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The Rousanou monastery on its rock at Meteora, Greece, from the air

Greece and Malta in the Footsteps of St. Paul

Thessaloniki, Philippi, Meteora, Delphi, Athens, Corinth, Valletta and Gozo

Twelve days along St. Paul’s second missionary journey through Philippi, Thessaloniki, Athens and Corinth, then a flight to Malta, the island of his shipwreck, for Valletta, Gozo, Mdina and the grotto at Rabat.

Departures

Current Tours to Malta

Upcoming departures to Malta. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
    The Route

    Ten stops across Greece and Malta

    Thessaloniki, Kavala, Philippi, Meteora, Delphi, Athens and Corinth by motorcoach, a flight from Athens to Malta, then Valletta, Gozo and Mdina.

    Itinerary · EU_GR-MT-12D-01

    The Greece and Malta Itinerary

    This is one of the routes we run for groups to Malta. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

    Day 1 – 4

    Thessaloniki, Kavala and Philippi

    Photograph to come · The Baptistery of Lydia at Philippi
    The Baptistery of Lydia at Philippi
    Day 1

    Depart for Greece

    Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight to Thessaloniki. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
    Day 2

    Thessaloniki

    We are met at Thessaloniki’s Makedonia Airport by our tour escort and accompanied by motorcoach to our hotel. We gather this evening for a welcome dinner to begin the pilgrimage together.Overnight in Thessaloniki.
    Day 3

    Kavala and Philippi

    We travel to Kavala, the ancient port of Neapolis, where St. Paul, Silas, Luke and Timothy first set foot on European soil. At Philippi we visit the Roman Forum, the ruins of the prison where Paul and Silas were held, and the Baptistery of Lydia, the first recorded convert in Europe. We celebrate Mass outdoors among the ruins where the first European Christian community was born.Overnight in Thessaloniki.
    Day 4

    Thessaloniki and Kalambaka

    We tour Thessaloniki, where St. Paul’s brief ministry took root and to whose young church he later wrote his two Letters to the Thessalonians. We celebrate Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and see the Arch of Galerius on the ancient Via Egnatia, then travel to Kalambaka, gateway to the rock pillars of Meteora.Overnight in Kalambaka.
    Day 5 – 7

    Meteora, Delphi, Athens and Corinth

    Sunset over the monasteries of Meteora, Greece
    The monasteries of Meteora
    Day 5

    Meteora and Delphi

    We visit one of the active monasteries of Meteora, built atop towering rock pillars by the successors of eleventh-century hermits, its walls covered in Byzantine frescoes. We continue to Delphi on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, where the Sanctuary of Apollo and its museum show the religious world the first missionaries encountered.Overnight in Delphi.
    Day 6

    Delphi and Athens

    We travel on to Athens, the cradle of Western civilization and, for St. Paul, one of the great mission fields of the ancient world.Overnight in Athens.
    Day 7

    Athens and Corinth

    We visit the Acropolis and ascend the Areopagus, where St. Paul proclaimed the unknown God to the philosophers of Athens, then see the ancient Agora and the Panathenaic Stadium. At ancient Corinth, where Paul lived and labored for two years, we walk among the first-century shops and the Bema where he stood trial before Gallio, and celebrate Mass outdoors amid the ruins.Overnight in Athens.
    Day 8 – 10

    Malta, Valletta and Gozo

    Yachts moored below the churches and houses of Vittoriosa on the Grand Harbor, Malta
    The waterfront of Vittoriosa, one of the Three Cities on the Grand Harbor
    Day 8

    Athens to Malta

    We fly from Athens to Malta, where our local representative meets us and tells the story of St. Paul’s shipwreck and the beginnings of Christianity on the islands on the way to our hotel. This evening we attend Mass at a local parish church before dinner.Overnight in Malta.
    Day 9

    The Three Cities and Valletta

    We travel to the Three Cities of Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea, where the Knights of St. John settled along the Grand Harbor in 1530, and visit the Miraculous Statue of Christ the Redeemer in the Oratory of the Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady at Senglea. A traditional harbor boat carries us across to Valletta, where we celebrate Mass at St. John’s Co-Cathedral and Museum and view Caravaggio’s paintings in its Oratory.Overnight in Malta.
    Day 10

