By Land and Sea: A Pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece 2025
A 15-Day Excursion
May 26, 2025 – June 9, 2025
Embark on a spiritually enriching journey that weaves together ancient biblical history, stunning landscapes, and cultural exploration. Your adventure begins in Istanbul, Turkey, where you’ll delve into the rich history of Byzantium and Constantinople. Our path then leads us through the Turkish countryside where we gain insights into the Seven Churches mentioned in the book of Revelation. Our journey continues by cruise ship as we explore the Greek Islands of Patmos, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini. We finish this journey in Greece where we see the intersection of Paul’s work with the story of the ancient Greeks.
meet our trip host:
The Rev. Meredith Crigler
After years of study, I am excited to journey with you as we explore many of the churches and land of the New Testament. I have read Ephesians more times than I can count; now, it will come alive in a new way as we read from it in Ephesus. I’ve heard the stories of the thin place that is the Island of Patmos where the seer John wrote Revelation; now we will set our feet on its shores and make our way to its grotto. Embodiment grounds much of my own spiritual practice; this pilgrimage will invite us in a new way to embody God’s Word and stories from the early church.
The Rev. Meredith Crigler is an Episcopal priest ordained in 2010, currently serving as the Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Baytown, TX. Since 2016, she has also served with Backstory Preaching and is their Steward for Formation, training mentors and offering instruction in spirituality, process, and the craft of preaching. Meredith serves as co-chair for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Global Partnerships in Mission and on the board of the wider Global Episcopal Mission Network. She is a Certified Daring Way® Facilitator, Certified Dare to Lead® Facilitator, Community Wellness Advocate with Living Compass, and offers spiritual direction through The Well at Trinity: Center for Healing and Wholeness. Meredith has traveled extensively across the United States and twenty-four countries/territories and over the years has facilitated and presented at numerous events, retreats, and pilgrimages.
Meredith is passionate about mission, re-formation, sabbath, preaching, biblical studies, and embracing discernment. She will graduate with a doctorate (of ministry) in preaching in May 2024, focusing on preaching Holy Saturday. She lives just east of Houston, TX, with her spouse Tim, dog Thurgood, and cat Pangur. Her core values are wholeness, wonder, authenticity, and grace. Meredith is fond of traveling, art, laughing, sunshine, forest bathing, DIY projects, and conspiring with God.
meet our Sunlight Tours Trip Director:
Sarah Raymond
Co-Founder and Director of Sunlight Tours LLC
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Cost (not including airfare to/from US):
$5490.00 per person (double occupancy)
Single Supplement: $1105
Includes:
- Airport Transfers
- Transfer Flight within Greece (from Athens to Thessaloniki)
- Hotel Accommodations
- 3 Night Cruise including full room, board, port taxes, and tips
- A cruise shore excursion on Patmos to St. John’s Monastery
- Some Meals & Beverages (as indicated in the itinerary)
- Entrance & Speaker Fees
- Transportation by private bus
- Some Tips/Gratuities for guides, drivers, hotel staff (as indicated in itinerary)
- Expert English-speaking Trip Guide
- Dedicated Tour Host from Sunlight Tours
- Whisper Sound System to clearly hear the guide's presentation while touring sites
Does not Include:
- International Airfare*
- Incidentals/personal expenses
- Optional excursions for Crete and Santorini (selected through cruise line)
- Some meals and beverages (as indicated by the itinerary)
- Any passport/visa fees not already indicated in itinerary
- Travel insurance**
- All other services/gratuities not mentioned as included
Trip Notes:
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 at Istanbul Airport (IST) and depart from Thessaloniki Airport, Greece (SKG).
**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 and special group rates are available. Please contact us with any questions.
Non-refundable deposit required for this trip: $500
Other payments due: November 26, 2024 and final payment is due by February 26, 2025. Airfare payments (not included in trip price) are due upon airfare booking.
Cash/Check/Credit Cards accepted.
