12 Days
Specific Tour
30 people
English
Day 1: Tuesday Departure
Depart for your overnight flight to Greece, meals will be served on board.
Day 2: Wednesday Arrival Thessaloniki
Arrive in Thessaloniki where you will meet your guide for a short Orientation Tour. Enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow travelers overnight at Hotel Capsis (or similar) this evening.
Day 3: Thursday Thessalonica / Philippi / Kavala / Thessalonica
Kavala, the ancient site of Neapolis, founded in the 7th Century BC, is the very same place where St. Paul set foot on the European Continent during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:11), establishing a thriving Christian church in the nearby city of Philippi. Tour the famous city of Philippi, one of the most interesting biblical and historical ancient cities. From here, drive a short distance to the Baptistery and the River, where Lydia, the first European convert was baptized by St. Paul (Acts 16:12-18). After lunch, we will do a short orientation tour of Kavala (Ancient Neapolis) and then drive back to Thessaloniki. Overnight hotel Capsis or similar.
Day 4: Friday Thessalonica / Veria / Kalambaka
Today you follow the path of Paul when he fled Thessaloniki for the safety of Veria (Berea). We stop at the Bema surrounded by mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the “more noble” church. Then we visit the monasteries of Meteora. One of the most remarkable sites in Greece: a group of monasteries perched atop pinnacles of rock up to 600 meters high. Included in the tour is the visit inside the Monastery of Agios Stefanos (Nuns). Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Kalambaka (hotel Amalia or similar).
Day 5: Saturday Kalambaka / Meteora / Delphi / Athens
After our breakfast today, we drive through the mountains of central Greece to explore Delphi. Delphi is the famous oracle where the priestess of Apollo, Pitia, influenced, with their prophecies the history of cities and states of antiquity. Visit the archaeological site and museum. After our visit, we continue through the village of Arachova to Athens. Dinner and overnight are in Athens (Athens Avenue Hotel or similar).
Day 6: Sunday Athens
Today you explore the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as your guide introduces you to the world-renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum. Stand on Mars Hill as the Apostle Paul did when he proclaimed, “I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, he declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23). Also, see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Lunch – Athens street food tour! Free afternoon before your exciting 4-night cruise. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Athens (Athens Avenue Hotel or similar).
Day 7: Monday Athens / Piraeus (Embarkation) / Mykonos
Embark on a wonderful 4-night cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily while on board. Mykonos, the whitewashed jewel of the Cyclades Islands, is your first stop. Enjoy free time to explore this little paradise in the middle of the Aegean Sea.
Day 8 Tuesday: Kusadasi / Ephesus / Patmos
Breakfast and stop at the Turkish port of Kusadasi for an included excursion to the ruins of Ephesus where Paul the Saint spent three years during his ministry and where its inhabitants were the recipients of Paul’s famous epistle. Ancient Ephesus was the Roman capital of Asia Minor and an important center for Christianity from AD 50s. Continue your cruise to the island of Patmos, where in 95 AD, St. John the Theologian – one of the twelve disciples of Jesus – was sent into exile. We will visit the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we will see the Holy Grotto as well as priceless icons and manuscripts. Afterward, drive back to the port of Scala and enjoy some free time in this quaint and picturesque harbor.
Day 9: Wednesday Patmos / Rhodes
Arrival in Rhodes Island, MS Celestyal Olympia is going to remain at the port of Rhodes until 18:00. Medieval Tour (Optional) – Acropolis of Lindos & Citadel of the Knights or Free time in Medieval City.
Day 10 Thursday Heraklion (Crete) / Santorini
In the morning the ship will dock at the port of Heraklion on the island of Crete. You can take a tour (optional) to the Palace of Knossos, the center of the Minoan civilization. After lunch, the ship will travel to the most beautiful island in the Aegean Sea known as the “Black Pearl of the Aegean”, the volcanic Santorini where we will enjoy the breathtaking Panoramic View. Latest excavations suggest Santorini might be the lost city of Atlantis.
Day 11: Friday Piraeus (Disembarkation) / Athens / Corinth
After early morning disembarkation, we will travel to Corinth. Driving along the coast leads to the majestic Corinth Canal, an engineering triumph century in the making. Before the canal, ships were dragged from the Ionian Sea to the Aegean Sea using a wooden road with special grooves greased with wax. Overnight hotel in Athens (Athens Avenue Hotel or similar).
Day 12: Saturday Departure
According to the schedule of your return flight, you will be taken to the airport of Athens.
