JOURNEYS OF PAUL TOUR

October 2: Dallas – Athens

Depart the USA for Athens.

October 3: Athens

Arrive Athens and meet the group at our hotel, the Athens Key Hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free. Dinner out at a local Athens restaurant and overnight in Athens at the Athens Key Hotel.

October 4: Athens

We will spend the day admiring the architectural miracles of ancient Athens, as we follow our guide to the world famous Acropolis to see the Propylea, the Erectheum and the Parthenon. We will also visit Mars Hill, where Paul delivered his sermon on the “Unknown God”, as well as view the Agora, the ancient center of the economic and public life of the city, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. During the bus tour, we will see Constitution Square with the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium and the Neoclassical buildings of Athens. Dinner out at a local Athens restaurant and overnight in Athens at the Athens Key Hotel.

October 5: Delphi – Kalambaka (Meteoras)

The group will depart Athens and drive into the mainland of Greece to Delphi, considered the center of the ancient world, where we will visit the site and museum. From there, we will continue to central Greece where we will find scenery of unique and striking beauty: on top of huge granite pinnacles, you see the ageless Meteora Monasteries full of treasures of Christian art. We will visit one of them and then drive to our hotel in Kalambaka, Amalia Hotel, for dinner and overnight.

October 6: Meteora – Thessaloniki

This morning we will get a taste of the beautiful countryside of Central and Northern Greece, as we drive from Kalambaka toward Veria, where the Apostle Paul was welcomed by the local church. From there, we will continue to Thessaloniki and get acquainted with the city of Jason and Paul, see the White Tower, the Rotonda, the Roman Arch of Galerius, the Byzantine Acropolis and visit the most famous church of Thessaloniki, the Basilica of St. Demetrius. We will then drive to our hotel in Thessaloniki, Porto Palace Hotel, for dinner and overnight.

October 7: Thessaloniki – Kavala (Philippi) – Thessaloniki

Today we will follow the route of the Via Egnatia and visit, like Paul and his companion, the area of Amphipolis to see the famous funerary Lion of Amphipolis and the site of Philippi. There, we will visit the Baptistery of Lydia near the river, where Paul baptized Lydia, the first convert of Paul on European soil. We will also visit the ruins of the Forum of Philippi, the Christian Basilicas, the “Prison of Paul”, and the Theater. We will then drive to Kavala (Neapolis), a picturesque city-port and view the Byzantine Castle and the Roman Aqueduct. We will then drive to our hotel in Thessaloniki, Porto Palace Hotel, for dinner and overnight.

October 8: Thessaloniki – Vergina – Athens 

We will begin our journey back to Athens and stop in Vergina where we will visit a spectacular archeological site containing the tomb of King Philip of Macedonia and his family. We will continue to Athens after a brief stop at Thermopylae, where Leonidas led the heavily outnumbered Spartans against the invading Persians in of one of the most famous battles in western history. Arriving in Athens, we will check in to our hotel, the Athens Key Hotel. Dinner out at a local Athens restaurant and overnight in Athens at the Athens Key Hotel.

October 9: Cruise – Mykonos 

We will begin our cruise today by boarding the ship and sailing to our first port of call - Mykonos.  It is the most cosmopolitan of the Greek Islands and attracts many visitors from all over the globe, including large numbers of artists and intellectuals. You will be free to spend the afternoon and evening exploring this island of white sugar-cube houses, narrow cobbled streets, windmills, beautiful beaches and over 300 Elfin chapels or you may choose to purchase an optional excursion offered by the cruise ship. We will return to the ship and depart in the evening.

October 10: Patmos – Kusadasi (Ephesus) 

In the morning, we will arrive in Turkey and drive to the ancient city of Ephesus, where Paul spent three years during his 3rd missionary journey. This is the city where both Paul and John preached and lived (Acts 19) and the city to which Paul wrote the book of Ephesians. Ephesus is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world and we will explore the site, entering through the Magnesian Gate and continuing to visit 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, the largest one in antiquity with a capacity of 24,000 seats where St. Paul preached. We will walk back to the bus along the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. While driving back to Kusadasi and just outside Ephesus, we will see the Basilica of St. John, which was erected over his grave in the 6th century A.D. by Emperor Justinian. We will then drive to site where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days. Before returning to the ship, we will have time to enjoy some free time in Kusadasi or get a cultural taste of Turkey by enjoying an exhibition of oriental carpets, jewelry or leather goods. We will return to the ship and sail to the island of Patmos where John was in exile. We will visit the Monastery of St. John, situated on one of the island’s highest points, and then walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse, the site where John wrote the Book of Revelation. We will return to the ship and continue our cruise.

October 11: Rhodes

We will have the entire day to explore the island of Rhodes. You can sign up for optional shore excursions that take you 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, marvel at the breathtaking views covering the great expanse of the Aegean Sea and St. Paul’s Bay, where the apostle cast anchor during his historic voyage to Ephesus. Another shore excursion option is to explore Rhodes city and enjoy a panoramic drive through the new part of the city before continuing to Mount Smith to see the ruins of ancient Rhodes, the Temple of Apollo and Diagoras Stadium. Afterwards your motor coach will drop you off at Porte d’Amboise, the start of the walking tour through the medieval city of Rhodes, the Palace of the Knights, Chevaliers Road and the Marine Gate. Return to the ship and depart.

October 12: Crete – Santorini

Today, we wake up to discover that we have arrived at the island of Crete and this morning’s port of call, Heraklion. Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands and is known, in legend, as the birthplace of Zeus, father of the gods. We will tour the site of Knossos with its restored Palace of King Minos (legendary home of the Minotaur) and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. We will depart later in the day for our final and probably most scenic port, Santorini. You may take a donkey or cable car up to the whitewashed village of Fira and spend the rest of the day exploring this fascinating town perched on the edge of the cliff, or purchase an excursion to one of the other towns on the island. In the evening, we sail back to Athens.

October 13: Corinth - Athens

We will continue our trip with a drive to the southern part of Greece to visit Ancient Corinth. This is the once glorious city near the Isthmus, where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla and spent a year and a half preaching the Gospel. We will visit the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temples and the famous Bema, where Paul stood before Gallio, accused by the Jews of Corinth. Dinner out at a local Athens restaurant and overnight in Athens at the Athens Marriott Hotel.

October 14: Depart

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the USA.