Walk among the ancient ruins of Corinth, where Paul once shared the message of Jesus beneath the shadow of Apollo’s temple. Discover the flavors of Turkey on a guided food tour through historic Ephesus. In Greece, take part in the olive harvest and enjoy a fresh farm-to-table lunch surrounded by timeless landscapes. All along the way, you'll explore the ancient and modern landmarks of this beautiful region. This immersive tour blends history, scripture, and local traditions.

Join us as we experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of the lands where Paul’s journey unfolded!

Depart from the USA on our flight to Istanbul (IST)

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, welcome by English-speaking assistant and transfer to hotel. Remainder of day at leisure with dinner together in the evening. Overnight at hotel in Istanbul. (D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart from the hotel to visit the ancient city. We visit the Blue Mosque, well known for its interior decorations. Next, we visit the Hippodrome from the Byzantine period and then the Hagia Sophia, a stunning church from the 6th century. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Topkapi Palace, the residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, famous for its excellent collection of jewelry and porcelain. Overnight at hotel in Istanbul (B, L, D)

Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy a full-day tour with lunch, and visit the Grand Bazaar, then we will take a peaceful tour of the Bosphorus by boat, from which we will be able to contemplate the two shores: the Asian part and the European part. Lunch is at local restaurant. We continue the rest of the day by exploring the picturesque, Suleymaniye Mosque and Pierre Loti Hill. Today's Istanbul honors and preserves the legacy of its past while looking to its modern future. The variety of this city fascinates its visitors, for its museums, churches, palaces, mosques, and bazaars. We return to hotel for dinner. Overnight at hotel in Istanbul (B, L, D)

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, we transfer to the airport to take our flight to Izmir. Once we arrive, we will visit the Basilica of St. John and view the Temple of Artemis/Diana. From there, we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary, which is said to be the last resting place of the Mother of Jesus. We then continue to Ephesus. This is the best preserved ancient city in Asia Minor, which during the 1st and 2nd centuries had a population of 250,000 inhabitants, monopolizing the wealth of the Middle East at that time. We will visit several sites including the Temple of Hadrian, the Roman Baths, the Library, the Odeon, and the Theater. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Kusadasi (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast, we check out of our hotel and head out on a local food tour! First, we will visit a local food market to try the fresh vegetables and fruits. Next, we will visit a Turkish delight production center to see how this delicacy is made. Then, we will visit a local cheese, fish and spice market. We conclude our tour with a wine tasting and baklava tasting. Our day ends with our return to Izmir for an evening flight to Athens. Overnight in Athens (B, L)

After breakfast, we depart for a full day tour of Ancient Corinth, the city which was the center of trade for many centuries. To begin, we will stop at the famous channel, called the Isthmus in Greek, to photograph the place where the Peloponnese and central Greece meet, as well as the Aegean and Ionian seas. We will then visit Ancient Corinth with its amazing artifacts, some of which date back to 6000 B.C. 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. Our visit includes a stop at the museum in Corinth. At the end of the tour we return to Athens. Overnight in Athens. (B, L)

After breakfast at the hotel we travel directly to the center of Athens to start our full day panoramic city tour. Our expert guides will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896. Along our way we will also see the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, and the Constitution Square (Syntagma). On our tour of the Acropolis, we’ll 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 order in the mind”, the Parthenon. After this, we will take a walking tour in the traditional neighborhood of Plaka and visit the stunning Cathedral of Athens. At the end of the tour, we return to the hotel. Tonight, we’ll also enjoy an Authentic Greek dinner in the Plaka neighborhood. Overnight in Athens. (B, L, D)

Breakfast is at the hotel. Today, we immerse ourselves in the myths and monuments of classical Greece on a full-day tour of Delphi. We will explore the UNESCO-listed archeological site of Delphi with an expert guide and learn how the city was considered the ‘Center of the World’ in ancient Greece. Stand in awe before the dramatically situated Temple of Apollo, then discover long-lost wonders at the Delphi Archeological Museum, including the Charioteer of Delphi and the Sphinx of Naxos. Overnight in Athens. (B, L)

Breakfast is at the hotel. Today, we are invited to witness the olive harvest at an olive garden surrounded by nature, tradition and culture! This is a fun, relaxing and informative tour about olive oil. We start with a casual walk across the local family’s olive grove and visit the olive trees that produce the rare Manaki variety. Our guide will talk about the olive tree, the olive oil lifecycle, culture, history, myths and legends of olive oil. At the end of our walk, an olive oil tasting awaits us led by an Olive Oil Sommelier. This experience will change the way you see olive oil and will introduce you to a new world! We conclude our travel time together with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Athens. (B, L, D)

Today is the day we depart. Flights are out of Athens (ATH) for home.

*Registration Deadline is December 31, 2025

*Note about activity levels: While we make every effort to accommodate mobility needs, please note that this tour includes walking tours on uneven surfaces and stairs, standing for extended periods of time, bus tours on uneven roads, travel by boat/cruise rides, etc. For more information or questions regarding activity levels and mobility, please contact us.

*We can book your airfare for you or you are welcome to book your own. We would like to work with you on your arrival and departure times so that we can best arrange for transfers to and from the airport. All flights will arrive in Istanbul (IST) and depart from Thessaloniki (SKG). If booking through Sunlight Tours, airfare payments (not included in trip price) are due upon airfare booking.

*Travel insurance is highly recommended. As a way to help protect your trip experience, Sunlight Tours offers travel insurance options through our trusted travel partner, Yonder. Free quotes are available. Please contact us with any questions.

*A non-refundable deposit required for this trip: $500

Other payments due: first half payment is due by April 15, 2026 and final payment is due by July 15, 2026. If booking through Sunlight Tours, airfare payments (not included in trip price) are due upon airfare booking.

*Cash/Check/Credit Cards accepted.

Sarah Raymond (Sunlight Tours Trip Director) is passionate about travel and the way it opens us up to the world. Learning the stories of other people and places broadens our own perspective and understanding. Sarah has been leading trips for almost 20 years, but in 2019, she made the leap and started her own tour company. Sunlight Tours has taken groups to Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Belize, Italy, Ireland, Wales, Greece and Turkey. In 2025, Sarah and the team are thrilled to add Scotland and Turks & Caicos to the growing list! Sarah lives near Grand Forks, ND with her children and a lot of plants. Learn more about what we have brewing in our travel mugs (brains) at www.sunlighttours.org.

Rev. Dr. Joe Clifford (Trip Host)

Joe serves as Pastor of Myers Park Presbyterian Church. Over his twenty-nine years of ordained ministry he has sought to teach and faithfully proclaim the gospel from Atlanta to Dallas to Charlotte. He loves meeting people at the intersection of the Bible and the real world. He is passionate about building relationships through practicing the faith together.

Joe is excited about this opportunity to explore the frontiers of the first century church as it spread into Asia Minor and Greece, trusting God has something we can learn from our ancestors as we navigate the frontiers of faith in the 21st century.