2023 Turkey and Greece Trip
In the Steps of Paul and Revelation: A New Testament Journey

January 2-19, 2023

Hosted by Professors Mark Vitalis Hoffman and Crystal Hall

and United Lutheran Seminary

• Download the Trip Brochure HERE
• Download the Registration Form HERE (DOC or PDF)
• For a Google Maps overview of the trip:
• We fly from Dulles to Istanbul. We have a day and a half in Istanbul, then fly to Antalya
• HERE is our journey from Antalya, Turkey to Kavala, Greece
• HERE is the journey continuing from Kavala to Athens
• For an itinerary with links to hotels, sites, and other fun things to do, click HERE
• For some READING SUGGESTIONS for Travelers to the Bible Lands, click HERE
  

FAQ

Who is able to come on this trip?

• We offer this trip in part as a service to students and alumni of ULS as well as other interested laypersons and clergy. That is, everyone is welcome!
• We do have a minimum age limit of 16 years old.
• There are up to 40 available spots for the trip. 20 spots are initially reserved for seminary students and their partners until May 1, 2023. Thereafter, all 40 spots are available to those who claim them first.
• The biggest issue may be dealing with disabilities. These countries simply do not have the sorts of access like we do in the United States. There are times when we will be walking over rugged terrain, and there are many steps up to sites.
• This is primarily an education trip, so it might be described more as rigorous than relaxing! On a previous trip, we walked between 2-5 miles most days. You will want to start walking and climbing stairs regularly to get ready for the trip!

Is this trip all work and no play?

• Not at all! In Turkey and Greece we will be on the bus for a total of about 1800 miles during the 16 days of touring (not counting flight days). I.e., we have plenty of down time on the bus to relax, nap, and converse. (If this trip goes as past trips have, it's often party in the back and business in the front on the bus!)
• The daylight hours are limited in Turkey and Greece in January. That limits the time at the sites, but it also means we have more time to relax in the evenings. 'Refreshments' are available at most hotels or at nearby local venues. At Pamukkale, we stay at a spa hotel where you can check out the natural hot spring pools for free. Many of our hotels are near waterfronts, so plan on evening walks by the shore. Check my description of the hotels for suggestions of things that are available each evening. We’re going to have fun!
• While the trip provides a fantastic experience of ancient history, especially of the New Testament period, it is also intended to be an enriching spiritual experience. We will schedule time for devotions and reflections related to the sites we visit, and there will be other worship opportunities as well.
• Our guide in Turkey is Muslim and is very happy to share her experiences. The father of our guide in Greece was a Greek Orthodox priest, so we will learn lots about Greek Orthodox churches, practices,  and beliefs. Both of them will provide as rich a cultural experience as possible.
• (BTW: The guides for our trip are ones I have had in the past, and I personally requested each of them. They are wonderful and gracious persons as well as highly experienced and knowledgeable guides. I'm sure you will enjoy and appreciate them.)
• There are many shopping opportunities from the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul to a Turkish Rug factory to an icon workshop in Greece. You will not lack for opportunities to buy souvenirs! We also allot some free time in Istanbul and Athens.

How is this trip different from other Bible lands trips?

• We are similar to other trips in that we will visit many of the traditional sites you would expect and hope to see. We do, however, have a somewhat more academic interest, so we do visit some sites that are biblically, historically, or ecclesiastically important but less well known. (E.g., Perge, Pisidian Antioch, Assos, Troas, Meteora, Delphi)
• We also have a commitment to make this an experience that engages with the local cultures and not just a touristic one. Our guides will do everything they can to make that possible. (I'm also hoping that we can attend a Greek Orthodox worship on the Sunday when we are in Greece.)
• Another unusual aspect to our trip is that it is a bit longer to give us time to really get a feel for these places. We will see every location in Greece mentioned in the Bible. We will see most of the sites (and all the major ones) that Paul visited on his three mission journeys. We will see six of the seven churches addressed in Revelation. We will also have the time to visit the incredible monasteries of Meteora and the historically significant sites of Delphi, Eleusis, and Mycenae. Many other trips only cover Turkey or Greece, and ones that try to do both, usually on a 12 day trip, only hit about two-thirds of the ones we'll visit. At the end of this trip, you will truthfully be able to say you experienced the lands of Paul and Revelation.
• We will take the time at the various sites to read Scripture and reflect on the events that happened at that location, and we give time for personal reflection. There is an aspect of ‘pilgrimage’ and spiritual experience that we want to make possible, because this kind of trip can be transforming.

What should I do now if I want to reserve my spot on the trip?

