The carved stone facade of St Peter's Cave Church in Antakya

Christian Heritage · Recommended tour · 4 days

Antioch, Tarsus & the Birth of Early Christianity

Antioch was the first great home of the Church outside Jerusalem, the city that sent Paul and Barnabas into the world and where believers were first called Christians. This private tour joins it with Tarsus, Paul's birthplace, and Seleucia Pieria, the port from which the first missionary journey set sail.

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Duration4 days · 3 nights
Route2 destinations
StylePrivate tour from Adana
PricePrice on request

The route

2 destinations, one smooth route

1 Tarsus 1 night
2 Antakya 2 nights

Sites you visit

Seleucia Pieria

1Tarsus2Antakya · Seleucia Pieria

Every stop can be lengthened or shortened, and other places added.

St Paul's Well between two ancient columns in Tarsus

Day by day

Your itinerary

Day1
Tarsus: the home town of Saint Paul
Your private guide and driver meet you at Adana Airport for the short drive to Tarsus. Draw water from St Paul's Well, walk a stretch of the old Roman road, and discover the city that Paul proudly called "no mean city", a great centre of learning in the Roman world. Historic churches can be added, depending on opening hours.
Overnight in Tarsus or Adana
Day2
Seleucia Pieria and on to Antioch
Drive to Seleucia Pieria, the harbour of ancient Antioch, from which, Acts tells us, Paul and Barnabas sailed for Cyprus on their first missionary journey. See the remains of the port and the remarkable rock-cut tunnel carved by Roman engineers, subject to access, then continue to Antakya.
Overnight in Antakya
Day3
Antioch: one of the first Christian centres
Visit St Peter's Cave Church on the slopes of Mount Stauris, honoured by tradition as one of the first places where Christians gathered to worship, subject to opening arrangements. Your guide explains Antioch's place in the Acts of the Apostles, and, depending on current access, you explore historic quarters and museum collections that reveal the city's many-layered past.
Overnight in Antakya
Day4
The eastern Mediterranean and departure
A final visit, depending on opening hours and your flight time, then a private transfer to Hatay or Adana Airport.

Price

On request

Send us your dates and the number of travellers, and we will reply with a personal price within 24 hours.

Antakya is still rebuilding after the 2023 earthquakes; we confirm hotels and site access for your dates before you book.
Ideal for personal pilgrimages and church groups; time for prayer or readings can be built into any day.
Opening hours and access to some sites can change; your guide adjusts the order of visits where needed.

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Included

3 nights in quality hotels, in a double room with breakfast
Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver every day
Professional private English-speaking guide every day
Fuel and all vehicle expenses
Private pick-up in Adana Airport and drop-off at Hatay or Adana Airport

Not included

Entrance fees to churches, archaeological sites and museums
Lunches and dinners
Drinks and personal expenses
International and domestic flights
Any services not listed as included

Pre-booking

Reserve your dates

Antioch, Tarsus & the Birth of Early Christianity. Send us your dates and we will reply with a personal price.

1
Send your pre-booking
Choose your dates and tell us who is travelling. There is nothing to pay at this stage.
2
We check everything
We confirm hotels, availability and the final price for your exact dates, usually within 24 hours.
3
Confirm and travel
Happy with it all? We secure your booking and look after every detail until you are home again.