Day by Day Travel Itinerary

• Day 01 Fri . Oct . 24

  DEPART USA

  Depart Houston Intercontinental Airport for our flight to Athens with a connection in Istanbul.

• Day 02 Sat . Oct . 25

  ARRIVAL ATHENS

  Upon arrival in Athens this evening, we meet our guide outside luggage claim and we’ll be transferred to our hotel for check in. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

• Day 03 Sun . Oct . 26

  CORINTH / ATHENS

  This morning we depart our hotel and have a short drive to Corinth where Paul had met Aquila (Acts 18:2). Continue along the wonderful beach of Kinetta, make a brief stop at the amazing human made Corinth Canal and from there to ancient Corinth. Visit the Museum, the Bema where “Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message...” (Acts 18:5), along with the Doric Temple of Apollo, the Asklepion and the Agora. Paul stayed in Corinth for one and a half years. Afterwards we see the port of Cenchreae where he sailed to reach Ephesus. We drive back to Athens to visit the important modern and archaeological sites of the city, the Acropolis Hill and neighboring monuments, including Mars Hill where Paul preached (Acts 17:19). Also, places of interest such as the University, the Academy, the National Library, the Temple of Zeus, the Panathenian Stadium, Omonia Square, Constitution Square and the Royal Palace, will be seen. We will see the Roman Cathedral of St. Dennis dedicated to Dionysius (Acts 17:34). If time permits, we have some free hours to explore the ancient portion of the city, Plaka area, with its narrow paths, shops, taverns just at the foot of the Acropolis. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight

• Day 04 Mon . Oct . 27

  ATHENS / MYKONOS (CRUISE)

  After breakfast we transfer to the port of Piraeus to board the ship for our 4-night Greek Island and Turkey Cruise. This afternoon we arrive to the mountainous island of Mykonos. You may disembark the ship to explore the island on your own 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 05 Tue . Oct . 28

  USADASI / TURKEY-PATMOS / GREECE

  Today we visit the Turkish port of Kusadasi, and 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 06 Wed . Oct . 29

  RHODES

  We will spend the day in 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 07 Thu . Oct . 30

  CRETE / SANTORINI

  Our ship arrives to the island 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. We will visit Knossos Palace, center of the Minoan Civilization and return to the city for a short walking tour. Sail to the famous volcanic island of Santorini. You may take part in the tour to Oia village, perched high on top of a cliff, to watch a Santorini sunset which some consider the most beautiful anywhere on the planet! OR to take cable car to reach the capital of the island, Fira, and see its unique beauty. We return to the ship for dinner before sailing back to Athens.

• Day 08 Fri . Oct . 31

  DISEMBARK CRUISE / KALABAKA

  We arrive in Athens port early this morning, disembark and drive to Kalabaka to visit the breathtaking Byzantine monasteries of Meteora. Perched on a mountain of strangely shaped pinnacles in the Peneus Valley, they are far removed from the world and its distractions. Originally the only access was by means of very long ladders, steps have now been cut in the rock face. The monasteries are veritable Byzantine museums exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes from the 11th century. Dinner and overnight in Kalabaka.

• DAY 09 Sat . Nov . 01

  LABAKA / THESSALONIKI

  We will depart our hotel to drive 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). Then continue to Thessaloniki to visit the Byzantine churches of St. Demetrius and St. Sophia in the city center and have a panoramic view of the city. We will stay in Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

• Day 10 Sun . Nov . 02

  KAVALA / PHILIPPI / THESSALONIKI

  This morning we visit Philippi, named after Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great. In Philippi, St. Paul had saved the servant women of evil spirit (Act 16:18) and as result were thrown with Silas into jail (Acts 16:23). We’ll visit the place where Lydia had been baptized (Act 16:14-15). The Epistle to the Philippians was written to the people of this city. Continue on to the modern city of Kavala or Neapolis, to see the sea port where “Paul had arrived from Troas through Samothrace” (Act 16:11) and the famous mosaic of St. Nicolas church. Dinner and overnight at Thessaloniki.

• Day 11 Mon . Nov . 03

  THESSALONIKI

  This day we will explore the second largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki, where St. Paul preached and founded a church and to whom he wrote two epistles (Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians). We will see the White Tower, the Arch of Galerius, the Roman Forum and Rotunda, as well as the Aristotle Square. We return to our hotel for our final dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

• Day 12 Tue . Nov . 04

  DEPARTURE THESSALONIKI / ARRIVE USA

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