2025 Journey of the Apostles + LDS Rome Temple with Tim Taggart

Dates April 7-17, 2025
Destination Cappadocia, Turkey; Istanbul, Turkey; Izmir, Turkey; Ephesus, Turkey; Athens, Greece; Corinth, Greece Rome, Italy;
Duration 11 days 10 nights
Price From 3,929

Religious Focus:

Sightseeing:

Activity Level:

Walking Level:


We invite you to join favorite tour leader Tim Taggart on a tour celebrating the missionary travels of Paul and John the Beloved. The New Testament will come alive as we visit some of the most spectacular sites of the Apostle’s ministries and of the Early Church.

We also visit several “Bucket List” locations that are so beautiful and romantic they are featured everywhere the Greek Isles are mentioned. Unforgettable, historical, scenic, spiritual, romantic, and life changing. This tour does it all!

Begin your tour with a special experience, a pre-tour exploring Cappadocia which is on UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage List. See by land and air as this area is one of the most popular natural & historical regions in the world. More details are under the "Tour Includes" tab. 

*Please note that while the physical activity on this tour (walking distances) is not significant every day, the days are full of touring from breakfast to dinner time with "down-time" only in the evening.

Tour ID #9225D07

To book this tour contact your favorite Morris Columbus Travel Advisor or click the Book Now button below:

Questions? Contact:

Sarah Wangsgard, Tour Manager
Tel: (801) 483-6473
Email Sarah

OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR: April 4-8, 2025
OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR: April 4-8, 2025

OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR OF CAPPADOCIA 

April 4 & 5, 2025: Depart flights from your home cities to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul. Meeting at the airport and on a short flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

April 6, 2025: We will start exploring Cappadocia valley. We will first visit the Kaymakli Underground city. It is a self-sufficient underground city with its own ventilation system, store areas, living areas. Later, we will continue to Goreme Open Air Museum where we will see churches and monasteries carved in rocks. We will see, Pasabag, Valley of Imagination and three beauties in Cappadocia. We will have our dinner and overnight at our hotel in Cappadocia.

April 7, 2025: Early morning, we will have an optional balloon ride in the valley. We will return to our hotel for breakfast and after some rest, we will continue exploring more in Cappadocia. We will see Uchisa, Pıgeon Valley and Love Valley. We will end our day in Kizilcukur to have the best sunset photos in the region. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

April 8, 2025: Transfer to the airport for flying to Istanbul and starting the Journey of Apostles Tour!

Double Occupancy - $849 per person

Please click the TOUR INCLUDES BUTTON for more information.

Day 1: Monday, April 7, 2025
Day 1: Monday, April 7, 2025

Depart Home Cities - Flight to Istanbul, Turkey 

We will take a morning flight from our various homes, change planes at JFK airport in New York, and arrive the following morning in Istanbul, Turkey. Travel safe!

Meals : In-flight
Day 2: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Day 2: Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey

Welcome to Turkey! Like Rome, Istanbul is built on seven hills. Settled by the Greeks in the eighth century BC, the city was known as Byzantium. In AD 330 the Roman emperor Constantine made it his capital and called it Constantinople. After the western part of the Roman Empire fell, Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire for a thousand years until 1453, when it was taken by the Ottoman Turks.

If time permits and for those that want to we will have an optional boat ride on the Bosphorous. 

Meals : Dinner
Day 3: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Day 3: Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Istanbul

We will enjoy a city tour of Istanbul. The Hagia Sophia was an architectural marvel built by Emperor Justinian in AD 527. The Blue Mosque is an exquisite example of Islamic architecture built by Ahmet I, we will also see the Hippodrome, containing an Egyptian obelisk brought to Constantinople in AD 390 from Egypt. Next, we will also visit the Topkapi Palace and finally the unique Basilican Cistern. If time allows, you may enjoy a fun stop at the world-famous Spice Market. Here you can browse and shop at the hundreds of stalls for souvenirs, spices and Turkish delights. We will visit spice market and will be transferred to Istanbul airport for our flight to Izmir. Upon Arrival in Izmir, we will be transferred to our hotel in Izmir for our dinner and overnight.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Day 4: Thursday, April 10, 2025

