Join Rev. Marty Tollefson - First Lutheran Church, Fargo, as we walk the lands and sail the waters where St. Paul journeyed, proclaiming the gospel of Christ.
This inspiring journey will take us to historic towns and ancient ruins in Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus—places where Paul preached, nurtured early Christian communities, and later sent his beloved letters. As we stand in these sacred spaces, we’ll hear those same scriptures read aloud, bringing Paul’s words to life in their original context.
We’ll sail to the Island of Patmos, where St. John received his Revelation, and explore other islands where early converts built some of Christianity’s first places of worship. In Meteora, we’ll marvel at the monasteries suspended among the clouds.
In Athens, we’ll ascend the Acropolis to visit the Parthenon and stand on Mars Hill, where Paul boldly preached as recorded in Acts 17. There will also be time to wander the vibrant streets of the city, savor local cuisine, and soak in Greek culture.
This is more than a tour—it’s a journey of faith, learning, and renewal. Return home with a deeper understanding of Paul’s mission and the early church, and with your spirit refreshed by the beauty and hospitality of Greece.
DETAILS:
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Trip departs on June 6, 2026, and returns on June 16, 2026
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Flight itinerary and cost will be posted here in September.
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If you’re booking your own flights, please arrange to arrive in Athens (ATH) and depart from Athens (ATH).
PRICING:
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$3,790.00 per person based on double occupancy - Land Only
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Single room supplement - $990
PAYMENT PLAN:
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$300.00 deposit per person with registration to secure space
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Balance due on or before February 7, 2026
REGISTRATION:
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Registering online? Click the "BOOK NOW" button and fill out the online form; you can pay by check or with a credit card (a 4% platform fee applies)
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Registering by mail? Please download and complete the registration form (both the personal information page and the terms and conditions page signed at the bottom) with a copy of your passport and a deposit of $300.00 per person made payable to Elias Tours and mail to: 4941 Chalden Ln NE, Marietta, GA 30066
FLIGHT SCHEDULE:
AA3526 06JUN FAR - DFW 1103A 145P
AA 216 06JUN DFW - ATH 400P 1140A 07JUN
AA 217 16JUN ATH - DFW 1105A 430P
AA3450 16JUN DFW - FAR 650P 931P
The Flight cost with this itinerary is $1,600
* Flight times, flight numbers, equipment, gates, and seats are subject to change. For the most current information, check the airline website.
What is included in the tour
- 10 nights in 4-star hotels (double occupancy)
- 3-day cruise
- Patmos and Ephesus Excursion
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Lunch on the Cruise
- Entrance fee to all sites
- All ground transportation in a private tour bus
What is NOT included in the tour
- Gratuities for the guide and driver
- Airfare
- Lunch (Except on the Boat)
- Visa if Applicable
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is not included in the purchase price. For your convenience, we offer travel insurance through *Travelex Insurance Services. For questions, quotes, or to purchase travel insurance, visit Travelex Insurance or call (800) 228-9792 and use the code 26-0057 for Elias Tours.
Explore the land of Greece, Turkey as the history of the New Testament comes alive. Retrace the voyages of Paul as you learn about the early church and the spread of the Gospel. Start your journey in Athens and Corinth, then into Ephesus, as you make your way to Patmos.
Day 1, June 06: Departure from the USA
Depart from the US for an overnight flight to Athens, Greece.
Day 2, June 07: Beginning the Footsteps of Paul - Athens
Upon arrival at Athens Airport, welcome by English-speaking assistant and transfer to hotel.
The remainder of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Athens.
Day 3, June 08: Athens - Olympia
Breakfast at the hotel and we travel in Olympia, admiring the splendors of this unique place where the ancient Greek ideas of unity, peace and fair play flourished. See the impressive ruins of Hera and Zeus’s Temples, the Leonidaion, the Workshop of the sculptor Pheidias and of course, the famous Stadium where the Olympic Games were held. Also visit the Museum with its new display of amazing pieces of sculpture, pottery and the architectural remains of the ancient edifices. Don’t miss the pride of this museum, the “Hermes” of Praxiteles, one of the most wonderful ancient statues ever made. Dinner and overnight in Olympia.
