This once-in-a-lifetime Book of Acts experience awaits you! Walk in the footsteps of our spiritual ancestors: Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, Silas, Pricilla, Aquila, and John. Our desire is to create witnesses, those who experience and walk on Biblical and historical lands. - Tim and Jan Cowles

Traveling with company President Tim, and Jan Cowles is an experience! Their passion for the Middle East and enthusiasm for the people who live there is contagious. They have led Biblically based tours for the past 29 years. You share in the relationships they have made, their familiarity with the region, and their knowledge of cross-cultural behaviors. You find their pre-trip training invaluable in producing an experience that you remember the rest of your life...and, often has you planning your next tour with them. This is the Premier tour that Tim and Jan host once a year to Turkey and Greece and tour size is limited to one bus.

Day 1, Sat, Oct 10: overnight flight to Istanbul.

Day 2, Sun, Oct 11: Afternoon arrival at Ataturk International Airport Istanbul where we are met by our guide and transferred to the our hotel for dinner and overnight, Kent Hotel or similar.

Day 3, Mon, Oct 12: Free day to rest from our long flight and take the short walk to the Grand Bazaar, built in 1457 with 61 streets and some 3000 shops. Oh my, what treasures!!!

Day 4, Tues, Oct 13: Today we begin with a visit to the Hippodrome and the world famous Blue Mosque that has interior walls covered with twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles. Next is the Basilica Cistern. We end our touring day at Chora Church with stunning Biblical frescoes that brought me (Tim) nearly to tears. When this church was built few could read or write. We experience "their Bible" on the walls and ceilings. The ceiling shows the Lord Jesus Christ in the center and the Patriarchs of the Bible starting with Adam circled around him. Walls, for example, hold the Wedding at Cana, and the Healing of the Leper. Dinner and overnight Kent Hotel or similar.

Day 5, Wed, Oct 14: After breakfast, Hagia Sophia, a "Mothership" of the Church for hundreds of years. Dedicated in 360AD it has been a cathedral, mosque, and is now a museum. Next we embark on a cruise of the Bosphorus which separates Europe from Asia. We pass by the Dolmabahce Palace and the Beylerbeyi Palace.

In the afternoon we return to the Grand Bazaar and continue to the Spice Bazaar where the scent of hundreds of spices permeates the air. We then transfer to Ataturk Airport for a direct flight to Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight at the Peri Tower Hotel or similar. (Now would be a good time to reference map of Turkey tour route. Many cities have new names. We overlaid the route with red lines: Turkey map)

Day 6, Thurs, Oct 15: Cappadocia is mentioned in Acts 2:9 among those who heard Peter speaking in their language on Pentecost. Our sightseeing begins with a visit to the fascinating Goreme Valley. The lunar like landscape of this region is eerie and beautiful. Over thousands of years, the rain has eroded this landscape to give rise to strange rock formations known as “Fairy Chimneys." Many homes and churches are carved in these rocks and we see grottos with magnificent Biblical frescoes. On to a local cooperative carpet farm! After lunch we visit the 5th century Church of John the Baptist, the biggest cave church in Cappadocia. On to the Underground City of Ozkonak that Christians tunnelled into a volcanic hill in the 6th century for protection. Dinner and overnight Peri Tower Hotel or similar.

Day 7, Fri, Oct 16: Today we have a long journey by bus through the Anatolian countryside along the Roman Roads that Paul and Barnabas walked to Antioch Pisidia where Paul gave his first sermon to Gentiles - Acts 13:13–52. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale at the Colossae Hotel or similar.

Day 8, Sat, Oct 17: Today we visit Hierapolis where the Paul founded a church when he was at Ephesus - Col 4:13. Philip spent the last years of his life here. In 80AD, he was martyred by crucifixion and buried here. Over thousands of years calcium rich water from an underground thermal spring has flowed down the mountainside and slowly solidified, creating white basins, creating the Cotton Castle.

Next we proceed to three of the Seven Churches of Revelation. We travel west to Laodicia where John writes: "So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich, I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." Then Philadelphia where John writes: "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." On to Sardis where John writes: "...you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy." After this full day we have dinner and overnight at the Anemon Hotel or similar in Izmir.

Day 9, Sun, Oct 18: This morning we visit Smyrna where John writes: "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown." We then drive north to to Thyatira of whom John writes: "...you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols." We end the touring day visiting the city of Pergamum about which John writes: "These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live, where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city, where Satan lives." Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi at the Kismet Hotel or similar overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Day 10, Mon, Oct 19: Today we spend the entire day experiencing the amazing ruins at Ephesus the church of which John writes: "...you have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." We sit in the theatre where Demetrius, the silversmith, told the crowd: "You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia.” What a day this is! Dinner and overnight Kismet Hotel Kusadasi or similar.

