Every journey begins with a first step ...

Jerusalem Way

Stage TURKEY

15 Days Travel | 23.09.2022 - 07.10.2022
JERUSALEM WAY - The worldwide longest Pilgrimage route and peace way & Union cultural route!

Jerusalem Way Turkey 2022
Together on the 5th stage: Asia Minor

The fifth of a total of seven stages on the Jerusalem Way takes us through Turkey/Asia Minor: we cross the Marmara region, the Aegean region, the Mediterranean region and Central Anatolia! Turkey is the 5th stage of a total of 7 stages on the Jerusalem Way (Spain to Jerusalem).

On this unique pilgrimage, discover the cultural highlights of Asia Minor, the sites where the apostles Paul and Barnabas founded early Christianity and the route of the Third Crusade under the Staufer Emperor Friedrich I "Barbarossa" and experience a landscape of incomparable fascination. Some highlights are the Dardanelles, Troy, Troas Peninsula, Assos, Pergamon, Izmir, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Taurus Mountains, Sille, Konya, Kilistra, Göksu Canyon, Tarsus and Adana. The Jerusalem Way connects 15 countries and the continents of Europe and Asia with the Holy Land and is the longest pilgrimage and peace way with a distance of about 7.500 km: "From the end of the old world in Finisterre via the heart of Europe to the beginning to Jerusalem".

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Arrival: Flight to Istanbul - Transfer Hotel - Old Town - Hagia Sophia - Blue Mosque - Bosphorus - Dinner

Flight with Turkish Airlines from Vienna to Istanbul (book your own flight). Arrive at 14:00 and transfer to our hotel in Istanbul. With a nice walk in the old town we see the Hippodrome Square from the Roman era, the Hagia Sophia Mosque, once the main church of the Byzantine Empire and the Blue Mosque from the Ottoman era. With a view of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, we will enjoy the beauties of Istanbul during our dinner.

Day 2: Drive to the Dardanelles - Gelibolu (border Europe/Asia) - initial hike
Departure from Istanbul to the European part of Turkey to the Dardanelles, the strait between Europe and Asia. Here we undertake the introductory hike, the route runs along the foothills of Europe with a view of Asia, beautifully and on historically significant ground. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Hampton by Hilton in Gelibolu.

Day 3: Gelibolu - Canakkale - Troy - overnight wine island Bozcaada
After breakfast we visit one of the war memorials near the Dardanelles in Europe that were erected on the occasion of the First World War. Then crossing by ferry to Canakkale, we reach Asia! We then leave the Dardanelles and undertake a beautiful hike near the sea towards Troy with a view of the Aegean Sea. Soon after we reach Troy, scene of Homer's epics about the beautiful Helena, Agamemnon and Odysseus. We visit Troja National Park and see the last stone remains of Troja on the ridge. Culturally suitable for this atmospheric day, we end the day with culinary delights on the island of Bozcaada, known as the "Wine Island". Overnight on the island in two boutique hotels. Accommodation with pilgrim charm!

Day 4: Bozcaada - Alexandria Troas - Assos - Behramkale
Continue to Dalyan to nearby Alexandria Troas. The former ancient metropolis was even considered the capital of the Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine the Great! Paul visited this city three times during his missionary journeys. We hike along the Jerusalemweg on the Troya cultural route and traces of Paul towards Assos. Check-in and accommodation at the Assos Hotel in Behramkale.

Day 5: Behramkale - Pergamon - Bergama - Obasya Caravanserai
In the morning we drive along the coast and finally the Jerusalem Way takes us over rolling hills and mountains through pine forests, a magnificent landscape on the way to Pergamum! Finally, from afar we see ancient Pergamon with the steepest theater in Asia Minor! We take the cable car up to the plateau of the Acropolis, visit the remains of the royal palaces, the foundations of the Zeus altar (the altar itself is in Berlin), the temples of Athena, Trajan, Dionysus and Demeter, the theatre, agora and the once the second largest library in the ancient world! Then we continue towards Obasya where we sleep as a cultural feature in a newly built caravanserai. This "tent hotel" in the middle of nowhere is an unforgettable experience. On this day, in addition to the impressive experiences, two hikes are planned. Dinner and overnight caravanserai.

Day 6 & 7: Bergama - Izmir - Kusadasi - Ephesus - Selcuk - Kusadasi
Drive through Izmir. Ancient Smyrna not only offers numerous Christian churches, but is also the largest city on the entire Jerusalem route with around 3 million inhabitants. Continue to Ephesus, one of the most magnificent archaeological sites in the Orient and one of the most important open-air museums in the world. The reconstructions of numerous buildings such as Hadrian's temple, the magnificent Celsus library or the terraced houses, which were made possible with the help of Austrian archaeologists, are particularly impressive. Visit of the Agora, the public buildings, the Curetes Street and the theatre. After a midday rest in the family restaurants, which are located around the cave of the dormouse under fruit trees, we hike to the house of Mother Mary. The supposed tomb of Mary is a holy place for Christians and Muslims. Then we visit the Basilica of St. John. Here is the tomb of the apostle John. On the way back to the hotel we see the Isabey (Jesus) Mosque and the rest of the Temple of Artemis, one of the ancient wonders of the world. Dinner and check-in for two nights at the Richmond Ephesus Hotel.

