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Day by Day
ITINERARY
DAY 1
MONDAY
USA / Istanbul
Tour members are welcomed for our departing flight to Istanbul via wide-body aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board.
DAY 2
TUESDAY
Istanbul / Thessaloniki
Today we arrive at Thessaloniki, named after Alexander the Great’s sister. The city features prominently in the New Testament, at which time this provincial capital was considered a world cultural center. This community was the center of Paul’s activities in Northern Greece. It is where he preached and founded a church, and he wrote two epistles to the people of Thessaloniki (Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians). This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel.
DAY 3
WEDNESDAY Philippi / Kavala / Thessaloniki Today we tour along the ancient route of the Apostle Paul to Amphipolis (Acts 17:1). Our journey takes us to ancient Philippi, which was named after the father of Alexander the Great. This busy Roman colony boasted a great library and theater. In Philippi, Paul preached and established the first church in Europe, and it was the people of Philippi to whom he wrote one of his epistles while imprisoned in Rome (Acts 16:11-40; Philippians). It was in this area that Paul met Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She and her household accepted Christ and were baptized in the nearby river (Acts 16:11-15). Next we continue to Kavala, ancient port of Neapolis (Acts 16:9-11). We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
THURSDAY Thessaloniki / Veria / Kalambaka This morning we stop in Veria (Beroea of the New Testament), where Paul and Silas were sent by friends after being accused of treason in Thessalonika (Acts 17:5-15). We visit the Bema, where Paul is said to have stood and preached the Gospel to the local community. Next we continue to Kalambaka to see the striking scenery of the “Hanging Monasteries”. Perched on top of huge rocks that seem to be suspended in mid-air are ageless monasteries where we can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. There are 24 monasteries in total, with 6 currently inhabited. We visit one of them before checking into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5
FRIDAY Kalambaka / Athens Today we depart our hotel and drive to Athens. We stop at Thermopylae, the location where the Greeks victoriously fought for their freedom during the Greco-Persian wars in 480 BC. We see the statue of Leonidas, king of the Greek city-state Sparta. Next we continue to Athens, where we have a panoramic orientation tour and may have some free time to explore the Plaka. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
DAY 6
SATURDAY Athens Today in Athens we visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Areopagus, and Mars Hill, where the Apostle Paul delivered his well-known sermon (Acts 17:15-34). We see the Acropolis Museum, then have a panoramic tour of the Parliament House, the Academy, Omonia Square, and Panathenaic Stadium. We have free time in the Plaka area, the ancient city of Athens. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 7
SUNDAY Athens / Corinth / Nafplio Today we drive to Corinth to visit the archaeological site where the Apostle Paul worked for 18 months with tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-18). We also see the handmade Corinth Canal connecting the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. Next we stop and see the ancient port of Cenchrea, where Paul stopped during his mission to the area. We learn about Isthmus, a trade center where Paul visited to spread the word between the crowds. Next we make our way to the beautiful seaport town of Nafplio, the first capital of Greece and a location rich in Venetian architecture, cobbled squares, and towering castles with commanding views of the Argolic Gulf. Here we view the water castle of Bourtzi and Palamidi Castle (note there are 999 steps to the top of the castle so, time permitting, we may have the option to climb to the top for an impressive view of the gulf). We return to Athens for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8
MONDAY
Athens / USA
Today we say goodbye to Athens as we drive to the airport for our flight back home, filled with great memories of our time in Greece.
Day by Day
POST-TOUR: AEGEAN CRUISE
DAY 1
MONDAY
Athens / Mykonos
This morning we travel to the port of Piraeus for our Aegean Cruise. Late this afternoon we arrive at our first stop: Mykonos, the mythological site of a battle between Zeus and the Titans. This hilly, rock-ribbed island is dotted with more than 350 tiny chapels built by 19th-century pirates for the protection of their patron saints. We have time to visit this fishing harbor with shops and boutiques selling handmade clothing, fabrics, jewelry, and other local items before we return to our ship for overnight.
DAY 2
TUESDAY Kusadasi / Patmos This morning our ship takes us to Kusadasi, a beach resort in Turkey famous for its marina and its colorful bazaar. Here visitors can find a wide selection of hand-made carpets, leather bags, and other local products. Even more notably, Kusadasi is known for its proximity to the ancient ruins of Ephesus and its Terrace Houses, one of the world’s largest open-air museums, the House of the Virgin Mary (a house where Mary lived in her final years), and the village of Şirince. This afternoon our ship takes us to Patmos (Revelation 1:9), a beautiful, verdant island where Saint John the Evangelist wrote the book of Revelation. Atop its highest hill, within the halls of Hora, stands the monastery founded in his honor in 1088. This island, apart from its great significance to Christians all over the world, is now turning into a cosmopolitan destination. We enjoy a shore excursion to Saint John’s Monastery and the Grotto of the Apocalypse before returning to our ship for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
WEDNESDAY Rhodes This morning we arrive at the island of Rhodes, a city visited by the Apostle Paul (Acts 21:1). Separated from the Asia Minor coast by a mere 10-mile strait, Rhodes is blessed by nature with exceptional gifts. Homer called it “the Bride of the Sun,” and later poets “the Island of Roses.” In the Middle Ages, the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem established themselves at Rhodes and built a fortified city, now the best-preserved of its kind in the Mediterranean area. We are amazed by the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We take another shore excursion to Philerimos Church and Palace of the Knights before dinner and overnight on our ship.
DAY 4
THURSDAY Crete / Santorini This morning we arrive in Heraklion, the capital of Crete. This former Venetian harbor hosts an archaeological museum with invaluable treasures, and Crete itself was the site of Titus’s ministry (Titus 1:5, 12; Acts 27:8). Our tour of the city takes us on a short drive to the Minoan Palace of Knossos, home to Europe’s oldest civilization (7,000 BC!). We have the opportunity to sightsee or walk the city center for shopping or dining. In the afternoon we continue our cruise to Santorini, one of the most renowned places in the world. People travel thousands of miles to admire its unique geography, the result of an earthquake many centuries ago. Our final shore excursion takes us to the picturesque village of Oia, located on the caldera rim 300 meters above the sea, before returning to our ship.
DAY 5
FRIDAY
Athens / USA
This morning our tour comes to a close as we arrive at Lavrion, the port of Athens. We return to the airport for our journey home (Numbers 6:24–26), reveling in our unforgettable experiences in the lands of Greece.
Day by Day
POST-TOUR: SARONIC ISLAND CRUISE
DAY 1
MONDAY Hydra / Egina / Poros After transferring from Athens to Piraeus by motor coach, we set sail for the island of Hydra, where we have free time for strolling, shopping, and swimming. Next, it's on to the island of Egina, passing through the narrow strait separating the Peloponnesian coast from the island of Poros. Upon arrival in Egina (Aegina) we have the option of joining an excursion to the Temple of Aphaia (cost not included) or taking a walk around the main town. One of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, the lovely Egina is only 31 miles from Athens, and is a popular getaway for Athenians during the summer months. After lunch served on board we sail to Poros in the southern Agrosaronic Gulf. We have free time to explore Poros - we could visit ancient Trizina, the ruins of the Russian Dockyard, or take a romantic stroll in the Lemon Forest. After sailing back to Piraeus port we are transferred to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 2
TUESDAY Athens / USA This morning we return to the airport for our flight back home, filled with great memories of our time in Greece.
*The trip will take place in case of a group of 16 people
* * The route, as well as the order of visiting places, may be changed due to quarantine restrictions, as well as for safety reasons or due to the weather, road repair work etc.