For prices and information, call us at
ABOUT YOUR TRIP
Our world-class pilgrimage to Greece follows in the “Footsteps of St. Paul,” and will be an unforgettable experience. Christians have been going on pilgrimages from the very beginning of our faith. Your journey includes some of the most historically significant sites and beautiful places in the world. Strengthen your faith with visits to the House of the Virgin Mary, Ancient Ephesus, and Philippi, where St. Paul established the first church in Europe.
Tours typically include other sites like the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the monasteries of Meteora, and the beautiful whitewashed towns of Mykonos and Santorini.
Under Nativity’s excellent organization and leadership, our pilgrimages offer complete itineraries that include round-trip airfare, first-class hotel accommodations, breakfast, dinner, all transportation, daily Masses, and more!
ITINERARY
Today: Your pilgrimage begins today as you depart on your overnight flight to Greece. Meals and drinks served aloft.
Today: We arrive and are greeted by our guide. A panoramic tour in Athens. Transport to our hotel. Balance of day at leisure.
Evening: Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
Today: We will depart to the Monastery of Kaisariani, founded in the 11th century AD and consecrated to the presentation of the Virgin in the temple. After a moment of prayer, we will walk through the gardens. Next, we will visit the city of Athens, including the Agora, where Paul addressed the Athenians, the famous Acropolis and the Parthenon, the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of Zeus.
Evening: Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Today: We will travel to Corinth. Here St. Paul spent 18 months and preached to the Jews and Gentiles. Here too, Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla and was tried by Galleon in the Agora. The community he founded here caused him great pain and compelled him to write at least four letters. We will celebrate our liturgy here, ending with a reflection on Paul the Missionary. We had lunch in Nauplius and complete our day in Epidaurus, one of the best-preserved amphitheaters in the world with remarkable acoustics.
Evening: Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
Today: We eat breakfast and embark on a cruise through the Greek Isles. Enjoy the enrapturing scenery of Island beaches, warm sun, and the blue sea. We touch land at Mykonos in the afternoon and have time at this charming town filled with restaurants, shops, and old-world appeal. In the evening, the discos come alive. Don’t forget to set aside time to see the magnificent sunset.
Evening: We return to the ship for dinner and to retire for the night. Sail on to Ephesus.
Today: We find ourselves at Mt. Koressos. Tucked away in a small valley, the Virgin Mary is known to have spent her last days in a small house at the site of this humble chapel we visit. Moving on to Ephesus, we pass through the Magnesian Gate and enter into perhaps the most incredible excavation we will see on this trip. See the Great Theatre where St. Paul preached, which held a crowd of up to 24,000 people. Moving back, we pass along the Arcadian Way, walking in the footsteps of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. Enjoy some time exploring the beautiful town of Kusadasi before we board the ship for lunch and head to Patmos. We arrive at Skala Harbow and quaint white houses, shopping, restaurants, and colorful flowers. Home to the cave where St. John lived and is believed to have written the book of Revelation, Patmos also offers us the chance to visit the nearby monastery, filled with precious icons and manuscripts (guided tour is optional).
Evening: We return to the ship for dinner and to retire for the night. Sail on to Crete.
Today: We visit the ruins of Knossos, a short drive from Heklion’s center. We also see the Knossos Palace, Venetian fortresses, museums, as well as fine examples of Greek aesthetic architecture. The outdoor market, teeming with life, must be seen and appreciated as all essential and not-so-essential goods are bought and sold. Back on our ship, we sail to Santorini where the stunning landscape is highlighted with the volcanic crater barely submerged in the sea. The island of Santorini is home to many shops and cafes scattered among scenic white houses where will have the chance to visit (guided tour is optional).
Evening: We return to the ship for dinner and to retire for the night.
Today: We return to Athens to board our flight to Istanbul. Depending on your arrival time in Istanbul we will have a city tour.
Evening: Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Today: We will enjoy a tour of the city that will include the Hagia Sophia, it is the former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral. Built-in AD 360, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have “changed the history of architecture”. We also visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque (famous for its mosaics), the Underground Cisterns, the Chora Church, which houses a magnificent display of oriental iconography and mosaics. In the afternoon we depart for Canakkale.
Evening: Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
Today: Visit ancient Alexandria to reach ancient Troy, inhabited since 3000 BC, and famous for the great wooden horse that played such an important role in the Trojan War. Return to Istanbul.
Evening: Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
Today: A boat trip through the Bosphorus Strait. We will visit the palace – the museum of Topkapi, which was the royal palace of the Sultans. Then, we go to the Church of San Antonio where we will celebrate mass. Next, we visit a place where the famous Turkish carpets are made. Finally the Grand Bazaar. We will have free time to shop as well as explore on our own.
Evening: Dinner and accommodation will be in a restaurant with a typical show of belly dances.
Today: A boat trip through the Bosphorus Strait. We will visit the palace – museum of Topkapi, which was the royal palace of the Sultans. Then, we go to the Church of San Antonio where we will celebrate mass. Next, we visit a place where the famous Turkish carpets are made. Finally the Grand Bazaar. We will have free time to shop as well as explore on our own.
Evening: Dinner and accommodation will be in a restaurant with a typical show of belly dances.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Round-trip airfare
All airport taxes and fuel surcharges
First-class hotels
Prices based on double occupancy
Land transportation
Breakfast and dinner
Sightseeing/admissions fees
Daily Masses
Professional local guides
Printed promotional brochures and marketing materials
Medical Protection Plan
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Trip cancellation insurance (strongly recommended)
Passport & visa costs
Tips for the tour manager, guides, and driver
Personal items/expenses (hotel extras, laundry, phone calls, etc.)
GALLERY
PLAN A TRIP
Booking your spiritual journey with Nativity Pilgrimage relieves you of all the hassles. There is no need to worry about the logistics such as flights, hotels, guides and timing. Invite your parish, family & friends and let Nativity do the rest! When you choose Nativity Pilgrimage you won’t have to worry about the details; hotels, flights, Mass venues, language and cultural barriers or marketing materials.
Our team is always available to ensure the process is simple and seamless. We provide comprehensive support, process all reservations, handle all accounting, invoicing and payment processing, issue travel documents and answer any questions that come up during the process.
We will walk you through all of your options for each itinerary and our expert team will make sure we create the pilgrimage of a lifetime.
TRAVEL PROTECTION
Although travel insurance is optional, it is highly recommended. Be prepared for unforeseen events that can leave you to cancel your trip, or worse, with out-of-pocket expenses! We have partnered with Trawick Insurance to offer you coverage for the unexpected. Buy it now upon registration to get “cancel for any reason.” There are 2 options for travel insurance:
- Buy directly online through our website after submitting the application
- Buy insurance from your own insurance company.