Join Father Kenneth Sales in his exciting pilgrimage to the steps of St. Paul in Greece with a cruise in the Greek Islands and Turkey A 16 days 14 nights Pilgrimage (September 22 to October 7, 2026)
Join Fr. Kenneth Sales in his passionate pilgrimage through
The Steps of St. Paul in Greece and Asia Minor (Turkey)
For 16 days from September 22 – October 7, 2026
Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Fremont, CA USA
START TIME
09/22/2026
END TIME
10/07/2026
PRICE
$5,490 Double Room $6090 Single Room
INCLUDED
- Airline Ticket- Round trip Flights
- Accommodation at 4-star hotels
- Two Meals per day (Breakfast and Dinner)
- Transportation in Deluxe Motorcoaches with Air Condition
- Professional Tour Guide all through
- Handling of luggage at the Hotels.
- Daily Mass at all Holy sites
NOT INCLUDED
- Transpiration to and from airport in USA
- Travel Insurance (Optional)
- Tips
- Alcoholic Drinks
ITINERARY
1
Sept. 22: SAN FRANCISCO – ATHENS (Tuesday)
2
Sept. 23: ATHENS (Wednesday)
Arrive at Athens Airport. Meet with your guide and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
3
Sept. 24: ATHENS – ANCIENT CORINTH (Thursday)
Breakfast at the hotel and start the visit to Athens: the cradle of European culture, the source of arts and ideas, pride of the
Ancient Age. Founded in the 15th century BC, when the Apostle entered its streets around 50 AD, it had been under Roman
rule for two centuries. Overwhelmed and astonished by the luxurious buildings, Paul mingled with the people and ascended
to the Acropolis, where he finally discovered the wonder of the Temple to the Patron of Athens. It is presumed that he did
not enter the Temple and left the sacred site head down and thoughtful, sure that “his spirit was consumed seeing the city
full of idols” (Acts 17:16). We will visit the ACROPOLIS. This hill, fortified during the Minoan period, was transformed into a
sanctuary around the 5th century BC, becoming the heart of all Greek culture based on the worship of the gods. We will
admire the majesty of the PARTHENON and the elegance of the ERECHTHEION. We will end with the AREOPAGUS, a hill
existing below the Acropolis, where Paul addressed the Athenians, speaking to them and presenting the new doctrine of
which he was a bearer and minister.
In the afternoon, departure for Corinth: On the third day of arduous and long walking, Paul reached the isthmus of Corinth,
now crossed by a 6-kilometer canal. Coinciding with the Apostle’s death, Emperor Nero, fifteen years later, gave the first
blows with a golden mattock. Paul must have been greatly impressed, not only by its artistic beauty but also because the
date of its construction coincided with the destruction of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem by the King of Babylon. Paul spent
two years with the Corinthians, leaving among them one of the most flourishing Christian communities he founded.
Continue to the famous Corinth Canal, a Roman work of the first century to connect the Ionian Sea with the Aegean Sea.
Return to the hotel in Athens, dinner, and overnight.
4
Sept. 25: CRUISE THROUGH THE GREEK ISLANDS – MYCONOS (Friday)
Buffet breakfast. Transfer to the port of Lavrio. Arrival and embarkation on the 3-night cruise to Mykonos. Lunch. Arrival,
disembarkation, and free time to enjoy this cosmopolitan island on your own. We recommend getting lost in its narrow
streets to discover different corners and some of the most beautiful places in the city, such as the old town, Little Venice, the
Windmills, and the port. Return to the ship. Dinner. Night sailing
5
Sept. 26: KUSADASI – PATMOS (Saturday)
Arrival in Kusadasi for a visit to Ancient Ephesus, related to the apostolic activities and preaching of St. Paul and St. John.
Also, according to tradition, the city hosts the House of St. Mary. It is the best-preserved ancient city of Asia Minor, an
authentic open-air museum. We will visit the Temple of Hadrian, the Roman Baths, the Library, the Odeon, and the Theater.
