Footsteps of Paul & John

September 15–25, 2027

Overview: Overnight flight to Izmir.
Begin your journey to the lands of ancient treasures and Christian history with an overnight flight to Izmir. Rest on the flight—tomorrow you’ll be walking where the apostles walked.

Overview: Transfer to Kusadasi, Turkey.
Arrive in Izmir and transfer to your hotel in the lovely port city of Kusadasi for a two-night stay. The remainder of the day is free to relax, explore on your own, and enjoy the hotel facilities.

Overview: Full-day tour of ancient Ephesus and Basilica of St. John.
Visit ancient Ephesus, once a thriving port city of 250,000 people. See the major streets, the Library, Agora, theatre, and the aristocratic Terrace Houses. Continue to the Basilica Church of St. John, believed to be his resting place, with views of the Ephesus harbor, Mosque of Jesus, and the site of the Temple of Artemis—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Time permitting, visit a local Turkish rugmaking facility.

Overview: Cruise to Patmos and visit the monastery and Revelation cave.
Embark your cruise ship and sail to the beautiful Isle of Patmos. Tour the fortified monastery of St. John and the cave where John is believed to have received the Revelation. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight in your cabin.

Overview: Optional Crete & Santorini excursions.
In Crete, you may take an optional tour (+$100 per person) to Heraklion and the ruins of the Palace of Knossos, associated with the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos. In the afternoon, visit Santorini, perhaps the most breathtaking of the Greek Islands. An optional panoramic bus tour (+$100 per person) takes you through picturesque villages to Oia, with narrow streets, open-air cafés, and boutiques. Return to the ship to view the caldera and nearby islands before dinner and evening entertainment.

Overview: Corinth Canal, ancient Corinth, Acropolis, Diolkos, and Cenchreae.
Disembark and travel west, stopping for photos at the Corinth Canal. Visit ancient Corinth—its Archaeological Museum, Market Place, Bema, and Temples—where Paul preached. Explore the Acropolis for a panoramic view and learn about local worship practices. See Diolkos, the paved trackway that allowed boats to cross the Isthmus of Corinth. Conclude with a visit to Cenchreae, the ancient port where Paul stopped during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18), then return to Athens.

Overview: Classical Athens and Mars Hill.
Tour Athens, the foundation of democracy. Visit the Acropolis, Parthenon, and Erectheum, then stand atop Mars Hill where Paul preached to the Gentile nations, overlooking the Agora below. A panoramic bus tour includes the House of Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential Palace. Later, you may opt to visit the famous Plaka district with its shops and cafés.

Overview: Meteora monasteries and Thermopylae.
Dress code applies: women must wear skirts below the knee; men must wear pants. Travel north from Athens past Thermopylae, site of the famous Spartan battle of 300. Continue to Meteora to see world-famous Byzantine monasteries perched atop dramatic rock pinnacles. Learn how monks first sought refuge in cliffside caves before building wooden shelters and later monasteries. Overnight in Meteora.

Overview: King Philip’s tomb, Berea, and Thessalonica.
Travel into Macedonia to visit King Philip’s (Alexander the Great’s father) tomb in Vergina, one of Greece’s most outstanding archaeological finds. Stop in Berea to view the ancient synagogue where Paul spoke and the Bema with mosaics of Paul and a scripture plaque honoring the “more noble” church. Continue to the harbor city of Thessalonica, viewing the old city ramparts, newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, and the Galerius Arch along the Via Egnatia. Overnight in Thessalonica.

Overview: Philippi, Kavala, and return flight to Athens.
Follow the Byzantine wall to the citadel for a panoramic view of Thessalonica, then visit Philippi and Kavala. In Kavala—Greece’s prettiest mainland port—see where Paul, Timothy, Silas, and Luke landed in the ancient city of Neapolis, later called Christoupolis, the first European city to accept Christianity. View the Roman Aqueduct and Acropolis ruins. In Philippi, visit the baptismal site of Lydia, a Roman-period crypt thought to be Paul’s prison, and see the Acropolis, Market Place, Basilica, and Theatre. Visit St. Demetrius Basilica in Thessalonica before returning to Athens for your flight home the next day (dinner either in Thessalonica or Athens, depending on flight schedule).

Price Per Person Based on Double Occupancy

Date: September 15–25, 2027
Price: $3,929
Single Supplement: $1,560 (+$350 for a balcony cabin)
*Airfare not included

Reservation Due: April 12, 2027
Final Payment Due: June 17, 2026

RESERVATIONS:

A $500 per person US Dollar deposit is required to secure a reservation. service fees by Pilgrim Tours and any supplier penalties. In registering for a tour, tour members agree to the terms and conditions for the tour they have registered for.

Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s included and not included in your package. This way you can quickly see what’s covered and where you might need to budget extra.

• 7 nights lodging at hotels
• 2 nights Celestyal cruise in a standard inside cabin
• Breakfast and dinner daily at hotels
• All meals on cruise
• Cruise perks:

  • Unlimited filtered coffee, tea, water, juice (6:30 AM–10 PM)
  • Unlimited free-pour sodas with meals in main restaurants (Thalassa & Taverna)
• Professional English-speaking tour guides in Turkey & Greece
• Cruise assistant
• All touring and entrances as listed on itinerary
• Transportation by modern air-conditioned motor coach
• Tips to guides, drivers, cruise rep, & hotel staff
• Patmos shore excursion
• Whisper listening devices
• Pilgrim Payment Processing for check, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover

• Airfare
• Lunches and drinks with meals (except on cruise)
• Optional excursions:

  • Santorini Oia Village (+$100/person)
  • Crete Knossos (+$100/person)
• Travel Insurance (7.95% or 10.85% of tour cost, current rates)
• New Greece Government Tax (€1–€20 per person, varies by port/date)

This package is fairly comprehensive, especially with meals and gratuities covered, but the airfare, optional excursions, and government taxes are the main extras to plan for. Would you like me to help you estimate the total out-of-pocket costs if you add the optional excursions and insurance?