Izmir

This morning, we will visit Smyrna. Founded in the 11 century B.C it was once a Greek City on the Aegean coastline. We will see the ruins of the ancient Angora (public meeting place). We will next travel to Kusadasi (near Ephesus), on our way, we will see the Basilica of John and continue to Kusadasi where we will spend the evening.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Friday, April 11, 2025
Day 5: Friday, April 11, 2025

Ephesus,Turkey

This morning, we will visit Ephesus - once a Greek city on the Ionian Sea coast. The impressive ruins date back to the 10th century B.C. The Apostle Paul spent much time in the area teaching to the Ephesians. We will visit the house of the Virgin Mary. Many have thought that this was where she had lived and died in Ephesus. We will have optional lunch at rug weaving school with shopping opportunity. After spending some more time in the Ephesus area, we will make our way to Izmir airport for our flight to Athens later that evening. Upon arrival in Athens, we will be transferred to our hotel in Athens. Overnight in Athens.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Saturday, April 12, 2025
Day 6: Saturday, April 12, 2025

Athens, Greece

Today we will visit the famous Acropolis and the Parthenon. We will also stroll through the ancient Agora - said to be one of the world’s largest and best-preserved ancient meeting place. It was here that such men as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle taught. The Apostle Paul taught the Athenians while staying in Athens on Mars Hill. Our lives still bare the deep imprint of Greece. After time for shopping and if time permits, we will visit the New Acropolis Museum.  

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Sunday, April 13, 2025
Day 7: Sunday, April 13, 2025

Corinth, Greece

This morning, we will travel west by bus around the Saronic Gulf, which separates Attica from the Peloponnese (the southern peninsula of Greece), crossing the famous Corinth Canal (a 4.2-mile-long channel cut between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf). Our first stop will be Eleusis. After visiting here, we will go on to Corinth to discuss the work of Paul, who lived here for one and a half years, and his two epistles directed to the Corinthian Saints.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Monday, April 14, 2025
Day 8: Monday, April 14, 2025

Athens to Rome – Colosseum and Roman Forum 

Early in the morning we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Rome. Upon arrival in Rome, we will be transferred to our hotel in the city. After some free time for lunch, we will start our guided tour of ancient Rome including Colosseum and Roman Forum in the afternoon. After our tour, we will drive to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Rome.  

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Day 9: Tuesday, April 15, 2025

LDS Rome Temple Visit - Vatican - Sistine Chapel

Today we will transfer to LDS Temple in Rome and attend a session for those that want to (pending on appointment availability). Our local guide will arrange meal options in the Temple area or in the city Center. Later that afternoon, our guided tour at the Vatican will start.

We will tour the Vatican, the world’s smallest, yet wealthiest independent state, starting with an overview of the history of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. See the Hall of Tapestries and the Maps Gallery. The highlight will be the Sistine Chapel, where the ceiling is covered with Michelangelo’s famous paintings of the ‘Creation’ and ‘Last Judgment.’ Then we explore St. Peter’s Square, with Bernini’s 284 columns, before entering St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in Christendom. See the many treasures including the golden mosaics of the apse, Bernini’s bronze baldachin and the famed ‘Pieta’ by Michelangelo.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Day 10: Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Tivoli - Pantheon - Trevi Fountain - Navona

This morning, we will visit Tivoli and the Villa d'Este, a 16th-century villa, famous for its terraced hillside Italian Renaissance Garden and especially for its profusion of fountains. It is now an Italian state museum and is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. We will then travel back to Rome to visit some of the most famous sites in Rome, The Pantheon a former Roman temple, now a church, on the site of an earlier temple dedicated about 126 A.D! We will also visit the Trevi fountain (“three coins in the…”) and the famous Piazza Navona. We will also visit the Roman Coliseum (one the 7 Wonders on the World) that was once the site of the Roman Gladiators and where the early Christians were executed.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Day 11: Thursday, April 17, 2025

Rome to USA

Today you will depart Italy for our flights back to our homes in the U.S.A. Arriving home tired but filled with memories of special and sacred places we have seen and heard―a true “trip of a lifetime.”

