Sojourn to Biblical Turkey
Sojourn STANDARD: February 12-19, 2027 · $2,750* per sojourner
Sojourn PLUS: February 12-23, 2027 · $3,950* per sojourner
*Prices are all-inclusive except for airfare and airport meals. Insurance and single-person room options available.
“Highly tailored itinerary driven by specific objectives, all executed by an eminently capable, motivated, and knowledgeable staff.” —Ken Norman
We teach civilization’s greatest principles in civilization’s greatest places.
Retrace the footsteps of Paul across the ancient cities of Asia Minor — the very soil where the Apostle launched his first, second, and third missionary journeys, where John addressed seven struggling congregations by name, and where the assembled Church first hammered out the doctrines every Christian holds dear.
No land on earth is more saturated with the New Testament than modern-day Turkey. This journey will lead Sojourners to encounter that world not as tourists, but as students of Scripture standing where the words were first lived out.
Sojourn with us!
“The [UBC 2026 sojourn] to Greece to trace the Apostle Paul’s 2nd missionary journey was one of the best things I have ever done. The sites we visited and the knowledge and information shared at those locations were deeply gratifying to me. I have a much better understanding of how the gospel was spread.” —Wayne Simpson
Itineraries
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F. 2/12: Fly to Turkey
Sa. 2/13: Dinner in Attalia (Acts 13:13 implied; 14:25)
Su. 2/14: Attalia, Perga, Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:52; 14:25)
M. 2/15: Iconium, Lystra (Acts 14:1-23)
Tu. 2/16: Philadelphia, Sardis, Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29; 3:1-13)
W. 2/17: Hierapolis, Colossae, Laodicea (Col. 4:13; Rev. 3:14-22)
Th. 2/18: Ephesus (Acts 18:24-28; 19:1-41; Rev. 2:1-7)
F. 2/19: Fly to USA from Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11)
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F. 2/19: Smyrna, Pergamum (Rev. 2:8-17)
Sa. 2/20: Ancient Troy of Homer, Troas (Acts 16:10-11; 20:1-12; 2 Tim. 4:13)
Su. 2/21: Istanbul (culture day)
M. 2/22: Nicaea (1st, 2nd Councils)
T. 2/23: Fly to USA from Istanbul
“From the communication aspect to overseeing the various sites, it was smooth, professional and flawless. I never felt anxious or like things weren’t being taken care of expertly. I want to go again, and will only go with Sojourn!” — Lisa Wygant
Key Sites & Storylines
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Antalya harbor (ancient Attalia), Paul's departure point
Perga — where Paul and Barnabas first landed on the 1st missionary journey
Pisidian Antioch — synagogue site and Paul's first recorded sermon to the Gentiles
Iconium (Konya) — where Paul preached boldly despite plots against his life (Acts 14)
Lystra (Kilistra) — where Paul was stoned and left for dead, then rose and pressed on
Troas — where Paul received his vision of the Macedonian man and later raised Eutychus (Acts 16, 20)
Ephesus — three-year base for Paul's third journey; site of the great riot of Artemis silversmiths
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Stand in the cities to which John addressed Christ's letters in the Apocalypse:
Philadelphia (Alasehir) — "I have set before you an open door" (Rev. 3:8)
Sardis (two major archaeological sites) — "You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead" (Rev. 3:1)
Thyatira (Akhisar) — home of Lydia, Paul's first European convert, before she settled in Philippi
Laodicea — "You are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold" (Rev. 3:16)
Ephesus — "You have abandoned the love you had at first" (Rev. 2:4)
Smyrna (Izmir) — "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10)
Pergamum (Bergama) — "Where Satan's throne is" — seat of imperial cult worship (Rev. 2:13)
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Visit the interconnected cities that received — and are referenced in — Paul's prison epistles:
Hierapolis — where the Apostle Philip is believed to have been martyred; stunning necropolis and ancient basilica
Colossae — site of the church Paul addressed in his letter combating early Gnostic influence
Laodicea — one of the wealthiest cities in Asia Minor; mentioned in Colossians as well as Revelation
Pamukkale (ancient Hierapolis travertine terraces) — a spectacular setting for reflection and debrief
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One of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, and one of the most scripturally significant:
Ephesus ancient city — theater, library of Celsus, agora, marble streets
Basilica of St. John — built over the site where the Apostle John is said to be buried
Temple of Artemis — one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world; the idol that sparked the great riot of Acts 19
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Encounter the places where the universal church assembled to define the faith it would pass to every subsequent generation:
Nicaea (modern Iznik) — ruins of the basilica where the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) convened under Constantine, establishing the Nicene Creed
Second Council Church/Mosque — site of the Second Council of Nicaea (AD 787), addressing the use of icons in Christian worship
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Explore the classical roots of the civilization into which Christ sent his church:
