Pilgrimage to Greece & Turkey
with 7-night Cruise
In the Footsteps of St. Paul
Spiritual Director: Fr. Jess Ty
Group Leader: Cecille Dimaano
CD101223
Pilgrimage to Greece & Turkey with 7-night Cruise
In the Footsteps of St. Paul
Spiritual Director: Fr. Jess Ty
Group Leader: Cecille Dimaano
CD101223
Athens · Thessaloniki · Phillippi · Kavala · Istanbul · Dikili · Kusadasi · Ephesus · Miletus · Patmos · Corinth
slider
Athens · Thessaloniki · Phillippi · Kavala · Istanbul · Dikili · Kusadasi · Ephesus · Miletus · Patmos · Corinth
For ten days you will follow the footsteps of St. Paul and experience the beautiful sites throughout Greece and Turkey. Visit the ancient Acropolis site in Athens, and Mars Hill where St. Paul spoke to the Athenians. Tour Philippi, where Paul the Apostle delivered his first sermon and established the first Church in Europe. Explore Corinth, the site of St. Paul’s trials by Gallio. Visit Patmos and see the Grotto of the Apocalypse and travel to Thessaloniki to view the many sites at which St. Paul preached in the synagogues. Explore the amazing landmarks of Istanbul, including the Basilica of Hagia Sophia, a beautiful architectural example of the Byzantine era and Christian Faith, see the Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque. Dock in the beautiful southern Turkish city of Kusadasi and visit the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus where she lived until her Assumption according to Catholic Doctrine. On your 7-day cruise you will discover the captivating and beautiful Greek and Turkey!
Your trip includes
- Round-trip airfare from your desired Airport
- *
- Airport Taxes and Fuel Surcharges
- 9 nights accommodation at centrally located first class hotels as follows (or similar) in double occupancy
- ~ 1 nights: Oct 13 – 14: Hotel Athens Ave, Athens
- ~ 7 nights: Oct 14 – 21: Celestyal Cruise, (outside cabins XC with picture window)
- ~ 1 nights: Oct 21 – 22: Hotel Athens Ave, Athens
- Breakfast and Dinner daily
- Lunches during Cruise
- Wine and mineral water with dinners
- Unlimited alcohol and non-alcohol drink package on board 7 nights cruise
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
- Headsets where needed
- Assistance of a professional local Christian Guide
- Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
- Catholic Priest, Mass daily & Spiritual activities
- Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
- Port taxes and Cruise Gratuities
- All tips included while on cruise
- Six (6) shore excursions during cruise
- Flight bag & Portfolio of all travel documents
Centrally located hotels or similar
Athens Avenue Hotel
Athens, GreeceCelestyal Cruises
Not included
- Tips to your guide & driver.
Optional
Itinerary
Day 1 | Thursday, October 12: Depart for Greece
Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Onboard, meals will be served to you.
Day 2 | Friday, October 13: Arrive Athens
Welcome to Athens, Greece! Upon arrival at the airport, you will meet our ground staff and driver, waiting to take you to your hotel for your first overnight in Athens! Dinner and overnight in Athens.
Day 3 | Saturday, October 14: Tour Athens & Cruise Embarkation
This morning you will begin your day with a tour of Athens. Visit the Acropolis, the Agora, and the Mars Hill where Paul taught. See Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the University, the Academie, and the National Library. On the Acropolis mount, you will visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylee, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and finally the Parthenon. "Upon completing the city tour, you will have some time for shopping before heading to the port of Piraeus for Embarkation on board the Celestyal Crystal.
Day 4 | Sunday, October 15: Docked in Thessaloniki, tour Veria & Thessaloniki
This morning you drive to Berea. While in Berea, you will see the Bema of the Apostle Paul. Afterward, you will drive back to Thessaloniki. During your tour, you will view the agora in Thessaloniki, where Paul preached to the local Jews, as well as Jason's House. You will also have the opportunity to visit St. Demetrius Basilica, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyr of Christianity; also, you will see the Arch of Galerius rising over the famous Egnatia Road.
Day 5 | Monday, October 16: Docked in Kavala, Tour Philippi
This morning you are docked in Kavala. Upon disembarkation, you will dive to Philippi to begin your touring for the day. Apostle Paul visited Philippi together with Silas during his Second Missionary Journey. You will see the prison where Paul & Silas were taken, and where the incident of the violent earthquake took place. After that, you will continue to Kavala, the site known as Ancient Neapolis, where Paul, Timothy, and Silas landed for Paul's Second Missionary Journey.
Day 6 | Tuesday, October 17: Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul. An exciting day lies ahead of you. After breakfast, you will disembark and meet your expert guide to tour the most amazing landmarks of Istanbul, including the Basilica of Hagia Sophia, a beautiful architectural example of the Byzantine era and Christian Faith. Then you continue to the Hippodrome, a venue of events in the Roman Period such as horse races, gladiator fights, and parades. Last but not least, Blue Mosque famous for its blue tiles which cover the walls of the Mosque and the marvelous architecture.
