12 Day Steps of St Paul Tour includes …. 3 Night Aegean Island Cruise

Itinerary

DAY 1, TUES. - BOSTON -ATHENS:  Overnight flight** to Athens Not included

DAY 2, WED. - ATHENS: Tour begins on Arrival in Athens. You will be met and transferred to your hotel.    Rest of the day at leisure.  Enjoy this evening’s welcome dinner with your traveling companions. (D)    Royal Olympic Hotel 5*                            

DAY 3, THURS - ATHENS: After breakfast we enjoy sightseeing with a Local Guide visiting the ACROPOLIS with the Parthenon and AREOPAGUS, where St. Paul delivered his famous sermon about the identity of “the Unknown God” (Acts 17:15-34).  Continue for a visit at the Acropolis Museum with its artifacts. Rest of day at your leisure to visit the old city of Athens, Plaka with all its cafes, shops and tavernas.   (B)  Royal Olympic Hotel 5*                            

DAY 4, FRI - MYKONOS:  Enjoy breakfast at hotel prior to your transfer. Embark your cruise in the port and cruise to Mykonos with lunch offered onboard. Late afternoon, you will arrive in Mykonos, where you will enjoy free time on your own, on one of the most cosmopolitan islands in Greece. Return to the ship for dinner and departure. (B, L, D)   Inside Cabin Cat. IB

DAY 5, SAT- KUSADASI / PATMOS: Early morning breakfast will be served onboard as you arrive in the Port of Kusadasi. We highly recommend the included excursion to Ancient Ephesus where Paul the Apostle spent three years during his ministry. Visit the House of Mary, where she is said to have spent her last days or perhaps you may prefer to walk around this colorful town of Kusadasi on your own. Continue your cruise to Patmos, the “Jerusalem of the Aegean.” Visit the Monastery of St. John and the Grotto of the apocalypse where John the Evangelist, inspired by God, wrote the Book of Revelation during his exile. Early evening return to the ship where dinner will await you as you sail for Crete. (B, L, D)  

DAY 6, SUN- CRETE / SANTORINI:   Early morning breakfast will be served onboard as you arrive in the Port of Heraklion, Crete. Spend your morning with an unforgettable included tour (visiting the Palace of Knossos and its excavations). Return to the ship mid-morning and enjoy lunch onboard before sailing to Santorini. Captivating views are not to be missed as your ship has Santorini in its sight. Disembark via tender boats to Santorini`s small port where you can experience a journey up the caldera by cable car or donkey or foot. Early evening return to the ship via cable car and tender boat for dinner as you depart Santorini and sail back to Piraeus, Athens. (B, L, D) 

DAY 7, MON - ATHENS - THESSALONIKI:  After an early breakfast, disembark your ship and depart north for Thessaloniki. We will stop for a coffee break at Kamena Vourla, a seaside resort. Next a photo stop at Thermopylae, site of the famous Greek-Persian battle where King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans heroically held the Persians. Continue to Thessaloniki. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of this city, named after Alexander the Great's sister, and which figures prominently in the New Testament at which time this provincial capital was considered a world cultural center. This community was the center of St. Paul's activities in Northern Greece. He preached and founded a church and to whom he wrote two epistles (Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thessalonians & 2 Thessalonians).  Visit the Museum of Byzantine Culture, one of the finest museums in the world devoted to Byzantine art and civilization with an impressive collection of many Byzantine and early Christian frescoes, icons, and artifacts.  Check in at our hotel in Thessaloniki for our two-night stay.  (B, D)    Capsis Hotel Thessaloniki 4*

DAY 8, TUES - THESSALONIKI, Excursion to Philippi and Kavala: Full Day Excursion along the ancient route of St. Paul to Amphipolis (Acts 17:1). Journey to ancient Philippi, named after the father of Alexander the Great. This busy Roman colony boasted a great library and theater. In Philippi, St. Paul preached, established the first church in Europe, and was to whom he wrote one of his epistles while imprisoned in Rome (Acts 16:11-40-Philippians). It was in this area that St. 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). Continue to Kavala, ancient port of Neapolis (Acts 16: 9-11). Return to Thessaloniki for dinner / overnight. (B, D)  Capsis Hotel Thessaloniki 4*

DAY 9, WED - THESSALONIKI - VERIA - KALAMBAKA: This morning after breakfast, we say farewell to Thessaloniki, next stop Veria (Berea of the New Testament), where St. Paul and Silas were sent by friends after being accused of treason in Thessaloniki (Acts 17: 5-15). Visit the Bema of St. Paul, where St. Paul is said to have stood and preached the Gospel to the local community. Continue with early afternoon arrival in Kalambaka. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. (B, D)    Hotel Divani Meteora 4*

DAY 10, THURS - KALAMBAKA / METEORA: After breakfast mid-morning Visit the breathtaking monasteries of Meteora atop 1000-1200 ft. cliffs. You will visit ageless monasteries containing priceless historical and religious treasures standing suspended between earth and sky. In Meteora, visit VARLAAM and ST. STEPHEN’S MONASTERIES. Situated atop vast rocks, the 14th-century monasteries compose one of the most breathtaking sites in the world.  Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. (B, D)    Hotel Divani Meteora 4*

DAY 11, FRI - KALAMBAKA / DELPHI: In the morning we continue south to Delphi. The ancient site of Delphi is one of the most historical destinations in Greece and one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Visits include the Doric Temple and the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasuries, the 5th-century bronzed Charioteer and the intriguing Archaeological Museum filled with ancient artifacts. Dinner and overnight in Delphi.  (B, D)      Amalia Hotel Delphi 4*     

DAY 11, FRI - DELPHI- CORINTH - ATHENS:  After breakfast we continue to ancient Corinth, a major commercial crossroads in the time of Apostle Paul and the city where he spent over a year in ministry (Acts 18:11). We will see the very road that Saint Paul walked on almost 2000 years ago when he entered the city. We will stand on the Bema platform where Paul’s case was dismissed by Roman proconsul Gallio (Acts 18:12).  You will have time for a leisurely lunch at your expense at one of the Corinthian tavernas prior to continuing to see the Corinthian canal which connects the Aegean and Adriatic Seas. Late afternoon check-in at your Athens hotel. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for our “farewell dinner” celebrating the end of a fabulous trip while sharing with your newly acquainted friends, some of the beautiful memories that you have experienced on this tour. ( καληνυχτα kaί kαλό ταξίδι ) translation... Good Night and have a Great Trip. (B, D)      Royal Olympic Hotel 5*  

DAY 12, SATURDAY - ATHENS / HOME: Breakfast this morning. Mid-morning, depart your hotel and transfer to the airport terminal for your departure flight home. (B)  

NOTE:  Airport transfers are included only when airfare is purchased from Classic Holidays. Taxi service is available for those purchasing their airfare elsewhere. Prices and dates available can be found on our brochure price insert or on our Online Booking Module above. 

The Royal Olympic Hotel is situated in the heart of Athens, very close to the historical sites of Athens, such as the Acropolis (400 yards), 200-300 yards from the traditional Plaka area (old town) and 500 yards to Syntagma (Constitution Square). The 5-star Royal Olympic Hotel have modern interior design, with state-of-the-art technology and support, making them ideal for a pleasant stay in a relaxing environment.

OPTIONAL AIR EXTENSIONS: Air Extension up to additional 21 days available to individuals on return flights.