Embark on your journey with an overnight flight to Athens. Prepare for a life-changing experience and take the opportunity to rest during the flight. Tomorrow, you will follow in the footsteps of the apostle Paul, immersing yourself in the ancient world where his ministry profoundly influenced early Christianity.

We arrive in Athens mid-afternoon and meet our representative who will provide us with tickets for our flight to Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki is where Paul was received by Jason and preached until he was rushed out the city (Acts 17:1-9). We transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

In the morning, we explore the city’s landmarks: the White Tower, the Walls of the Byzantine Acropolis, the Roman Arch of Galerius, and the Rotonda. We visit two of the city’s oldest Christian churches, the Basilicas of St. Demetrius and St. Sophia. Following the Via Egnatia, we visit the area of Amphipolis, where we see the famous funerary Lion of Amphipolis, just as Paul and his companions did. We continue to Philippi, visiting the Baptistery of Lydia near the river where Paul baptized her (Acts 16:11-15). Lydia was Paul’s first European convert, followed by the jailer. We also explore the ruins of the Forum of Philippi, the Christian Basilicas, the “Prison of Paul,” and the Theater. Later, we drive to Kavala (Neapolis), Paul’s first stop in Europe, where we see the Byzantine Castle and the Roman Aqueduct. We return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

Today, we embark on a journey to the mystical region of Meteora, renowned for its Byzantine monasteries perched atop towering rock formations. Dating back to the 14th century, these monasteries offer a glimpse into a history of spiritual refuge and survival against the backdrop of stunning natural landscapes. Following our exploration, we continue our return journey to Athens, where we enjoy dinner and prepare for the next phase of our adventure.

Today, we sail from Athens to the charming island of Mykonos, known for its windmills. Upon arrival, we disembark to explore the waterfront lined with shops and cafes. We wander through the charming white-washed buildings before returning to the ship for dinner and evening activities. Today is free for personal exploration on the island. (Mykonos excursion not included)

This morning, we arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey. An included The ITINERARY excursion takes us to Ephesus, where Paul spent three years during his ministry. Ephesus boasts impressive remains such as the Agora, the Theater, the Stadium, the Library of Celsus, and the ruins of the Temple of Diana, one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” Later, we sail to Patmos where we visit the Monastery of St. John and the Grotto of the Apocalypse, where St. John wrote the Revelations.

In the morning, we arrive at Heraklion, Crete and at the traditional village of Stironas. Here we’ll show you how traditional Cretans lived centuries ago. We’ll also visit a botanical parterre which is home to various aromatic and medicinal herbs from the mountains of Crete. If available, We’ll have a chance to literally put our lips to the deep cup of traditional Cretan winemaking when we visit a raki distiller and sample traditional raki directly from the barrels in his cellar (included). Time permitting, we will stop in Heraklion on the way back to the ship. Then we sail north to the isle of Santorini, the most breathtaking of all the Greek islands to explore the exquisite whitewashed villages. We can also visit Fira (or Thira, the ancient name of island), which clings to volcanic cliffs and are accessible by cable-car or mule. (Santorini excursion not included)

Concluding our cruise, we disembark in Piraeus and journey to Ancient Corinth, where Paul engaged in his missionary work for eighteen months, making significant contributions to early Christian communities (Acts 18:1- 18). Our exploration includes visits to the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temples, and the renowned Bema, where Paul stood trial before Gallio. Continuing to Cenchreae, where Paul departed for Asia, we return to Athens for a comprehensive sightseeing tour encompassing the Acropolis, Mars Hill, the Agora, and other historical landmarks. Enjoy an afternoon of personal exploration before our farewell dinner and overnight stay in Athens.

Today, we embark on a journey to Delphi, revered in ancient times as the “omphalos” or navel of the earth, renowned for the Temple of Apollo and the influential Delphic oracle. Delphi also hosted the Pythian Games, drawing athletes from across Greece in a tradition that preceded the modern Olympics. En route, enjoy scenic vistas of mountain villages, immersing yourself in the natural beauty of Greece. Conclude the day with dinner and overnight in Athens.

In the morning, we transfer to Athens Airport for our return flight to the U.S.A.

In the morning we Transfer to the airport for our flight to Rome. We are met in Rome by our tour escort where we will board our motor coach and sped some time looking at some of the sites of Rome we will stop for lunch and have some time to shop before transferring to our hotel for our welcome dinner and overnight in Rome.

After breakfast we begin our sightseeing tour which includes a special visit to the Catacombs, where we explore tunnels and see the carvings on the walls from early Christians. From here we continue for a visit to St. John Lateran and visit the “Sacred Steps.” As a monk, Martin Luther climbed these steps on his knees, trying to merit forgiveness. Afterwards, we make a visit to St. Paul’s Church where tradition believes the Apostle Paul is buried. We conclude our day with a stop to see the Forum and St. Peter in Chains. Dinner and overnight are in Rome.

After breakfast, we transfer to the train station for the one hour and twenty-minute train ride to Florence. We then meet our city guide who takes us on a walking tour of Florence. We include a special visit to Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and Academy of Fine Arts, also known as the Accademia. The Accademia has been home to Michelangelo’s David since 1873. We then return to the train station for our ride back to Rome. Dinner and overnight are back at our hotel in Rome.

After breakfast, our first visit today is to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, the celebrated Chapel of the Popes and the venue of the Conclaves for Papal elections. It is one of the most splendid masterpieces in the history of world art and is well known around the world for its magnificent ceiling, beautifully decorated by Michelangelo. From here, our next stop is the Basilica of St. Peter, the largest church in the world, which overlooks the enormous Piazza San Pietro. Then we take a sightseeing tour of this eternal city. Driving through the main streets of Rome, we marvel at the monuments of this great capital. We visit the Colosseum, which symbolizes the eternity of the Roman civilization. We also visit the Piazza Venezia, dominated by the imposing monument to Vittorio Emanuel II. Before we return to our hotel, we stop near the Fontana di Trevi and follow tradition by tossing a coin into the fountain, promising to return to Rome. Dinner and overnight are in Rome.

In the morning we transfer to Rome Airport for our return flight back to the U.S.A. We arrive home the same day.