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INTERNATIONAL TOURS

PHILIPPINE ISLAND TOURS

STEPS OF ST. PAUL-Turkey, Greece, Malta, Rome Walk with REV. FR. DOMIE GUZMAN, SSP

Departure date: April 6-23, 2010

 

Day 01 MANILA–ISTANBUL

Depart Manila midnight via your favorite airline and arrive Istanbul in the afternoon. Check in and dinner at hotel.  (D)                                          

 

Day 02 ISTANBUL

Visit the Hippodrome where the Roman chariot races were held. Visit the Blue Mosque, and Emperor Justinian’s Hagia Sophia, one of the wonders of the world.  Visit Topkapi Seraglio, the palace and the residence of the Ottoman Sultan. Go to the Grand Bazaar, the biggest of its kind with 4000 tiny shops, café’s and teahouses. Cruise the Bosphorus, one of the 7 great rivers in the world. While sailing, view the Dolmabache Palace, Ciragan Palace, etc. (Mass for the Day can be arranged with the Church of Sts Peter and Paul administered by the Dominican Fathers.) (B,D)

 

Day 03  ISTANBUL – ADANA – TARSUS

Fly from Istanbul to Adana in ancient Cilicia. Off to Tarsus, the birthplace of St Paul. Have the Eucharistic celebration at the Church of St. Paul. See St Paul’s well, and Cleopatra’s Gate. Back to Adana for the night. (B, D)

 

Day04   ADANA-ANTIOCH-ADANA

Drive to Antioch, center of Hellenistic Civilization.  This place became the hub of St Paul’s mission. (B, D)

 

Day 05  ADANA-PAMUKKALE

Leave for Konya, center of the Selcuk Empire. Move on to Pamukkale (B, D)

 

Day 06  PAMUKKALE–KUSADASI.

Pamukkale is the place of calcareous Thermal Springs, considered as natural heritage and part of the World Heritage declared by UNESCO. Kusadasi is one of the oldest holiday resorts in Turkey. (B, D)

 

Day 07KUSADASI – EPHESUS – KUSADASI

Visit the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, where she is said to have spent her last days. (Mass could be celebrated at this shrine of the Blessed Mother.) Drink of the Holy Waters from the Sacred Spring nearby. Visit the ruins of the Basilica of St John the Evangelist where his tomb is located. Tour the ruins of the old city and appreciate how Ephesus was an important cultural center. See the Library of Celsius, the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple and the statue of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. See also the public latrine of the old city. See also the Great Theatre that could sit 24,000. St Paul stayed in Ephesus for over 2 years during his Third Missionary Journey. (B, D)

 

Day 08  KUSADASI – TROY – CANNAKALE

Drive to Troy and visit the ruins of the ancient city. Overnight in Cannakale.     (B, D)

 

Day09   CANNAKALE–ECEABAT- THESSALONIKI

Short ferry ride to Eceabat to the second largest city of Greece: Thessaloniki. It is to Christians in this city that Paul wrote his oldest letters, which are also the oldest parts of the New Testament. This city was Paul’s base in preaching the Gospel to the Macedonians. (B, D)

 

Day 10  THESSALONIKI

Visit the churches of Agios Demetrios and Agia Sophia. Pass through the remains of the Roman period which recall the presence of St Paul in this city. Pass the Galerius Arch, and visit the Monastery of Valtadon. See the Roman Agora. (B, D)

 

Day11THESSALONIKI–VERGINA–KALAMBAKA

Drive to Vergina, the seat of the Macedonian kings: King Philipp, father of Alexander of the Great. Pass to Meteora with its rock monasteries. (B, D)

 

Day 12  KALAMBAKA – ATHENS

Visit the two Monasteries at Meteora – a unique wonder of the world. Pass by Thermophiles and view the memorials of Leonidas, the hero of Sparta. Arrive in Athens. (B, D)

 

Day13 ATHENS- CORINTH–MYCENAE- ATHENS

Leave for Corinth and stop to see the canal that divides Corinth from the mainland. Continue to ancient Corinth where Paul stayed for around 1 and 1/2 years  during his Second Mission Journey. Here he worked as a tentmaker. Proceed to Mycenae, once a great power in Greece until it was destroyed by fire. Visit the Acropolis through the Lion Gate. (B, D)

