The apostle Paul was no stranger to prison. As he famously declared, "The Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. However, I do not account my life of any value... if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus..." (Acts 20:23-24). In fact Paul faced imprisonment on multiple occasions (2 Col 11:5), including years incarcerated in Caesarea, Ephesus (quite possibly), and Rome (twice). The sea voyage to Rome ended in shipwreck at Malta (Acts 27:1-28:1). A few months later the company made their way to Rome, by way of Sicily and southern Italy (Acts 28:11-16). We will be tracking Paul's final journey in the book of Acts. Although our accommodations are always on terra firma, we'll be traveling by a combination of land and sea. Join us on this incredible voyage through a truly beautiful and historically fascinating part of the world. INCLUDES: Sightseeing as per the itinerary (below), daily open-buffet breakfasts, 10 dinners at the hotels, transportation by private bus, ferry tickets Malta-Pozzallo and Messina-Reggio Calabria, entrance fees to the sites and museums, headsets for 9 days, city taxes in Malta and Italy, service charges and local taxes, all tips to drivers and guides, travel Bag, t-shirt, luggage tag, and tour map. HOTELS
- 2-night stay in Malta Hotel The George
- 1-night stay in Syracuse Grand Hotel Ortigia
1-night stay in Reggio Calabria, Hotel Alba Nuova http://www.albanuovahotel.it - 1-night stay in Pompeii, Hotel Forum http://www.hotelforum.it/ita/
1-night stay in Naples, Grand Hotel Oriente**** https://www.grandhoteloriente.it/en/ - 4-night stay in Rome, Best Western Hotel Universe http://www.hoteluniverso.com
EXCLUDES: Flights (to arrive Malta & depart Rome), lunches, travel and health Insurance, any other services not mentioned above.
Extra nights: If you're arriving early or departing late and would like our agents to arrange your hotel, these are the prices:
- PRE HOTEL MALTA—THE GEORGE HOTEL: $230 Double room, $200 Single
- POST ROME HOTEL—BEST WESTERN HOTEL UNIVERSO: $230 Double room, $200 Single
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
TUTKU MAIN OFFICE: +90-232-4418676/77. TUTKU MALTA/ITALY OFFICE: Nataliya Braila +39-328-467 46 62. TOUR GUIDES: TBA. TUTKU PRESIDENT: Levent Oral +90-532-296-6921. Douglas Jacoby: +1678231888.
ITINERARY
Oct 29 Sat ARRIVE MALTA
Arrival of the group to Malta International Airport. Meeting and assistance at airport by English-speaking guide.
Airport-hotel transfers (provisional) 11:30pm – 1:00pm – 2:30pm – 4:00 pm (1130, 1300, 1430, 1600)
For early arrivals, private airport-hotel transfer service available at extra cost.
Transfer to hotel for check-in
Dinner & overnight at hotel in Malta
Today we will tour the Island of Malta—the place where Paul was shipwrecked and where he spent three months before departing, as a prisoner, to Rome (Acts 28:1,11).
Oct 30 Sun—MALTA
0800 Buffet breakfast at hotel
0900 Bus to Maritime Museum to see the Roman Period Anchors. Then to the capital of Malta, La Valletta. Go up to the Upper Barakka Garden (photo stop) by lift. Walking tour of Valletta, including St John’s Cathedral and St Paul’s Shipwreck Church.
1300 Lunch at leisure.
1400 Transfer to Rabat. Visit St. Paul’s Grotto. Photo stop at St. Paul’s Church.
1700 Transfer back to hotel
1930 Dinner at hotel
Oct 31 Mon—FERRY TO POZZALLO, SICILY—SYRACUSE
0730 Breakfast and check-out
0830 Depart for a full day (6 hours) tour. We will visit the places proposed for Paul's shipwreck: St. Paul's Bay, Mellieha Bay, and St. Thomas Bay. If open, we will visit the archaeological excavations at San Pawl Milqi
