancient city: the Arch of Domitian, a colonnaded street and marketplace, ancient baths, a 20,000-seat theatre built in 200 BC, the largest ancient graveyard in Anatolia (over 1,200 tombs, tumuli and sarcophagi), and the Martyrium of Philip, a 5th century AD structure on the site where Philip—either the apostle or the evangelist (Acts 6:1-7; 21:8-9; Acts of Philip)—was believed to have been killed in AD 80. Overnight in one of the resorts of Pamukkale with thermal baths.

Oct 14 Thu — Laodicea, Colossae, Izmir
Our first stop is Laodicea. Laodicea was a major city in Roman times, as is clear from not only the size of the ancient site but also its two theatres, stadium, aqueduct and major street lined with shops. Laodicea is not only the last of the seven churches to whom John directed the book of Revelation (Rev. 3:14-22), but it also had a close relationship with the nearby churches of Colossae and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13-15), and was even the recipient of one of Paul’s now lost letters (Col. 4:16). Our second stop is Colossae, an important site for Christians to visit, since Paul sent here two letters: one to the church of Colossae and one to the rich Christian slave-owner Philemon, who hosted the Colossian church in his home. Drive to Izmir for dinner and overnight.

Oct 15 Fri — Ephesus, Izmir
Today will likely be the high note of the tour for most people, as we visit the most impressive biblical site of our trip: Ephesus. The former glory of this city can still today be easily appreciated from its well-preserved streets, temples, fountains, public baths, terraced houses and theatres. Ephesus was also the site of the Temple of Artemis—one of seven wonders of the ancient world. See also the theatre where some 24,000 citizens of Ephesus gathered shouting “Great is Artemis!”—as a riot began in response to Paul’s ministry there. The apostle visited this city only briefly during his Second Missionary Journey (Acts 18:18-21), but returned during his Third Missionary Journey for a much longer period of two years and three months (Acts 19:1-20:1). Timothy later served as a leader in this city,m during which time Paul wrote him two letters (1 & 2 Timothy). Some years later Ephesus served as the home base for the apostle John’s ministry, from which he wrote a number of letters (1, 2, 3 John) and to which he sent the Book of Revelation. In addition to the ancient city, we will also visit the terraced houses, or “slope houses”—the wealthiest homes in Ephesus, marvelously reconstructed); the Ephesus Museum, which houses several impressive items from this site; and the Basilica of St. John. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

Oct 16 Sat — Miletus, Didyma, Izmir
A short drive brings us to Miletus which, due to its four harbors and strategic location on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, became one of the great cities of commerce in the ancient world. Of the surviving buildings, the finest is the 15,000-seat theatre originally built in the Hellenistic period and expanded in Roman times. Paul stopped in Miletus on the return leg of his Third Missionary Journey, where he summoned the elders from Ephesus to meet with him and hear his poignant farewell speech (Acts 20:17-35). Before departing Miletus, we will visit briefly its small but informative archaeological museum. Some 10 miles away, connected by the Sacred Road, was Didyma, not a city but a religious site devoted to Apollo. The 2500-year-old temple built here in his honor was most impressive, consisting of 122 columns six feet in diameter and reaching six stories high. We drive back to Izmir to spend our final night.

Oct 17 Sun — Departure
Transfer to Izmir Airport for flight back home. End of TUTKU services.


ISTANBUL EXTENSION

Oct 17 Sun — am flight to Istanbul
Visit Hagia Sophia (the church of “Holy Wisdom”), the Hippodrome, which once stood in the heart of the Byzantine city of Constantinople, and the underground Basilica Cistern, a vast water system located underneath the city. Transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Oct 18 Mon —Istanbul
Visit the Chora Church famous for its golden mosaics, the Orthodox Patriarchate, the panoramic Galata Tower, Spice Bazaar. We then enjoy a beautiful cruise on the Bosphorus Sea. This is a relaxing and excellent vantage point to view Istanbul’s many famous landmarks that dot both its European and Asian shores. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Oct 19 Tue — Departure
Transfer to Istanbul Airport for flight back home.

 

COST
$5027 / person, including round-trip airfare from Atlanta
$3817 if you book your own transatlantic flights
$820 supplement for a single room


INCLUDES
* Roundtrip International Airfare between ATLANTA - ISTANBUL
* Istanbul - Izmir domestic flight
* Izmir - Istanbul domestic flight
* 2 Nights at Kordon Cankaya Hotel Izmir
* 1 Night at Lydia Thermal Hotel in Sardis
* 1 Night at Doga Thermal Hotel Pamukkale
* 3 Nights at Kordon Cankaya Hotel Izmir
* 2 Nights at Sheraton Atakoy Hotel in Istanbul (extension tour only)
* Daily breakfast and 7 dinners at the hotels
* All transportation by private AC Bus
* English Speaking, Government Licensed, Bible-oriented guide in Turkey
* All Entry fees to the sites and museums
* Service charges and local taxes
* Tips to Tour Guide and drivers

EXCLUDES
* Lunches and Drinks (bottled water is included at dinners)
* Personal expenses (Laundry, phone calls, souvenirs, etc)
* Travel and Health Insurance

INTERESTED?
PLEASE CONTACT JEFF HICKMAN (jeffhickman@nrcoc.com) BY MARCH 1st 2026