Turkey

The Churches of Revelation – 7 Day Introduction

Prices from £1,630 pp

Single Supplement £190

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This pilgrimage will bring the Bible alive as we travel from the coastal city of Izmir through the countryside visiting the sites of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Toward the end of the first century AD these Christian congregations were located in some of the major cities in the Roman province of Asia and were addressed by the Risen Christ as he spoke through St John the Divine who had been exiled to the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9).

Revelation 1:11 records that John received prophetic visions from Christ instructing him to: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea”. We will hear these letters read in each of these sites and begin together to build up a picture of what Christ was saying to his Church. We will also be hearing the words of Paul in his letters to the churches in Colossae and Ephesus and in his speech to the Ephesian elders when in Miletus.

This introductory tour has been designed to give you the best possible introduction to the idea of your leading a parish pilgrimage in the future. We ensure that these tours are a real ‘pilgrimage’—a spiritual journey with prayers, readings and worship—all set in some ancient and very special locations. All this, we believe, has the potential to enhance your ministry beyond measure. Please do consider joining us.

The pilgrimage price of £1,630 has been subsidised by McCabe and will be refundable when you bring a group of 15 pilgrims or more to Turkey for at least 7 days. Eligibility is open to clergy (including retired) and those in training for ministry. Spouses are welcome.

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Itinerary

Travel to Izmir (D)

Meet your and fellow-travellers at London Stansted Airport and fly to Izmir. On arrival in Izmir, you will be met by your Local Guide, who will be with you throughout the tour, and be directed to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Pergamon, Thyatira & Smyrna (B, L, D)

Drive to Pergamum, set on a mountain rising above the azure waters of the Aegean Sea. Today, Pergamum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the steepest sloped theatre of the ancient world, a temple of Athena and an Altar of Zeus which St John in his letter denounced as a 'Throne of Satan' (Rev. 2:12-17). We continue to Thyatira, the fourth of the seven churches that received a spiritual revelation from Jesus (Rev. 2:18-29). We then head back to Izmir (ancient Smyrna: Rev. 2:8-11) to visit its impressive Agora. Dinner in the hotel.
Sardis, Philadelphia, Pamukkale (B, L, D)

Depart Izmir and drive to Sardis, the home of the church that received the fifth letter (Rev. 3:1-6). Sardis was one of the wealthiest cities in the area. Today it features the remains of the Temple of Artemis, a Jewish synagogue and a Byzantine church. We then drive to Philadelphia addressed by the Risen Christ in the sixth letter (Rev. 3:7-13). Continue to our hotel in Pamukkale for dinner and a two-night stay.
Hierapolis, Laodicea and Colossae(B, L, D)

Drive to Laodicea which was the last of the Seven Churches (Rev. 3:14-22); in the last twenty years excavations have unearthed large portions of this impressive city. Afterwards, continue to Colossae, a city which, unlike Laodicea, was blessed with several streams of cold water. In the summer of 2025 archaeologists began excavting the ancient mound for the first time, so we may be some of the first people to see what has been discovered! Although St Paul wrote a letter to the church of Colossae, he may never himself have visited it—the church having been founded by Epaphras (Col. 1:7). After lunch, drive to Hierapolis, a city famous for its hot thermal springs and its unique limestone ‘travertines’. In the Roman period Hierapolis became a centre of worship to Hades and Apollo. Visit the necropolis, baths, theatre and the site of the Martyrdom of St Philip (mentioned in Acts 21:8).
Miletus (B, D)

Drive to Miletus, once considered one of the wealthiest citie of ancient Greece. The apostle Paul stopped here in AD 57 on his journey towards Jerusalem (Acts 20:15-38), when he summoned the Ephesian elders to warn them about impending threats to the church. The ruins of Miletus represent some of the oldest in Turkey, spanning several ages, and are truly fascinating. There will be some free time for lunch before driving to Selcuk for dinner and a two-night stay.
Selcuk & Ephesus (B, L, D)

Drive through the farmlands of western Turkey to Selcuk to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ephesus. This ancient city is believed to have been settled in the 10th century BC by Ionians. Ephesus changed hands many times before becoming a Roman dependency in 133 BC. It was also a very important city during early Christian times as evidenced by St Paul's visit (Acts 19) and the burial-place of St John in nearby Selcuk. We then enjoy a complimentary lunch together while being given a demonstration of how Turkish carpets are woven by hand at a local cooperative. This is supported by the Turkish State as an act of responsible tourism. Dinner in the hotel.
Depart for the UK (B)

We drive to Izmir Airport for our return flight to London Stansted.

