Footsteps of the Apostles

with Tim & Merridie Costello

Duration
18
Departure
21 April 2025
Price from
$9,249

INFORMATION SESSIONS

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OVERVIEW

Join Tim and Merridie Costello on a journey in the Footsteps of the Apostles Paul and John, who were passionate about sharing the good news of the gospel to the ends of the earth.

The Costellos have led tours for Selah in 2019 & 2023, so they are now true experts!

Join us in the European spring time to revisit key moments in the book of Acts, other Epistles and the apocalyptic book of Revelation.

This tour is sure to be informative, fun, prayerful and guaranteed to stay with you as a wonderful memory for years to come.

Tim and Merridie Costello are household names in Christian circles.

Tim worked with World Vision Australia for 15 years. He is now the Executive Director of Micah Australia and a Senior Fellow for Centre for Public Christianity. Merridie has worked in pastoral care and Chaplaincy.

Tim and Merridie lived and studied theology in Europe for 3.5 years in the 1980’s where their interest in the Reformation and especially, as good Baptists, the Radical Reformation flourished. They both love history and theology.

Tim and Merridie have led two previous tours through Greece and Turkey which were a great success and a fun and inspiring travel experience. This tour also promises to be informative, fun and impactful.

Space is strictly limited so register now!

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ITINERARY

Today we travel from Australia to Athens, Greece.

Included Meals: None

All guest must be available for a briefing meeting at 6.00pm followed by dinner at 7.00pm. at the hotel.
Our hotel has a spectacular view of the Parthenon from the rooftop.

HOTEL: Divani Palace Hotel, Athens

Included Meals:

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A time of devotion will be facilitated by Tim and Merridie in the hotel before commencing our tour of Athens. Climb up the marble capped Acropolis Hill to see the Parthenon and Erechtheion Temples. We will then walk to nearby Mars Hill where Paul delivered his well-known sermon about “the Unknown God” (Acts 17:23) as well as many other sites that Athens is famous for. Lunch and an afternoon at leisure before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Hotel: Divani Palace Hotel, Athens

Included Meals:

B
D
After an early breakfast, we check out and board our coach at 8.00am to start our trip north. We’ll drive along the coastal highway of the Saronic Gulf and reach the historic Corinth Canal for a brief stop for photos and refreshments. We will then visit the ancient site of Corinth and the nearby small archaeological museum where we will share time for devotions. We will return to Athens for our last night there.

HOTEL: Divani Palace Hotel, Athens

Included Meals:

B
D
After breakfast this morning, we check-out of our hotel and board the bus to enjoy a spectacular drive up to the Meteora Monasteries. We will visit a monastery in Meteora. We will have a short lunch break (lunch at own expense) in Kalambaka and then return to the hotel for some free time before dinner.

HOTEL: Divani Meteora Hotel, Kalambaka

Included Meals:

B
D
Morning devotions before we depart from the hotel. We will visit another Monastery in Meteora and then drive to a workshop where icons are made. Afterwards, drive to Thessaloniki passing through Veria (known biblically as Berea Acts 17:10). We’ll continue on to Thessaloniki where we’ll check-in at our seaside hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

HOTEL: Golden Star, Thessaloniki

Included Meals: None

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will worship with a local congregation. After church we will visit the city centre to see the highlights of the second largest city of Greece. We will drive on Via Egnatia, the road that run from Rome to Byzantium. We will see the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda, actually St. George Basilica. We will then enjoy the breathtaking views of Thessalonica from the Old City Walls stretching down on the waters of the Thermaic Gulf and we will see the landmark of the city, the White Tower. Continue on foot to the Vlatadon Monastery and then return to the city centre for free time This afternoon, an optional visit to St Demetrius Church, or free time to shop and explore. Return to hotel in the afternoon.

Hotel: Golden Star, Thessaloniki

Included Meals:

B
D
We depart from Thessaloniki this morning and drive to Philippi to visit the site and baptistery of Lydia. We’ll have a time of reflection by the river.
Following a lunch break and some free time in beautiful seaside Kavala, we return to Thessaloniki to have dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

HOTEL: Golden Star, Thessaloniki

Included Meals:

B
D
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll transfer to the airport in Thessaloniki for our morning flight to Istanbul.
TK1882 Thessaloniki to Istanbul Departing 9:30am Arriving 11:00a.m.

On arrival visit the Grand Covered bazaar. We will then check in to our room. Rest of the day at leisure. Tonight, we will be joined by our friends from Elam Ministries who will tell us about the work they are doing in Turkey and beyond sharing the gospel.

Hotel: Radisson Hotel President Beyazit, Istanbul

Included Meals:

B
D
We will visit Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Hippodrome Square in the morning.
The afternoon is free time to perhaps shop or enjoy a boat ride on the Bosphorus River.
Today dinner is at our own expense to discover the Turkish cuisine, or perhaps enjoy a Turkish bath. We will return to the hotel for overnight.

Hotel: Radisson Hotel President Beyazit, Istanbul

Included Meals:

B
Today, those who have chosen to visit Gallipoli will be collected from the hotel (approximately 6am) for the drive to Gallipoli. You will visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, Johnston Jollity and trenches as well as Kabatepe War Museum before returning to Istanbul at approximately 9pm.

Those who are staying in Istanbul have a free day to explore this incredible this city - perhaps have a Turkish bath, do some shopping at the Grand Bazaar or enjoy one of Istanbul’s many fabulous eateries for lunch.

