Embark upon your journey with a flight to Athens. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience and get some rest on the flight. Tomorrow you will be walking where the apostle Paul walked!

Upon arrival to the Athens airport, we will meet our guide in the arrivals hall and head to our hotel located near The Acropolis, the bustling heart of ancient Athens. Dinner and overnight are in Athens.

Today we explore ancient Athens, as we follow our guide to the world-renowned Acropolis, to see the Propylaea, the Erechtheum, and the Parthenon. We visit Mars Hill, where Paul delivered his speech on the “Unknown God.” Then we see 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 also 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. In the afternoon we visit Ancient Corinth. This is the once [1] glorious city near the Isthmus, where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla and spent a year and a half preaching the Word of God. We visit the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temples, and the famous Bema, where Paul stood before Gallio, accused by the Jews of Corinth. Then we drive to Cenchreae, the little harbor from which Paul sailed back to Asia, thus ending his second missionary journey. Then we return to Athens for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

From Athens we drive to Delphi, the ancient sanctuary of Apollo. Here you will gain a greater understanding of the Greek religious heritage and their influence on the early Christian church. You will also visit the museum where you will marvel at the site of the Charioteer, a bronze statue so delicate you will see his eyelashes. Then you continue to Meteora to see the famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on gray rock pinnacles of varied shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the Cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. Dinner and overnight are in Kalambaka.

Your first stop is Berea. It was here where Paul planted a church that “studied the Scriptures” on a regular basis. We continue on to Vergina, the home of Alexander the Great. Here we will visit the Royal Tomb of Philip, perhaps the greatest archeological find of the 20th century. Then you drive to Thessaloniki for a short panoramic tour before you travel north to the amazing site of Philippi. You will visit the Baptistery of Lydia, near the river where Paul baptized her. Lydia was the first convert of Paul on European soil and the conversion of the jailer followed. Also, you visit the ruins of the Forum of Philippi, the Christian Basilicas, the “Prison of Paul” and the Theater. You then drive to the coast, to the port of Kavala (ancient Neapolis). Here, Paul took his first step in bringing the Gospel to present day Europe. It is a picturesque port! You view the Byzantine Castle and the Roman Aqueduct followed by dinner and overnight in Kavala.

This day you leave Greece and enter Turkey. You say fare-well to your Greek guide and driver and meet your Turkish guide and driver at the borders. Then you drive to Istanbul and head to our hotel located near Taksim Square, the bustling heart of modern Istanbul. Dinner and overnight are in Istanbul.

After enjoying our Turkish breakfast, we will depart from our hotel and begin our tour of the historical highlights of Istanbul. First, we will stroll through Hippodrome Square, the former sporting and social center of Constantinople that hosted chariot races during the Roman period. Afterwards, we are off to witness the incredible majesty and splendor of the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. Popularly known as the Blue Mosque, this 17th century Ottoman sanctuary is adorned with six minarets and more than 20,000 hand painted Iznik tiles. Then we will walk directly across from the mosque to visit the domed masterpiece of the Hagia Sophia before we head to Topkapi Palace. Located on the very cape of the peninsula where Constantinople was founded, Topkapi Palace is the former abode of Ottoman Sultans that still houses their legion of treasures, including an extensive collection of royal jewels. We will end our day with an evening of shopping at the Grand Bazaar, the massive covered market that houses a labyrinth of streets lined with shops selling jewelry, leather products and many other handcrafted souvenirs. Dinner and overnight are in Istanbul.

This day you leave Istanbul and drive along the northern shores of the Marmara Sea, towards Gallipoli and take the ferry boat to Canakkale. Dinner and overnight are in Canakkale.

Today begins with a visit to Ancient Troy. Then you continue with a visit to Pergamum where you see, besides other important things, the Acropolis and Asclepium. In the afternoon, you arrive at Izmir for dinner and overnight.

Today you travel to ancient Ephesus, where you can begin to focus your hearts and minds as you walk the massive ruin of ancient Ephesus, “the church that has left their first love.” Walking the great, marble Ephesian Road will take you to the great amphitheater where the rioters against Paul cried, “Great is the Diana of Ephesians!” You will also see the spectacular and famous Celsus Library, the Agora (marketplace), and the city bath ruins. We visit the cave of St. Paul and Thecla, then travel to see the Basilica of St. John prior to dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

After breakfast, we transfer to the Kusadasi harbor where we board our Greek Isles cruise. This will be our floating hotel for the next 2-nights. After embarking on our cruise, we sail for the island of Patmos. Excursion Included: Here we visit the Monastery of St. John, on one of the island’s highest points. From there, we walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse, the site of the apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine. Dinner and overnight on-board cruise ship.

In the morning, we arrive at Heraklion, Crete and disembark. Excursion Included: During this excursion, we take a short ride through the town of Heraklion and then arrive at the Knossos excavations. Here, Sir Arthur Evan’s archaeological discoveries revealed a civilization dating back to 4000 B.C., when a great empire flourished on the island of Crete. Paul left Titus in Crete and gave instructions on appointing church leaders in the towns (Titus 1:5). In the afternoon, we cruise to the isle of Santorini and disembark. Excursion Not included: Santorini is often referred to as the most breathtaking of all the Greek islands. The exquisite, whitewashed villages, including the town of Fira, or Thira, cling to volcanic cliffs, accessible by cable-car, or mule. Farewell Dinner and overnight on-board cruise ship. (Santorini excursion not included).

We disembark the cruise this morning in Piraeus. After disembarkation, we will continue to Athens Airport for our return flight back to the U.S.A. and arrive home the same day.