 

Day 14  ATHENS

Visit the Parthenon atop the Acropolis. Pass the Erectheum with its Porch of Maidens, the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. See the Areopagus. See the Syntagma Square. (Mass at the St Denis Church.) (B, D)

 

Day 15  ATHENS–MALTA

Transfer out to the airport ( Flight ATH/MLA 06.20/07.00 ).Visit the Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul in the city of Medina. In Valletta the capital city, pray at the Parish of St Paul’s shipwreck. Here is an important relic of the apostle. 30 minutes from Valletta, visit St Paul’s Bay, the site of the shipwreck. Visit the cave of St Paul. (B, D)

 

Day 16  MALTA–ROME

Transfer out to the airport (Flight MLA/FCO 09.30/11.00).View the Coliseum, the site of many Christian martyrdoms. Of course, view the Trevi Fountain. Above all, visit the places associated with Sts Peter and Paul: the Vatican, the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, the Mamertime Prison, the Chapel of the last embrace of Peter and Paul, and the Church of the Three Fountains (where St Paul was beheaded). (B, D)

 

Day 17  ROME–MANILA

After breakfast, whole morning is free until transfer out to the airport and flight back to Manila (B)                                            

Day 18  ARRIVAL MANILA

Home sweet home!

 

TOUR COST:

minimum 15 full paying passengers

USD$ 3888.00- based on twin sharing  

USD$    228.00- taxes on ticket (subject to change until final ticketing)
USD $   680.00- Single Supplement ( additional if taking single room)

USD$    120.00- mandatory travel insurance

USD$    136.00- Mandatory tips for drivers and guides

PHP     5000.00- Schengen visa fee with assistance

PHP     3000.00- Turkey visa fee with assistance

 

Tour Includes:

Roundtrip economy class airfare

Air ticket from Athens to Malta Luqa ( airlines taxes included )

Air ticket from Malta Luga airport to Roma Fiumicino

Private air conditioned motor coach

Ferry boat from Eceabat to Thessalomiki

Daily breakfast and dinner daily ( HALF BOARD )

First class hotels in Turkey, Greece, Malta and Rome

Porterage in/out in the Hotels

Guided tours with entrance fees included

Daily Mass

Service of Spiritual chaplain and Filipino tour escort

 

PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

 

A non-refundable deposit of USD$500/ person upon reservation including visa fees & documents to be submitted not later than February 06, 2010

Fifty percent deposit due upon release of visa

Balance of full payment due upon ticketing or 1 month prior departure

Cancellation charge of fifty percent (50%) of tour cost will be imposed if cancellation is done two (2) weeks before departure date.

Full tour cost will be forfeited if cancellation is done within two (2) weeks before departure date.

Unused portion of the tour is non-refundable.

 

CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

PRICES/TOUR COST  DO NOT INCLUDE Philippine travel tax (PHP1620.00), taxes on air tickets, airport and departure taxes, Schengen visa fee and assistance , travel insurance, medical and hospitalization expenses, tours and transportation expenses during free periods, porterage of extra luggages, drinks and meals not specified in the itinerary, tips for drivers and tour guides (USD8/day/pax) and such other personal nature like telephone calls, fax, laundry, room services and expenses not mentioned in the itinerary terms and conditions.

EPHESUS TRAVEL has arranged for the various tour services to be performed under the responsibility of various operators. Our company or its subagents therefore only acts as agents for the operators providing the various services described in this tour and assume no responsibility or liability that may occur out of or in connection with losses or unexpected expenses due to delays, overbooking, and defaults.  The tour itineraries and prices are subject to change without prior notice. Our company reserves the right to cancel, reschedule and increase the tour cost should we fall short of the required number of passengers (15pax). The payment for a reservation fee on the tour shall constitute acceptance and consent to all provisions in the tour conditions/responsibility published in this tour.

 

For details and reservations, visit or call:

EPHESUS TRAVEL AND TOURS

Unit 203 Puso ng Maynila Bldg.

1046 A. Mabini St. corner U.N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila 1000 Phil.

Tel: +632-5271251, +632-4689857; +632-5265211; Fax: +632-3140301

Mobile: +63-9178938267, +63-9175761739

Email: inquire@ephesustravelmanila.com;  

Website: www.ephesustravelmanila.com

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