Apr 1, 2026
Don’t hesitate. BOOK THIS TOUR NOW! - I had the great pleasure of booking the Seven Churches of Revelation Tour with Turkey Private Tours by Ertunga Ecir. Prior to booking this tour, I was considering hiring another company whose rate was slightly cheaper, however after praying to God about which guide would be the best option to lead my family of 7, I was strongly lead to book this particular tour. It was certainly the best decision of my life!
Our tour guide’s name was Özgür (Oscar). From the very first day, it was apparent that he was not just any certified tour guide. He is the real deal, a knowledgeable history scholar and accomplished historian. Not everyone in my party was initially interested in this tour as much I was, and not everyone was a believer. However, Özgür, with his extensive knowledge of history, 20+ years of experience, and vivid, hands-on accounts of past excavation and archeological projects, completely amazed even the professing agnostic in the group. He was able to vividly explain the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations, as compared the to Republic and modern day eras. We also learned how many of the religious beliefs were influenced from the various civilizations throughout history, how to identify the religious symbolism of the day, and learned the translations of the multiple inscriptions, designs and carvings. This tour offered an enormous amount of tangible proof and physical evidence, coinciding with scripture, allowing us to bring the Bible to life, providing revelation not only for myself, but for my children, and was truly a gift from God and an opportunity of a lifetime.
Özgür was always pleasant, respectful and consistently maintained a professional demeanor from the initial meeting, when he met us at the airport. He also naturally has a tremendous peace upon him... (“O zaman Tanrı'nın her kavrayışı aşan esenliği Mesih İsa aracılığıyla yüreklerinizi ve düşüncelerinizi koruyacaktır.” FİLİPİLİLER 4:7) He was always calm, patient, and understanding with my family. He answered every question we had and provided additional details to ensure that everyone, even the teenagers in the group, left with a clear understanding of the history. In addition, my mother-in-law had sporadic mobility challenges, and was not always able to climb all areas of the sites we visited. He was always so patient, and recommended alternative routes for her to take, and without even being asked, he often accompanied her and reduced the pace to ensure she could keep up throughout the tour.
The other aspects of the tour, such as the driver (Abi çok nazik), the hotel accommodations (my teenagers gave it 10 out 10) and the food/restaurant choices (çok lezzetli) were all excellent. I tasted all the traditional Turkish food I once dreamed of trying, and got a chance to practice the little Turkish I learned along the way. Everyone we met in all the surrounding cities we visited in Izmir were all sweet and kind. My family all enjoyed themselves and there were no complaints or inconveniences whatsoever. We all left with our hearts filled, a renewed faith and I can say that our lives have been forever impacted by this experience. If you are considering booking this tour, don’t hesitate, it’s live changing. Be sure to tell Ertunga and Maria you want to have Özgür as your guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 17, 2026
Lovely tour of religious and historical contexts - We took the 3-day tour and it was better than what I expected.
There were some actual churches but the word “church” means a Christian community here. At each location, Ertunga explained the historical context of that place and how it fit into each letter. He’d read the letter from John and make the connections. We would then tour the historical ruins.
I am an atheist and found it interesting, my view was more from the historical angle. The various ruins – especially Pergamum, Laodicia, and Ephesus – were incredible. Roman plumbing was quite the thing!
Ertunga knew his history and the Bible, and was thoughtful and engaging. Highly recommend his tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 9, 2026
Amazing guide and driver - Ertunga and Vecdi were the nicest people we met in Turkey. Ertunga kindly allowed us to customise our trip and even add one more location that my wife and I really wanted to visit.
Vecdi, our driver, was professional, reliable, and a very safe driver. We always felt comfortable and well taken care of.
Ertunga was extremely knowledgeable about the history of all the different cities we visited. What made the experience even more special was his Christian perspective and the way he shared insights and revelations from the Bible. He connected everything so beautifully that the Bible truly came alive for us.
We learned so much, and I dare say this trip changed our lives for the better.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 3, 2026
The best guide for anyone looking to do a biblical 7 churches of revelation tour - My wife and I recently completed a journey through the Seven Churches of Revelation with Ertunga, and it was quite simply the experience of a lifetime. If you are looking to do a spiritual pilgrimage and understand the land of the Bible up close, Ertunga is possibly the best guide you could hope for.
