8 Days – Footsteps of St. Paul & Early Christian Cappadocia

Route: Hatay / Adana Arrival → Seleucia Pieria → Antakya

Welcome to southeastern Türkiye. Meet your private biblical guide and transfer to ancient Antioch on the Orontes, the third-largest metropolis of the Roman Empire and the mother church of Gentile missions. If time permits, visit the ancient harbor of Seleucia Pieria (Samandağ) where Paul and Barnabas set sail for Cyprus (Acts 13:4) and walk through the monumental Roman Titus Tunnel.

Route: Antioch → Cave Church of St. Peter → Tarsus → Adana

Visit the Cave Church of St. Peter carved into Mount Stauris—venerated as one of Christianity’s earliest gathering places in the city where disciples were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). View the world-renowned Roman mosaics at the Hatay Archaeology Museum, then drive around the Gulf of İskenderun to Tarsus, home of Saul of Tarsus. Visit St. Paul’s Well, the excavated Roman street with basalt paving, and Cleopatra’s Gate.

Route: Tarsus → Cilician Gates (Taurus Mts.) → Derinkuyu → Göreme

Ascend north through the dramatic Cilician Gates (Gülek Pass)—the exact mountain corridor through the Taurus range that Paul and Silas traversed on the Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:41). Enter Cappadocia and descend into Derinkuyu Underground City, an astonishing eight-level subterranean refuge carved by early Christians during periods of persecution. Continue to Göreme—Yama Tours’ home village—and check in to your authentic cave hotel.

Route: Göreme Open Air Museum → Uçhisar → Çavuşin → Paşabağı → Avanos

Spend a full day exploring the monastic heart of Cappadocia. At the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open Air Museum, step inside rock-cut Byzantine churches (including the Apple Church, Barbara Church, and Dark Church) whose vivid frescoes served as visual scripture for early believers. Continue to Uçhisar Castle viewpoint, historic Çavuşin Village, the hermitage chimneys of Paşabağı (Monks Valley), and the ancient pottery town of Avanos.

Route: Göreme → Güzelyurt → Ihlara Valley → Selime Monastery → Göreme

Travel south to Güzelyurt (ancient Gelveri), associated with St. Gregory of Nazianzus, before descending into the lush gorge of Ihlara Valley. Enjoy a peaceful 3 km walk beside the Melendiz River beneath sheer canyon cliffs dotted with early Christian rock churches. Conclude at the monumental Selime Cave Monastery—the largest rock-cut cathedral complex in Cappadocia—before returning to Göreme.

Route: Cappadocia → Sultanhanı → Lystra region → Konya (Iconium)

Cross the central Anatolian plateau along the ancient trade route toward Lycaonia, pausing at the 13th-century Sultanhanı Caravanserai. Reflect on the cities of Derbe and Lystra—home of young Timothy, Eunice, and Lois (2 Timothy 1:5)—before arriving in Konya, biblical Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas preached boldly in the synagogue (Acts 14:1). Visit the Church of St. Paul in Konya and historic cultural landmarks.

Route: Konya → Pisidian Antioch (Yalvaç) → Antalya

Drive to Pisidian Antioch (modern Yalvaç) overlooking Lake Eğirdir. Here Paul delivered his first recorded missionary sermon (Acts 13:16–41), declaring justification by faith and turning decisively to the Gentiles. Walk the excavated Basilica of St. Paul (built directly over the 1st-century synagogue foundations), the Roman Augusta Platea, theater, and aqueducts, then travel south through the Taurus Mountains to the Mediterranean coast at Antalya.

Route: Antalya → Ancient Perga → Attalia Harbor → Antalya Airport

Explore the grand colonnaded streets, stadium, Roman baths, and Hellenistic gates of ancient Perga in Pamphylia, where Paul and Barnabas landed from Cyprus and preached on their return journey (Acts 14:25). Visit the historic harbor of Attalia (Old Antalya), from which the apostles sailed back to Antioch, followed by your private transfer to Antalya Airport (or onward flight to İzmir to connect with the 5-Day Seven Churches Tour).