Dear Colorado College alumni and friends,

Many of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient Greek, Roman, and early Christian sites are in Türkiye. Join Colorado College Professor Pamela Reaves and an expert tour manager/guide to visit world-famous, plus little-visited yet spectacular, Greco-Roman sites, Byzantine churches, Crusader castles, and Ottoman palaces. This trip coincides with the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. You will enjoy delicious cuisine, comfortable accommodations, and the company of a small group of like-minded fellow travelers.

• Enjoy five nights in Istanbul (ancient Constantinople), a remarkable historic city that spans two continents. Visit many extraordinary sites including the Underground Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar.
• Visit ancient Nicaea, today’s Iznik, where 300 bishops attended the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. The Council resulted in the first Nicene Creed, the defining statement of belief of mainstream Christianity.
• Fly to the Cappadocia region in central Türkiye, where early Christian settlers carved chapels, churches, and dwellings into amazing landscapes of soft rock that was formed, over time, from volcanic ash.
• Fly to Izmir (ancient Smyrna), Türkiye’s third-largest city, with a lively art scene. Visit the Roman Agora, the open-air museum, the Kemeralti Bazaar, and Kizlaragasi Hani for a variety of local foods.
• Visit Ephesus, one of the greatest and largest cities in the ancient Roman and early Christian world, and (time permitting) explore the Ephesus Archaeological Museum.
• Savor delicious cuisine and stay in centrally located hotels that provide generous comfort.
• Throughout the program, Professor Reaves plus your expert tour manager/guide will offer talks and informal discussions about the remarkable sites you are visiting.
• An optional, post-tour extension is available that includes several splendid ancient sites along the Aegean coast: Pergamum, Miletus, Didyma, and Bodrum.

Sincerely,

Cindy Hyman ’82
Associate Vice President for Engagement

For questions, and to reserve your space, contact Eos Study Tours: 800-856-8951 or email tigertravel@studytours.org.

Colorado College Faculty Leader

Professor Pamela Reaves is a historian of religion in the ancient Mediterranean world, specializing in New Testament and early Christian studies. Her research centers on the construction of Christianity, in varied expressions, during its early, formative centuries. Pamela focuses on debates among early Christians and assertions of particular perspectives as authoritative, especially in relation to Christ, suffering, martyrdom, and baptism. She teaches courses such as The Bible: Myth and History, Greco-Roman Religions, The Archaeology of Ancient Judaism and Christianity, Gender and Sexuality in Biblical Traditions, Gnosticism, and Apocalypse. Pamela looks forward to discussing on the tour Christian origins, including the significance of the Council of Nicaea. She is also excited for the opportunity to travel in Cappadocia, a part of Türkiye that she has not yet explored. Pamela will be joined throughout the trip by an English-speaking Turkish guide, who is an expert on all periods of Turkish history.

Tour Prices

Main Tour Prices Per Person (10 nights)

• Double Occupancy (17 to 20 participants) $6,995
• Double Occupancy (13 to 16 participants) $7,545
• Single Supplement $1,295

Post-tour Extension Prices per person (4 nights)

• Double Occupancy (15-20 participants) $2,545
• Double Occupancy (10-14 participants) $2,845
• Single Supplement (limited availability) $675

Itinerary

Friday, September 19, 2025: Depart home for Istanbul, Türkiye

Saturday, September 20: Arrive Istanbul | Transfer to hotel | Introductory meeting

Sunday, September 21: Istanbul: Underground Cistern, Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Archaeological Museum, Welcome dinner

Monday, September 22: Istanbul | Iznik (ancient Nicaea) | Istanbul

Tuesday, September 23: Istanbul: Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Spice Market, Blue Mosque, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, Kariye Mosque 

Wednesday, September 24: Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar

Thursday, September 25: Fly to Cappadocia | Göreme Valley

Friday, September 26: Cappadocia: Optional dawn balloon ride | Choice of visiting Kaymakli Underground City OR Mustafapaşa Village | Ihlara Canyon | Whirling Dervish ceremony

Saturday, September 27: Cappadocia: Zelve Valley, Pasabag Monks Valley, Pottery center

Sunday, September 28: Fly to Izmir | Izmir: Roman Agora, Kemeralti Bazaar, Kizlaragasi Hani

Monday, September 29: Ephesus | Basilica of St. John | Izmir | Farewell dinner

Tuesday, September 30: Fly home OR begin optional extension

Optional Post-tour Extension:

Ancient Splendors of Aegean Türkiye
September 30 - October 4, 2025 (5 days)

Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Pergamum | Izmir

Wednesday, October 1: Miletus | Didyma | Bodrum

Thursday, October 2: Bodrum: AM Museum of Underwater Archaeology, PM at leisure

Friday, October 3: Bodrum: At leisure OR Optional gulet cruise | Farewell dinner

Saturday, October 4: Fly home

For questions, and to reserve your space, contact Eos Study Tours: 800-856-8951 or email tigertravel@studytours.org.