Day by Day Travel Itinerary

• Day 01 Mon . May . 12

  EPART USA DEPART FOR THESSALONIKI

  We depart on our flight from our gateway airport on our way to Athens Greece with a connection in Newark. We are served dinner and breakfast onboard before arrival. Upon arrival in Athens we transfer for our short flight to Thessaloniki.

• Day 02 Tue . May . 13

  ARRIVE GREECE / THESSALONIKI

  When we arrive at the Thessaloniki airport, we meet our guide at the bus and make our way to the Capital of Macedonia where “Paul and Silas traveled on through Amphipolis and came to Thessalonika’’ (Act 17:1) We will see the Rotonda, Triumphal Arch of Galerius and the sea front and the White Tower. We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight at MonAsty Autograph Collection in Thessaloniki.

• Day 03 Wed . May . 14

  KAVALA / PHILIPPI / THESSALONIKI

  After breakfast we turn to Philippi, named after Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great. In Philippi, the Apostle Paul saw the deliverance of the slave girl from an evil spirit (Act 16:18) and as a result was thrown with Silas into jail (“After a severe beating, they were thrown into jail...” Acts 16:23). We’ll visit the place where Lydia was baptized (“One of those who heard us was Lydia. After she and the people of her house had been baptized … Acts 16:14-15). The Epistle to the Philippians was written to the people of this city. Continue on to the modern city of Kavala-Neapolis, the seaport where “Paul had arrived from Troas through Samothrace” (Act 16:11). Spend the late afternoon enjoying the city of Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

• Day 04 Thu . May . 15

  ESSALONIKI / VERIA/ KALAMBAKA

  Today we will visit the Byzantine churches of St. Dimitrius and St. Sophia in the city centre and then continue to Veria (Berea) “As soon as night came, the believers sent Paul to Berea “(Act 17:10). We will see the Bema where Paul found people who eagerly received his message, “examining the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). Continue to Kalambaka where we will visit the unique hanging Byzantine monasteries from the Medieval centuries. There are 24 but only 6 are inhabited, and we will visit one of them. Continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight at Divani Meteora hotel

• Day 05 Fri . May . 16

  KALAMBAKA / DELPHI / ATHENS

  After breakfast we will depart the city to drive to Delphi where we will visit the ancient sanctuary of Apollo and will gain a greater understanding of the Greek religious heritage and its influence on the early Christian church. We visit the museum where we will marvel at the site of the Charioteer, a bronze statue so delicate we will see his eyelashes. We will see the Athenian Treasury and the Castalian Spring. We then travel on the national highway through famous Thebes, Levadia and the village of Arachova. Continue to the hotel in Athens where we check in for dinner and overnight at King George Hotel.

• Day 06 Sat . May . 17

  ATHENS

  This morning we start our tour of Athens by visiting the important modern and archaeological sites in the city of Athens, the Acropolis and neighboring monuments, including Mars Hill where “So they took Paul and brought him in front of the city council, the Areopagus…”(Act 17:19). While driving through the main streets of Athens, we have an opportunity to see other places of interest such as the University, the Academy, the National Library, the Temple of Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, Omonia Square, Constitution Square and the Royal Palace. We will see the Roman Cathedral of St Dennis dedicated to Dionysius. “Some men joined him and believed, among whom was Dionysius...” (Act 17:34). We will have free time to explore the ancient portion of the city Plaka area with its narrow paths, shops, taverns at the foot of Acropolis. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

• Day 07 Sun . May . 18

  CORINTH / ATHENS

  This morning we depart our hotel and drive along the coastal road to Corinth where Paul had met Aquila (“There he met a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, and recently come from Italy... “ Acts 18:2). Continue along the wonderful beach of Kinetta, make a brief stop at the amazing Corinthian Canal, then on to ancient Corinth to visit the Museum, the Bema where “Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message...” (Acts 18:5). Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.

• Day 08 Mon . May . 19

  ATHENS / MYKONOS (CRUISE)

  After breakfast we transfer to the port of Lavrion to board the ship for our 4-night Greek Island and Turkey Cruise. This afternoon we arrive to the mountainous island of Mykonos. You will disembark the ship to explore the island and get a taste of this cosmopolitan place at its capital and Little Venice. Return to the ship for dinner and the evening entertainment.

• Day 09 Tue . May . 20

  KUSADASI / TURKEY-PATMOS / GREECE

  Today we visit the Turkish port of Kusadası enjoy the tour to the ancient ruins of Ephesus, whose inhabitants were the recipients of Apostle Paul’s famous epistle (Acts 18:19-26). You will see the Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the steam-heated Baths of Scolastika, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, the Library of Celsus and The Great Theatre, where St. Paul preached, which is the largest theatre in antiquity having a capacity of 24,000 people. Return to the ship to sail to the Greek island of Patmos where we will visit the Monastery of St. John and the Cave of the Apocalypse, where John the Evangelist wrote the Book of the Revelation during his exile (Rev. 1:9-11)

• Day 10 Wed . May . 21

  RHODES

  We will spend the day on the island of Rhodes. We will drive along the picturesque south-eastern coastline, dotted with white-washed villages, to Lindos, one of the most important of the three great cities of ancient times. See how this entire city is guarded by medieval walls which were constructed by the knights of St. John in the 13th century. Within them stands the ancient Acropolis of Lindos, on the brink of a precipice 400 feet above the sea. From the Acropolis, we will see St. Paul’s bay, where the apostle cast anchor during his historic voyage to Ephesus. Proceed on foot uphill, to the Acropolis and Temple of Athena. Return to the old city of Rhodes to see the Gate d’Amboise where we will have walking tour through the medieval city of Rhodes to view the Palace of the Knights and continue walking down the Street of the Knights. Lunch is served on board and there is some free time to explore the city of Rhodes on your own.

• Day 11 Thu . May . 22

  CRETE / SANTORINI

  This morning, we dock in Heraklion, the capital of Crete. where Paul arrived as a prisoner on his way to Rome and the final chapter of his life. Paul revisited the island of Crete before his death, placing Titus in charge of the church he founded. After a short drive through the town of Heraklion the walking tour will take us to visit the church of St Titus , a disciple of the Apostle Paul and the first Bishop of Crete. And we will visit the Venetian Loggia, Basilica of St Mark, medieval monastery of St Catherine and the Cathedral of Agios Minas.. At the Archaeological Museum we’ll see displays of many of the treasures found during the excavation of this ancient city. We later sail to the famous volcanic island of Santorini. First we head to Megalochori, one of the most authentic and unspoiled villages on the island, retaining its distinctive architecture, character and charm. Our trip continues eastwards through a number of traditional communities like Firostefani and Imerovigli until we arrive at Oia.. There is time in Oia to explore, stroll the marble paved alleys, visit the adorable shops and capture the moments on camera. We return to the ship for dinner before sailing back to Athens.

• DAY 12 Fri . May . 23

  DISEMBARK CRUISE / ATHENS

  We arrive in Athens port early this morning, disembark and return to Athens for an afternoon on your own to stroll around the city or do last minute souvenir shopping prior to our farewell dinner

• DAY 13 Sat . May . 24

  ATHENS / USA

  Early this morning we transfer to the Athens airport for our return flight back home, via Newark.