Jordan & Eastern Turkey Travel to the heart of the ancient world, the Bible, and early Christianity, walk in the footsteps of Paul and John Tour Hosts: Dr. Ben Witherington MAY 13-26, 2016 Rev. Allison Posell

organized by

Jordan & Eastern Turkey / May 13-26, 2016 The Lion Gate, Hattusas

Dr. Ben Witherington III, Ph.D., Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary; Doctoral Faculty St. Mary’s College, St. Andrews University

Want a Biblical adventure where we get to the heart of antiquity and the Bible and early Christianity through a visit to both famous and less well known sites? If so, then this tour is for you, as we will visit OT, NT, Greco-Roman and early Christian sites Jordan and Eastern Turkey as on previous trips, and once again in two different countries, Jordan and in Turkey, mainly eastern Turkey. As the following itinerary will Travel to the heart of the ancient world, the Bible, and early Christianity, walk in the footsteps of Paul and John show, this includes but is not limited to: 1) a full day tour of Petra (no sightings of Indiana Jones promised, but you never know); 2) a visit to the earliest mosaic map of the Holy Land in Madaba; 3) a visit to Jerash, Jerash, Jordan the spectacular Greco-Roman site which was one of the ten cities of the Decapolis; 4) a visit to the lost Armenian Christian city of Ani; 5) a visit to Mt. Ararat; 6) a visit to King Midas’ Gordion city, also the site of Alexander the Great’s famous cutting of the “Gordion Knot”; 7) a visit to the panoramic monasteries and Hagia Sophia Church in . And this is just a part of what we shall see!

Tour Itinerary:

May 13 Fri Depart from New York – Fly Amman May 14 Sat Arrive Amman Queen Alia International Airport – Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight Amman. (D) May 15 Sun Visit Jerash, Madaba and Mount Nebo. Proceed to Petra for overnight. (B,D) May 16 Mon Full Day visit to Petra. Dinner and overnight Petra. (B,D) May 17 Tue Drive to Amman. Visit the new site near the Jordan River. Dinner & overnight Amman. (D) May 18 Wed Amman Airport - Fly AMM-IST TK 813 07:00am/09:55am + IST-ESB TK 2146 12:00/13:05 Visit Anatolian Civilization Museum. Overnight Ankara. (B,D) May 19 Thu Full Day Tour to the Hittite sites of Hattusas and Yazilikaya. Overnight Ankara. (B,D) May 20 Fri Full day visit to the Gordion archaeological site, one of the most important and well-excavated sites in the Near East. It is home to the legendary King Midas, as well as the staging area for Alexander the Great’s watershed campaign against the Persian Empire and the site of his famous cutting of the “Gordion Knot.” Overnight Ankara. (B,D) May 21 Sat Fly to Trabzon – Visit the stunning , Vazelon Monastery and Kaymakli Monastery. Overnight Trabzon. (B,D) May 22 Sun Morning visit the Hagia Sophia Church in Trabzon, one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in the region. Drive to Erzurum (5 hours). Overnight Erzurum. (B,D) May 23 Mon Drive to Ani (3 hours). Full Day visit to Ani, a medieval Armenian city that was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom. Called the “City of 1001 Churches,” Ani stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were among the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world. Overnight Kars. May 24 Tue Visit Mount Ararat. Transfer to Kars Airport for TK 2715 17:55/20:15 flight to Istanbul. (B) May 25 Wed St Irene Church (where the 2nd Ecumenical Council held in 381) and Grand Bazaar. Farewell Dinner. (B,D) May 26 Thu Transfer to Istanbul Airport. Fly back to New York. End.

Jordan & Eastern Turkey / May 13-26, 2016 TOUR MAP

SERBIA MONTONEGRO GEORGIA KOSOVO BULGARIA

BLACK SEA AZER MACEDONIA ARMENIA B ALBANIA Kars AIJAN Istanbul Trabzon Erzurum

AEGEAN SEA Ankara TURKEY IRAN

G R E E C E Urfa

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Amman Jordan and Eastern Turkey LIBYA JORDAN Petra Travel to the heart of the ancient world, the Bible, and early Christianity, walk in the footsteps of Paul and John LAND & AIR: Istanbul R $ 4,990 Per Person in DoubleED S E $ 890 Single Supplement A

INCLUDING

• International air fare: New York-Amman

• InternationalSUDAN air fare: Amman-Ankara (via Istanbul) • International air fare: Istanbul-New York • Ankara-Urfa domestic flight • Gaziantep-Kars (via Ankara) domestic flight • Kars-Istanbul domestic flight • 2 Nights at 4 star Hotel in Amman • 2 Nights at 4 star Hotel in Petra • 3 Nights at 4 star Hotel in Ankara • 1 Night at 4 star Hotel in Trabzon • 1 Nights at 4 star Hotel in Erzurum Kars • 1 Night at 4 star Hotel in Kars • 2 Nights at 4 star Hotel in Istanbul • Daily breakfast at the hotels • 11 Dinners at the hotels • Sightseeing as per the itinerary • Entrance fees to sites as per the above list • Licensed Tour Guide during all tours • Transportation in private air-conditioned tourist coach during tour • Porters’ fees at hotels • Service charges and local taxes • Tips to the hotel staff, tour guides and bus drivers

EXCLUDING

• Turkish Visa to be obtained before arrival https://www.evisa.gov.tr ($20 for US Citizens) Please print and carry the visa document when you arrive in Turkey. Citizens of all other countries are responsible to check their own visa regulations for travel. • Health and Travel insurance, any type of personal expenses • Lunches and drinks

Jordan & Eastern Turkey / May 13-26, 2016 Sardis, Turkey

PAYMENT PROCEDURE:

1- $200 per person Deposit: October 1, 2015 (non-refundable) 2- Full Payment : February 12, 2016 The payment will be made to TUTKU TOURS by using the below secure link (Visa or MC only); https://secure.tutkutours.com/tours/160513BENW

Cancellation Penalty: – 90–60 days prior to departure: No Penalty – 59–45 days prior to departure: 25% – 44–30 days prior to departure: 50% – 29–15 days prior to departure: 75% – 14 days & After No refund

Travel Insurance: Travel insurance may be purchased separately at an extra cost. Travel Insurance is a contract between the traveller and the Insurance Company (American Express, or other). To obtain your travel insurance, please call 1–800–TURKIYE and ask for Ms. Ayata.

Organized by

Gaziosmanpaşa Bulvarı 3/303 Izmir 35210 TURKEY Phone: +90–232 441–8635 / 441–8676 / 441–8677 Fax: +90–232 441–8636 E–mail: [email protected] • www.tutkutours.com

Jordan & Eastern Turkey / May 13-26, 2016