Greece
St Paul travelled through Greece on his missionary journeys and visited many places which form the basis of an interesting tour. Athens is usually the starting point for a tour and here there are many things to see, such as the Parthenon, museums and Mars Hill where St Paul preached.
We visit Corinth, the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, and to the north, the Meteora Monasteries perched high on the cliffs. Varlaam, Vergina and Veria (Berea) can all be visited en route to Thessaloniki. Visits to Philippi and Kavalla round off an exciting tour which covers much of St Paul's travels and the rich history of Greece.
The two itineraries shown below, for a tour of 8 days and a tour of 11 days, are merely samples. Your tour will be entirely tailor-made to your own specifications.
Sample 8 Day Itinerary
Day 1 Fly from the UK to Athens and transfer to our hotel in Athens. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Day 2 After breakfast, we spend most of the day in Athens. We start the day with an orientation tour of the city, and we shall visit a number of the classical sites including the Parthenon and Mars Hill. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Athens.
Day 3 After breakfast drive to Corinth, following the coast and crossing the Corinth canal which links the Aegean and Ionian seas. We continue to Cenchreae, from where Paul departed for Ephesus. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Athens.
Day 4 After breakfast travel to the site of Delphi, on the lower slopes of Mount Parnassos. This is a spectacular site where we will see the stadium, amphitheatre and the Temple of Apollo, as well as visiting the museum. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Delphi.
Day 5 After breakfast, drive to Kalambaka where we will visit the extraordinary Orthodox Meteora Monasteries perched high on the cliffs. We will visit the monastery of Varlaam with its superb frescoes of the Last Judgment and the convent of Agios Staphanos with its museum and the church. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Kalambaka.
Day 6 After breakfast, our journey takes us through the beautiful countryside to Vergina and we pass through Veria (Berea), where St Paul went after his escape from Thessaloniki. In modern Thessaloniki we visit St Demetrius Basilica, the largest church in Greece, and Agia Sophia. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Thessaloniki.
Day 7 After breakfast, proceed to Philippi, the main Roman city of the province. We visit the stream by the village of Lydia, where Lydia of Thyatira was baptized, and drive on to Kavalla (Neopolis, where Paul landed from Troy on his way to Philippi). Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Thessaloniki.
Day 8 After breakfast, leave Thessaloniki, and take our return flight to the UK.
Sample 11 Day Itinerary
This exciting itinerary covers much of St Paul's travels within Greece and in addition has a 3 day cruise taking in Mykonos, Rhodes, Patmos and Ephesus in Turkey.
Day 1 Fly from the UK to Thessaloniki and transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 2 After breakfast, proceed to Philippi, the main Roman city of the province and continue to Lydia. We drive on to Kavalla (Neopolis) for opportunity to enjoy time beside the harbour. Dinner and overnight Thessaloniki.
Day 3 After breakfast, we spend time in modern Thessaloniki, where we visit St Demetrius Basilica and Agia Sophia. We travel through Veria (Berea), and visit the Royal Tombs including that of Philip II at Vergina and continue through the beautiful countryside to Kalambaka. Dinner and overnight Kalambaka.
Day 4 After breakfast, visit the extraordinary Orthodox Meteora Monasteries perched high on the cliffs. Stop at the monastery of Varlaam with its superb frescoes and the Convent of Agios Staphanos. Later in the day we continue to Delphi. Dinner and overnight Delphi.
Day 5 After breakfast visit the site of Delphi, on the lower slopes of Mount Parnassos. This is a spectacular site where we will see the stadium, amphitheatre and the Temple of Apollo, as well as visiting the museum. We travel on to Athens. Dinner and overnight Athens.
Day 6 After breakfast drive to Corinth, following the coast and crossing the Corinth canal which links the Aegean and Ionian seas. We continue to Cenchreae, from where St Paul departed for Ephesus. Dinner and overnight Athens.
Day 7 After breakfast, spend most of the day in Athens. A guided orientation tour of the city with visits to classical sites such as Mars Hill (Aeropagus) and the Parthenon. Dinner and overnight Athens.
Day 8 After breakfast, transfer to port to board 3-day cruise. pm Mykonos, a blue and white-washed island where you will find beautiful beaches, small shops and a picturesque harbour. Dinner and overnight on-board.
Day 9 All day docked in Rhodes, the beautiful 'island of roses' with a rich and varied history: St Paul, the crusaders, Suliman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Turks . After breakfast an excursion gives an opportunity to see some of the islands mosques, minarets and temples. Dinner and overnight aboard.
Day 10 am Patmos, the island known as the site of the apocalyptic Revelation of St. John the Divine. After breakfast visit the Monasteries of the Apocalypse and St. John. pm Kusadasi. We travel to Ephesus, one of the most extensive and impressive archaeological sites in the world. Dinner and overnight aboard.
Day 11 Return to Piraeus and disembark. Transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK.