Join us on this wonderful journey In the Footsteps of Paul through Turkey, Greece, and Italy
October 4-18, 2025
Greetings! Brent Isbell, Kevin Montgomery, and Steve Austin would like to invite you to be part of TIBI’s inaugural trip to Turkey, Greece, and Italy, including a short Mediterranean islands cruise, from October 4-18, 2025.
Transform your perceptions of biblical sites, stories, and other texts, as the Bible goes from 2-D to 3-D, and from black-and-white to color! Read countless passages in a completely new light. Create lifelong bonds with family members, friends, and even new acquaintances.
We look forward to you reserving one or more of the 45 available spots on this tour. You can download the full brochure here.
DAILY ITINERARY
Saturday, October 4 Depart from Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston Turkish Air 0034 to Istanbul, at 8:55 PM
Sunday, October 5 Arrive Istanbul, 5:10 PM. Fly to Denizli (DNZ) Turkish Air 2578, at 6:25 -7:35 PM. Transfer to Doga Thermal Hotel
Monday, October 6 We start the day at Hierapolis, where the famous hot springs have been used as a spa since at least the 2nd century BC. Philip the evangelist also preached and died here as a martyr. Then we go to Laodicea, one of the 7 churches of Revelation, rebuked by Jesus. Finally, we visit the archaeological dig in Colossae and have a special session with the site director, Dr. Kener. This evening we fly back to Istanbul on Turkish Air 2579, 8:20-9:45 PM, stay at the Moevenpick Hotel.
Tuesday, October 7 We spend the day in Istanbul, formerly the capital of Emperor Constantine—Constantinople, a significant part of Roman and Byzantine church history. It boasts such famous sites as the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia church, the hippodrome, the Istanbul Museum, the large bazaar, and the Bosphorus Straits, among others. Fly to Thessaloniki (SKG) on Turkish Air 1893, 6:55-8:15 PM. Stay at Capsis Hotel.
Wednesday, October 8 See Philippi, a major missionary effort of Paul–the first church established in Europe. We return to tour part of ancient Thessaloniki and stay overnight at the Capsis Hotel.
Thursday, October 9 We head south toward Athens. On the way we skirt Berea, go near Mount Olympus, and then to Meteora with its fascinating Byzantine monasteries. We then pass by Thermopylae, tour the ancient oracle and the temple of Apollo at Delphi. Overnight in Delphi at the Amalia Hotel.
Friday, October 10 Leave for Athens, then at 1 PM we embark our Celestyal Cruise ship, departing Athens for Mykonos. We will have free time to explore part of this island of windmills, shops, cafes, and lovely whitewashed buildings. Overnight we cruise to Kusadasi.
Saturday, October 11 We leave the ship early from Kusadasi to enjoy an included excursion to the nearby site of Ephesus in Western Turkey. Acts tells us Paul spent three years here preaching and teaching. We’ll see the Library of Celsus, the Agora, the Theater, the temple of Artemis, and more. Then we return to the ship to cruise quickly to Patmos, where the apostle John was exiled and wrote the book of Revelation. Overnight we travel to Crete.
Sunday, October 12 We begin with another included excursion to the island of Crete, where Titus ministered to the church and named elders. We will visit Heraklion and the Knossos excavations. In the afternoon we move on to strikingly beautiful Santorini, perhaps the most picturesque of all the Greek islands with its blue domed churches and white houses overlooking the sea. Overnight we cruise back towards Athens.
Monday, October 13 We disembark at Lavrio port at 6 AM, then drive an hour to Corinth, where Paul worked for 18 months and recruited his co-workers Priscilla and Aquila. We will visit the Forum, the archaeological museum, the Bema where Paul was on trial before Gallio, the Temple of Apollo, the Acrocorinth, and the famous canal. On our way back to Athens we pass by the harbor of Cenchreae to the Hotel Divani Palace.
Tuesday, October 14 We rise early to enjoy the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and Mars Hill. On a brief bus tour we will see part of the government buildings, the old Olympic stadium, and the Temple of Zeus. Later we can either walk or take a cable car to Lycabetus, the highest point in Athens, then return to the Divani overnight.
Wednesday, October 15 We leave our hotel for the airport and fly to Naples on U2 4166 (Easyjet) at 1-1:50 PM. As we drive through the city, we’ll learn about the cathedral Duomo de San Gennaro, Royal Palace, and the Castel Nuovo. We head next to the famous ruins of Pompeii, where the eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the city shortly after Paul’s death in Rome. At 5:30 PM we leave for Rome, stopping for dinner en route at 7 PM. We spend three nights at the Mama Shelter Hotel.
Thursday, October 16 We begin a full day early at Vatican City, which includes the Vatican museum full of priceless works of art, the Sistine Chapel, the Basilica of St Peter, and the Piazza San Pietro. Free time for lunch. We then drive to visit the Catacombs where early Christians worshipped, and continue to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Transfer back to the hotel.
Friday, October 17 On our last day in Rome we’ll tour the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, the Arch of Titus, and the Mamertine prison, where Paul may have been imprisoned. In the afternoon we’ll see the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon. We return to the Hotel Mama Shelter for our last night in the city. This day will be done mostly on foot. The bus will be used only for return transfer (hotel to Colosseum, pantheon to hotel).
Saturday, October 18 We rise early for our transfer to the Leonardo DaVinci (FCO) airport. We fly Turkish Air 1362 to Istanbul, at 6:45 – 10:45 AM, then Turkish Air 0033 from Istanbul to Houston, at 2:10 PM to 7:10 PM.
TOUR CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION
The price for this unforgettable experience is $6799 per person, which includes:
- Round-trip international air fare between Houston-Istanbul and Rome-Houston on economy class
- Istanbul – Denizli flight
- Denizli-Thessaloniki morning flight
- Athens-Naples morning flight
- 10 nights in 4-star hotels
- 3 nights on cruise ship
- Daily buffet breakfasts and dinners
- Shore excursions to Ephesus and Patmos
- All airport-hotel-port transfers
- All land transportation by private fully A/C Bus with driver
- English-speaking licensed tour guides in Turkey, Greece, and Italy
- All tips to guides, drivers, porters, and hotel staff
- All entry fees to sites visited
- FM units and headsets
NOT INCLUDED IN COST: U.S. passport fee, insurance, lunches, drinks, souvenirs, items of a personal nature, and any other items not specifically mentioned as being included.
You may choose to purchase or use miles for your own airfare, in which case you would pay just the land portion of $5799.
RESERVATION
A deposit of $300 per person is required to confirm space on the tour, due no later than September 2, 2024. Full balance payment is due on or before June 16, 2025.