Sacred Footsteps Across the Aegean

Setting out for the holy land
Meet your pilgrimage group at the airport for check-in and departure to Istanbul, Turkey, connecting through Frankfurt, Germany.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight on the plane.

Arriving at the gateway of two continents
After arriving in Frankfurt, the group connects to a flight bound for Istanbul. A local guide and private vehicle transfer travelers to their hotel for check-in, dinner, and rest — the first step into this historic city where East meets West.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul – A thousand years of crossroads
Begin this Istanbul pilgrimage tour at Hagia Sophia, a grand Byzantine cathedral standing for over 1,500 years. Continue through Sultanahmet Square to the Blue Mosque, celebrated for its six minarets and more than 20,000 hand-crafted blue Iznik tiles.

Next, explore Topkapi Palace and its historic Harem quarters, home to Ottoman Sultans for nearly 400 years. Enjoy free time browsing the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest covered markets with over 4,000 shops, then stroll Mahmutpaşa Street to the aromatic Spice Bazaar and sip authentic Turkish tea by the Eminönü waterfront. In the evening, board a scenic Bosphorus dinner cruise and watch Istanbul’s skyline light up at dusk.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Istanbul.

Troy – Legend by the Dardanelles
Start the day with Sunday Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church, the largest Catholic church in Istanbul. Depart early for Çanakkale, passing the striking 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which spans the Dardanelles Strait with a main span of over 2 kilometers. In the afternoon, step into history at the ancient city of Troy, the legendary setting of Homer’s Iliad, where archaeologists uncovered nine layered cities built one atop the other. Don’t miss a photo by the iconic wooden Trojan Horse replica.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Çanakkale.

Celebrating All Saints’ Day by the Aegean Sea
Travel along the scenic Aegean coastline to Ayvalık, a picturesque old town known for its stone houses and narrow alleys shaped by Greek influence. After exploring the town, continue to Kusadasi for hotel check-in. On All Saints’ Day, the group’s priest celebrates Mass in a private space arranged by the hotel.

Overnight in Kusadasi.

Patmos – The sacred land of the Apocalypse
Discover traditional Turkish craftsmanship through a demonstration of carpet weaving and leatherwork. Afterward, transfer to Kusadasi port to check in and board the Celestyal Discovery cruise ship, beginning an unforgettable voyage through the Greek islands of the Aegean.

In the afternoon, the ship anchors off Patmos, and guests transfer ashore by tender boat. Visit the sacred Cave of the Apocalypse, where the Apostle St. John received his biblical vision while in exile, then continue uphill to the Monastery of St. John for panoramic Aegean Sea views. On All Souls’ Day, the group joins together in prayer for the faithful departed.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight aboard the cruise ship.

Rhodes – A fortress amid blue waters
The cruise ship docks at Rhodes, the largest island in the Dodecanese and once home to the legendary Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Wander the medieval Old Town of Rhodes, admiring its fortified walls dating to the era of the Crusades and the impressive Palace of the Grand Master. In the afternoon, visit Lindos, where whitewashed houses climb the hillside, and admire the clifftop Acropolis overlooking the Aegean Sea before stopping at scenic Anthony Quinn Bay.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight aboard the cruise ship.

Santorini – A day in white
Arrive by tender boat at Santorini and take the cable car up to Fira, the iconic white town perched dramatically along the volcanic caldera, home to the striking Metropolitan Cathedral and scenic pathways overlooking the crater.

Continue to the peaceful villages of Pyrgos and Megalochori, known for their narrow lanes, traditional stone houses, and historic bell towers. After lunch and a local wine-tasting experience, head to Oia to stroll among white houses with blue domes and windmills, capping the day with one of the Aegean’s most spectacular sunsets.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight aboard the cruise ship.

From the footsteps of the Apostle to the Island of the Winds
Dock at Piraeus port and head early to the Acropolis of Athens, admiring the Parthenon, the Propylaea gateway, and the Erechtheion — masterpieces of ancient Greek civilization.

Stop at the Areopagus, the historic hill where St. Paul once preached to the Athenians about the “Unknown God,” and take time to reflect on his missionary journey.

Return to the ship and sail on to Mykonos, the famed “Island of the Winds,” known for its whitewashed houses, blue-roofed buildings, and centuries-old windmills. Wander the island’s stone-paved alleys and admire Little Venice, where waterfront houses sit right at the water’s edge.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight aboard the cruise ship.

Ephesus – Return to Scripture’s land
The cruise concludes at Kusadasi, and the group spends a full day exploring the ancient city of Ephesus. Begin at the House of the Virgin Mary on Mount Bülbül, traditionally believed to be where Mary lived out her final years alongside St. John. Continue to the Library of Celsus, the marble-paved avenue, and the grand 25,000-seat amphitheater, once the site of St. Paul’s preaching.

In the afternoon, visit the Terrace Houses with their remarkably preserved frescoes and mosaic floors, then continue to the Basilica of St. John in Selçuk, resting place of the Apostle.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Aphrodisias amid the quiet of autumn
Attend Sunday Mass at a local church before departing for Aphrodisias, an ancient city renowned for its marble sculpture artistry. Explore the 30,000-seat stadium, the ancient theater, and a museum housing significant Greek-Roman artifacts.

In the afternoon, continue to Pamukkale and check in to a hotel with natural hot mineral pools, with free time to unwind after a full day of travel.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Pamukkale.

From an Apostle’s tomb to Laodicea
Optional: Experience a sunrise hot-air balloon ride over Pamukkale (self-funded, advance booking required, not suitable for guests with mobility limitations).

Visit Hierapolis and the tomb of St. Philip the Apostle, and admire the ancient Roman theater. Continue to Pamukkale, known as the “Cotton Castle” for its striking white limestone terraces formed by mineral-rich thermal springs.

Visit Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches named in the Book of Revelation, before heading to Izmir Airport for a direct flight to Athens. Due to the November time change, guests should set their clocks back one hour upon arrival in Greece.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Athens.

Corinth – Echoes of St. Paul’s words
Visit the dramatic Corinth Canal, with cliffs plunging roughly 80 meters, followed by the ancient city of Corinth, the Temple of Apollo, and the Bema, where St. Paul once stood trial before the proconsul Gallio during his 18-month mission in Corinth.

Return to Athens with free time to explore the historic Plaka district and shop for souvenirs.

Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight in Athens.

Bringing peace back home
Depart from Athens Airport, connecting through Frankfurt back to the United States, concluding this unforgettable Turkey and Greece pilgrimage tour. Carnival US Travel looks forward to welcoming you on future journeys.
Mass celebrated for the group. Overnight on the plane.