Following in the Footsteps of St. Paul
TURKEY - GREECE — 13 Days
A pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Apostles through the lands of Scripture, among stunning islands in the Aegean Sea.
On this memorable pilgrimage, you will:
- Visit the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus and the Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos.
- Follow the footsteps of St. Paul in Laodicea, Ephesus, and the Areopagus.
- Visit the tomb of St. Philip the Apostle in Hierapolis and celebrate Mass together as a group.
- Explore Istanbul, Troy, and the traces of Greek-Roman civilization.
- Experience FOUR NIGHTS ABOARD A CRUISE SHIP — SIX PORTS OF CALL: Patmos · Rhodes · Crete; Santorini · Athens · Mykonos; shore excursions arranged exclusively for the group by Carnival US, already included in the tour price.
- A Vietnamese-speaking tour guide accompanying the group throughout the journey.
This is a journey blending faith, history, and Mediterranean beauty, taking you from Istanbul — where two continents meet — to the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, the Cave of the Apocalypse on the island of Patmos, the tomb of St. Philip in Hierapolis, and the Areopagus — places that bear the mark of the Apostles’ journey to preach the Gospel. Interwoven among these thousand-year-old holy sites is the deep blue Aegean Sea, the white village of Santorini, the ancient knights’ city of Rhodes, and the limestone landscape of Pamukkale.
Spiritual Director: Rev. Peter Linh Nguyen
Rev. Peter Linh Nguyen – Diocese San Mateo
Vietnamese Catholic priest who has served the Church through pastoral ministry, music, youth activities, charitable work, and community outreach. Born in Vietnam, he developed a love for music, parish life, and service from a young age. After later settling in the United States, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 2004.
Departing at the call of faith
Meet the group at the airport, check in, and depart for Istanbul.
Istanbul – The gateway between two continents
Arrive in Istanbul and go through immigration. A vehicle takes the group to check in and rest, preparing for the journey ahead exploring this land where East meets West.
Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Istanbul.
Traces of East and West in Istanbul
Begin exploring Istanbul with Hagia Sophia — a grand Byzantine cathedral over 1,500 years old. Continue to the Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets and more than 20,000 hand-crafted blue tiles.
Continue on to admire Topkapi Palace and the Harem quarters — where Ottoman Sultans ruled for nearly 400 years. Free time to explore the Grand Bazaar with over 4,000 shops, then stroll along Mahmutpaşa Street to the Spice Bazaar, enjoying Turkish tea at Eminönü pier. In the evening, enjoy a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus Strait, admiring Istanbul lit up on both the European and Asian shores.
Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Istanbul.
Following the legendary city of Troy
The group attends Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church — the largest Catholic church in Istanbul. Depart for Çanakkale, admiring the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge spanning the Dardanelles Strait, with a main span over 2 km long, and the ancient city of Troy — the legendary site from the epic Iliad, where excavations have uncovered nine layers of the city built one atop another. Photo stop by the famous wooden horse replica.
The group has dinner, checks in, and stays overnight in Çanakkale. Private Mass celebrated for the group.
Along the deep blue Aegean coast
The group travels along the Aegean coast to Ayvalık — a charming old town with stone houses and narrow alleys bearing Greek influence. Continue to Kusadasi to check in and rest before boarding the cruise ship. Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Patmos – The land of the Apocalypse
The group learns about traditional Turkish carpet weaving and leather craftsmanship. Afterward, transfer to Kusadasi port, check in, and board the Celestyal Discovery cruise ship, beginning the journey to explore the Greek islands of the Aegean.
In the afternoon, the ship docks at Patmos. The group visits the Cave of the Apocalypse — where the Apostle St. John received his vision while in exile. Continue to visit the Monastery of St. John on the hilltop, admiring the panoramic view of the deep blue Aegean Sea.
Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight aboard the cruise ship.
Footsteps of the Knights of Rhodes
The ship docks at Rhodes — the largest island in the Dodecanese, once home to the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The group strolls through the Old Town of Rhodes, admiring the sturdy medieval walls from the era of the Crusades and the Palace of the Grand Master. In the afternoon, visit Lindos with its white houses nestled on the hillside; admire the Acropolis on the cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea, and stop by Anthony Quinn Bay.
Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight aboard the cruise ship.
From legend to the land of sunset
The ship docks at Heraklion on the island of Crete, the birthplace of Minoan civilization. The group admires the Palace of Knossos, over 4,000 years old, associated with the legend of King Minos and the Minotaur’s labyrinth.
