EXPLORING GREECE IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PAUL
Much of the story of the New Testament recounts the spread of Jesus’ movement into the Greco-Roman world and the Roman Empire. As the Jewish followers of Jesus spread his movement, they confronted a world culturally, politically, and religiously opposed to them - a world very similar to what we live in today, where similar challenges face followers of Jesus.
Traveling to Greece with SEU students from a variety of campuses and other young adults will provide you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the Greco-Roman world, discover how first century followers of Jesus navigated their world, and better understand the historical accounts and teachings of the the New Testament.
The heart of this journey is to empower you to become the disciple God created you to be. By better understanding the world of the Bible, you will better understand the words of the Bible, transforming your ability to study it, do what it teaches, and share it with others. Join us for an experience unlike any other as we take you behind the scenes to explore the lands of the Bible in a way that will change your life forever.
Trip Host: Kelli Hohm
Kelli Hohm serves as the Academic Director for Southeastern University at the SEU Seacoast regional campus, along with supporting the Atlantic & New England network regions for SEU. She and her husband Jon have been married for 25 years, have three incredible kids ages 21, 17 and 13, and have lived in the Charleston area for the past 11 years. Kelli is passionate about college students and launched the partnership with Southeastern University and Seacoast Church in 2017, having served in a variety of roles over the years as the school has continued to form. She loves walking alongside next generation students, leaders, and anyone who has a passion to learn more about the Bible and how they are uniquely designed by God. She is honored to coordinate this expedition to Greece, and is excited to see all that God is going to do through exploring the lands of the Bible together.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
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Explore the ancient city of Thessaloniki and the Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum - a treasure trove filled with artifacts that will make familiar biblical references come to life and help you better understand new testament scripture.
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Visit the famed Acropolis, Parthenon, and Mars Hill (Acts 17) where Paul encountered the council of Athens. Walk the same paths that Socrates, Plato and Aristotle did centuries earlier.
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Immerse yourself in the history of ancient Corinth, where Paul spent two years and founded the Church of Corinth. Visit key sites such museum of Corinth, the theater and the inscription of Erastus, the city treasurer (Romans 16:23), as well as the Bema of Gallio, the agora of Corinth, the ancient harbor of Cenchrea (Acts 18:18), and the Corinthian Canal.
PRICING INFORMATION
Occupancy | Price Per Person |
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Double Shared Room | $3,255 |
Single Private Room | $3,956 |
*Prices are quoted in U.S. dollars. Also, please note that, should the group drop below the minimum required number of participants, prices may be subject to change.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
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BE Instructor Kaitlyn Hawn
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Local English-speaking guide
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Daily hotel buffet-style breakfast
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Air-conditioned bus with WiFi and driver
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All entrance fees and activities as per itinerary
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All tips (hotel staff, guides, driver, etc)
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Individual headsets for each participant
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BE devotional and educational materials
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Roundtrip airfare from Athens to Thessaloniki
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:
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Travel or medical insurance
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Airfare to/from Greece
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COVID-19 PCR/RAPID testing
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Lunches and dinners
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Expenses of a personal nature
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Anything not previously mentioned
TRIP INSTRUCTOR
Kaitlyn Hawn
Kaitlyn Hawn has been living and/or teaching in the lands of the Bible for over seven years. She is an adjunct professor at Jerusalem University College and a current Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oxford, where she is supervised by Martin Goodman and Markus Bockmuehl. She holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies and History from Gordon College, two M.A. degrees in Historical Geography and the Hebraic Roots of Christianity from Jerusalem University College, and a M.Phil. in Judaism and Christianity in the Greco-Roman World from the University of Oxford. She has also participated in excavations at El Araj and Hippos-Sussita. Her research interests include historical geography, New Testament and early Christian studies, and ancient Judaism. Above all, she is passionate about helping others gain a deeper understanding of the contexts of Scripture and of the Word Himself. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys traveling to new places, hiking, playing sports, and spending time with her family, including her three nephews.
TRIP ITINERARY
Day 1: Mon, Sept 22, 2025
Depart the USA and get ready to experience the adventure of a lifetime!
Day 2: Tue, Sept 23, 2025
Arrive at Athens International Airport and fly to Thessaloniki. Please schedule a flight that arrives by noon to get through customs and meet up with the group at 2pm in front of the Kourlourades Snack Shop, next to Arrival Hall A. We will have someone there to meet the group with a Biblical Expeditions sign. They will also hand out tickets for the flight to Thessaloniki and lead the group to the Aegean check-in counter where the group will be directed to the departure gate for the Thessaloniki flight.