Day 4, June 09: Olympia - Delphi
Breakfast at the hotel and we begin our exploration of the ancient site of Delphi. The Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke, was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious center and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world. In the evening dinner and overnight in Delphi.
Day 5, June 10: Delphi - Meteora - Kalambaka
Breakfast at the hotel and we begin to travel directly to Meteora: 24 perpendicular rocks where 600 years ago Byzantine monks chose to worship God and build their cave-like Monastic community. Take in the striking monasteries that crown the summits of these pinnacles with their wooden
galleries and corniced rooftops. Dangerously hanging over the stunning abysses, these dwellings compose one of the most fascinating sites on earth. A special treat awaits with a visit to one of these timeless monasteries to see the exquisite specimens of Byzantine art on display. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Kalambaka.
Day 6, June 11: Kalambaka - Athens
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Drive to Athens for a sightseeing tour and an Acropolis visit. On the Acropolis visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts the order in the mind”, the Parthenon. Check-in at a hotel in Athens for dinner and overnight.
Day 7, June 12: Athens - Start the 3-night cruise - Mykonos
Begin the day with a drive to the Port of Lavrio and step aboard The Celestyal Discovery, to start a 4-day Greek Islands cruise. Spend the afternoon exploring the Island of Mykonos, world-renowned for its lovely windmills, small cobblestone streets, and countryside. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight.
Day 8, June 13: Kusadasi - Ephesus - Patmos
Step off the ship at Kusadasi and into nearby Ephesus, Turkey, Asia Minor’s greatest archeological site. This Greek and Roman city has been remarkably preserved. Step along with the broad marble where Paul walked. Gaze at the Temple of Artemis (Diana), the Temple of Hadrian, and The Celsus Library. Marvel at the massive theater where Paul was opposed as he spoke boldly about Christ. In the afternoon, enjoy cruising aboard to the island of Patmos, built on a mass of volcanic rock. The island marks the site where the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation. Visit the Monastery of St. John and the cave where he was imprisoned. Our tour continues as we head to some of the more desolate landscapes of the island, typical of the Dodecanese. Rocky hills, barren soil and promontories jutting into the sea creating dozens of coves and bays making up an intricate coastline. Here you might reflect on the legend of how the island lay at the bottom of the sea and how Zeus was prevailed upon to allow it to rise from the water. Which he did. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight.
Day 9, June 14: Crete – Santorini
Visit the Island of Crete - Heraklion, then to the famous island of Santorini, formed by the half-submerged crescent of a volcanic caldera. Perched atop high cliffs, reach the island's breathtaking views. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight.
Day 10, June 15: Disembark - Corinth - Athens
Arrival at the Port and after breakfast, disembarkation. Depart for a full-day tour to Ancient Corinth, which was the center of trade for many centuries. To begin, we will stop at the famous channel, called the Isthmus in Greek, the place where the Peloponnese and central Greece meet, as well as the Aegean and Ionian seas. The canal was completed at the end of the 19th century by the government of Charilaos Trikoupis and saves ships the more than 400 km it takes to go around the Peloponnese peninsula. We will visit Ancient Corinth with its amazing artifacts, some of which date back to 6000 B.C. The remains of the city, which include the agora (market) and the temple of Apollo (6th century BC) clearly show how rich and important Corinth was in antiquity. The Romans rebuilt the city in 44 B.C. to later make it the provincial capital of Greece. On our way back to Athens, we will make a brief stop at the site of the ancient port of Cehries, where Saint Paul disembarked from Thessaloniki. For Christians, Corinth is mentioned in the New Testament, when Saint Paul addressed the residents of the city in his two epistles, First and Second Corinthians. It is mentioned again in the Acts of the Apostles during the evangelical work of Saint Paul. At the end of the tour return to Athens for dinner and overnight.
Day 11, June 16: Athens - USA
Following breakfast at our hotel, we are met by our English-speaking concierge for our private transfer to Athens Airport (ATH). We fly home and arrive the same day.
