IMAGINE PILGIRMAGE TO TURKEY

JUST IMAGINE …

…walking on the same streets in Ephesus where the Apostles Paul and John, along with countless other notable biblical characters- including Mary, Jesus’ mother.

…seeing archaeological remains of most of the “7 churches” listed in Revelation 2-3.

…reading passages of Scripture on the very location where biblical events occurred.

…gazing at the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas from seaports where Paul landed or set sail.

…strolling through iconic architecture which existed hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus.

…standing in the archaeological remains of first century churches which were the fruit of churches planted during the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys.

…exploring a medical complex where Galen, the father of ancient medicine, experimented with treatments, compounds and therapies.

…understanding why idolatry in the Greco-Roman world was such a stumbling block for Christians in the first century churches as you investigate innumerable temples to their gods.

…sitting in open-air stone theatres where blood was spilled to entertain thousands of spectators; or where comedians, musicians, actors and orators performed.

…pausing to journal thoughts and prayers with insights from all that your senses have been able to absorb.

…sipping your first cup of authentic Turkish coffee or hot tea.

…learning more about Islam while visiting the world-famous Blue Mosque.

As you IMAGINE any of these scenes in your mind, your heart ought to be beating faster!  The good news is that you can experience each of these scenes and dozens more during this PILGRIMAGE.  Our focus will be on visiting biblical sites in a concerted effort to cause the black and white pages of your Bible to blossom into living color. Glimpses of church history will sharpen your grasp on both truth and tradition. This tour with more will alter the way you read, study and hear the Word of God for the rest of your life.

The ancient historian, Jerome, who is credited with translating the Scriptures into Latin, wrote, “the land itself is the fifth gospel.”  Although Jerome was thinking of just Israel and Palestine, the lands of the Bible still speak as geography, archaeology, ancient customs and culture converge, bringing to life a mosaic of people, places and stories we have grown to love.  We will read biblical narratives in the very places they occurred and have devotional studies at key locations in diaspora countries.

To gain maximum exposure to the land, we will be walking considerable distances on most days. I want you to truly experience the land, so come prepared with sturdy and comfortable walking shoes. When we are not walking, we will travel comfortably in a modern air-conditioned motor coach. Short in-country flights will redeem otherwise long bus rides.

Another way to optimize learning is by reading before, during and after the trip. Tour participants will be provided with various options to gain access to important trip information via downloads from this website.  A guidebook will be provided with descriptive notes for every site you will see, and plenty of room for you to take personal notes or journal about what God is teaching you.  In addition to serving as your tour host, we will travel with a licensed guide for the duration of our trip. Any interested parties in good health with stamina are welcome to attend.

Our key word throughout the tour is flexibility!  At times, our itinerary will be adjusted to accommodate some site visits which must be pre-arranged.  No need to fret- we will make every effort to see the sites on the tentative itinerary.

I negotiate the best price with a reputable travel agency. The price is always dependent on the number of participants; so, recruit a friend with whom you want to share this experience of a lifetime. The group size must be a minimum of 20 with a maximum of 40.

The price will be ALL INCLUSIVE. This is quite different from other tours to the lands of the Bible.  So, what does this published price include?

  • Roundtrip airfare from/to Washington’s Dulles International Airport

  • In-country flights

  • Group transfers and land transportation in a modern air-conditioned motor coach

  • Porterage of one suitcase at each hotel

  • Lodging at comfortable modern 4-5 star hotels

  • Daily breakfast and dinner at hotels or restaurants

  • By law, a full-time professional English-speaking tour guide will accompany us

  • All site entrance fees

  • All tips to tour guides, bus drivers and hotel staff

  • Land transportation via a modern air-conditioned motor coach

  • Bottled water served with dinner

  • Downloadable files from this website

  • A customized IMAGINE PILGRIMAGE GUIDEBOOK

There are no hidden costs- and I want you to have an accurate picture of financial expectations. With total transparency as my goal, here are some personal expenses which are NOT INCLUDED:

  • Drinks (other than water) with meals

  • Bottled water is available for purchase ($1/bottle) on the bus

  • Daily lunches…although I will provide several cost saving measures so you do not need to spend approximately $15 pp per day for lunches unless you choose to

  • REQUIRED Turkey Visa – costs $50 pp and can be secured online

  • REQUIRED American passport

  • Optional travel insurance

  • Personal or emergency medical expenses during or after the trip

  • Single room supplemental charge ranges between $400-500

  • OPTIONAL hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia (Approximately $300 pp)

I hope this introduction has been adequate in helping you make a well-informed decision while also inspiring you to see the tour as an investment in your spiritual growth. More than filling you with facts, I pray the tour with more will be a stepping stone toward stirring up your faith!

Blessings,

Jim “Doc” Ayers

A pilgrimage is about both the past and the present. We dig up the past to interpret the present.

Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land by Ruth Everhart, p. 24

  • “ What a memorable trip to Israel we had recently! Definitely one of the highlights of my life. Who could ever forget the Garden and Grotto of Gethsemane, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Gordon’s Calvary, and the worship service on a boat on the Sea of Galilee at nighttime? We saw so many amazing sites- Masada, Megiddo, the City of David, Warren’s Shaft, and Hezekiah’s Tunnel, to name just a few. Can’t imagine going with a leader less knowledgeable than Jim leading the trip. His experience and familiarity with the Bible and sites is outstanding. ”
    — Judi, a project manager
  • “ Jim, thanks so much for inviting us along on your trip to Israel. I really appreciated the pre-trip notes to give us background, the choice of sites with Biblical connections, and your mini-lessons from the Bible that helped us make the connections with what we were seeing at the sites. It was a great learning experience, and the first time we celebrated our wedding anniversary with a camel ride! ”
    — Dave, an engineer and inventor
  • “ While the pilgrimage to holy sites was a prime focus of the trip, I was awestruck with the architectural findings in all the archaeological digs; Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth, Masada and Jerusalem. The building architecture, engineering, and water flowing through the mountains were all impressive! But Masada grabbed my attention more so than the others; that fortress and the story are incredible! Thanks for a great tour, Jim. Everything was just as advertised and we definitely would go for a return trip once we recuperate. ”
    — Rob, businessman
  • “ The weeks have passed so quickly since our return from a memorable trip to Israel. Thank you so much, Jim, for your commentaries at Biblical sites that enhanced our appreciation and understanding of the Scriptures. Though the days were long, we experienced travels that amazed us regarding Jesus’ life and times (the Judean wilderness was quite different than what we expected). We also can better understand the current political situation when stories air regarding the Temple Mount, Golan Heights and West Bank. The trip was even better than advertised! Accommodations, hotel food, and in-country guides were all superb. We never felt ill at ease or threatened during our travels. ”
    — Susie and Jay, retired
  • “ Our trip to Israel was a "trip of a litfetime." Jim is so knowledgeable about all the aspects of his tours. The sites we visited were outstanding and meaningful and the accomodations were amazing. He continuously made the Bible come alive throughout the trip. Now when we read the Bible, it is no longer in black and white but in living color! ”
    — Bill and Georgina, retired
  • “ To say that visiting Turkey/Greece changed my life is an understatement. Visting the places where the Bible took place forever changed the way I read scripture and it has made me a better husband, father, pastor, neighbor, friend, and follower of Jesus Christ. It's hard to put into words how God used this trip in my life. ”
    — Charles, Youth Pastor