Essential Information

The price of £1,630 per person has been subsidised by McCabe and is based on sharing a double or twin room with en-suite bathroom. Spouses are welcome to share your room at a special price of £1,830. Single rooms are available at a supplement of £190.

Also the price of the clergy place will be fully refundable if in the future you bring a group of 15 pilgrims to Turkey for at least 7 days.

Included

- Two nights in Izmir
- Two nights in Pamukkale
- Two nights in Selcuk
- Direct return flights to Turkey, flying from London Stansted to Izmir and including all charges and baggage allowance
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Four lunches
- Touring by air-conditioned coach
- English speaking tour manager & guides
- Entrance fees and church donations
- Personal audio guiding system
- Gratuities which will be disbursed locally on your behalf

Not Included

Travel insurance: this is essential. We require all travellers to have adequate cancellation and medical coverage for their journey. We recommend the policy with Holiday Extras who offer a comprehensive policy as well as yearly policies that also cover short UK overnight stays. See the back cover for details.

Special Requests: should be noted at the time of booking.

Payments: a non refundable deposit of £500 per person. The final balance is due 12 weeks before departure.

Final Travel Documents: will be sent to you two weeks before departure.

Late Bookings: please note that for bookings made within 12 weeks of departure, the price may increase due to the fluctuating cost of flights. If this arises, we will always discuss this with you before processing your booking.

Mobility: many of our tours and excursions are designed for those who are able to travel independently, or with the support of a companion who can assist during the trip. We recommend that participants feel comfortable with physical activity and are able to manage longer travel days, which may include early starts and extended periods on foot. We encourage you to consider your personal health and comfort when planning your adventure, and we're happy to help if you have any specific concerns or questions about the suitability of a tour for your needs.

Your journey

The flight is direct from London Stansted to Izmir: approximately four and a half hours

Flight times are confirmed with your final paperwork

Your hotels

IZMIR – Kaa Prestige Hotel, or similar
https://en.kayaprestige.com.tr/

PAMUKKALE— Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel,
or similar
https://www.adempirahotel.com/

KUSADASI - Hitit Hotel, or similar
http://www.hitithotel.com.tr/

Practical information

Entry requirements

British Citizen and EU Citizen Passport holders can currently enter Turkey freely with no restrictions or other documentation required. Stays can be up to 90 days (can be spread over multiple visits) within any 180-day period.

Please note your passport must be valid for 150 days after your return from Turkey.

Full details of entry requirements and any required vaccinations will be detailed in your final paperwork 14 days before departure.

For the latest and most up to date travel advice including entry requirements please consult the Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office travel advice website.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

THE MCCABE EDUCATIONAL TRUST
The McCabe Educational Trust is an independent registered charity which was set up in 1991 to support Christian communities. To date the Trust has distributed more than £4 million in grants. McCabe Pilgrimages supports the Trust directly by contributing to the administrative and running costs, thus ensuring all pilgrim donations are able to go directly to the important projects supported by the MET. In 2026 McCabe Pilgrimages will once again invite all pilgrims to make a voluntary donation of £20. In addition, McCabe will also donate £20 for every pilgrim who travels with us - regardless of whether they choose to donate - effectively doubling the impact when you do.. This scheme is voluntary and confidential with nobody put under any pressure to participate.

HOLIDAY INSURANCE

Ensuring that your holidays are appropriately protected is one of our main priorities. That’s why we have partnered with Holiday Extras so you can get a travel insurance policy to protect you before and whilst you are travelling. Holiday Extras Cover Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and has been independently rated 5-stars by Defaqto. For more information or to obtain a quote, please click here, www.holidayextras.com. Or call them on 0800 083 3551 to speak to a friendly advisor. Please quote AG628 upon calling.

AITO QUALITY STATEMENT

McCabe Pilgrimages is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. McCabe abides by the Association’s Code of Conduct and adheres to the AITO Quality Charter which can be viewed on www.aito.co.uk. Visit the website to find out more about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.

FINANCIAL PROTECTION

All monies paid to McCabe are fully protected through McCabe’s membership of the ATOL scheme. ATOL protection is provided by the Civil Aviation Authority. The McCabe ATOL number is 2920.

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Dates

Upcoming Pilgrimages

We have no tours scheduled to this destination at present.

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