Day 11, Tue, Oct 20: Have breakfast overlooking the Aegean Sea before we leave Turkey and embark from Kusadasi on the MS Louis Olympia. We sail to Patmos arriving at 4pm. This beautiful and mysterious rocky island is where the Apostle John was exiled and dictated the Book of Revelation. We tour the Monastery named for him where we have a wonderful view of the island. We also visit the Grotto of the Revelation. After some free time for browsing in local shops we return to the ship and sail for Rhodes at 9pm. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 12, Wed, Oct 21: At 7am we arrive at Rhodes. In ancient times, the Colossus of Rhodes was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. This stronghold was built by a Crusader Order. (Thought from Tim and Jan: this is a day you could skip excursions if you need to rest). An optional excursion takes you to visit the Temple of Athena on the majestic rocky Acropolis of Lindos, with the blue Aegean Sea in one direction and a sophisticated whitewashed artists' colony in another direction. It is a local tradition that Paul's ship, on the way to Rome, spent time in the small harbor at Lindos. We have the afternoon free in Rhodes. Stroll the medieval walled city and enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere. Sail for Crete at 6pm. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 13, Thurs, Oct 22: At 7am we arrive at Heraklion, Crete which we read about in Acts 27:7-13. An optional excursion takes you from the lively bustling city to the Minoan Palace of Knossos. We sail for Santorini at 11:30am, where we arrive at 4:30pm, at Jan's favorite island! We can take a cable car up to the white-washed town of Thera, perched high on the rim of the ancient volcano, the eruption of which in 1,600BC literally buried a flourishing Bronze Age town. Enjoy one of the optional tours or just walk the streets. Sail for Piraeus at 9pm. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 14, Fri, Oct 23: Today we disembark and travel by bus from Athens by way of the Saronic Gulf, crossing the historic Corinthian Canal to ancient Corinth, where Acts records: "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.' So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God." In Corinth we see the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio's Seat. We return to Athens in the afternoon to climb up to the marble-capped Acropolis and visit the famous Parthenon. We then walk to nearby Mars' Hill-Areopagus, where Paul said:"People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship, and this is what I am going to proclaim to you." Dinner and overnight Divani Palace Acropolis or similar.

Day 15, Sat, Oct 24: Today we drive north to visit Delphi, the famous site on Mount Parnassus. We continue north to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight at the Amalia Kalambaka or similar.

Day 16, Sun, Oct 25: Today we explore spectacular Meteora, with its thousands year old Byzantine monasteries perched precariously on huge rocks. The drive up to the Monasteries is amazing and the monasteries are like Byzantine museums exhibiting superb icons and old manuscripts. The view from the top is breathtaking. In the afternoon we return to Athens, passing by many traditional Greek villages. Touring ends with our farewell dinner at the Divani Palace Acropolis or similar.

Day 17, Mon, Oct 26: Transfer to Athens airport for our flights home.

"Dear Tim and Jan, wow...what a trip-journey-experience-adventure! All of those nouns fit the 17 days we just had being shepherded with you through Turkey and Greece. It was a wonderfully unique time of discovering both God's beautiful creation in those countries, but even more so, God's Beautiful Plan for Spreading His Gospel of Love and Salvation! How cool is it to see His Hand in the Ruins of Corinth, Philippi, Smyrna and Ephesus. Some people see just piles of rocks and stones, but we see a Father's Love for His Children.....Sweet His-story! Thank you so much for all of your time and planning in putting together this tour; we couldn't have felt more loved and cared for. And one of the BEST parts for us was the group you put together; a big happy family of Brothers and Sisters in Christ, all with their own stories of how God adopted them. What fun, gracious folks to hang out with for 2+ weeks...on buses, ships, and airplanes! The Guides were a bonus, Arzu and Maria are in our memories forever. Take good care and God's bestest blessings on you both!" - Patty and Jim Culpepper, Boise, ID, email Culpeppers

"Tim and Jan, thanks for a wonderful trip...it was such as great time, wonderful group, and covered so much that I am still trying to process all that we observed and learned. The memories are wonderful and made it fun to go through the photos, as it brought back great memories of the group, people saw and meet, the many places, and the events shared as I tried to figure out which photos to share with everyone. - Jeff and Donna Mattson, Salt Lake City, UT, email Jeff

"Dear Tim and Jan, our time in Turkey and Greece was so rich! Thanks for taking us and treating us so well! Looking back I see many answers of prayers. " - Jerry and Jan Nielson, Boise, ID, email Jan

"Dear Tim and Jan, we really enjoyed the trip and the opportunity to meet so many quality people. You two are fortunate to have so many rewarding relationships.Thanks again for the planning and work that went into a great trip!" - Dr. Frank and Sharon Hamilton, Tulsa, OK, email Hamiltons

"Tim great job, it was inspirational to walk where Paul walked and see the sacrifices that the early Christians went through. It puts more meaning in reading the Bible when you can stand where the early Christians stood. This is our third tour with your company." - Leroy and Barbara Custer, Boise, ID email Leroy

