Day 1. Arrival / Thessaloniki.
Arrival at Thessaloniki international airport. Welcome assistance and transfer to the hotel. Short briefing about your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2. Thessaloniki / Thessaloniki.
The day starts with a panoramic tour of Thessaloniki dominated by the massive walls of Theodosius. Paul preached in Thessaloniki and wrote the letters to Thessalonians. We shall see the famous white tower, the roman market, the Arch of Galerious and we will visit the impressive basilica of St. Dimitrios. We continue our visit to the archaeological museum of Thessaloniki where, among other things, interesting findings from the excavations of Vergina are exhibited. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 3. Pella, Veria, Vergina / Thessaloniki.
One of the places that St. Paul visited during his journey to Greece was Pella, once the capital of Macedonia. Today, we will be visiting Pella's ancient site and its museum with exquisite mosaics. We continue our tour passing by Veria, one of Paul's stops, where a Byzantine mosaic commemorates his preaching. Later we drive towards Vergina for a visit to the Royal tombs of King Philip the father of Alexander the Great. After some free time for lunch, we return to Thessaloniki for overnight.
Day 4. Philippi, Amphipolis, Kavala / Alexandroupolis.
After our breakfast, we depart for the drive towards Philippi. On the way we pass by Amphipolis (visited by Paul) where we shall stop for a while and admire the impressive Lion statue. We continue to arrive in Philippi to visit the site. We will see where Paul and Sylas were imprisoned, we will admire the ruins of one of the largest churches ever constructed, we will walk on "Via Egnatia", and visit the ancient market (Agora). A little further away we will have the chance to walk right next to the creek where Lydia was baptized. Our day continues to Kavala (the biblical Neapolis), the port where Paul, Sylas, Timothy and Luke first set foot in Europe. We continue our drive to arrive in Alexandroupolis for overnight.
Day 5. Istanbul / On cruise.
A travel day today, will find us crossing the Greek/Turkish boarders to arrive in Istanbul. We will be transferred directly to the port and embark on our cruise ship.
Day 6. Mykonos / Overnight.
Arrival in the afternoon in Mykonos. Stroll in its whitewashed streets and mingle with people from all over the world while watching beautiful scenery, marvelous sunset and picturesque Cycladic colors. Overnight on board.
Day 7. Mykonos / On cruise.
Explore more of Mykonos. Overnight on board.
Day 8. Patmos, Kusadasi (Ephesus) / On cruise.
Early in the morning the ship will arrive at the small island of Patmos. Take the optional tour and meet the island where St. John wrote the book of Revelations. Not to miss is a visit to the monastery of St. John. Re-embark the cruise ship and set sail to Kusadasi the gateway port to the most important biblical site - Ephesus. Follow the optional tour to the ancient city of Ephesus. Overnight on board.
Day 9. Rhodes / On cruise.
In the morning we will arrive in Rhodes, the island of the Knights and a place visited by St. Paul on his return trip from his 3rd missionary journey. An optional tour can take you inside the old city walls for a visit to the Palace of Grand Master of the Knights. You can also follow a tour to Lindos and its Acropolis, a marvelous site with the impressive Temple of Athena. Overnight on board.
Day 10. Heraklion, Santorini / On cruise.
Arrival early in the morning at the port of Heraklion in Crete. Follow the optional tour and come to meet the Minoan civilization at the well preserved Knossos Palace. Before noon, we sail to Santorini. Some say the most beautiful island of the Aegean. Admire the breathtaking scenery from the Caldera or follow one of the many optional excursions. Re-embark the ship for an overnight sail to the port of Piraeus.
Day 11. Athens / Athens.
Arrival at the port of Piraeus early in the morning. Board our coach , for a panoramic tour of Athens, passing by the House of Parliament and the tomb of the Unknown soldier, the Presidential Palace, Panathinaikon stadium, Hadrian's Arch, and other main landmarks of Athens. Soon we will arrive under the sacred rock of Acropolis. Here we will visit the ruins of Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Propylaea. On our exit we shall stop at Mars Hill where Paul delivered his well-known sermon, and start descending towards the Agora, the ancient market where Paul spoke to the Athenians. We will then transfer to our hotel. Afternoon will be free to explore more of the city of Athens or visit the old part of the city, the so called Plaka.
Day 12. Departure.
Should time allows, we shall take our last walks in the streets of Athens before we board our coach for the transfer to the Athens airport. Departure.