What sets him apart is that he isn't just a guide with deep historical and archaeological knowledge; he is a man of conviction and passion. As a believer, he draws powerful links between history and the Word of God that made our faith truly come alive at every site.
The logistics were handled with absolute precision. This is not a trip I could have imagined planning or organizing myself. From the moment of our morning pickup to our final drop-off at the airport, the service was attentive, helpful, and completely seamless. We had zero hiccups, which allowed us to focus entirely on the sites we were visiting. Our driver was also fantastic—very safe, experienced, and professional.
The hospitality was equally impressive. We ate like locals, tasting the very best Turkish cuisine from each specific region we visited. The accommodations were excellent; while comfort levels vary across different parts of Turkey, it was clear that Ertunga suggested the very best hotels available in each area.
If you want a trip that is professionally handled but spiritually profound, I cannot recommend Ertunga highly enough. He turned a tour into a true pilgrimage for us
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 5, 2026
Best guide for the 7 churches- Smile, Story and Scripture! - “Our journey through the 7 churches in Turkey was unforgettable, not just because of the history and the Bible connections, but because of our amazing guide. He has this rare gift of making secular history and scripture flow together like they were always meant to be told side by side. Plus, he does it all with a humble smile and the calmness of someone who could probably guide a group of cats without stress! 🐱 He even gave us a book—who does that? A guide who truly cares. Thank you for making the trip not only educational but also joyful and personal. Highly recommend!”
Çok teşekkür ederim, Tanrı sizi kutsasın. (We hope the Google translate gives us the correct translation 😂)
The Jastins.
Malaysia.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 4, 2026
An unexpectedly marvellous adventure - I was very impressed by our Turkish guide, Mr. Er Tunga. He had an extensive knowledge of the biblical sites we visited - spiritual matters, culture and history - and we were so much enriched by it. He had deep knowledge, so he was able to answer any questions we threw at him.
Also, he and our Malaysian tour agent were able to adjust the schedule on the fly according to the desires of some of the group. We had the unexpected bonus of enjoying and playing with new-fallen snow, while still making it to all the stated goals of the tour - visiting all seven of the churches addressed in Revelation 2-3, plus Nicea, Assos, Troas and Troy. There was so much more to all of them than I had imagined.
Also Pamukkale and the hot air balloon ride from there. The weather was perfect, our pilot was skilled and good-natured, and all round it was a wonderful experience.
And of course shopping at various places - the spice bazaar, the silk bazaar, the sweet meat & herbal tea shop, the leather fashion place… all tip-top and very enjoyable.
My flight was delayed, so I joined the group in Istanbul 3-4 hours late. Transfer drivers helped me to join the group, and though I missed the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar I was able to visit the Hagia Sophia - that was marvellous.
However, since I joined the group late, I missed out on the briefing for the Whisperers. So in that respect I didn’t have as good an experience as I could have. I didn’t know about turning it off manually, so it went flat on the last day.
The hotels varied a bit, but all provided what we needed - strong hot showers, good food (we preferred buffets), good mattresses and pillows.
For much of the trip the weather was 5-10 deg C lower than expected. If I had known it was going to be this cold, I could have been better prepared with a long down jacket. Anyway, by throwing on all my layers I managed okay. 😅
All round this has been a marvellous trip. I am grateful to God and all those who led us and looked after us for making it such a good experience. 😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 4, 2026
Whistlestop tour of 7 churches - The trip was a packed schedule but nevertheless left space for bathroom stops and some free time. The guide is extremely knowledgeable and able to answer questions (sometimes only loosely related to the topic.
Obviously with a longer trip we could have seen more, but I think it was a good length and possibly an incentive to return. Thank you to all involved
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 4, 2026
Memorable Trip - Absolutely loved my experience! The trip and service is top-notch, and the team went above and beyond to ensure I was satisfied. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 4, 2026
Memorable tour to The Seven Churches of Revelation - Very Recommended! experienced & knowledgeable tour guide.The tour to the seven churches of revelation was memorable & deepen my faith.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 4, 2026
👍 On food, accommodation and logistics. Informative and place of visits were good. Good guides, driver. - Guide, Ertunga has was very informative with the sites of the 7 Chuches. I was very pleased to try the local meal.
He also made sure that we had the frequent toilet breaks needed during the cold weather.
Review provided by Tripadvisor