• Contact me to see if any spots are still open or to be placed on the waiting list. (mhoffman at uls.edu < use the @ sign and remove spaces)
• Once you are approved, complete and return the registration form along with the $400 registration fee.
• NOTES on registration:
• You may use US postal mail or scan and email your registration. (No faxes.) Make sure that the scan is clear. Especially make sure that the copy of your passport page is fully legible.
• You may mail a check or use a credit card for the $400 deposit. (No fee for using credit card.)
• If you use a credit card for the final payment due by late October, there is a $60 fee.
• If you plan to share a room and have arranged to room with someone, please confirm that both registrations come in at roughly the same time. (Cf. below about finding a roommate.)
• After you submit your registration, please let me know. (I get updates from the travel agency, but it will help me if you email me directly. (mhoffman at uls.edu < use the @ sign and remove spaces)
• You may want to join the Facebook group that has been started for the trip. It's a great way to share information and to start to get to know your travel companions. To get into this private group, either send me your Facebook email or friend me on Facebook (search for "Mark G V Hoffman").
• Reservations are on a first-come, first-registered basis. If the 40 spots have already been reserved (or if 20 non-seminary student spots), I maintain a waiting list.

Do I need to have my passport information in order to register?

• You do not need passport information in order to register.
• You do need to make sure that your passport is valid through July 21, 2023. (I.e., you need it to be valid for six months later than scheduled departure date.)
• If you need a passport or need to renew, start the process soon. Average processing time is up to 3 months.

What is the actual price of the trip?

• These trips are offered as a service to students, alumni, and the church, and are not calculated to make money. The cost does include, however, free trips for the ULS guides for the work they do.
• The price listed of $3950 is based on current estimates for flight costs and existing exchange rates and with a minimum of 27 participants. The flight costs will be confirmed by late February 2021, and the price updated if necessary. A final adjustment may be made 90 days before the departure date. On past trips, we have been able to stick to the initial price. If there were to be any increases, it would likely be less than $100.
• The price we are given from the travel agency is based on the number of participants. As you can guess, the more there are, the cheaper it becomes to spread out costs for things like the buses and in-country guides, and better rates for rooms and such can be negotiated. We need at least 20 participants to make the trip viable. The maximum we want to have on a bus is 40 participants. The final cost will be based on the actual number of participants. Approximate final costs are:

· 20 participants: $4650

· 25 participants: $4425

· 27 participants: $4370

· 32 participants: $4300

· 40 participants: $4150

· So, invite a friend and lower your cost!

Do I have to fly out of / in to Dulles in Washington DC?

• If you want to arrange your own flights, there is a "Land Only" option. It covers everything listed except for airfare. The cost is ~$3300 (with possible reductions depending on number of participants). To take advantage of the airport to hotel bus service in Istanbul, you need to arrive there before the group flight does.
• If you want to use frequent flyer miles, you will need to book your own flight and use the Land Only option.
• In the past, groups have organized car pools from Gettysburg and Philadelphia to get to Dulles. There are also hotels near Dulles (e.g., Holiday Inn) that offer cheap offsite parking.
• If you are coming from farther away, you can make your own travel plans to Dulles or ask IGM to help you book transportation. (NOTE: You don't want to miss the flight out of Dulles, since they only fly that route once a day. We are expecting that the flight will leave about 11:30 pm on Monday night, January 3, 2022. Plan to be there about 4 hours in advance.)
• If you would like to arrive earlier or stay longer in Turkey/Greece, you need to contact IGM to make arrangements.

What is included and what other costs should I anticipate?

