Greece & Turkey Pilgrimage
Eleven days in the footsteps of St. Paul, from Athens and Corinth to Philippi and Thessaloniki, with a three-night Greek Isles cruise to Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos and Santorini.
Your chaplain
Fr. Andrew Wakefield
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church
“You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God.”
Ephesians 2:19
St. Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus, where he spent three years. We walk its ancient streets and pray at the House of the Virgin Mary on Mt. Koressos.
The Library of Celsus · Ephesus
Greece & Turkey, April 5 to 15, 2027
Eleven days, nine nights in Athens, aboard ship, in Kalambaka and in Thessaloniki, with Corinth, Ephesus, Patmos, Delphi, Meteora, Berea and Philippi along the way.
Begins in Athens and ends in Thessaloniki
OvernightVisit
Nights: 3 Athens, 3 aboard ship, 1 Kalambaka, 2 Thessaloniki.
Arrival in Athens
Upon arrival in Athens, you will collect your bags and transfer to the hotel for check-in followed by a welcome dinner where you will meet the group.
Athens
Today our tour takes us to the Acropolis and the ruins of the Parthenon, and Mars Hill with a view to the Ancient Agora of Athens: St. Paul addressed the judges of Athens at Mars Hill. We will also enjoy a panoramic tour of other ancient sites and landmarks of modern Athens.
Ancient Corinth & Cenchreae
Today we’ll visit Corinth (Acts 18:1-18), exploring the Archaeological Museum, Market Place, and Temples. We will stand on the Bema and celebrate Mass where St. Paul preached and visit sites associated with Aquila and Priscilla. Following lunch we’ll visit Cenchreae, the ancient port from which St. Paul set sail for Syria at the end of his second missionary journey.
Mykonos
Following breakfast, we will transfer to Lavrion Port for our cruise embarkation. First stop, the quaint isle of Mykonos, called the island of windmills. Experience the waterfront lined with shops and cafes and then stroll the charming walkways through a maze of whitewashed buildings before returning to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment. Mass at St. Barbara Catholic Church at Lavrion port.
Kusadasi, Ephesus & Patmos
This morning we arrive in Kusadasi, where we debark our cruise ship and make our way to Ephesus, site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and where St. Paul spent three years during his ministry. We’ll visit Mt. Koressos and the humble chapel that lies on the site of the little house where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days. Later we arrive at the island of Patmos and the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, who received the Revelation here that forms the last book of the New Testament.
Santorini
Today we visit the island of Santorini, which is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. The town of Thira, where white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques cling to steep cliffs, is accessible by footpath, cable-car, or mule. Again, you will return to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment. Mass at the Catholic Church of Santorini.
Delphi & Meteora
After we disembark from the cruise ship, we’ll begin our journey to Metéora; en route we’ll stop in Delphi. We will visit the Treasury of Athens, the Theater, an archeological museum, and the first monument built in the ancient world to “One God.” After lunch we’ll continue to Metéora, where we will ascend huge granite rocks to view architectural wonders that are over 700 years old. We visit the monastery of Metamorphosis with its church and museum containing priceless historic and religious treasures.
Berea & Thessaloniki
We start today by visiting Berea, and the bema where St. Paul preached. After, we’ll head to Thessaloniki to walk the places where St. Paul walked, including the Agora where he preached and the walls where St. Jason’s home was and where St. Paul also lived. We will also see St. George Church, the Galerius Arch, and the Basilica of St. Sophia and St. Demetrios.
Kavala & Philippi
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for our guided tour beginning with Kavala, the port where St. Paul first landed with Timothy and Silas. We then continue to Philippi, where St. Paul was imprisoned. We will view the prison, the marketplace, basilica, and theater. We will have Mass today at the river where Lydia, one of the first Christians in Europe, was baptized. We’ll also visit Amphipolis, the famous starting point of Alexander the Great on his mission to “conquer the world.” We will have a farewell dinner tonight marking the end of our pilgrimage together.
Return home
With a renewed sense of pilgrimage and an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, we say farewell to our fellow pilgrims as the pilgrimage comes to a close this morning.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels and cruise
Four-star hotels on land: three nights in Athens, one in Kalambaka and two in Thessaloniki, with three nights aboard a Greek Isles cruise ship between Athens and Meteora. Hotels and ship are subject to final confirmation; if one changes, it is replaced with one of the same standard.
“Our pilgrimage to Greece, Turkey, and the Holy Land was a blessing for all 100 participants and my assistants.”
