How Much Does a Christian Greece Tour Cost? Complete Pricing Guide

If you're planning a Footsteps of Paul pilgrimage through Greece, the first question is always: what does it actually cost? The honest answer is that most Christian travelers spend between $3,800 and $6,200 per person for a 10–11 day group tour departing the United States, fully inclusive of flights, hotels, the Aegean cruise, and guided biblical site visits. This guide walks through every line item so your church group can budget with confidence.

Key points:

• A typical 11-day Footsteps of Paul tour with a 3-night Aegean cruise costs $4,200–$6,200 per person, fully inclusive from the US.
• Round-trip airfare to Athens accounts for $1,000–$1,600 of the total cost.
• The 3-night Aegean cruise adds $800–$1,200 per person but covers Patmos, Ephesus, and Crete.
• Group size of 20+ unlocks the best per-person pricing; groups under 15 pay 15–25% more.
• Best value months: March, November — 10–15% below peak season pricing.

What does a standard Greece tour package include?

A fully-inclusive Christian Greece tour package typically covers:

• Round-trip international airfare (US gateway → Athens) — $1,000–$1,600 per person depending on departure city and season.
• Hotel accommodations in 4-star properties, twin-share — $150–$250 per night in Athens and Thessaloniki.
• Daily breakfast and dinner at the hotels.
• Air-conditioned touring coach with a professional driver for all land touring days.
• Licensed English-speaking Greek guide for every touring day — these guides are government-certified and trained in classical and biblical history.
• All entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums on the itinerary.
• 3-night Aegean cruise in an outside cabin with all meals included on the ship.
• Tips for guide and driver — approximately $7–$9 per traveler per day on land.
• Airport and port transfers.

What is typically NOT included?

• Lunches — budget $20–$30 per day. Greek taverna lunches are a highlight; don't skip them.
• Travel insurance — typically 5–7% of the total trip cost.
• Single room supplement — $600–$1,100 if you're traveling solo and don't want a roommate.
• Optional excursions — for example, a guided tour of the Acropolis Museum (~$35) or a wine tasting on Santorini (~$50).
• Cruise shore excursions — the cruise includes port stops, but guided shore tours at Ephesus or Patmos may cost extra ($45–$90 per excursion). Some operators include these; check your package.
• Beverages with meals beyond water.

How does trip length affect the price?

• 7-day land-only (Athens, Corinth, Delphi, Meteora): $2,800–$3,800 per person
• 10-day with cruise (Athens, northern Greece, 3-night cruise): $4,200–$5,500 per person
• 11-day with cruise (full Paul route + cruise): $4,500–$6,200 per person (most popular)
• 14-day with Turkey extension (Greece + Ephesus + Istanbul): $5,500–$7,800 per person

Each additional land night adds roughly $200–$350 per person (hotel + dinner + breakfast + bus + guide). The cruise portion is a fixed cost regardless of land length.

How does group size affect pricing?

Group pricing scales significantly. A private group of 12 will pay 15–25% more per person than a group of 30 on the same itinerary. The coach, guide, and entrance-fee minimums are mostly fixed costs, so spreading them across more travelers lowers the per-person rate. Most operators begin offering a free spot for the organizer at 16–20 paid travelers, and a second free spot at 25–30.

How does season affect Greece tour pricing?

• High season — May, June, September, October. Ideal weather, peak demand. Expect 15–25% above the annual average. Book 6–8 months ahead.
• Shoulder season — April, July, November. April is pleasant; July is hot but cruise cabins are cheaper; November is cooler with rain. Pricing softens 10–15%.
• Low season — January, February, March, December. Cool weather, shorter site hours, but the lowest pricing of the year. March is the value pick — 60°F in Athens, sites are uncrowded.

What about the cruise — is it worth the extra cost?

The 3-night Aegean cruise adds $800–$1,200 per person to the land-only price. For Christian groups, it's almost always worth it because it covers two major biblical sites that are otherwise difficult to reach: Patmos (the Cave of the Apocalypse) and Ephesus (where Paul spent three years, Acts 19). Reaching Patmos independently requires an 8–10 hour ferry from Athens; the cruise delivers you there comfortably in your sleep.

Real-world budget example: 11-day Footsteps of Paul tour from Chicago

Here's a typical fully-loaded budget for one traveler joining an 11-day group tour from Chicago in October 2026:

• Tour package (flights, hotels, cruise, guide, entry fees, tips): $5,295
• Travel insurance (5%): $265
• Lunches (9 days × $25): $225
• Cruise shore excursions (Ephesus + Patmos): $130
• Single supplement (only if solo): +$850
• Souvenirs + incidentals: $300

Total fully-loaded: ~$6,215 twin-share, or ~$7,065 single. Most groups travel twin-share; many will pair solo travelers at no extra charge.

Are there ways to lower the cost?

• Travel in March or November. 10–15% below peak, with manageable weather.
• Travel as a group. Even 10 friends can register together and unlock group pricing.
• Choose the 7-day land-only option if the cruise isn't essential. You'll still see Athens, Corinth, and Delphi.
• Book early. Most operators honor early-bird pricing 6–8 months out.
• Skip the Turkey extension on a first trip and revisit later.

If you'd like a custom proposal with line-item pricing for your church or ministry group, our team responds within one business day.