Troy ruins and archaeological site — immortalized by Homer and excavated by Schliemann
Troy Museum — one of Turkey's finest archaeological museums, tracing the city's nine distinct civilizations
Troas — the port city where Paul's world pivoted from Asia to Europe
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Conclude your sojourn in one of history's great cities, once the capital of both the Roman and Byzantine empires:
Hagia Sophia — Christendom's greatest cathedral for nearly a millenniumTopkapi Palace — seat of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries
Hippodrome — ancient center of Byzantine civic and political life
Grand Bazaar — one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world
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Turkey will get under your skin — and into your stomach — in the best possible ways, thanks to:
Authentic Turkish cuisine beyond imagination
Local markets, spices, and the art of the çay (tea)
Warm Turkish hospitality from Antalya to Istanbul
“From the very beginning, every detail was thoughtfully handled for us. Having things like travel, meals, accommodations, and even small comforts like extra pillows in our rooms taken care of completely allowed us to be fully present, without distraction, and to truly soak in the experience.” —Jen Moye
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, absolutely! UBC would love to have you. Several family units from beyond sojourned with UBC to Greece in 2026.
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Yes, please do!
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Yes. Eating well is part of the joy of sojourning, and Turkey is a land of variety! We’re happy to help you find foods you like and to steer clear of allergens.
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We can recommend reading, but there’s no homework!
To help you suit up, UBC and Sojourn will co-host between 2 and 4 meetings at UBC before we sojourn to Turkey.
At these meetings, UBC will introduce biblical teaching. Sojourn will introduce our biblical-classical perspective. Sojourners will get to know each other.
If you can’t make it, we’ll catch you up!
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No. Prices are all-inclusive except for airfare, meals you buy at airports, and non-soft drinks at the meals we buy you in country. Gratuities are optional.
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Roundtrip flights are currently running between $1,100 and $1,270. We’re working to lock in a favorable rate.
You’re welcome to book your own flight using airline miles. Just communicate with us so we can intercept you!
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Rooms are double occupancy. Single occupancy is available for an optional charge.
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Register ASAP with a $500 deposit to secure your seat! After that, we suggest monthly installments.
If you need flexibility on the payment schedule, just ask us.
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We accept credit/debit cards, bank transfers, checks, and gold bars.
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Yes. There are a number of options to invest in travel protection for your trip:
Purchase Enhanced or Standard trip protection through Travmark during your registration with Sojourn.
Purchase through another company separate from your registration process:
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Because we commit funds as they arrive (or even beforehand), you should consider payments nonrefundable.
However, we’ll do anything we can to minimize your loss.
If you’re concerned, consider insurance.
If you do purchase insurance and need to cancel, you can help us by paying Sojourn in full first. Then you can take full advantage of your insurance when you submit your claim.
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Yes. If God has blessed you with the ability to make money, your generosity will bless others. Let us know if you want our guidance.
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Reach out to us! We’re happy to talk it through to identify and allay your concerns.
We’re committed to making you as comfortable as we can before and during our sojourn together.
Still have questions? Email us at [firstname]@leadwithsojourn.com.
Sojourn Project Manager Carly Patrick
Sojourn Chief of Staff Jennifer Reno
Sojourn Founder Michael T. Hamilton
The Sojourn to Biblical/Classical Turkey Difference
Sojourning with us goes far beyond a standard biblical lands tour to provide a theologically informed, historically grounded understanding of how the Christian faith was planted, tested, articulated, and preserved across the world's most scripturally dense landscape.
By reading Paul's epistles and John's Revelation at the very sites to which they were written — and by standing in the ruins where the early church councils defined orthodoxy — Sojourners gain insights that deepen their reading of the New Testament for the rest of their lives.
“The Footsteps of Paul trip through Sojourn far exceeded my expectations. Not only was my spiritual growth even more significant than anticipated, I learned so much about the history of the area and how it impacted the spread of Christianity. To say the Bible became more real is an understatement — this trip will forever change how I read and visualize Paul’s and others’ books in the Bible.” —Jerad Barnett