The group returns to the ship and continues on to Santorini. Disembark and take the cable car up to Fira, strolling among the white houses with blue domes in the village of Oia along the volcanic cliffs, admiring the spectacular Aegean sunset.
Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight aboard the cruise ship.
From the Areopagus to the Island of the Winds
The ship docks at Piraeus port, and the group departs early for the Acropolis, admiring the Parthenon, the Propylaea gate, and the Erechtheion — an iconic complex of ancient Greek civilization. Stop at the Areopagus, where St. Paul once preached to the Athenians about the “Unknown God.” The group takes time to reflect on the Apostle’s missionary footsteps and strolls through the old Plaka quarter at the foot of the Acropolis.
Return to the ship and continue on to Mykonos — the “Island of the Winds,” famous for its white houses with blue roofs and windmills dating from the 16th century. The group strolls through the stone-paved alleys, admiring Little Venice with its houses set right at the water’s edge.
Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight aboard the cruise ship.
Return to the land of Ephesus
The ship docks at Kusadasi, ending the Aegean sea voyage. The group spends a full day exploring Ephesus, beginning at the House of the Virgin Mary on Mount Bülbül — traditionally believed to be where Mary spent her final years with St. John. Continue on to admire the Library of Celsus, the marble avenue, and the amphitheater seating 25,000 — the site of the riot of the silversmiths against St. Paul (Acts 19).
In the afternoon, visit the Terrace Houses with their intricate frescoes and mosaic floors; continue to the Basilica of St. John in Selçuk, which holds the tomb of the Saint.
Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Ancient traces amid the white land
The group attends Mass at a local church, then departs for Aphrodisias — an ancient city famous for its marble sculpture artistry. Admire the 30,000-seat stadium, the theater, and a museum housing many Greek-Roman era works.
In the afternoon, the group arrives at Pamukkale, checking in at a hotel with hot mineral pools, free time to relax after the long journey.
Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Apostolic footsteps amid the white cliffs
Optional: Sunrise hot-air balloon experience over Pamukkale. Self-funded, advance booking required, and not suitable for guests with mobility limitations.
The group visits Hierapolis–Pamukkale: the tomb of St. Philip the Apostle, the Roman theater, and the “Cotton Castle” with its white limestone terraces formed by warm mineral springs.
Visit Laodicea — one of the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation. The group heads to Izmir airport for a flight to Athens.
Private Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Athens.
Closing the journey in peace
The group checks out and departs for Athens airport, flying back to the US. This concludes the pilgrimage program — see you again on Carnival US Travel’s future tours.
Day 6–13 expand on click
Upon registration, a deposit per person is required to issue airline tickets, reserve hotels, and arrange transportation.
The remaining balance is due 60 days before departure.
First payment: $1,500 upon registration.
Second payment: $2,500 before November 30, 2026.
Third payment: remaining balance before January 29, 2027.
A 3% processing fee applies for credit card payments.
Guests over 75 years of age or more than 4 months pregnant — please contact our office before registering.
All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing.
Guests absent at departure are considered to have cancelled with no refund.
The tour price does not apply to personal visit purposes or commercial travel purposes.
The tour price is based on a minimum group size of 35 adult guests or more. Therefore, if the number of guests is lower, a surcharge will apply.
The company shall not be responsible for missed sightseeing or visiting points in cases where sightseeing or visiting sites are closed without prior notice, traffic delays occur, or guests remain at a location beyond the scheduled visiting time.
The company shall not be responsible in the event of missed flights due to guests not being present at the airport according to the airline’s required time, or due to the guests’ personal reasons.
Depending on actual circumstances, the order of sightseeing points in the program may be changed, but all original sightseeing points will still be ensured.
In objective circumstances such as terrorism, natural disasters, visa processing timelines from the Consulate, or schedule changes by public transportation providers such as airlines or trains, the travel company reserves the right to change the itinerary for the convenience and safety of guests, and shall be exempt from liability for compensation for any resulting damages or losses.
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Guests registering for the tour are kindly requested to carefully read the information regarding what is included and what is not included. This is to avoid confusion or misunderstanding about the services before registration.
"The most profound experience of my life. Fr. Joseph's daily reflections brought each sacred site to life in a way I never imagined."
"Carnival took care of absolutely everything. Hotels, transport, Mass every single day. Already planning to come back with my whole family."