Meals : Breakfast, In-flight

Highlights of the Tour:

  • 1 tour-bus experience for the whole tour
  • LDS Tour Director on for the whole trip along with local guides for in-depth location detail and history
  • Advance timed entry tickets to attractions included = less time waiting in lines
  • Optional 3-day PRE tour available to Cappadocia, Turkey

Included:

  • Local Licensed guides & Historians with your experienced LDS Tour Director, Tim Taggart
  • Accommodations at 4 Star hotels throughout 
  • Sightseeing tours as outlined on the itinerary
  • Meals as outlined - breakfast and dinner daily
  • Entrance fees to all noted locations and museums
  • Deluxe/Air-Conditioned motor coach transportation
  • Boat ride on the Bosporus by private boat
  • All flights throughout the tour with luggage and carry-on allowance (3 flights - Istanbul to Izmir, Izmir to Athens & Athens to Rome)
  • Audio system headsets throughout the tour
  • Document package

Not Included:

  • International airfare to Istanbul and home from Rome 
  • Any private sightseeing not included on the itinerary during free time
  • Tour gratuities for tour guides and special LDS Host 
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Travel insurance - highly recommended!
  • Meals not included in tour outline

Pricing Options:

  • Double Occupancy - $3,929 per person
  • Single Occupancy - $4,779 for private room
  • Triple Occupancy - $3,929 per person (subject to availability)
  • Cash Discount of $125 per person - please inquire for details
  • 3-day Optional Pre-Tour to Cappadocia $849 per person (including flights)

Payment Terms:

  • Deposit of $500 per person is due at the time of booking
  • Full Payment due January 7, 2025
  • This tour required a minimum of 25 travelers to guarantee the advertised price *ask about details


OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR OF CAPPADOCIA 

April 4-8, 2025

Double Occupancy - $849 per person | Triple Occupancy - $849 per person | Single Occupancy - $1199 per person 

April 4 & 5, 2025 - Depart flights from your home cities to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul. Meeting at the airport and on a short flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

April 6, 2025 - We will start exploring Cappadocia valley. We will first visit the Kaymakli Underground city. It is a self sufficient underground city with its own ventilation system, store areas, living areas. Later, we wil continue to Goreme Open Air Museum where we will see churches and monasteries carved in rocks. We will see, Pasabag, Valley of Imagination and three beauties in Cappadocia. We will have our dinner and overnight at our hotel in Cappadocia.  

April 7, 2025 - Early morning, we will have an optional balloon ride in the valley. We will return to our hotel for breakfast and after some rest, we will continue exploring more in Cappadocia We will see Uchisa, Pigeon Valley and Love Valley. We will end our day in Kizilcukur to have the best sunset photos in the region. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.  

April 8, 2025 - Transfer to the airport for flying to Istanbul and starting the Journey of Apostles tour!

**Pre-tour is based on a minimum of 10 tour participants 

Included: 

  • Deluxe/Air-Conditioned motor coach transportation
  • Local Licensed guides & Historians with your experienced LDS Tour Director
  • Accommodation at 4* hotels
  • Sightseeing tours as outlined on the itinerary
  • Meals as outlined – Breakfast and Dinner Daily
  • Audio system headsets throughout the tour
  • Breakfast and dinners daily
  • Economy class domestic flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia with luggage and carry-on allowance
  • Economy class air ticket from Cappadocia to Istanbul with luggage and carry-on allowance
  • Audio system headsets throughout the tour

Not Included:

  • Any private sightseeing not included on the itinerary during free time
  • Tour gratuities for Local Guides/Bus Drivers and Tour Director
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not included in the tour outline