"Hey Tim! It was such a major treat getting to know you, your awesome family and all the others! The trip was mind boggling! It's still swirling around! Ordered the archeological bible so we can take a closer look. Your guides were very knowledgeable so much info! Loved that the bible came to life! You did a fantastic job in coordinating everything!! We learned so much about Paul's journey spreading the good news. The Bible came to life! I felt safe in all the accommodations. Busses were comfortable and the cruise was a great break right in the middle of the journey. Food was well planned out, healthy and delicious. Tim, you are a great story teller and included everyone in creative ways to get to know one another. My husband and I had never been on a guided tour and we truly loved it! It's hard to go to a new country and know just what to do when you get there. We were amazed at the culture and really learned how people of other religions and beliefs live. I recommend this trip for anyone that wants to experience a whole new way of traveling and learning! It was well worth it! It was definitely a trip of a lifetime! Thanks Tim!" - Jim and Nancy Tighe, Boise, ID, email Nancy

"Hi Tim & Jan, thank you so much for putting together such a wonderful trip and itinerary, Jim and I enjoyed every minute of it! As you know we were kind of worried about the large size of the group, but we have to say it never was a problem, or interfered with any of our scheduled activities – group leaders was a stroke of genius.Thanks again for all your prayers, hard work and dedication in putting together such a fantastic experience! Blessings. This was our third tour with your company." - Jim & Janet Schaufelberger, Boise, ID, email Janet

"Tim and Jan, I am so thankful to have been able to be on this trip. Thank you for what you do. Turkey was a highlight for me. I fell in love with Turkey a place I never even really thought about. The places that impacted me the most were Laodicia, Philipi and Corinth. The teaching in those places really struck a cord with me and I was grateful each time someone shared at a sight and brought us a Biblical perspective. I thought things went incredibly well. Thanks again for all you and Jan do. Grateful. - Judy Matteson, Tri-Cities, WA, email Judy

"Hi Tim and Jan, thank you for putting together such an amazing trip and herding all of through a tremendous amount of territory. It was incredible and is already enriching our studies. Sometimes I just get chills, knowing that I walked and stood in some of the exact places where Paul walked and stood. We absolutely loved the opportunities we had in Turkey to experience local culture and cuisine. Cappadocia and Meteora really stand out to us, just because they were so different and visually astounding. Both guides were awesome, each in her own way. Thanks again...it was an opportunity of a lifetime!!" - Kathy and Ted Spangler, Boise, ID, email Kathy

"The President's Tour of Turkey and Greece was everything we hoped for and more, thanks to Tim and Jan. All hotels were very nice and comfortable, exactly as presented, the food was very good everywhere, the buses were comfortable, the drivers friendly, and their skills were greatly appreciated! The cruise ship was better than we expected. Tim took care of every detail making the whole experience hassle free and enjoyable! We felt completely safe at all times! The Itinerary was incredible! It really is mind boggling to think about all that we saw, learned, experienced, in less than 3 weeks! We are still processing it all, and will have a lifetime of memories to enjoy! Even though we were a large group, Tim and Jan went out of their way to make everyone feel included, connected, and special, resulting in a happy group all getting along like old friends. I believe God poured out his blessing on this trip and our group. One of the things special to me were the daily devotionals, and the readings/speaking at each site, it really did make the Bible come to life! We learned so much! The cruise of the Greek Isles was a nice break, very relaxing , a chance to do some things on your own if you wanted to. Our Tour guides were fabulous! Arzu Kuru in Turkey, was wonderful, so knowledgeable, helpful, organized, always in control, and her personality and beautiful smile just stole our hearts! Maria Spanoudaki in Greece was amazing! She was a walking encyclopedia! A very Classy Lady! We felt Privileged to have both of them as our guide! I had done extensive research on different Bible Land tour companies and always came back to Tim's President's tour. We made the mistake of going with another company once because of a conflicting date, but never again will I go with anyone else! If you are reading this, you are considering touring The Bible Lands...don't wait...just do it…and go with Tim and Jan...you will never regret it and you will be truly Blessed!" - Kristy and Bobby Graham, Jackson, MS, email Kristy

Dear Tim and Jan, it was a GREAT trip! Thank you for putting it together! We really loved Arzu and Maria. They were tops! 2 Happy Travelers! - Mark and Karla Slusser, Boise, ID, email Karla

"Dear Tim, truly, your trip to Turkey and Greece is a gold mine. I preached at our church Sunday and did it on our recent tour. I told the church congregation it was the best trip destinations and Christian education next to Israel, Jordon, and Egypt that I ever took. Mary loved Cappadocia and the lunch in the cave home. Additionally, she liked the underground city of Ozkonak with the large round rock that blocked the entrance like Jesus' tomb. I was impressed with Meteora. It was fabulous. Also, the short cruise was excellent with the islands. Santorini was breathtaking beautiful and glad we were there. Patmos is a must. Say hi to Leroy and Barb for us. God bless you. In Christian love. - Mary and Bill Strong, Oil City, PA, email Bill