Day 7 | Wednesday, October 18: Docked in Dikili; Tour Ancient Pegamum
Upon arrival in the port of Dikili, your guide and driver will be waiting for you to take you on a tour of Pergamum, actually called Bergama. It is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia. Here we explore the impressive Acropolis, the steepest theatre in the world, the Asklepieion, a famous medical center of classical times, see the Altar of Zeus , the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan and the Library which was foremost in the world and was long a rival of the equally famous Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Lastly, We visit the Red Basilica (St. John’s Church)
Day 8 | Thursday, October 19: Docked in Kusadasi; Tour Ancient Ephesus & Miletus
Upon disembarkation, you will meet your guide and drive and head to Miletus. Miletus is an Ancient Greek city dating back to 1400 BCE. During your tour, you will have the opportunity to see The Roman baths, the temple of Apollo, the theater that could fit 15,000 spectators, and the stadium. Paul visited Miletus during his 3rd Missionary journey. After Miletus, you drive back to Kusadasi. Here you will visit the ancient city of Ephesus including the Basilica of St. John. This church also received an epistle from him. You tour the spectacular ruins where excavations still continue in this once great and important city, which was founded in the 10th century BC. Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Theatre. The Temple of Diana of the Ephesians, another of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built in this city. We also visit the House of Virgin Mary
Day 9 | Friday, October 20: Patmos & John of Revelation
Today you are in Patmos. During your tour, you will have the opportunity to visit the Grotto of the Apocalypse. John was on exile on the island of Patmos where in the Grotto he wrote the Book of Revelation. Rev 1:11 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Your tour will continue with a visit to St. John’s Monastery before you go back to your cruise ship.
Day 10 | Saturday, October 21: Disembarkation in Athens and Tour Corinth
Upon disembarkation in Piraeus the port of Athens, you will meet your guide and begin your journey towards Ancient Corinth. Visit Corinth, a city that inspired one of St. Paul’s most famous letter. You will visit the Archeological Museum, the Market Place and Temples. Stop at the Corinth Canal and return back to Athens. In Athens, your bus will drop you off in the Plaka area for some lastminute souvenir shopping, before you head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 11 | Sunday, October 22: Departure
Following breakfast, you will say your heartfelt farewells. Transfer to Athens airport for your return flight(s) home.
*206 Tours Disclaimer:Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.
Why buy "With Airfare" from 206 Tours
- In case your flight is cancelled 206 Tours will assist to get you to your destination.
- Your transfer will be waiting.
- In the rare event your tour is not operating we will refund you.
- Your seats will be assigned.
- If you need to travel a few days prior, stay a few more days or make a stop-over, we will arrange it for you.
If you do not buy Airfare from 206 Tours
- If your flight is cancelled, delayed or overbooked, 206 Tours is unable to rebook your flights
- To guarantee your arrival and departure transfer, we need your detailed flight arrival / departure by 45 days prior. Any changes within 45 - 3 days prior, additional transfer cost may apply.
- Any changes to your arrival / departure within 3 days of departure, we may not be able to rebook your transfer, you may need to make your own arrangements.
- If you book your own airfare, travel insurance provided by 206 Tours may not reimburse expenses caused by your trip interruption or cover your expenses due to flight changes.
Book your trip now
$400 Deposit is due at the time of Registration
Dates
Select airport
Booking
Options & Upgrades
*All pricing is per person
Single Supplement / Solo Traveler Upon Request
Business Class Trans-Atlantic (One-Way) Upon Request
Business Class Trans-Atlantic (Round-Trip) Upon Request
Options and upgrades
Options & Upgrades
*All pricing is per person
Single Supplement / Solo Traveler Upon Request
Business Class Trans-Atlantic Upgrade (One-Way) Upon Request
Business Class Trans-Atlantic Upgrade (Round-Trip) Upon Request
Would you like to arrive
earlier or stay later?
Let us know at time of registration, we will reschedule your airline reservations pending availability at no additional fee (these options will be available to you when you register online). Let us know if you need assistance with pre or post stay at hotel. Simply Contact 206 Tours: 800-206-TOUR (8687) or [email protected]
About your trip
- Athens
- Thessaloniki
- Phillippi
- Kavala
- Istanbul
- Dikili
- Kusadasi
- Ephesus
- Miletus
- Patmos
- Corinth
About Greece and Saint Paul
The important role that Greece has played in history is widely known; philosophy, the arts, medicine, democracy. But there is also a great page in the history of Christianity: early days of Christianity and the ministry of the Apostle Paul! This amazing man, moved by the Holy Spirit preached "good news" to Jews and Gentiles. Traveling along the major trade routes of the Roman empire and visiting large thriving communities of Asia Minor and Greece his mission was accomplished; Christianity became the biggest religion in the world. Our tours are not just tours; they are an inspiring journey to the actual places where the Apostle Paul lived and preached God's word. Travel with our bible-oriented guides down timeless roads; take time to pray and rejoice in the ancient biblical sites; visit thousand-year-old Churches and temples; and encounter a unique spiritual experience that will help you to better understand "The Steps of Paul" selecting bible-oriented guides, incorporating lectures and providing printed material, for people to achieve a deeper understanding of the Apostle Paul and his work.
Know Before You Go
We promise to do all within our power to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact us, please note should any problems arise during your trip you should first contact your local emergency contact in your destination country or the 206 Tours.
Read more