1300 Lunch at leisure
1430 Transfer to port
1700 Take a ferry from Malta to Pozzallo (Sicily).
1845 Arrival to Pozzallo port; drive to Syracuse
2000 Check-in to hotel in Syracuse
2030 Dinner and overnight in Syracuse
Nov 1 Tue—SYRACUSE—FERRY TO REGGIO CALABRIA
0700 Breakfast and check-out
0830 Full day tour of Syracuse. Walking visit of Ortigia island in the morning.
1130 Go back to hotel and collect luggage.
1200 Bus to the Archaeological Area, followed by a light lunch.
1500 Drive to Messina (165km)
1800 Ferry to Reggio Calabria.
1830 Transfer to the hotel for check-in.
1930 Dinner and overnight in Reggio Calabria.
Nov 2 Wed—REGGIO CALABRIA—PAESTUM
0730 Breakfast and check-out
0800 Cathedral of Reggio Calabria. Proceed to the Museum of Magna Grecia
1030 Drive to Paestum (435km).
1630 Arrival to Paestum. Visit the archeological site and Museum of Paestum.
1900 Drive to Pompeii (77km)
2000 Check-in to hotel
2030 Dinner and overnight in Pompeii
Nov 3 Thu—POMPEII—HERCULANEUM – NAPLES
0730 Breakfast and check-out
0845 Drive to the Pompeii
1200 Light lunch in Pompeii
1230 Drive to Herculaneum
1300 Visit Herculaneum
1500 Continue to Naples
1545 National Archaeological Museum
1730 Dinner and overnight in Naples.
Nov 4 Fri—POZZUOLI—BAIA—ROME
0730 Breakfast at hotel and check-out.
0830 Drive to Pozzuoli.
0900 Visit Campi Flegrei followed by the Underwater Archaeological Park* (if open – may be closed in November). Proceed to the archeological site of Terme di Baia and the Serapis Temple/Macellum and Flavian Amphitheater in Pozzuoli in the afternoon.
1600pm Drive to Rome (main highway, 3 hours).
1900 Check-in
1930 Dinner at hotel and overnight in Rome
Nov 5 Sat—ROME WALKING TOUR
0730 Breakfast
0830 Basilica San Pietro in Vincoli, Domus Aurea (subject to availability), Trajan's Column, Mamertine Prison, Arch of Constantine, Palatine Hill, Arch of Titus, Roman Forum, Colosseum, and the Mithraeum of Basilica San Clemente
1630 End of the guided tour. Free time for individual exploration.
1930 Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Nov 6 Sun—OSTIA and ROME
0730 Breakfast
0830 Leave hotel
0930 Visit the archeological site of Ancient Ostia.
1200 Light lunch on your own in Ostia.
1300 Return to Rome
1400 St. Paul's Gate, Church of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Tre Fontane church
1700 Transfer back to hotel
1930 Dinner and overnight in Rome
Nov 7 Mon—VATICAN—ROME
0730 Breakfast
0830 To Vatican City
0900 Visit Vatican Museum and Pio Christian Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
1330 Visit Catacombs of St. Sebastian, Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, and the Circus and Villa of Maxentius.
1630 Back to hotel
1930 Farewell dinner — overnight in Rome
Nov 8 Tue—Departures
Breakfast and check-out
Transfer to airport: Shuttle times (provisional): 05:00am – 07:00am – 09:00am – 11:00 am
Payment
Payment is most easily made by check (US and UK citizens), credit or debit card, PayPal, money order, bank wire, Venmo, or Western Union.
Checks: make out to T&R and mail to 957 Shy Ln, Marietta GA 30060. Bank wires: use exchange rate for day you post check, for example at xe.com. Or pay with any major credit or debit card (+2.5%), or by PayPal (+3.5% processing). Debit & credit: send your details (no., exp., amount) in two separate emails (for security). For international bank wire (there is a $15 bank charge), contact us. Or pay by Western Union or Venmo (no extra charge). Choose the method best for you, and email your choice.
The deposit of $400 is due. If you’re paying in full, of course, the deposit is included in the total. (Please read this, even if you are sure you won't cancel.)
Early payment (before 31 Oct 2021): $3769
Standard payment (by 31 Mar 2022): $3865
Late payment (after 31 Mar 2022): $3965
Single room supplement: $995
DEPOSIT
$400 saves you a place on the tour. See the Payment section above for how to send this.
REQUIRED INFORMATION
Everyone on the BST should send in the following details:
- Full legal name (as it appears on your passport)
- The name you would like to appear on your name badge (first name and surname).
- Your country or countries of citizenship.
- Passport number
- Passport expiration date. Your passport must have at least 6 months remaining (past date of end of tour).
- Your birthday: day, month, and year
- Please also send us the name of the city and nation where you reside.
- If you are signing up for another person, be sure to include his/her email address.
CANCELLATION
Before 31 Mar 2022—100% of balance and 90% of deposit refundable.
Before 1 May 2022—100% of balance (only) refundable.
By 1 Jul—80% of balance...
By 1 Aug—60%
By 1 Sep—50%
By 1 Oct—40%
After 1 Oct 2022—no refunds.