Globus Unveils New Religious Tour Program

Globus offer travelers the chance to learn about Christian author C.S. Lewis in a personal way, touring his haunts in Oxford and Cambridge where he wrote such works as the Chronicles of Narnia. This Lewis-focused vacation is one of the new packages introduced with Globus' 2007 religious vacations.

Other new vacations include a Journey through the Bible: Egypt and Jordan, the Grand Catholic Italy vacation and a tour of the Lourdes and Shrines of France, all offering personal, in-depth visits to the most famous religious sites in the world. In addition to these new vacation options, Globus also reintroduced past itineraries.

Globus' religious travel department is led by Kevin Wright, a religious travel author, and visitor to more than 150 pilgrimage sites. Globus also customizes for faith-based organizations. Globus offers many resources to teach travel agents, churches, faith-based groups and other travel professionals about religious travel through its regional Religious Travel Symposiums and Faith-Based Travel Showcases.

Globus provides education and sales tips for travel agents interested in offering religious vacations to their clients. Globus' religious travel experts also speak at travel industry luncheons and conferences and host Web seminars for further education and insight. The Globus Faith Website acts as a resource for agents selling faith-based travel or people interested in learning more about the world's great religious sites.

Among Globus' religious packages are the 10-day Footsteps of Apostle Paul which visits sites where Paul delivered sermons and conducted personal pilgrimages. The trip visits Greece and Turkey, stopping in cities such as Corinth and Philippi, famed for the letters and teachings that Paul addressed to them. In addition to these religious sites, travelers will also sightsee in Athens and on the island of Rhodes. This vacation is priced from $1,569 (land-only price).

The new 11-day Journey through the Bible: Egypt and Jordan begins in Cairo with sightseeing at the Great Pyramids and Giza's Sphinx, accompanied by a personal Egyptologist. Afterwards, travelers will continue on to Mt. Sinai – where Moses received the Ten Commandments – and the Dead Sea, among other biblical sites. This vacation is priced from $1,699 (land-only price).

The new nine-day Christian England and the World of C.S. Lewis visits London and its many cathedrals before heading to Canterbury and Oxford. This stay in Oxford allows travelers a glimpse into Lewis' past with visits to his colleges and favorite pubs. The trip concludes with a stop in Cambridge where Lewis also resided and taught. This vacation is priced from $1,929 (land-only price).

The nine-day Classic Shrines of Italy is a grand tour of Italian religious sites such as Rome with visits to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, as well as a tour of the Coliseum, a site of Christian martyrdom. Travelers will sightsee in various Italian villages en route to Assisi. This vacation is priced from $1,649 (land-only price).

The new 10-day Grand Catholic Italy offers all of the religious sightseeing included in the Classic Shrines of Italy package, as well as time spent in Florence and Venice. Travelers will see Michelangelo's David and the Cathedral in Florence as well as a private boat tour in Venice. This vacation is priced from $1,849 (land-only price).

The new 10-day Lourdes & Shrines of France visits the country's top religious sites. Beginning in Paris, travelers will see architectural and religious sites including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. From Paris, travelers will spend the remainder of their time in Lourdes, Avignon and Nevers. The trip nears an end with a visit to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paray-le-Monial, before returning to Paris. This vacation is priced from $1,799 (land-only price).

The seven-day Footsteps of Pope John Paul II and Poland Heritage offers travelers a look into the life of the last pope by visiting his hometown and his birthplace. Other highlights of this tour include visits to Warsaw, Czestochowa and Krakow. This trip also includes a visit to Auschwitz with a stop at the remains the former concentration camp and a martyrdom museum. This vacation is priced from $1,199 (land-only price). Call 800-221-0090 or visit www.globusjourneys.com/agents.