Before You Go

“Classical Turkey (Architectural Guides for Travelers)” by John Freely

“Ancient Turkey: A Traveler’s History” by Seton Lloyd
Seton Lloyd's lively account of Turkey's early history is for the ever-increasing number of people visiting the ancient sites of this fabled land. Written by an archaeologist who has spent much of his life in the Near East, the book is not a conventional "guide" to the antiquities of Anatolia, nor is it a textbook. It is instead Lloyd's attempt to share his profound interest in an antique land, its inhabitants, and the surviving monuments that link the present to the past.

“Biblical Sites in Turkey” by Everett C. Blake
A comprehensive, historical look at biblical sites in Turkey, with extensive illustrations.

“A Guide to the Seven Churches” by Fatih Cimok
An illustrated guide to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor and the letters written to these churches by St. John of Patmos. It covers important historical sites often visited by tourists.

Frommer’s Athens and the Greek Islands (Complete Guide) by Stephen Brewer
A guide to the historic sites and life of the enchanting Greek islands.

Rick Steves Greece: Athens & the Peloponnese by Rick Steves
An insider’s guide to Greece.

Rose Book of Bible & Christian History Time Lines by Rose Publishing
It reveals 6000 years of history from Adam to today! This 20-foot time line includes hundreds of historical facts, key people, and important dates from Bible and Christian history, alongside key events and people from world and Middle Eastern history.

Final payment will be due approximately 60 days prior to departure for your trip. Payments not received on time will be subject to a minimum $200 per person penalty and may result in reservation cancellation without refund.

An invoice will be sent to you, by email, approximately 75 days prior to departure. Please check your emails spam folder occasionally, just in case it ends up there.

This is an example of an invoice you will receive: Click Here

We highly recommend that you consider purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance should be purchased at the time of final payment. You may purchase the Odyssey Plan after final payment; however, coverage for a pre-existing health condition is no longer available. The Odyssey with Cancel Anytime Plan is only available at the time of deposit. A travel insurance brochure will be sent to you with your final invoice if insurance was not already purchased.

For more information - Click Here

Please submit your passport information, if you have not done so already, to Pilgrim Tours.

Non-US/Canadian Passport Holders:
Please check with the Consulate or Embassy of the countries you will be visiting to determine the proper entry requirements needed for your visit. It is your responsibility to obtain the appropriate travel documents/visa prior to your departure. Pilgrim Tours is not responsible for any delays or fees that occur because of improper documents.

All Passport Holders:
Most countries require that your passport be valid for at least 6 months from the date you return home from your trip. If your passport expires sooner than 6 months from your return date, you will need to renew your passport.

Please note: US citizens entering countries that use the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) need a passport booklet and ensure it is valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date. Also, you must provide biometric data like fingerprints and a facial image upon arrival which will be verified upon departure. The EES applies to short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period and is being rolled out gradually, so not all border crossings will have the system fully operational immediately.

Turkey Visa Requirements:
Please Note: As of December 23, 2023, US Passport holders are no longer required to obtain a Turkey E-Visa for entry. If traveling from another country, please review entry requirements as Turkey Entry Visas must be completed prior to arrival. Visas can be obtained in advance online using this link: Click Here. Failure to obtain proper entry requirements may result in the loss of tour membership and any resulting penalties. Cruise passengers are covered by the cruise company visa and are not required to secure a visa for entry to Turkey.

Assigned Seats are normally not included in the ticket price and cost additional once the ticket has been issued. Normally reserved seats can be purchased on the airline website once Pilgrim Tours has purchased your tickets and sent you the confirmation details.

If you require specific seat assignments due to medical reasons, Pilgrim Tours will request those seats and do our best to accommodate you, however we CANNOT guarantee seat assignments for medical reasons as this is ultimately at the discretion of the airline. Please submit these requests as soon as possible, and carry a signed Dr. Letter on physician letterhead describing your medical condition and need for certain seating.

Some airlines do not assign seats ahead of time and will assign them during check in at the airport. This is especially the case for flights within Europe.

You will receive an E-ticket Itinerary with your final documents. This document will include your flight schedule with your departure/arrival times, airports, and dates. Please be sure the spellings match your passport; however, punctuation is not possible in the airline computer, and spaces are sometimes omitted by airlines.

Your E-Ticket is NOT your boarding pass and will not get you through security. You will need to check in at the airline desk and they will print your boarding passes for your flights.

Your E-Ticket is information for you, the traveler, and is not required at the airport for check in. A valid passport is what is needed to check in for your international flight.