Footsteps of Apostle Paul (TP)

10 Day Tour from Athens to Athens

2027 Tour Details View 2025 Tour Details » View 2026 Tour Details »

“For we walk by faith, not by sight,” wrote the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. On this religious tour of Greece and Turkey, you’ll stroll, skip, and sail by faith as you retrace the many missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul after he saw the light in Damascus. Both pilgrimage and picturesque journey, this land and cruise tour to mainland Greece, the Greek Isles, and Turkey leads you to many significant sites of the New Testament as well as some of the most magnificent sights of the Mediterranean. Scripture will take on new meaning as you visit the ancient communities where Paul established churches – and to whom he penned his epistles, including the Thessalonians, Philippians, Corinthians, and Ephesians. As you follow in the faithful footsteps of the Apostle Paul – with fantastic detours to Mykonos, Crete, and Santorini – you, too, will have much to write home about.

Special Features Included in this Tour:
• Guided sightseeing in Athens includes an orientation drive to see the main landmarks, plus a visit to the Acropolis
• Guided visit to two monasteries in Meteora
• Visit to the Berna of Apostle Paul in Veria
• Thessalonika orientation drive includes the White Tower, Aristotelous Square, and a visit to the Basilica of Saint Demetrious.
• Visit to Lydia’s Baptistery, the forum, ruins of the Basilicas, and the theatre in Philippi
• Orientation in Kavala includes Neapolis of the Acts and St. Paul’s mosaic.
• 3-night Iconic Aegean Cruise includes visits to the islands of Mykonos, Patmos, Crete, and Santorini
• Visit to Kusudasi, Turkey
• Guided visit to the ancient town of Corinth, plus a stop at the Corinth Canal

SHIP INFORMATION
Celestyal Olympia

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.268.3636

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfast daily; 3 lunches, 8 dinners

Notes:

This tour requires walking on uneven terrain, especially at archaeological sites, which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.

The Greek Government has introduced a Sustainable Tourism Development Fee to all cruise tourists. This tax is applicable when a guest disembarks at a Greek island or mainland port. With your consent, Celestyal will facilitate the collection of these fees through your onboard account.

Cruise details:

Rotation of ports of call may vary for congestion reasons at certain ports, with or without prior notice.

Inside cabin (category IB) - other cabin types are available for a supplement.

Included soft drinks with meals, and unlimited filter coffee, tea, water, and juice throughout the day.

Globus Host service throughout the cruise.

Please ask your Travel Consultant for cruise ship details. The ship scheduled to depart for the cruise portion of your vacation is the Celestyal Discovery, operated by Celestyal Cruises.

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN ATHENS, GREECE

Welcome to Athens! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.

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Dinner

Day 2 ATHENS–METEORA–KALAMBAKA

Magnificent Monasteries This morning, depart Athens for a scenic drive. Reach Meteora, which can be translated as “suspended in the air” and prepare to be inspired by the breathtaking views of this UNESCO listed area. Enjoy a fascinating guided visit of two of the monasteries perched atop the vertical rock formations, including the Holy Monastery of Varlaam. Later, continue to Kalambaka.
229mi /368km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Visit the magnificent natural setting in Meteora where stratospheric rock formations surround the ancient monasteries perched on the clifftops. Here, gigantic rocky outcrops reach 600 meters high above the plains of Thessaly where you’ll visit two of the stunning, red-roofed monasteries.

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Breakfast

Dinner

Day 3 KALAMBAKA–VERIA–THESSALONIKI

Holy Words This morning, stop in Veria (called Berea in the New Testament) and visit the Bema of Apostle Paul, a marble and mosaic monument that marks the spot where he preached to the local community. Continue to Thessaloniki, the center of Apostle Paul’s activities in Northern Greece. Enjoy an orientation drive featuring views of the White Tower and Aristotelous Square, plus a visit to Ag. Dimitros Basilika.
145 mi / 234 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOTS See Thessaloniki's iconic 15th-century prison tower, standing 34-meters high. Hear the history of the Ottoman Empire and tragic ends of those who were imprisoned here. Pass Aristotelous Square, the Jewel of Thessaloniki on the sea front.

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Breakfast

Dinner

Day 4 THESSALONIKI–EXCURSION TO PHILIPPI & KAVALA

A Disciple's Destiny Today’s excursion takes you to Philippi, once a busy Roman colony where Apostle Paul established the first church in Europe. Enjoy a guided visit to Lydia’s Baptistery, the forum, ruins of the Basilicas, and the theatre. Continue to Kavala for an orientation drive to see Neapolis of the Acts and St. Paul’s mosaic. After some free time for lunch return to Thessaloniki.
219mi/350km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Follow the path of St. Paul the Apostle where the disciple traveled in 49-50 CE to spread the Word of Christ. Visit the Greek Orthodox church and Baptistry of Saint Lydia, the first Greek and European woman baptized by the Apostle Paul. Visit the amazing ancient ruins of the Philippi’s Roman Forum, the Basilicas, and Theater in the city that became the center of Christian faith following the visit of the Apostle Paul.