Return to the ship. Lunch and departure for Patmos. Arrival at the sacred island of the Apocalypse, disembarkation, and visit
to the Monastery of St. John the Theologian and the Cave of the Revelation where the evangelist wrote his prophetic book.
Return to the ship. Dinner. Night sailing
6
Sept. 27: CRETE (HERAKLION) – SANTORINI (Sunday)
Arrival at the port of Heraklion, the capital of this beautiful southern Greek island called Crete. Disembarkation and free time
to enjoy the historic center on your own, with its most emblematic places such as the Venetian Castle, the Lions Square, the
Town Hall, the Church of St. Titus, the Cathedral of St. Minas, the beautiful Loggia building, the old port, and the
Archaeological Museum considered the largest museum of Minoan art or participate in one of the optional excursions.
Return to the ship, lunch, and departure for Santorini. Arrival at this beautiful island and free time to enjoy the capital (Fira)
on your own, practically carved into the gray rock, one of the most cosmopolitan places in the Mediterranean with beautiful
views of the bay or participate in one of the optional excursions. Return to the ship. Dinner. Night sailing.
7
Sept. 28: LAVRIO – DELPHI – KALAMBAKA (Monday)
Arrive of the cruise ship at Lavrio Port. Breakfast, disembark and leave to Delphi, visit one of the world’s most interesting
archaeological sites. This town owed its fame in antiquity to its Oracle, which already existed in 1500 BC. The ruins we will
visit were discovered in 1860: the TEMPLE OF APOLLO, the THEATER, the STADIUM, the SACRED WAY, the TREASURY OF THE
ATHENIANS, and the famous bronze statue of the CHARIOTEER. We will visit its MUSEUM, which houses a very relevant
collection of the discoveries made in Delphi. Departure for the OSSIOS LUKAS monastery. Visit. Impressive monastery built in
the 10th century, comprising two churches and monks’ cells. The main church, built on the model of the Basilica of
Constantinople, houses precious mosaics and imposing marble columns. Continue to Kalambaka. Dinner and overnight at the
hotel.
8
Sept. 29: KALAMBAKA – METEORA – VERIA – VERIGINA – THESSALONIKI (Tuesday)
Breakfast at your hotel. Start our visit to the METEORA monasteries. An austere monastic center since the 11th century, it
not only serves as an ideal place for prayer but also attracts visitors to admire this unique “forest of rocks,” inviting peace
and tranquility. This place called many to withdraw from the world, giving rise to the METEORA MONASTERIES. We will
make a complete visit to this site with its monasteries suspended from the sky. Built on the most whimsical and steep peaks,
of the 21 existing monasteries, only six are inhabited. Inside, we can see beautiful frescoes, original icons painstakingly
worked by the monks themselves, and art everywhere. We will have the opportunity to visit three of these monasteries: the
MONASTERY OF TRANSFIGURATION, the MONASTERY OF SAINT STEPHEN, and the MONASTERY OF HOLY TRINITY, which can
be substituted depending on closure days. Continue our trip to Thessaloniki passing by Veria: Saint Luke writes:
“Immediately, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea by night, and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish
synagogue.” Passing through this city, we will recall the Apostle’s traces in his inexhaustible teaching of the Scriptures on his
way to Athens. We will stroll through its old town’s narrow streets and visit the CHURCH OF PALEA MITROPOLI and AGII
ANARGYROI. Arrive in Thessaloniki for a panoramic tour before heading to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
9
Sept. 30: THESSALONIKI – PHILIPPI – NEAPOLIS – KAVALA (Wednesday)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for an excursion to the locations that witnessed the presence of the Apostle, as well as the
creation of the first Christian communities on the European continent, all within a superb archaeological framework that will
introduce us to the most pivotal history of ancient Greece. AMPHIPOLIS. A town where a majestic Hellenistic lion stands.
