Short answer: a church group can follow the Apostle Paul through Turkey on a private Christian tour that starts where he was born in Tarsus and Antioch, where believers were first called Christians, and goes on through Iconium, Attalia, Colossae, Hierapolis, Ephesus, Miletus and Troas. Mission Travel Faith Tours builds Footsteps of Paul Turkey tours for churches, pastors, Christian schools, ministries and Bible study groups of 10 to 500 travelers, with licensed English-speaking guides, private transportation and on-call support from arrival to departure.
Most of us know Paul from Greece and Rome. But more of the Book of Acts happens in what is now Turkey than anywhere else. Paul was born in Tarsus (Acts 22:3). He was sent out from Antioch (Acts 13:1-3). He planted churches across Asia Minor, wrote to the believers in Galatia and Colossae, spent more than two years teaching in Ephesus (Acts 19:10), and wept with the Ephesian elders on the shore at Miletus (Acts 20:36-38). When your church walks that ground together, the letters you have read for years start to sound like what they are: real letters to real people in real towns.
Where a Footsteps of Paul Turkey tour usually goes
- Tarsus: Paul's hometown, "a citizen of no mean city" (Acts 21:39).
- Antioch (Antakya): the church that first heard the name "Christians" (Acts 11:26) and the base for Paul's missionary journeys.
- Konya (Iconium): one of the cities of Paul's first journey, where many believed and the opposition was fierce (Acts 14:1-7).
- Antalya (Attalia): the harbor Paul and Barnabas sailed from on the way back to Antioch (Acts 14:25-26).
- Colossae, Hierapolis and Pamukkale: the setting for Paul's letter to the Colossians and the "great zeal" of Epaphras for these churches (Colossians 4:13).
- Ephesus: the Great Theater from the riot of Acts 19 and the city that received the letter to the Ephesians.
- Miletus: where Paul called the Ephesian elders and gave his farewell (Acts 20:17-38).
- Alexandria Troas: where Paul saw the vision of the man from Macedonia (Acts 16:8-10) and where Eutychus fell from the window (Acts 20:7-12).
- Cappadocia: named in the opening line of 1 Peter (1 Peter 1:1), with the early Christian rock churches of the Goreme Open-Air Museum.
Many groups also take in Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira, Smyrna and Pergamum on the same route. If your church mainly wants Revelation 2 and 3, see our guide to Seven Churches of Revelation tours for church groups.
Sample Turkey itineraries you can customize
Every itinerary is a sample created by our team and is ready to be customized to your group's interests, pace and budget, departing whenever you choose.
- Footsteps of Paul Turkey Tour: 15 days and 14 nights through Istanbul, Adana, Antioch, Tarsus, Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, Colossae, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Philadelphia, Sardis, Izmir, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Miletus, Thyatira, Pergamon, Alexandria Troas and Troy, with full board meals daily at the hotel. This is the most complete Paul route in Turkey.
- Biblical Ephesus Group Tour to Cappadocia: 9 days and 8 nights with Istanbul, Ephesus, Laodicea, Philadelphia, Sardis, Thyatira, Pergamum, Smyrna, Hierapolis and Cappadocia. A good fit when your group has less vacation time.
- Footsteps of Paul Turkey Rome Tour: 10 days and 9 nights with Istanbul, Ephesus and the Seven Churches, then Rome, where Paul's journey ended (Acts 28).
You can see more Paul and early church itineraries on our Footsteps of Paul and Christian history tours page.
Three ways churches usually shape the trip
- The full Paul route in Turkey (about 15 days): from Tarsus and Antioch in the south and east all the way to Troas in the northwest. Best for a church teaching through Acts.
- Ephesus and the churches of Asia (about 9 days): Ephesus, Hierapolis and the cities of Revelation, with Cappadocia. Best for a first trip or a shorter calendar.
- Turkey plus Greece or Rome: follow Paul across the water to Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens and Corinth, or end in Rome. See how to plan a church group tour to Greece, the Footsteps of Paul cruise for church groups, and the Rome and early church tour.
Questions pastors ask before announcing a Turkey trip
Is Turkey a good trip for a church that has already been to Israel? Yes. Israel shows where the gospel began. Turkey shows where it went next. It is a natural second trip for a congregation, and a great fit for a church that is preaching through Acts, Galatians, Ephesians or Colossians.
How big does our group need to be? Private custom Christian group tours run from about 10 travelers up to 500. The larger your group, the lower the rate per person, and for every 20 paid travelers one spot is free. Groups of 20 or more travel with one of our tour managers.
How much walking is involved? Plan on a moderate activity level. Ephesus, Hierapolis and Pergamon mean uneven stone, some climbing and warm days in summer. Tell us early if some of your travelers need a slower pace, and we will build in rest.
Who teaches at each site? Licensed local guides handle history and archaeology. Your pastor or group leader carries the biblical teaching. A simple plan works well: read the passage from Acts or the letter on location, pray together, and give the group one question to talk about on the bus.
What every private group tour includes
Every private custom Christian group tour starts with a one-of-a-kind itinerary designed for your group, then adds private sightseeing, airport meet and greet, private transfers, 24/7 on-call support, English-speaking local guides, full breakfast daily, and entrance fees and taxes. Whether your budget is large or small, we adjust the itinerary to fit your church.
A simple planning timeline
- 12 to 18 months out: pick the route, season and trip leader, and ask us for a written outline.
- 9 to 12 months out: announce the trip to your church, open registration and collect deposits.
- 3 to 6 months out: confirm passports and entry requirements, teach a short series from Acts 13 to 20, and set the room list.
- The final month: hold the pre-trip meeting and share the packing list, devotional plan and emergency contacts.
Start planning
You bring the group. We take care of the details. Start with our pastor planning page, or contact us and call 407-377-7912. Bring your headcount, your preferred season and the part of Paul's story your church most needs to walk through, and we will tell you what is realistic before you announce the trip.