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Breakfast

Dinner

Day 5 THESSALONIKI–THERMOPYLAE–ATHENS

Warriors & The Ancient World Depart Thessaloniki for a scenic drive. Stop at Thermopylae, site of a famous battle. See the statue of Leonidas and learn about the heroic resistance of the 300 Spartans. Continue to Athens and enjoy a leisurely evening exploring.
314 mi / 503 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Travel through the coastal floodplain of the Spercheios River, surrounded by sloping forested limestone mountains and the thermal springs of Thermopylae. Greek Spartans, Thebans, and Thespians fought Persian invaders during the historic Battle of Thermopylae in this narrow coastal passage.

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Breakfast

Day 6 ATHENS (EMBARKATION)–MYKONOS

Sun-Kissed Beauty Today, board your Celestyal cruise ship and set sail for Mykonos, one of the most celebrated of the Cyclades Islands. Enjoy free time this afternoon and evening to explore the island. See the iconic 16th-century windmills that dot the hillside, and the colorful homes of Little Venice, browse the charming streets and stores, and try some of the local delicacies.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Explore the whitewashed paradise of Mykonos with its iconic windmills. Named after Apollo’s grandson, Mykonos offers a wealth of treasures to discover in its cafes, shops, and picturesque lanes.

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Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 7 CRUISING: KUSADASI, TURKEY AND PATMOS, GREECE

Divine Dwellings & Digs Today, reach the coast of Turkey and disembark at Kusudasi. Why not take advamtage of an optional shore excursion to visit the archaeological site of Ephesus, the city where Apostle Paul wrote many “Letters to the Corinthians,” and location of the House of the Virgin Mary, where the Blessed Mother spent her final days. Leave Turkey and head to Patmos, home to the mystical Cave of the Apocalypse where Saint John the Evangelist wrote the Book of the Revelation. Enjoy free time to browse the island.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean with a visit to Ephesus, Turkey. Excavations of this UNESCO World Heritage Site have revealed grand monuments of the Roman Imperial era, including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. See the domed cruciform House of Mary, a revered Christian pilgrimage site in this once Roman port city and sea channel.

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Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 8 CRUISING: HERAKLION, CRETE–SANTORINI

The Bronze Age on the Blue Aegean This morning reach Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. Why not join an optional shore excursion and visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Later, set sail and arrive at the iconic island of Santorini. Enjoy free time to stroll along the charming streets, marvel at the amazing views, browse the stores, and try local specialties.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE Visit the extraordinary royal ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos, where Greek mythology tells the story of King Minos and a heroic prince who battled the mighty Minotaur for the hand of a princess in Heraklion.

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Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 9 ATHENS (DISEMBARKATION)–CORINTH–ATHENS

A Metropolis of Mythic Proportions Your cruise ends this morning, but your adventure continues! Disembark your ship in Athens and take a scenic drive to the Corinth Canal for a photo stop. Continue to the ancient town of Corinth and join a guided visit to the excavations, including the Agora and St. Paul’s Bema, where the Christian missionary faced the Forum’s court. Return to Athens for your guided sightseeing, composed of an orientation drive to see the main landmarks, including Syntagma Square, the Temple of Zeus, and the Panathenaic Stadium, plus a visit to the Acropolis. Enjoy free time before a farewell dinner at your hotel.
101 mi / 163 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Athens conjures visions of Greek gods and goddesses, and robe-draped philosophers, and politicians. You’ll see the iconic sites of the Acropolis in the ancient city where mythology, philosophy, and Christianity flourished in the “birthplace of civilization.” See the all-marble Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games took place. The Olympic flame is passed to the current host nations to begin the modern games still today.

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Breakfast

Dinner

Day 10 ATHENS

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

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Breakfast

Accommodations

Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

Athens

Dinner and Folklore

Head to Athens for a delectable 4-course dinner featuring Greek specialties and authentic Greek entertainment!

Price Range: $$$

Private Touring

Private Touring: Globus European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Globus tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience.

For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party.

Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $1,383*
18 guests in a party: $245*

Contact Globus or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Globus Private Touring.

* Supplement pricing is per person (CA) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2020 and 2021 travel years. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.

The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.

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