About Travelling Pioneers

I'm Mike, a Canadian traveller. My wife and I enjoy finding places where history feels close enough to touch. We lived in Turkey for six years, and many of the guides on this site grew out of road trips to ancient cities and places connected with Bible history.

Travelling Pioneers is our record of what we actually saw. We share our own photographs, the locations we visited, details that helped us find our way, and our honest impressions of what is worth seeing. Some stops take only an hour; others deserve a longer detour. We hope those practical details help you plan a trip that fits your time and budget.

What you’ll find here

Bible-history travel: Firsthand visits to places such as Tarsus, Smyrna and other ancient cities in Turkey.
Ancient sites and museums: What remains today, what caught our attention, and how we connected it with the history we had studied.
Practical travel notes: Routes, parking, maps, costs and small discoveries that make a visit easier.
Travel on a budget: Ways to explore more while spending carefully.

Our older articles capture the places as we experienced them on the date of each visit. Opening hours, prices, access and local conditions can change, so please check current information with the venue before travelling. When we substantially review an article, we’ll identify what was updated.

Start exploring

We hope you find a place here that makes you want to see it for yourself.

Comments

The Garden of Eden - Possible Modern Day Location

To begin with, I would like to start with a short disclaimer about the Garden of Eden… No one really knows where the exact location of the Garden of Eden was. The book Insight on the Scriptures says “it’s location is lost to man except for the divine record of its existence.” But it’s interesting that it also says this, “The traditional location for the garden of Eden has long been suggested to have been a mountainous area some 225 km (140 mi) SW of Mount Ararat and a few kilometers S of Lake Van, in the eastern part of modern Turkey.” Insight on the Scriptures – 1, p.677 This explains why the Garden of Eden is marked where it is on the map above. Of course this is an older Bible version and there is a question mark beside it’s location. But it arouses curiousity. Why was this place chosen? So why is this location suggested? Again, the book of Genesis and the Insight book give a clue. Here it is: Genesis 2:11 – Now there was a river flowing out of Eden to water the ga...

My Journey to Kursunlu Waterfall in Antalya, Turkey with My Wife - A Canadian's Perspective

As a lover of nature and travel, I was thrilled to explore the Kursunlu Waterfall in Antalya, Turkey, a destination that promised to be a highlight of our trip. My wife and I, both ardent admirers of natural beauty, were eager to discover this Turkish gem firsthand. Discovering Kursunlu Waterfall Kursunlu Waterfall, tucked away in a picturesque nature park near Antalya, is a haven of tranquility and beauty. I found myself comparing its serene ambiance to some of the most beautiful natural sites we had visited worldwide. The journey to this waterfall was an adventure in itself, with each turn revealing more of Turkey's splendid landscape. Our Arrival at Kursunlu Waterfall Upon arriving at Kursunlu Waterfall Park, my wife and I were greeted by lush greenery and the soothing sound of water. The contrast between the bustling city life of Antalya and the peacefulness of the park was stark and refreshing. Paying a small entrance fee felt like a small contribution to preserving this sli...

The Bible in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin

The most fascinating thing about the Pegamon Museum in Berlin is how the objects there are connected to the Bible. In this page I will try to share the top things that not only relate to the Bible, but confirm it’s authenticity. I will also share things that bring Bible accounts to light and make them more realistic. 1. The Ishtar Gate This is the crown jewel of the museum and has much significance to the Bible. It was likely seen by many Israelite captives, including Daniel himself! It was built by Nebuchadnezzar around 575 BCE. The walls were disassembled in Iraq and moved to this museum early in the 20th century. The beautiful and colorful glazed bricks retell the glory of Babylon. Original gate brought to Berlin from Babylon This was one of the gates through which one could enter Babylon. What is more impressive is that which is not seen. Babylon was so fortified that this wall extended 14 meters (45 feet) underground! It accounts for the confidence and pride that Nebuchadnezzar e...

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