Orthodox Tours

Who can go?

1.      Who can go on your tour-pilgrimage?

Anyone who has a desire to learn and is genuinely interested in the themes we offer is welcome to travel with us. The only requirements for traveling with us are a willingness to cooperate and the ability to treat others with respect, whether fellow participants or the local citizens of the host countries we visit. Good intentions on the part of all who participate are always critical to a successful travel experience.

2.      I am not Orthodox can I go?

Orthodox Tours does not require that our participants be Orthodox Christians. Anyone with a desire to learn and a spirit of cooperation is welcome to join us. Questions and discussion are always encouraged as long as they remain friendly and no hostile attempts are made to criticize or confront something you may not understand or agree with. Our presentation is un-apologetically based on the ancient Eastern Christian Tradition. Beyond this, we have no other agendas, demands or expectations.

3.      Will we, as Non-Orthodox feel comfortable on your tour?

How you feel on one of our tours, of course, depends a great deal upon you. We strive to ensure that everyone who travels with us feels comfortable. You will never encounter any exclusivity on our part. All we ask is that you approach the subject matter we present with a spirit of respect. There are many non-Orthodox people who take our tours each year, and we have never had a complaint that someone felt miserable or left out for not being an Orthodox Christian. Because there is so much to see and experience on our tours, we nurture openness in sharing this ancient Christian tradition, which is not well understood by most Westerners. You always have the freedom not to participant in something on our itinerary that makes you ill-at-easy, such as an Orthodox Liturgy or the veneration of relics and icons.

4.      I’m not a Christian, can I go?

Yes; as stated above, all that we require is a genuine interest in one of our themes, an attitude of respect for the subject matter we will be presenting and a commitment to behave peaceably and kindly with others on the tour and with the people we encounter on our journey through the various host countries.

5.      I’m not an Iconographer can I go on one of your Icon tours?

Yes, of course, you are encouraged to join us no matter what your level of familiarity with iconography. Sacred art has always and everywhere been considered highly aesthetical, historical and cultural. Modern Western culture ultimately has its roots in the religious art of the Christian Faith. You will learn a great deal about the doctrinal origins supporting icon painting, the history of the Eastern Church and the societies that produced iconic masterpieces.

6.      How intense are your tours?

Our tours are defiantly very intense in terms of the amount and depth of opportunity offered for your learning experience. The tours are not physically as stressful as hiking or sports tours, but there is quite a bit of walking and standing. Our itinerary days are filled to capacity with numerous points of interest each day and our days are usually long. Ample time for meals is allowed, but sometimes we must take our evening refreshment at a later time than you may be used to at home.

7.      I have special needs; can I still go on your tour?

It depends on what your “special” needs are. If you are vegetarian, or have an allergic reaction to some foods, there are easy ways to accommodate you. However, if you have serious health issues, you should consult us directly and seek advice from your physician before considering travel. In some places the medical facilities are limited and standards of healthcare can be different from your home country. It is also not fair for the rest of the group to be delayed due to an individual’s pre-existing medical condition or “special needs.”

8.      I have some trouble walking, do you think that I still can go?

There are different degrees to having “trouble walking” to consider. You need not worry if you cannot hike up a mountain at with some speed – most of us can’t. But if you have problems walking from the car to the garage or you cannot keep pace with normal walkers for any length of time, you should not go on one of our tours. We do not schedule extreme hikes, but days are long and often tiring for some people.

9.      I’m disabled, can I go?

Everything depends on your condition. If you have a formal disability, probably you should not go, as our pilgrimages can be physically, emotionally and mentally demanding.

10.  Can I go on one of your pilgrimages with my kids?

The same rules apply to children as to adults and we cannot make exceptions that will hinder the general flow of the tour. If children are under 10 years, we do not recommend bringing them, as they will find little entertainment other than our tour subject matter and they may tire easily.  However, if you have teenagers or even a very learning-engaged pre-teen, we welcome his or her participation. The youngest child to take part in one of our tours was an eight-year-old boy who was ever attentive and involved with every aspect of our itinerary for entire the duration of the pilgrimage. Please consult us directly before considering bringing your children and use discernment. We want everyone to benefit from the pilgrimage experience and none to be upset or limited due to a bored or unruly child.

11.  Can I send my children with you on a pilgrimage?

Orthodox Tours cannot assume responsibility for the care and supervision of children. In order for young people to take part in one of our pilgrimages, you would need to send someone to provide supervision for the duration of the pilgrimage. Even with this provision for child supervision, we must insist that the young person(s) is capable of acting in a mature and coherent way. A guardian or responsible party who is formally appointed and entrusted with the care of your children must accompany any young person under 16 years of age.

12.  Do you have age limit for your participants?

Health and physical conditioning are a major concern when planning a pilgrimage with us, or for that matter any tour group. We do not discriminate on the bases of age, however, as in the case of children, we cannot assume responsibility for participants who cannot keep pace with the rigors of the touring day. If you are concerned that your age may be prohibitive due to flagging endurance and strength, please contact us directly to discuss the details so we can make the right decision together.