Are you ready for an adventure?
They left their fingerprints. Shall we find them?
Macrina the Elder, her daughter Emmelia, and her daughter Macrina the Younger formed the Cappadocian Church Mothers. Priscilla shaped the church in Ephesus. Irene, Theodora, Roxelena, and Kosem Sultan left their mark on Istanbul.
Women have shaped Turkish history. How will they shape you?
Join other women to explore the story of women and be ready to find more of your own.
CAPPADOCIA
We'll fly to the center of the country and, climbing and crawling, follow the footsteps of the early Church Mothers, support local female entrepreneurs, and look for treasures in caves. We'll stay in a cave hotel!
Meet Your Guides:
I'm Beth Bruno, your travel guide. My husband and I moved to Istanbul in 1997, before we had kids or knew Turkish. We stayed for a year and then returned in 2001 - one month before 9/11 - with a one year old. 6 years and 3 kids later, we moved back to the States. I've returned every other year since 2007 because Turkey is a part of me now. Trust me when I say I'll take good care of you and show you the country like a local, including all of the stories of women you never hear about on large tours. Let me show you this exotic land in a way few westerners ever see.
Leading our Souls on the Journey...
Tracy Johnson, friend, colleague, and co-creator of good things, is our co-leader. As the Storywork Supervisor at ReStory, co-founder of Red Tent Living, and seasoned traveller, Tracy joins us as a story sherpa. As we conclude each evening, Tracy and Beth will invite you to be curious about your own story as it was stirred by the experiences and stories our day encountered. Using some of the prompts you'll have in your guide, we'll gently facilitate through a storied lens. Your heart will be in good, safe (and fun!) hands.
This trip is for you if...
You are a Christian woman and desire rich, deep, and vulnerable conversation with other women
You love to travel in small groups not large buses (the trip is capped at 10)
You are curious about the stories of forgotten women in history
You would consider yourself a foodie and can't wait to try Turkish cuisine
You want fast paced adventure not long lazy days of rest and relaxation
You understand there is ALOT of walking (15k+ steps/day on cobblestone), climbing, and tight spaces
You are curious to discover more of your own story as we explore the hidden feminine story
"A pilgrimage is a ritual journey with a hallowed purpose. Every step along the way has meaning. The pilgrim knows that the journey will be difficult and that life-giving challenges will emerge. A pilgrimage is not a vacation; it is a transformational journey during which significant change takes place. New insights are given. Deeper understanding is attained. New and old places in the heart are visited. Blessings are received. Healing takes place. On return from pilgrimage, life is seen with different eyes. Nothing will ever be quite the same again."
Macrina Wiederkehr Behold Your Life
What Women Are Saying...
Stunning. Transported.
It was AMAZING! If you have felt tugged to go to Turkey then this is the trip for you! I would never have had the same experience had I gone on my own. Beth was so organized and made sure we had the full experience. I’d do it all over again!
~ Kate '22
Amazing. Educational. Awakening.
This trip goes beyond sightseeing. This trip challenges you to see history in a new and exciting way. And, it encourages you to acknowledge your place in this world - that you are seen and you matter.
~ Carin '22
Life Changing. Surprising. Profound.
It is sumptuous and startling. It is a beginning, a re-ordering of self and soul. It is a challenge and a gift, a pathway that opens to unexpected terrain for journeying forward with new skin, new ears, new eyes, new senses and a map both into self and back out to your world.
~ Margaret '23
Immersive. Lovely. Educational.
It is a deeply enriching experience. The immersion. The food. The fellowship at meals and the relationships built are worth all of it. That thing that is keeping you stuck, or that ache or emptiness in your heart might just get loved right through you into a new peace.
~ Angela '23
What's Included?
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9 nights in double-occupancy 4-5 ⭐ hotels.
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All breakfasts and dinners, lunches except on travel and free days, and non-alcoholic beverages.
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Domestic flights with one checked bag and a carry on. Airport transport from last hotel.
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All entrance fees, tour guides, and tips for guides.
What's Not Included?
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International travel to Istanbul and from Izmir, Turkey.
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Insurance (trip and medical).
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Optional activities such as Turkish bath & massage in Istanbul, hot air balloon in Cappadocia, or spa services in Kuşadası.
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Snacks, water outside of meals, alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, lunches not specified, etc.