HOTEL: Radisson Hotel President Beyazit , Istanbul

Included Meals:

B
This morning we farewell Istanbul and travel to IST airport for our domestic flight to Kayseri.
TK 2014 Istanbul to Kayseri Departing 11:05am Arriving 12:35pm

On arrival, we visit Goreme Open Air Museum where you will enjoy the fantastic rock churches and beautiful frescos from various centuries. and then descend into the centre of the earth in the Kaymakli Underground City one of the largest and the deepest of 200 in Cappadocia. It’s where the early church hid persecution and is a maze of honeycomb like tunnels.
If time allows, we also visit Pigeons Valley to see how people carved pigeon houses to resemble their own.
Check in to our delightful cave hotel for dinner & overnight.


Hotel: Gamirasu Cave Hotel , Cappadocia

Included Meals:

B
D
This morning, an optional excursion to enjoy a spectacular hot air balloon ride across the Goreme Valley over the Fairy Chimneys. Following the balloon flight and breakfast we start our Cappadocia tour.

Get ready for a blast of nature as we hike magnificent Ihlara Canyon, a “mirage” in the Steps of Anatolia up to Belisirma village, the ancient Peristrema: “Valley of the Sky” along the Melendiz River. Rock-cut churches spread across a wild plantation and surprise you with their successfully painted representations from the Bible. Lunch break in Belisirma, a local restaurant by the river. We stop by Selime, a village with beautifully painted cave houses and monastery at the end of the canyon and a “star wars” like landscape. Visit the Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup which are the most popular.
Return to the hotel for our very own church service in the chapel at 6pm, followed by dinner.


Hotel: Gamirasu Cave Hotel , Cappadocia

Included Meals:

B
D
An early transfer this morning to Nevsehir airport for our flight to Izmir via Istanbul.
TK 2003 Nevsehir to Istanbul Departing 10:40am Arriving 12:20pm
TK 2326 Istanbul to Izmir Departing at 2:00pm Arriving 3:15pm

On arrival in Izmir, we will drive to Izmir city centre. We hope to visit the Church of St Polycarp (St Polycarp is being renovated and is scheduled to be open by today) If the church is not yet open for visitors, we will make our way to the Agora instead, before check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Bayrakli, Izmir

Included Meals:

B
D
After breakfast, we check out of the hotel. travelling to Ancient Sardis, one of the Seven Churches in the book of Revelation with its impressive Roman gymnasium and one of the largest synagogues ever excavated. After some free time for lunch we will make our way to Laodicea (also one of the Seven Churches) for a site visit. Our last stop is in Pamukkale. We will tour the Ancient Hierapolis and the Calcium Terraces (White Castle). We’ll then check-in to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Hotel: Colossae Thermal, Pamukkale

Included Meals:

B
D
This morning we depart for Selcuk where we visit the St. John Basilica and the ancient city of Ephesus. Here we’ll see the Baths of Scholastica, Temple of Hadrian, the library and the Great Theatre. After a lunch break, we continue our tour to the Temple of Artemis before our check-in at the hotel in Kusadasi and enjoy some rest by the pool at or lovely boutique hotel. At tonight’s dinner we farewell our Turkish guide and driver.

HOTEL: Charisma Deluxe Hotel, Kusadasi

Included Meals:

B
D
Early breakfast at hotel and check-out.
We will be transferred to the port of Kusadasi for embarkation on cruise ship to Patmos. We’ll bid farewell to our Turkish guide as we depart Turkey. After customs formalities, we will board our ferry for a relaxing journey to the Greek Island of Patmos. On arrival we enjoy a tour of Patmos from a local guide, including St John's Monastery & the Cave of the Apocalypse where it is believed that John wrote the Book of Revelation whilst under house arrest.
Dinner is at leisure tonight – a chance to enjoy some traditional cuisine one of the local restaurants.

Hotel: Skala Hotel, Patmos

Included Meals:

B
A full day in Patmos to relax today before our late check out this evening.

Tonight, we join together for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant where we will celebrate our incredible time together.

Hotel: Cabin on overnight ferry

Included Meals:

B
D
This morning, on arrival into Athens port we will be met and transferred to the Marriott hotel for a full buffet breakfast.

After breakfast, those not heading straight to the airport will be taken to the Plaka area for shopping & lunch, before transferring to Athens Airport for your departure flight back home.

Included Meals:

B

Highlights

  • Athens
  • Ancient Corinth and the Corinth canal
  • Meteora monasteries
  • Biblical towns of Beria, Thessaloniki, Philippi
  • Lydia’s Baptistry
  • Istanbul
  • Cappadocia
  • 4 Churches of Revelation: Laodicea, Sardis, Ephesus, Smyrna
  • Istanbul
  • Patmos

Map

Destinations

TOUR INCLUDES

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Travel with
like-minded people

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Christian
Tour Leaders

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Option of land
only package

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Option of upgrading
to single room

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Meals

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Sights and entry
fees listed

OUR PRICING

Pricing

Category Description Twin PP Single
Tour only $9,249.00 $11,845.00
Tour & airfare from Australia flying Emirates (subj to availability) $12,099.00 $14,695.00

This tour is sold out. Please contact us to be added to the waitlist

Inclusions
Exclusions
Departure Date Booking
21 April 2025 BOOK NOW

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