• The trip includes:
• All airfares: Flight from Dulles > Istanbul; Istanbul > Antalya; Athens > Istanbul > Dulles.
• 4-star hotels 
• All land transportation including from Istanbul airport and to Athens airport
• Food: Daily breakfast and dinner
• Services for guides and bus drivers
• All tips for porterage , hotel and dining staff, bus drivers and guides
• NOTE: 1 checked bag only! (All tips are calculated on this basis.)
• You may bring a backpack or large purse. Anything larger (i.e., a typical carry-on piece of luggage) will have an extra charge. You will carry this piece of luggage with you on the bus, and overhead storage on a bus is very small, unlike an airplane.
• The checked bag maximum weight is 50 pounds and 62 inches. (H+W+D) More info here.
• All entrance fees to sites we visit
• Applicable taxes
• What is extra?
• Every person needs to purchase a visa for Turkey. You do this online HERE. It costs $50 USD. Wait until a couple weeks before we leave to get it.
• To have a single room, there is a $1000 single supplement fee.
• Food: At most hotels, there will be a buffet breakfast and a buffet supper. There is always more than enough food! (And the food in Turkey and Greece is generally quite good!)
• We do stop for lunch each day, and that is an extra cost depending on what you buy.
• Some people just plan to eat big breakfasts and suppers and snack through lunch. (You are not required to buy a lunch.)
• OTOH, the hotel food, while typical local cuisine, is hotel food. At lunch, we try to stop at places that will give you a more genuine taste for the local food!
• Alcoholic beverages are always a separate cost on your own. In some places, you may also need to buy water for meals. (Note: We usually have water bottles available for purchase on the bus for $1 each. Personally, I drink bottled water in Turkey. I drink tap water in Greece.)
•  I always request that we stop at least once at a grocery store in each country. It is so fun shopping and seeing what's similar / different in a foreign place! (I tend to stock up on chocolate for myself and buy things like tea or herbs to bring home. Alcoholic beverages are often sold in grocery stores as well, even in Turkey.)
• Tips: Your tour price includes all tips, and they are a bit higher than the recommended. I do, however, always give you the chance to add to the tip for the guides and bus drivers before we say goodbye to them. They work hard for us.
• Souvenirs: You're on your own here.
• Just about anything can be found in the Grand Bazaar. Recommended: leather and metal goods, pashmina (< these are reasonably cheap and thousands to choice from!), fabric, jewelry, food items, soaps, ceramics
• Turkish rugs: We will stop at a cooperative for an amazing experience. The rugs are beautiful, but they are rather expensive. (A small, hand knotted rug or runner from the cooperative may may be found for less than $100, but anything of size and quality is in the hundreds of dollars. Cheaper ones can be found in the Grand Bazaar, but they may be machine made and not from Turkey.)
• Icons in Greece: There are plenty of cheap (printed instead of drawn or made in China?) ones to be found. We will stop at a workshop and watch them at work. A small, certified, hand-drawn icon can cost less than $20, but prices go up quickly from there.

I want to share a room and avoid the single supplement cost, but I don't know anyone. How do I find a roommate?

• As noted on the registration form, we can let you know of others also seeking a roommate, but if a roommate cannot be found, you should be prepared to pay the single supplement.
• If you join the Facebook group for the trip, there is a thread there which will let you advertise for a roommate.
• If you don't find a roommate, you need to be ready to pay the $1000 single supplement.

When is final payment due?

• Final payment is due October 24, 2023.

Is it safe to travel to Turkey and Greece?

• This will be my 4^th group I will lead to this area. I’ve also spent a month hiking and driving on my own in Greece. I have never felt in danger. One needs to use common sense as anywhere when traveling, including in the USA. (Somewhat practically, January just isn’t a good time for protests over there!) Ask your friends who have been there how they experienced it. I can also assure you that our travel agency and tour guides are very alert to any possible dangers and will err on the side of safety if there are any questions. (It’s also bad for business to lose any customers!) More than anything, I hope you will experience the hospitality that is extended to visitors.
• You can check the US Government Travel Advisories for the latest information. For now (April 2022), almost every country has reduced or removed any COVID-19 restrictions. Usually there are no advisories for Greece. There is often a "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" warning for Turkey. (It's also Level 2 for the United Kingdom, Spain, and other 'safe' countries, so you can compare the risk.) It should also be noted that the only part of Turkey that is actually risky is the Turkey-Syria border. We will be at least 350 miles away from that area.
  
• What about COVID issues? We have reached a new normal for travel where we all have to assume that there will be some risks. The travel arrangements, lodging, and food accommodations over there have been as diligent if not more so than the USA. Turkey and Greece have been ahead of the USA in terms of vaccination rates. You can get the latest information HERE. In fact, the biggest challenge is that (as of now), persons returning to the USA need to have an officially validated negative COVID test result before boarding a flight to return to the USA. We will make arrangements for this to be handled.
  
• We are making it a requirement for all participants to have been vaccinated for COVID and received appropriate booster shots. We also strongly encourage that you also get the annual flu vaccination in the fall.
  

Should I get travel insurance?

I do recommend that you get travel insurance for this trip. It will cost around $215, and that is worth the peace of mind if anything should happen to you or the airlines or weather or political issues or… Go to the IGM website and click on the AIG link at bottom. You will want to read about the options they offer or call them for more information. If you do not have a pre-existing condition that you want to cover, I think a good option would be to get the Basic coverage but wait to purchase it when you make your final payment. (To cover a pre-existing condition, you need to purchase the insurance within 15 days of your initial deposit.)

• NOTE: If you don't have special circumstances, I recommend that you wait to buy the insurance until you make the full payment. If you cancel before the final payment due date, you will only lose the small registration fee from IGM. It's only when you pay the full price that you want to insure your trip.
• What about COVID issues?
  

I’m a ULS student. Can I get course credit for this trip?

Yes! It can serve as a 3-credit Bible elective, a Bible at the Crossroads elective, or a general elective.

What’s the best way to prepare for this trip?

I will be sending out a number of tips, but the best thing you can do is start walking and using the stairs! Most days we will be walking 2-5 miles over sometimes rugged terrain going up and down over the ancient sites.

Other questions? Contact mhoffman @ ULS.edu  (< remove spaces)