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*meals provided listed in ( )
Day 1 Monday, May 26- Depart from the USA on our flight to Istanbul (IST)
Day 2 Tuesday, May 27- 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)
Day 3 Wednesday, May 28- 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. Stop for included lunch at a local restaurant, then visit Baylan, the oldest surviving pastry shop in Istanbul and try Kup Griye. After lunch, 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)
Day 4 Thursday, May 29- 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)
Day 5 Friday, May 30- Breakfast at hotel. Early in the morning we will depart for Nicea, where you will see remnants of the Haghia Sophia of Nicea and the Green Mosque. Then we will continue to the town of Bursa. Enjoy views of the picturesque countryside, famous for its green hues, and learn about its role in the Ottoman Empire. We will visit the town’s Grand Mosque and shop for souvenirs at the Covered Bazaar and Old Silk Market. Overnight at hotel in Bursa (B, D)
Day 6 Saturday, May 31- After breakfast at the hotel in Bursa, we will depart for Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia. We will continue to Pergamum. There, you will explore the impressive Acropolis, the real ancient city, and see the Altar of Zeus, mentioned as the throne of Satan, the Temple of Trajan and the third largest Library of antiquity. We will then continue our visit by car to Thyatira, now called Akhisar. There, we will see the remains of a basilica and some architectural fragments from the Roman period. We return to hotel and overnight at hotel in Izmir (B, D)
Day 7 Sunday, June 1- Breakfast at hotel. Early in the morning we will depart for Sardis, where you will see the large temple that later became a Byzantine church. We will also visit the restored gymnasium and the Synagogue. We will then continue our journey to Philadelphia (the only church not found missing), currently called Alasehir. There, we will see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built in brick, with some high arches and some frescoes from the 11th century. Philadelphia is mentioned in the Book of Revelation as one of the Seven Churches of Asia. Afterwards, we will head to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Pamukkale (B, D)
Day 8 Monday, June 2- Breakfast at hotel. Today, we visit the ancient Hierápolis and the Cotton Castle, a natural wonder of gigantic white waterfalls, stalactites and natural pools formed over the centuries by the passage of waters laden with limestone salts, coming from hot springs. We then drive to Laodicea, where you will walk through the city's ancient streets and see the ancient structures. Then will continue to the ancient city of Ephesus. There, you will walk through history along the marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings such as the Termas da Escolástica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Theater. After that, you will visit Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Finally we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a place considered to be the last home of the mother of Jesus. Before heading to Kusadasi we will visit a leather goods outlet store where we can see the famous leather fabrics from the Aegean region. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Kusadasi. (B, D)
Day 9 Tuesday, June 3- In the morning, after breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the port of Kusadasi and embark on our 3-night cruise on the Iconic Aegean. We set sail to the Island of Patmos. Here we will take an excursion to St. John’s Monastery. Embarkation at indicated time to set sail to Rhodes. Full pension on board the cruise. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Wednesday, June 4- Arrival at the Island of Rhodes around 7am. You´ll have the opportunity to visit the medieval Rhodes and the acropolis of Lindos, with the ancient temple of Athena built in 300 BC. You will have the opportunity to see the houses of the captains and the Church of Our Mrs. Lindos, the acropolis with the Doric temple of Athena, which was built on a previous monument. Then, in the city of Rhodes, go through the Porta d'Amboise to walk along the street of the knights, where you will see the residences of the knights separated according to the order and whose shields they still display today. Boarding again at 6pm with departure to Crete. (Full pension on board)
Day 11 Thursday, June 5- Arrival at the Island of Crete and disembarkation. Departure at the time is set by the cruise boat 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 view of Santorini, arrival, and disembarkation. Optional excursions will be available for both Crete and Santorini. We then head towards Athens. (Full pension on board)
Day 12 Friday, June 6- Early morning arrival in the port of Lavrio to begin the day’s excursion. We begin our day with a panoramic tour of Christian Athens including a visit to the Acropolis, the Areopagus where St Paul delivered his famous sermon about the identity of "the Unknown God” (Acts 17:15-34). We also see the Kallimármaro Stadium, dating back to 330BC and restored for the first modern Olympic Games held here in 1896. We then proceed to Corinth through the Bay of Salamis and the Saronic Gulf. This city was home to the apostle Paul for over a year and inspired two of his most familiar letters, teaching the people the Word of God and converting many. Spend time at the Corinthian Canal then tour the ruins of this ancient city. On arrival we will view the Erastus inscription dating back to the first century AD and concerning a Christian convert, Erastus (Rom 16:23) who was the ‘director of public works’ in Corinth. We visit the ancient ruins and see the site where he preached the Gospel from the Rostrum. See the Peirene fountain, and the 6th century BC Temple of Apollo before an outdoor Mass in this stunning pilgrimage setting. Finally we come to Cenchreae, the ancient port from where St Paul said farewell to the believers and departed for Ephesus (Acts 18:18). Return to Athens at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight in Athens. (B, D)
Day 13 Saturday, June 7- Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, we transfer to the airport to take our flight to Thessaloniki. With our arrival in Thessaloniki, we have entered into the world of the New Testament where St Paul and his companions established the first Christian communities throughout his four missionary journeys. On arrival we will be meet at the airport and tour together the ancient city where Paul planted a church that would later receive two New Testament epistles. View one of the most beautiful basilicas in the city, St. Demetrius. Continue along the waterfront to the massive White Tower and nearby triumphal Arch of Galerius. After the tour, we head to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. (B, D)
Day 14 Sunday, June 8- Breakfast at the hotel. We begin the day in the port of Kavala where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. This port was also a destination for Luke the evangelist when he sailed from Troas. There we see a Byzantine castle, the Roman Aqueduct, and the ruins of an acropolis. Follow the Via Egnatia, a remnant of Rome’s highway system, viewing Roman and Greek tombs and ruts of ancient chariot wheels. Next, stop in Philippi, where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the very first Christian convert on European soil. Among the ruins located on the rocky ledge above the town’s main road is the prison into which Paul and Silas were thrown. It was in Philippi that Octavian and Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. (B, D)
Day 15 Monday, June 9- Today is the day we depart. Morning flights are out of Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) for home.
