A rich Religious journey through the whole of Greece and her islands, as well as Turkey, following Apostle Paul’s second and third mission journeys.
Itinerary:
Day 1: ARRIVAL FLIGHT FROM YOUR POINT OF ORIGIN TO ATHENS
Flight to Athens, you will be welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel in Athens at Nea Makri. Distribution of rooms. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
Day 2: PIRAEUS, MYKONOS, KUSADASI
After breakfast, we set off for the Port of Piraeus to check-in. In the late afternoon. We reach Mykonos. Mykonos is the most cosmopolitan Greek island. We travel by bus to Hora, and begin our walking tour of the beautiful streets. The road leads up after Alefkandra. Alefkandra is a charming corner of Hora, known as the Venice of Mykonos. The houses facing the sea and the wooden balconies reminds of Venice. Enjoy the romantic atmosphere with a cool drink and a Greek snack. Return to the cruise ship. Dinner and overnight. Our cruise ship leaves the port of Mykonos and continues on to Kusadasi in Turkey.
Day 3: BODRUM, EPHESUS, PATMOS, HERAKLION
In the morning we arrive in Kusadasi, and start our journey to Mount Koressos. In a small valley, a humble chapel is located near the small house where the Virgin Mary spent her last days. We continue to Ephesus. With the passage through the Magnesian Gate we enter the ancient city and the tour begins,the magnificent archaeological sites: The Odeon, the Trajan fountains, the steam-heated Scolastika – spas, the Adrian Temple, the Celsus Library and the Great Theater of Ephesus. At noon, we return to the cruise ship and continue our journey to Patmos. After we arrive in Patmos, we have a short drive and arrive in Chora, where the Monastery of St. John was built within a fortification. We visit the small museum where we can admire priceless treasures, books, manuscripts, mosaics, robes and jewels. Then we leave for the nearby cave of the Apocalypse. This sacred site inside the cave is a foundation of the Christian tradition, the rock is ragged with three small fissures which symbolize the Holy Trinity, and the vvoice of God was heard and dictated the text of the Revelation to Saint John. You can see the crack in the rock which was allegedly caused by the voice of God in praise of the Trinity. In the evening we go for dinner and overnight on the cruise ship. We leave for Heraklion.
Day 4: HERAKLION, SANTORINI
Crete is the largest island of Greece. Within a short drive from Heraklion we reach the archaeological site of Knossos. The Palace of Knossos was created as a group of buildings of up to five storeys with a constructed area of 21,000 m². The heart of the palace is the so-called Throne Room, due to an alabaster throne found there. After the tour we board the coach to Heraklion, where we will have free time for a walk. We then depart for Santorini. Arrival in Santorini. Our tour begins with a drive to Oia, during which we will have the unique opportunity to admire from the bus the unique panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and the neighboring islands. The tour continues to Fira. This attractive place is the capital of the island. Simply stroll through the charming streets or have a cup of coffee and enjoy the view of the caldera bay. A short cable car ride will take you down to the pier to go back on board to our ship. Dinner and overnight on the cruise ship. We continue our trip to Piraeus.
Day 5: CORINTH, MYCENAE, ATHENS
In the morning we arrive at the port of Piraeus. We leave the Cruise ship and start our journey to the Corinth Canal (world renowned artificial link between the Saronic and Corinthian gulf built late 19th century) 15 minutes break for photos. Continue the trip to Ancient Corinth. We visit the Ancient site, Agora, the Temple and the Museum. We go past vineyards and gnarled olive trees, and then we reach Mycenae. Visit the well-preserved Cyclopean Walls, the Royal Tombs, the magnificent Lion Gate, the earliest form of monumental sculpture in Europe. It was here that the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann (in 1874) began with his excavations and discovered the Royal Tombs of the House of Atreus and their huge hoards of gold. Return to Athens to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
Day 6: ATHENS, DELPHI
After breakfast we start our sightseeing tour of Athens. In the Morning we drive over Omonia- and Syntagma Square, past the Panathenaic Stadium (photo stop), the Royal Palace, Temple of Zeus, the Acropolis. Visit the Propyleon, the Erechtheum, temple of Nike and the Parthenon. Rest and lunch in Plaka. Then drive on the University Road, past Schliemann’s house, the Academy, the University and the National Library. In the afternoon we drive to Delphi. Arrival in Delphi. Distribution of rooms, dinner and overnight in Delphi.
Day 7: DELPHI, KALAMPAKA
After breakfast we visit Delphi. The town owes its fame to the oracle. We will visit the Temple of Apollo, among other things, the Treasury of the Athenians, the theater, and the museum with the famous bronze charioteer. After lunch we drive to Kalampaka. Check-in Kalampaka. Distribution of rooms .Dinner and overnight in Kalampaka
Day 8: METEORA, THESSALONIKI
After breakfast we drive to Meteora. We have a tour of the famous, built on high sandstone rocks, Meteora – Monasteries. Suspended between heaven and earth monasteries arose in the 14th century. We visit 2 of monasteries and have a guided tour, and learn about the significance of the Byzantine Orthodox monasticism in Greece and Eastern Europe. Then lunch at one of the many traditional taverns in Kalampaka. After lunch we continue our drive to the icon workshop PEFKIS. Pefkis is one of the most famous icon workshops in Greece and in its clients it also includes the Vatican. Guided tour of the workshop and explanation of the icon painting. In the evening we continue our drive to Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 9: KAVALA, LYDIA AND PHILIPPI
After breakfast we drive to Lydia in Kavala. Lydia is where the Apostle Paul baptized the first Christian woman on European soil. Then we continue to Philippi, the first community of the Apostle Paul (Roman Agora, Theater, basilicas). At lunch time we return to the city of Kavala, and then we will go on to the port of the city for a cup of Greek coffee and lunch. In the afternoon we drive back to Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 10 THESSALONIKI, DEPARTURE TO YOUR POINT OF ORIGIN
After breakfast, transfer to Thessaloniki airport and flight back to your point of origin.