Day 3: Wed, Sept 24, 2025
We begin our morning driving out of Thessaloniki, journeying east towards Philippi (Acts 16:11-40; Philippians). Our first stop is the site of Amphipolis (Acts 17:1) where one of the things we will see is the Lion of Amphipolis. We will also visit the small, but important museum at Amphipolis, which contains artifacts from the Roman period. We continue to the modern city of Kavala, ancient Neapolis (Acts 16:11), where Paul first came onto the European continent. After visiting Kavala and eating our lunch there, we then visit Philippi where Paul encountered Lydia (Acts 16:11-15) and established a community, to which he wrote one of his letters. At Philippi, we see the theater, the Agora, as well as the Byzantine Basilica. After visiting the small museum of Philippi, we will see a stretch of the ancient Roman road, the Via Egnatia, which spanned across northern Greece and was utilized by Paul as he journeyed through the region. We will return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Thurs, Sept 25, 2025
Our first stop this morning is the ancient site of Pella, the capital of the glorious kingdom of ancient Macedonia and the birthplace of Alexander the Great. In addition to visiting the ancient site, we will tour the museum at Pella, which speaks to the wealth and grandeur of the Macedonian kingdom. From Pella we will travel to Vergina where we will visit the royal tombs of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. After lunch in Vergina, we will drive to Berea, where the Apostle Paul arrived and, according to custom, went to the synagogue. We will see the Byzantine mosaic in the monument commemorating Paul’s visit to Berea (Acts 17:10-11). We will return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Fri, Sept 26, 2025
The focus of our tour today is the city of Thessaloniki. Amid the bustling modern city, we will explore the remains of the ancient city of Thessaloniki (Acts 17:1-9; 1 and 2 Thessalonians). We begin our morning visiting the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, where we will learn about the history of the city, especially in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Our journey today takes us to a panoramic lookout of the city from the upper Old City walls. We visit the Roman Agora in the center of the city, as well as drive along Egnatian Way to the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda. After our touring day, we will travel to the airport to fly to Athens where we will be met by a local representative and transferred to our hotel. We will stay overnight in Athens.
Day 6: Sat, Sept 27, 2025
We begin our morning visiting the National Archaeological Museum where we will see artifacts from Greece’s magnificent ancient history. From the museum, we continue a city tour that introduces us to the highlights of the city of Athens. Much of the afternoon will be free for you to explore the marvelous city of Athens and shop in its markets. Overnight in Athens.
Day 7: Sun, Sept 28, 2025
Today our tour travels outside of Athens to the ancient site of Delphi. The Oracle of Delphi was the most important and well-known oracle in the ancient world. In addition to the site, we visit the museum at Delphi, which contains artifacts from the site and illustrates the importance of this mountainous settlement. After our day, we return to Athens for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Mon, Sept 29, 2025
Today our tour explores the ancient city of Athens, the birthplace of democracy. Our morning begins at the New Acropolis Museum. This beautiful, state-of-the-art museum is dedicated to the artifacts and excavations of the Acropolis. After gaining an appreciation for the ancient site, we walk up the Acropolis and visit the Parthenon, the temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena. We then walk down to visit the Areopagus, Mars Hill where Paul encountered the council of Athens (Acts 17:16-34). Continuing down the hill, we come to the Agora of Athens and the Stoa of Attalos. Overnight Athens.
Day 9: Tues, Sept 30, 2025
We leave Athens today and drive south into the Peloponnese, the peninsula of southern Greece, to Corinth (Acts 18:1-17; 1 and 2 Corinthians). On our way to Corinth, we stop to see the Corinthian Canal. Our visit to Corinth includes the small but important museum of Corinth, visiting the theater, the inscription of Erastus, the city treasurer (Romans 16:23), the Bema of Gallio and the agora of Corinth. After lunch, we visit the upper city of Corinth, the Acro Corinth, and the ancient harbor of Cenchrea (Acts 18:18). Overnight Athens.
Day 10: Wed, Oct 1, 2025
Depart from Athens International Airport and return home challenged and encouraged in your faith! Hotel checkout will be between 10:00-11:00am. Please note that one group transfer to the airport will be offered and departure timing will be determined based on when the majority of participants' flights will be departing. Private airport transfers can be reserved at additional cost.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Offering aesthetic harmony, a warm and relaxed environment inspired by the renowned Greek hospitality and high-quality services at the heart of Thessaloniki, Hotel El Greco is centrally located on Thessaloniki’s historic Egnatia Street, only 5 minutes away from the Aristotelous Square and the Port. Its spacious, modern and fully-equipped rooms, free Wi-Fi access, parking and cozy breakfast banquet hall, along with the staff’s welcoming smiles and hospitality, make superior hotel El Greco the ultimate city hotel.
An upscale, eco-certified hotel near Syntagma Square, and a short walk from the Parthenon and Acropolis, Airotel Parthenon features comfortable, air-conditioned guest rooms with free in-room WiFi, bathrooms with bathtubs and free toiletries, flat screen TVs with satellite channels, and electric kettles. Additional onsite amenities include a free breakfast buffet, coffee shop/cafe, library, computer station, and concierge services.
THE FINE PRINT
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A deposit of $500 per person is due immediately upon booking. The balance is due 100 days before departure.
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Cancellations of confirmed bookings within 7 days of registration will receive a full refund minus a $175 (per person) administrative fee. Cancellations after 7 days of registration but more than 100 days before departure will be subject to loss of their $500 deposit. 50-99 days prior to departure will be subject to loss of 50% of trip price. 49 or fewer days prior to departure will be subject to loss of 100% of trip price.
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Land costs are quoted as a package and credits are not given for services not used.
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Trip pricing does not include airfare to/from the trips starting point unless otherwise noted in the trip itinerary/website.
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If booking group airfare the group must maintain a minimum of 10 flying passengers.
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Availability cannot be guaranteed until registration is complete. We exercise best efforts to book hotels per itinerary, however in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 100 days of tour date, we may be forced to offer substitutes.
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Please be aware that living standards and cultural norms at locations may differ from those in the USA.
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Travel Insurance is not required but highly recommended. Biblical Expeditions does not sell travel Insurance nor is the travel insurance offered by our hosting platform, WeTravel, connected to us in anyway.
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Overseas medical coverage is required, and we must have a copy of your policy prior to departure.
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Please see our full Terms & Conditions for more details.