Day 8: Kusadasi - Ephesus - Meander River Valley - Pamukkale - Hierapolis
Drive through the wide meander valley towards Pamukkale. We trek through villages along the beautiful countryside, arriving on foot at Pamukkale and then Hierapolis. Dinner and overnight at Pam Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale.

Day 9: Pamukkale - Laodicea - Colossi - Isparta - Taurus Mountains - Isparta - Egirdir Lake
In the morning we hike to the extensive ruins of Laodicea/ancient Laodikeia on Lykos. The seventh and last epistle of the Apocalypse of John was sent to this congregation. We then continue towards Ergirdir Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Turkey. Afternoon hike in the mountainous hinterland on remote paths away from any tourism. Dinner and overnight at pilgrim accommodation Choo Choo Pension in Egirdir.

Day 10: Egirdir Lake - St. Paul's Way - Antioch in Pisidia - Yalvac - Konya
In the morning drive towards Antioch, we also reach the so-called "apple country" and hike in the endless steppe landscape of Pisidia the last stage on the Turkish Paulusweg (also Jerusalemweg) to ancient Antioch in Pisidia. Here we explore the ruins that Paul visited in his "first missionary journey" along with Barnabas and his nephew. Continue to Konya, the former Iconium, which geographically brings us to the middle of Asia Minor. Dinner and overnight at Bera Hotel in Konya.

Day 11: Konya - Sufi Trail - Sille - Mevlana Rumi - Paul's Church - Bazaar - Konya
Today we hike a bit along the so-called Sufi Trail, which is also part of the Jerusalem Way, and finally we walk over the Devil's Bridge to Sille, the place where Paul once was. After a well-deserved break at the cafe, we visit the newly restored Church of St. Helena, founded in 327 by Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, when she passed by on the way to Jerusalem. This church is now one of the oldest churches in the world! In Konya we visit, among other things, the Mevlana Museum, the mausoleum of the Sufi mystic Rumi, also known from the dancing dervishes, and the Pauluskirche, which is still in use, where we even get a Jerusalemweg stamp in the pilgrim's pass. Afterwards we end the day in the bazaar and dive into the oriental world of spices and fragrances. Dinner and overnight at Bera Hotel.

Day 12: Konya - Kilistra - Lystra - Catalhoyuk - Cumra - Binbirkilise - Karaman
After breakfast, drive to the King's Road to Kilistra with the bizarre-looking cave settlements of the early Christians. Hike and explore the cave dwellings and we also see the valley of what was once the ancient city of Lystra, the site of Paul's stoning. As a further cultural highlight, we reach the excavation site of the settlement of Catalhöyük from the Neolithic Age, which is said to be one of the oldest settlements in the world. After a short visit we continue in the direction of Binbirkilise (1001 churches), where in the monotony and seemingly endless "moon landscape" we take a meditative hike on a mountain massif of the Karadag volcano? and experience the ruins of the churches and buildings with an impressive view. Dinner and overnight at the Kent Hotel in Karaman.

Day 13: Karaman - Taurus Mountains - Sertavul Pass - Göksu Canyon - Barbarossa Memorial Stone - K?zkalesi
Driving through the Taurus Mountains we visit the imposing ruins of the remote Byzantine Alahan Monastery high above the Göksu River. After continuing our journey through the canyon, we reach the memorial stone that commemorates the death of the Roman-German Emperor Barbarossa - the third and largest crusade in church history ended here in Regensburg. Our hike today runs in the colourful, impressive Göksu Canyon in the direction of Silifke. Overnight on the Mediterranean at Kilikya Hotel, Kizkalesi.

Day 14: Kizkalesi - Mediterranean Coast - Tarsus - Adana
In the morning, a leisurely hike along the Mediterranean coast with the opportunity to swim in the sea. Then continue to Tarsus. The birthplace of Paul is one of the oldest cities in the world. We go through Cleopatra's Gate, see the old Roman road, reach Paul's Fountain and the Church. We continue to Adana, where two more superlatives await us at the end of the journey on the Jerusalemweg: The second largest mosque in Turkey and the oldest drivable stone arch bridge in the world! Dinner and overnight at Hotel Senbayrak City in Adana.

Day 15: Return flight to Vienna via Istanbul
This morning we visit the above mentioned Mosque and Stone Arch Bridge. This stage of the journey on the Jerusalemweg ends exactly on the old Roman bridge, and at the same time this is the beginning of the next, sixth stage on the way to Jerusalem. As a conclusion we go through the old town to the bazaar. A short transfer takes us to the airport in Adana, return flight with Turkish Airlines at 13.10 p.m. via Istanbul to Vienna. Arrival in Vienna at 18.25 p.m.

Changes to the itinerary and errors Reserved!