When Paul and his companions had to leave Philippi, they crossed Amphipolis via the splendid Roman road called Via
Egnatia, and after crossing the Strymon River, they viewed the famous statue of the sitting lion. We will visit the
archaeological site of the ancient Greek city. KAVALA. Facing the island of Thasos and now occupying the site of ancient
NEAPOLIS, the port of PHILIPPI. It was the first city visited by Saint Paul during his journey in 49 AD. Kavala has the
everlasting glory of being the Beautiful Gate through which Christ triumphantly entered Europe. In the afternoon, visit
PHILIPPI. Formerly called CRENIDES. To the inhabitants of Philippi, the Apostle Paul wrote the well-known “Epistle to the
Philippians,” and from there he wrote his second “Epistle to the Corinthians.” We will visit the archaeological complex:
OCTAGONAL TEMPLE; AMPHITHEATER; ROMAN AGORA; BATHS; BASILICAS; PAUL’S PRISON; FORUM. Mass in Philippi and
return to Thessalonica. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
10
Oct 01: THESSALONIKI - ISTANBUL (TURKEY) – (Thursday)
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Thessaloniki Airport to board your flight to Istanbul. Arrive and meet your guide for a
tour in the capital of Turkey to start a visit to Agia Sophia, an important Byzantine structure in Istanbul and one of the
world’s great monuments. It was built as a Christian church in the 6th century (532–537 AD) under the direction of the
Byzantine emperor Justinian. Then we will stroll through the picturesque Egyptian Spices Market. Arrive to our hotel for
dinner and overnight.
11
Oct 02: ISTANBUL – IZMIR (Friday)
Breakfast and transfer to the airport to board your flight to Izmir (Smyrna). Arrive, meet your guide for a panoramic tour of
ancient Smyrna, one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation (Rev. 2, 8-11). Visit St. Polycarp Church, one of the oldest
Christian sites in Izmir. Dinner and overnight in our hotel.
12
Oct 03: IZMIR – ALASEHIR (PHILADELPHIA) – PAMUKKALE (Saturday)
Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to Alasehir, ancient Philadelphia, another of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev. 3:7–13). Visit
remains of the Byzantine Basilica and city walls. Continue to Pamukkale, ancient Hierapolis, where the Tomb of St. Philip the
Apostle is located. Visit the thermal terraces of Pamukkale and ancient Hierapolis ruins. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
13
Oct 04: PAMUKKALE – LOADICEA – COLOSSOAE – KONYA (Sunday)
Breakfast at your hotel. Visit Laodicea, mentioned in Revelation (Rev. 3:14–22) and in Paul’s letter to the Colossians (Col.
2:1). Continue to Colossae, home of the early Christian community addressed in Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians. See the
archaeological site and scenic Lycus Valley.
Drive to Konya (ancient Iconium), where Paul and Barnabas preached (Acts 13–14).
Dinner and overnight in Konya.
14
Oct 05: KONYA (ICONIUM) – LYSTRA – KONYA (Monday)
Breakfast at your hotel. Morning visit to Lystra, where Paul healed a crippled man and was later stoned (Acts 14:6–20).
Explore the archaeological remains and the countryside setting.
Return to Konya: visit the Mevlana Museum (whirling dervishes’ monastery) and see ancient Iconium sites
connected to Paul’s ministry. Dinner and overnight in Konya.
15
Oct 06: KONYA – PERGE (PAMPHYLIA) – ANTALYA (Tuesday)
Breakfast at your hotel. Drive south to Perge, in ancient Pamphylia, where Paul and Barnabas preached after
arriving from Cyprus (Acts 13:13). Visit the Roman theater, stadium, baths, and agora.
Continue to Antalya, ancient Attalia, where Paul and Barnabas sailed back to Antioch (Acts 14:25–26).
Arrive to our hotel. Dinner and overnight
16
Oct 07: ANTALYA – ISTANBUL - SAN FRANCISCO (Wednesday)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Antalya airport and board your flight to Istanbul. Arrive and connect with
your overseas flight to San Francisco.
PHOTOS