“Thank you for taking care of the day to day details, leaving all of us free to focus on prayer and spiritual growth”
“Canterbury Pilgrimages is excellent!”
Questions pilgrims ask
Short answers to what most people want to know before they put down a deposit.
It is a touring pilgrimage by motorcoach and ship, not a walking one. Expect about 2 to 3 miles of walking on a typical day. Days usually start around 7am, with departure by 9am, and end back at the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. The Acropolis, Mars Hill and Ephesus have worn, slippery stone, the Meteora monasteries are reached by steps cut into the rock, and on Santorini the town of Thira sits high on the cliffs.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $999, or share a room. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by January 5, 2027, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own.
Lunches on land, dinner in Athens on April 7 and in Thessaloniki on April 13, donations at Masses, souvenirs, laundry and the cost of your passport. All meals are included on the cruise. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. Tips for restaurant and hotel staff are included. Tips for your tour director and driver are at your discretion: as a guide, $8 to $10 per person per day for your tour guide and $6 to $8 for your driver. Travel insurance if you choose it, and a 3% fee if you pay by card. Abroad, we recommend paying for most things by credit card, which is accepted almost everywhere and comes with protection that cash does not; bring a couple hundred U.S. dollars in cash for emergencies. When a card machine or ATM asks whether to pay in dollars or in the local currency (euros in Greece, Turkish lira in Turkey), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to January 5, 2027 (90 days before departure), everything you have paid is returned except $200. After that date, the $450 deposit and any costs we cannot recover are kept. Travel insurance may cover a cancellation, depending on the reason.
Fr. Andrew Wakefield leads the group from Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church.
More answers in the FAQ below and in our Support Center, or call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Price per person
Per person, including roundtrip group airfare.
Shared rooms are always doubles with two beds. If you would like us to match you with a roommate, tell us when you book and we will do our best. Please note that if we cannot find you a match by the final payment date of January 5, 2027, the single room supplement will apply.
Couples, families, friends, singles, all are welcome!
Some pilgrims come as a couple, some bring the whole family, some come with a friend from the parish, and plenty come on their own. Everyone is welcome.
$200 per person is non-refundable.
Final payment is due 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
Check
ACH bank transfer
Zelle
Cash, money order or cashier’s check
In the footsteps of St. Paul
April 5 to 15, 2027, with Fr. Andrew Wakefield and Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church. Reserve today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Questions? Call +1 (800) 653-0017 or email hello@canterburypilgrimages.com.
Secure your spot today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Frequently asked questions
This is an active program that covers a good amount of ground each day. Expect a wake-up call around 7am, departure by 9am and a return to the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. You should be able to walk 2 to 3 miles a day at a moderate pace, with uneven surfaces, stairs and slopes. The Acropolis and Mars Hill have worn, slippery stone, the Meteora monasteries are reached by steps cut into the rock, and on Santorini the town of Thira sits high on the cliffs.
April is spring in Greece and western Turkey: mild, often sunny days with cooler evenings, and the odd shower. It can be windy at sea and on the islands, and cooler at Meteora. Bring layers, a light jacket, sun protection and comfortable walking shoes.
Yes. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date, and passport cards are not accepted for international travel. We need your passport details at least 90 days before departure. The cruise calls at Kusadasi in Turkey, so entry rules for both Greece and Turkey apply; rules can change, so we will let you know before departure if anything new applies to your trip.
Three nights aboard ship, from Lavrion to Mykonos, Kusadasi for Ephesus, Patmos and Santorini, with breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard each day. Dinner is on your own in Athens on April 7 and in Thessaloniki on April 13.
Yes. The price includes group airfare; if you book your own flights, the price is reduced by $1,000. Tell us at registration so we can line your arrival up with the group’s in Athens on April 6 and its departure from Thessaloniki on April 15.
Final payment is due on January 5, 2027, 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
We strongly encourage travel insurance for all of our pilgrims, and we partner with Allianz Travel Insurance to offer affordable coverage. Most of our pilgrims choose the Classic Plan. Insurance can be quoted and purchased after registration.
A pilgrimage is not a vacation or excursion but a unique spiritual journey that provides many opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and enrich your Catholic faith by bringing Scripture to life. Pilgrimages offer the opportunity to let Christ draw you near.
More questions are answered in our Support Center, covering booking, payments, travel insurance, passports and what to expect on pilgrimage.