Greece has often been called the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western Civilization. It, together with Turkey, is also the earliest home of Christianity outside of Israel. This 13-day pilgrimage traces the footsteps of Paul in Greece and Turkey, including the well-preserved ruins of Athens, Corinth, Philippi, and Thessaloniki in Greece. Along the way, you’ll marvel at the byzantine monasteries perched on the cliffs of Meteora. In Turkey visit the Ephesus (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Pergamum and Smyrna - three of the churches of Revelation. Conclude your pilgrimage with two days exploring the wonders of Istanbul including Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, spice market, and a “whirling dervish” performance. This itinerary offers a glance at what you can expect in your 13-day pilgrimage. Schedule may be adjusted for efficiency and guide availability.

An early registration discount of $150 per person is available until December 31, 2026. Please select the EARLY REGISTRATION option to receive this discount. 

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is available from Trawick International during the registration process, or up to 48 hours before departure.

• You should be able to walk, with luggage, for up to half a mile on uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.

• On most days, you will be out of the hotel between 9am and 5pm, with breaks along the way and some free time to rest.

• You should be able to walk 12,000 steps per day and stand while listening to our professional guides

• You should be able to sleep in hotels located in city centers, which may have road noise. Air conditioning in Europe is less effective than in the US and may not cool your room as much as you're used to back home.

• You should, after a brief orientation, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.

Depart MCI for Thessaloniki, exact flights and times TBD.

We arrive in Thessaloniki in time for a late dinner at the hotel. Overnight at Hotel Capsis, Thessaloniki.

Philippi, as its name implies, was established by Philip II of Macedonia in 358 B.C. It was here that Octavian and Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius, last defenders of the Roman Republic in 42 B.C. St Paul first arrived at Philippi around 50 A.D. and it became one of the first European cities to accept Christianity. Here Paul baptized the first European Christian convert, Lydia. We will view the baptismal site and visit a crypt dating from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul. We will also see the famous Acropolis, the Marketplace, Basilica, and the Theatre. Lunch (included) in Kavala, near Philippi. In the evening, return to Thessaloniki for dinner (included) and overnight at Hotel Capsis, Thessaloniki.

We’ll begin our day touring modern Thessaloniki. Roman ruins here are scant as they are mostly buried under modern roads, but we will see the ancient agora, the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda, the oldest church in Greece. Departing Thessaloniki after lunch (included), we’ll visit the Museum of the Tombs in Vergina with its impressive collection from the burial tombs of the ancient kings of Macedon. Finally, we’ll make a brief stop at Veria, the biblical city of Berea, where Paul, Silas, and Timothy sought refuge when escaping Thessaloniki before continuing on to Kalambaka for dinner (included) and overnight at Amalia Hotel, Kalambaka.

The area around Kalambaka was designated as the Meteora by the Byzantine monks who built over 24 monasteries suspended on natural rock columns. Six active monasteries remain in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the landscape is stunning in and of itself. The monasteries contain beautiful Byzantine art and offer an insight into the mystic world of the monks residing there. Together we will visit two monasteries in the morning. The afternoon is free for lunch (on your own) and an optional hike to a third monastery. Dinner tonight is on your own in any of Kalambaka’s lovely restaurants. Overnight at Amalia Hotel, Kalambaka.

Departing Kalambaka, we will pay a visit to the icon workshop of Father Pefkis before continuing on to Athens with a stop for lunch along the way (on your own). We’ll arrive in Athens in time to visit the New Acropolis Museum, where many of the artifacts discovered in the Acropolis are housed. This will serve as an introduction to the ancient sites on the itinerary for tomorrow. Dinner (included) and overnight at The Stanley Hotel, Athens.

Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world spanning a history of 3,400 years. Walk in the Acropolis with the architectural wonders of the Golden Age of Pericles; the Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erechtheion. Visit the Areopagus where trials were heard before the Council of Elders and where St. Paul delivered his speech to the Athenians. We visit the ancient Agora where Athenians gathered not only for commercial purposes but also for political and religious ones. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time for lunch in the Plaka or Monasthraki neighborhoods. After lunch you can continue to explore Athens on your own or participate in a discussion of the current politics and the arrival of refugees from the Middle East. Dinner tonight is on your own. Overnight at The Stanley Hotel, Athens.

Today we continue exploring the wonders of ancient Greece and connect with the spread of Christianity in the first century CE with a visit to ancient Corinth. Corinth was one of the most important trading cities of ancient Greece dating back to the 6th century BC. Visiting the archaeological site we will come across the Temple of Apollo, the agora and the Peirene fountain. We leave Corinth and have lunch together (included) before heading to the airport for a direct flight to Izmir on the coast of Turkey. Dinner (included) and overnight at Park Inn by Radisson, Izmir.

Founded in the 10th century, Ephesus was one of the most vibrant and important Greco-Roman port cities in Asia Minor. The goddess Artemis was venerated in the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In early Christianity, 52-54 AD St. Paul resided here. It is also believed that Mary, mother of Jesus, lived her last years of her life in Ephesus. Participants will walk through this ancient city to see the public buildings, residences, the impressive library of Celsus, the temple of Artemis and the theater. We will visit the Basilica of St. John, the traditional site of his burial. Return to Izmir for dinner (included) and overnight at Park Inn by Radisson, Izmir.

We’ll have a short visit in Izmir, one of the seven churches of Revelation, before beginning our journey to Istanbul. Here we’ll see the ancient agora and the tomb of St. Polycarp. As we head north, we’ll stop at Pergamum, one of the seven churches of Revelation. The city was one of the greatest of Greek cities and later became the capital of the Roman province of Asia. It was a well known learning and healing center guarded by four deities; Zeus, Athena, Dionysus and Asclepius. We will visit the Church of St. John, as well as the Acropolis, the foundations of the great temple of Zeus, the temple of Athena, the library, the grand theater that seats 10,000 people and the healing center of Asclepius. After our visit in Pergamum we’ll continue on to Istanbul, arriving in time for dinner (included). Overnight at Lokalist Istanbul Marriot Bonvoy Hotel.

Istanbul is a city of wonders with a rich history dating back to its founding at Byzantium in 660 BCE. Today, participants will get a rich overview of Istanbul’s key historic and religious sites. The Hagia Sophia was constructed by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 537 CE and was the official seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople and one of the largest Orthodox Cathedrals for a thousand years before being converted to a mosque. The Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque stuns visitors with its size and beauty; it has one main dome, eight secondary ones and six minarets. The interior of the mosque is adorned with mostly blue ceramic tiles, stained glass windows, verses of the Quran in exquisite calligraphy, and chandeliers. Finally the Topkapi Palace envelops visitors in Ottoman architecture, art, and culture. We’ll walk through the Grand Bazaar to find lunch (on your own) before a group visit to the Chora museum (formerly a church) and the city’s famed Spice Market. Dinner (on your own) and overnight at Lokalist Istanbul Marriot Bonvoy Hotel.

Today participants will go deeper into the history and culture of Istanbul, beginning with a walking tour of the city’s traditionally Jewish neighborhood, Galeta. Jewish communities have lived in the geographic area of Asia Minor for more than 2,400 years. This walking tour begins by joining morning prayers at the Ashkenazi Synagogue then proceeds through the streets of the Galeta Jewish Quarter and includes visits to the Galata Tower, Neve Shalom Synagogue, and the Jewish Museum. After lunch (on your own), we’ll enjoy a private cruise along the Bosphorus Strait. We’ll share closing reflections before dinner (included) and the enchanting sema ritual known for its so-called whirling dervishes. Overnight at Lokalist Istanbul Marriot Bonvoy Hotel.

We depart Istanbul for Kansas City. Exact flights and times TBD.