Due to the situation in the Middle East this will be our only tour for 2012. At this stage we are not planning any tours for 2013 so book now and don't miss out.

Bookings are now opened for the 2012 Turkey, Greece and Rome program. After completing two Turkey, Greece and Rome programs in 2011 we think we have put together a fantastic program for 2012. Departure is planned for Monday, 15 October 2012 and the program will run for 29 days. As with all our program you are welcome to join us for all or part of our itineraries.

ITINERARY – Turkey, Greece and Rome - plus Pompeii & Herculaneum 2012

Turkey Program

Monday 15 October 2012 – Tour Day 1

Depart Sydney for Istanbul via Singapore. Fly Singapore airlines.

Tuesday 16 October 2012 – Tour Day 2

Arrive into Ataturk airport in the early morning, complete customs and depart for the Archaeological museums. There are two museums located in the grounds of Topkapi Palace. Visit both the Hittite museum and the main archaeological museum. Next, transfer to your hotel and spend the afternoon relaxing from the long trip. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight Istanbul

Wednesday 17 October 2012 – Tour Day 3

See the fabulous Topkapi Palace with its many treasures. Visit Hagia Sophia and then explore the Hippodrome with the obelisk of Thutmosis III and Snake Pillar. Next, see the Blue Mosque. Explore the Basilica Cistern, the beautiful underground water cistern with its 336 marble columns, built by Emperor Justinian in 532 AD. Visit the Kariye Museum to see the wonderful mosaics. Spend some time in the Grand Bazaar. Late afternoon flight to Ankara. Overnight Ankara.

Thursday 18 October 2012 – Tour Day 4

Visit the Anatolian Civilisations Museum and then travel to the Hittite haunts of Alaca Huyuk and Hattusis, the Hittite capital. The Hittite civilization is one of the great testaments to the validity of the Biblical records. For centuries the only record of them was found in the Bible. H. A. Sayce identified this newly discovered people as the Biblical Hittites and he was laughed out of a conference. Only 5 years later it was accepted that he was correct and now it is known that the Hittites were once as powerful as the Egyptian empire under Ramses II. Travel on to Cappadocia. Overnight Cappadocia

Friday 19 October 2012 – Tour Day 5

Explore the sites at Cappadocia. See Goreme, visit the weird Fairy Chimneys, rock-cut churches and Underground city. Drive to Konya. Overnight Konya

Saturday 20 October 2012 – Tour Day 6

Free day Konya. Overnight Konya

Sunday 21 October 2012 – Tour Day 7

Travel to Lystra, where a mob stoned Paul during his first missionary journey and where Timothy joined him during the second journey (Acts 16:1-3). Then to Pisidian Antioch, where nearly the whole city came to hear Paul preach during his first missionary journey. Explore the ancient church and the great first-century Temple of Augustus. Travel the Royal Road that once connected Ephesus with distant Babylon. Visit the unexcavated site of ancient Colossae by the village of Honaz. Paul wrote one of his prison epistles to the church at Colossae, a city situated on the Lycus River. Overnight Pamukkale.

Monday 22 October 2012 – Tour Day 8

Visit Hierapolis and see the theatre and ruins of the ancient city. See the white salt pools and swim in the naturally heated ancient baths. Next, visit the ruins of Laodicea. You may also like to swim in the thermal pool at the hotel after the day’s touring. Overnight Pamakkale

Tuesday 23 October 2012 – Tour Day 9

Depart for Kusadasi. On the way, stop first at Priene which is recognized as the first planned city of the ancient world and one of the most attractive sites on the West Coast. See the theatre, the temple of Athena, the Agora and the altar of Zeus and Cybele. Continue on to Miletus, one of the principle lonian cities and the home of Thales, twice visited by Paul. At Miletus, see the theatre, Byzantine Fortress, the Delphinion and the Faustina Bath. Then, continue on to Didyma and visit the Temple of Apollo. Overnight Kusadasi