    Mellieha and Gozo

    We begin at the Mellieha Sanctuary of Our Lady, blessed by St. John Paul II in 1990, with views over Mellieha Bay, Comino and Gozo, then cross to Gozo. We visit the Munxar Parish Church, dedicated to St. Paul, the Gozo Cathedral of the Assumption and St. George’s Basilica, where relics of St. Clement rest. We celebrate Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, Malta’s most important pilgrimage site, and return by ferry.Overnight in Malta.
    Day 11 – 12

    Mosta, Mdina, Rabat and home

    Photograph to come · The walls of Mdina
    The walls of Mdina
    Day 11

    St. Paul’s Bay, Mosta, Mdina and Rabat

    We view St. Paul’s Bay by boat, then visit the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady at Mosta, where in April 1942 a bomb pierced the great dome during a service and failed to explode. We celebrate Mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the walled city of Mdina, see its Museum and the Bastions, and descend into St. Paul’s Catacombs and St. Paul’s Grotto at Rabat, where tradition holds the Apostle prayed for three months after his shipwreck.Overnight in Malta.
    Day 12

    Return Home

    After an early breakfast and farewells, we transfer to the airport for our flight home, filled with the peace of walking in the footsteps of St. Paul.

    Why leaders choose Canterbury

    “Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

    Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
    Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
    PhilippiWhere St. Paul preached his first sermon on European soil and Lydia became the first recorded convert in Europe.
    Photograph to come · Greece, the ruins of Philippi
    Dates

    Your group travels on its own dates.

    Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

    Your pilgrimage includes

    Tour Package Includes

    These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

    • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
    • Round-trip group airfare
    • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
    • 4-Star hotel accommodations
    • Private motorcoach transportation
    • Breakfast & dinner served daily
    • Wine served with some dinners
    • Dedicated tour manager
    • Licensed guiding & admission fees
    • Porterage service at hotels
    • Whisper headsets when touring
    • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
    • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
    • 24/7 travel emergency support
    • Canterbury Mobile App
    For the group leader

    What you get as the group leader

    You travel free.

    Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

    No financial risk.

    If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

    We produce the promotional materials.

    Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

    We handle your pilgrims.

    Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

    In your pocket

    The Canterbury Mobile App

    Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

    • Group chat

      Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

    • Their itinerary

      The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

    • Hotels

      Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

    • Flights

      Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

    • Daily prayers

      The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

    • Shrine passport

      A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

    • Live updates

      Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

    Photographs
    The harbor city of Kavala, ancient Neapolis, Greece
    The harbor of Kavala, ancient Neapolis
    The Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens
    The Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens
    The Temple of Apollo at Ancient Corinth, Greece
    The Temple of Apollo at ancient Corinth
    Photograph to come · St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta
    St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta
    The National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu on Gozo, Malta
    The National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu on Gozo
    Photograph to come · St. Paul’s Grotto at Rabat
    St. Paul’s Grotto at Rabat

    What group leaders say

    “They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

    Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
    Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
    Before you ask

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When is the best time to travel to Greece and Malta?

    April through June and September through October are the most comfortable months in both countries, warm and dry without the heat of high summer at the open-air sites of Philippi, Athens and Corinth, where Mass is celebrated outdoors among the ruins. February 10, the feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck, is Malta’s great Pauline celebration in Valletta.

    How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

    Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

    What is generally not included?

    Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

    Do I need a passport or visa for Greece and Malta?

    A US passport valid for at least three months beyond your return date is required, and we recommend six. Greece and Malta are both in the Schengen area, so no visa is needed for a stay of this length and there is no border check on the flight between them. Requirements change from time to time, so we confirm what applies with your group before you travel.

    Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

    Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

    How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

    Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

    Enquire

    Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Malta?

    A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

      Your Information

      Your Group

      First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

      Where You Would Like to Go

      Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

      These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

      Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

      When

      Group Size and Budget

      Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

      A Few Last Details

      Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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