Start with early morning pickup from your hotel in Istanbul and transfer to the airport. Take the morning flight to Izmir and upon arrival, your guide will meet you in the arrivals hall and take you to Pergamon. Once at the archaeological site embark on a guided tour. See the majestic acropolis, which was modelled after the Acropolis of Athens. Marvel at the impressive Athenaeum Library and the partially reconstructed Temple of Trojan. Discover steep slopes of the Theatre of Pergamon which once could accommodate around 10,000 people, and is the steepest theatre of its kind. Enjoy the panoramic views from the hilltop overlooking the site. Later, explore the famous Sanctuary of Asclepius, located in the valley. See the remains of the sacred fountain where people with health problems are reputed to have received visions from the Greek God of Medicine, Asclepius, in order to cure their ailments. After a delicious lunch with Turkish specialities, visit the Red Basilica where you can see many original artefacts found on the site. At the end of the day, ride through the countryside to Izmir Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, meet your driver will take you back to your hotel.

Take in a full-day tour of Pergamon and the Asklepion from Kusadasi or Selcuk and learn about this important ancient center of medicine. Get picked up at your hotel by your guide and start your tour of the ancient city of Pergamon. Explore centuries worth of history ranging from the Stone Age to the Classical period. Visit the Asklepion, an ancient medical center named after the god of health and medicine. See the place where famous medical scholars like Hippocrates and Galenus worked. Explore the Acropolis, the Altar of Zeus, and other wonders in this ancient marvel. Have lunch at a local Turkish restaurant. Enjoy a convenient transfer back to your hotel at the end of your tour.

Turkey, in antiquity known as Asia, was home to seven wondrous churches. It didn’t refer to an actual building, but rather seven Christian cities in Western Anatolia, which now lie in ruins. Visit these ancient places and walk the same steps that the world’s earliest Christians did. Before that, you’ll see all of Istanbul’s major sites, including the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia. Then you’ll travel to Izmir and start your tour of ancient Christianity, seeing many Roman ruins along the way. Soak in the thermal baths at Pamukkale, just as tourists have done for centuries – it was founded, after all, as a resort town by the Ancient Romans. Each step along the way, your expert guide will be there to provide you with context and information regarding each of these wonderful cities. Detailed Itinerary: Day 1: Arrival Arrive in Istanbul and enjoy a comfortable transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. Day 2: Istanbul Tour Explore Istanbul and visit the historic old town. Then visit the Hippodrome, Istanbul’s first sports stadium, and the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque). Then visit the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace and a traditional bazaar. Day 3: Istanbul - Izmir Visit the Grand Bazaar before touring the port of Istanbul and seeing the Cistern of Istanbul. Flight to Izmir. Day 4: Pergamon – Thyatira – Izmir Explore the Pergamum Acropolis, and visit the Ancient Roman health center of Asklepieion. See the Red Basilica and continue on to Thyatira and back to Izmir. Day 5: Izmir – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea – Hierapolis Visit the Sardis Church and ruins of the Temple of Artemis, then travel to Philadelphia Church. Then to the Roman resort of Pamukkale with its therapeutic thermal baths and the Cotton Castle. Finally, head to the Gate of Domitian, and the Nymphaion. Day 6: Ephesus – Kusadasi See the Basilica of St. John the Apostle. Then head to the ancient city of Ephesus and its Archeological Museum. Day 7: Izmir to Istanbul Relax in Kusadasi and flight back to Istanbul. Day 8: Departure Airport transfer in time for your flight.