Wednesday 24 October 2012 – Tour Day 10

Depart for Ephesus. See the famous library of Celsius, huge theatre, mosaics and buildings. Visit the museum to see the items found during the archaeological excavations at Ephesus. Continue on to Izmir. Overnight Izmir

Thursday 25 October 2012 – Tour Day 11

Depart Izmir in our air conditioned coach for Pergamos. On the way, visit Smyrna and then the ruins of Sardis, with its huge gymnasium, shops and Synagogue. Finish the day at Pergamos with its majestic ruins high on the hill. See the huge theatre, walls and library. Visit also the Asclepion. Overnight Bergama

Friday 26 October 2012 – Tour Day 12

Depart for the ruins of ancient Troy. Explore the archaeological site then on to Cannakale. Overnight Cannakale

Saturday 27 October 2012 – Tour Day 13

Free day in Cannakale. Overnight Cannakale

Greece Program

Sunday 28 October 2012 – Tour Day 14

Take an early ferry from Cannakale to Gallipoli. Visit Anzac Cove and Lone Pine. Continue on to the border with Greece, cross the border and on to Kavala. Overnight Kavala

Monday 29 October 2012 – Tour Day 15

Visit Philippi. Next, see Neapolis in the modern city of Kavala where Paul, Silas, Luke and Timothy first set foot in Europe. Continue on to Thessaloniki. See the highlights of the city including the White tower and Triumphal Arch of Galerius on the Egnatia way. Dinner & overnight Thessaloniki

Tuesday 30 October 2012 – Tour Day 16

Visit Meteora monasteries. Continue on to Delphi. Dinner & overnight Itea

Wednesday 31 October 2012 – Tour Day 17

See Delphi, centre of the Ancient world. Visit the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. See the archaeological site and museum. Continue on to Olympia. Dinner & overnight Olympia

Thursday 1 November 2012 – Tour Day 18

Spent the day exploring ancient Olympia. See the temple of Zeus, the Heraeum, dedicated to Hera, along with the many ruins at the site. Visit also the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. Overnight Nafplion.

Friday 2 November 2012 – Tour Day 19

Start with a visit to the site of Epidaurus to see the famous theater then on to Mycenae. Visit Ancient Corinth. See the archaeological museum and the archaeological site. Continue on to Athens. Dinner & overnight Athens

Saturday 3 November 2012 – Tour Day 20

Free day in Athens. Dinner & overnight Athens

Sunday 4 November 2012 – Tour Day 21

Explore the archaeological sites of Athens. See the Acropolis, the Propylaea and Erechtheum, Hadrian's arch and the Parthenon. Visit the Agora. Dinner & overnight Athens

Monday 5 November 2012 – Tour Day 22

Early flight to Heraklion on the Island of Crete. Explore the remains of the palace at Knossos. Visit the archaeological museum. Spend some free time in the town for some lunch and then return to Athens by afternoon flight. Dinner & overnight Athens

Italy Program

Tuesday 6 November 2012 – Tour Day 23

Transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Rome. In the afternoon, see the Roman forum, triumphal arches and Colosseum. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Overnight Rome

Wednesday 7 November 2012 – Tour Day 24

Half-day tour of the Vatican City. See St Peters basilica and the obelisk of Thutmosis III. See the Vatican museum and the Sistine chapel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in Rome to explore the many Piazza's and sites. Overnight Rome

Thursday 8 November 2012 – Tour Day 25

Depart early from Rome towards Naples for a day excursion. First, climb Mt Vesuvius to see the volcano whose eruption destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum and see the magnificent view of the Bay of Naples. Next, explore the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum before returning to Rome. Overnight Rome

Friday 9 November 2012 – Tour Day 26

Enjoy a half-day city tour to see some of the many sights of Rome. Spend the afternoon as free time to explore the city. Overnight Rome

Saturday 10 November 2012 – Tour Day 27

Free day in Rome. Overnight Rome

Sunday 11 November 2012 – Tour Day 28

Transfer to Fumicino airport for your flight from Rome to Singapore.

Monday 12 November 2012 – Tour Day 29

Arrive in Singapore and transfer to your flight from Singapore to Australia.