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Short answer: a Christian school can take students on a private, customized Footsteps of Paul trip through Greece, usually about a week, visiting Athens, Corinth, Delphi, Meteora, Thessaloniki, and Kavala (ancient Neapolis) with nearby Philippi. Mission Travel Faith Tours plans these trips for Christian schools, homeschool groups, and universities, with licensed guides, a tour manager, hotels, transportation, entry tickets, and 24-hour support, so faculty can focus on students instead of logistics.

Every Bible teacher has tried to explain Acts 17 to a room of teenagers. It is a different conversation when those same students are standing near the Areopagus, looking up at the Acropolis, and someone reads, "I perceive that in every way you are very religious." Paul was not preaching in a vacuum. He was speaking into a real city full of real idols, and he knew their poets well enough to quote them. Students who see that come home understanding that faith and learning were never meant to live in separate classrooms.

Why Greece works so well for a Christian school group

  • It connects several subjects at once. Bible, world history, philosophy, literature, art, and geography all meet in the same places.
  • It follows the text students already study. Acts 16 to 18 and the letters to the Philippians, Thessalonians, and Corinthians were written to these cities.
  • It is a manageable first international trip. A week-long route keeps travel days reasonable and gives chaperones a clear daily rhythm.
  • It builds a worldview conversation. Athens is the best place on earth to talk about how a Christian engages a culture that worships many things.

A sample Footsteps of Paul route for students

  1. Athens: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Mars Hill, where Paul spoke to the philosophers (Acts 17:16-34).
  2. Kavala and ancient Neapolis: the harbor where Paul first set foot in Europe after the Macedonian call (Acts 16:9-11).
  3. Philippi (near Kavala): where Lydia believed, and where Paul and Silas sang in prison at midnight (Acts 16:12-40).
  4. Thessaloniki: the city that "turned the world upside down" and received two of Paul's earliest letters (Acts 17:1-9).
  5. Kalambaka and Meteora: the monasteries on the rock pillars, a strong lesson in church history and in what people have given up to follow Christ.
  6. Delphi: the ancient oracle site, and a clear window into the religious world the gospel entered.
  7. Corinth: the city of 1 and 2 Corinthians, where Paul worked as a tentmaker and stood before Gallio (Acts 18:1-17).

Some schools add Turkey for Ephesus, or extend into a Reformation or church history week in Europe. The route is shaped around your curriculum, not the other way around.

Questions school leaders ask first

How many students do we need?

We build trips for groups from about 20 students up to 200. Educator travel can be free based on group size, and every school trip is a private group, so your students are not mixed in with strangers.

What is usually included?

Hotels, bus transportation, professional licensed guides, daily breakfast, group meals, entry tickets, a tour manager, pre-trip planning, educational itinerary planning, 24-hour support, and emergency assistance. Optional mission or service projects can be added. Ask for a written inclusions list with your proposal.

How physical is the trip?

Plan on a moderate activity level. Ancient sites mean stone steps, uneven ground, and some climbing at Meteora and the Acropolis. Tell us early about students who need a slower pace.

How do we keep it educational and not just a vacation?

Give every student a short reading and one question for each site before you leave. Have a teacher or chaplain read the passage on location, and close each day with a fifteen-minute debrief. Many schools also assign a short reflection paper after they return.

When should we start planning?

Twelve to eighteen months ahead is ideal. That leaves time for board approval, a parent information night, fundraising, and passports.

A simple school planning timeline

  • 12 to 18 months out: talk with a travel specialist, set goals and dates, and receive a written proposal.
  • 9 to 12 months out: present to the board and parents, open registration, and set the payment schedule.
  • 3 to 6 months out: confirm passports and permission forms, and teach a short unit on Acts 16 to 18.
  • The final month: hold the student and parent pre-trip meeting with the packing list, rules, and emergency contacts.

Live Faith pages for school leaders

When you are ready, call 407-377-7912 or email info@missiontraveltours.com. Bring your grade levels, your approximate headcount, and the subjects you want the trip to serve. We will build the journey around your students.