Following Paul – Greece

Day 1 – Athens – Kamena Vourla

• Arrival to Athens Airport
• Our guide will meet and assist group at airport
• Drive along the plains of Thebes (famous Sphinx)
• Lake Yliki and Kamena Vourla
• Enjoy sunset walk along the gulf of Kamena Vourla (from where St Paul sailed to Athens)
• Overnight and Dinner at hotel

Day 2 – Kamena Vourla, Arachova – Delphil, Kamena Vourla

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Mt Parnassus and visit the Holy Monastery of Jerusalem which architecture is inspired by the New Jerusalem (John 21:13).
• Short nature walks in the Cedars Forest to a Hermit’s cave
• Panoramic view of the Lonian Sea
• Delphi where we will visit the archaeological museum and the Gallion inscription on which the dating of the of Paul is based (Acts 18:12), The Sphinx of Thebes, Temple of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom
• Overnight and dinner at hotel

Day 3 – Kamena Vourla, Meteora, Kalambaka

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Meteora on of the Europe’s most beautiful landscapes with its six monasteries.
• Short nature walks in Agios Athanasios
• Panoramic view of the stone mushroom of the Agia Triada
• Visit the Western Monasteries (St Paul as the first Christian hermit)
• Evening tour of the illuminated cliffs of the Meteora
• Drive back to hotel for overnight and dinner

Day 4 – Kalambaka, Vergina – Veria, Thessaloniki

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Vergina the golden treasures of the ancient kings of Macedonia
• Veria – walk along the Barbouta river into the old Jewish quarter
• Visit the ancient synagogue and see the step where Paul spoke to the Verians (Acts 17)
• Drive along the Aegean coast to Thessaloniki
• Visit the Jewish quarter including the synagogue, the Ancient Jewish Bath House and the Modiano market (Acts 17, 1 Thessalonians 1)
• Drive back to hotel for overnight and dinner

Day 5 – Thessaloniki, Phillipi – Kavala – Thessaloniki

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive east to Phillipi and visit Paul’s Jail (Acts 16), the Christian Basilica, the Greco-Roman round theater.
• Visit the Lydia baptismal site at Zigakti river (Acts 16:15)
• Drive to Kavala for a panoramic view of Port of Neapolis first place where Paul put his feet in Europe (Acts 16, 7 -11)
• A short walk along Via Egnatia, where Paul walked on his way to Thessaloniki
• Dinner out in Ladadika at one of the Tavernas
• Drive back to hotel for overnight

Day 6 – Thessaloniki – Mt Olympus – Larrisa

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive across the Macedonian river’s delta to Mt Olympus
• Visit the panoramic village of Litochoro and proceed to Greece’s biggest nature reserve – Olympus including nature walk near Stavros, enjoy panoramic views of Mytikas, traditional place of Palace of Gods
• Visit Agios Dionysius – ancient monastery named after the first Athenian converted by Paul (Acts 17:34).
• Drive to Larrisa
• Overnight and Dinner at hotel

Day 7 – Larissa – Mt Metamorphosis- Athens

• Breakfast at hotel
• Tour of Larissa including the Ancient Roman Theatre and Byzantine Acropoli
• Drive up to Mt Metamorphosis and enjoy the panoramic view of the Gulf of Kamena Vourla
• A short walk will bring us to the Monastery commemorating Jesus Transfiguration
• Visit the monastic garden and the church with the famous description of Jesus Transfiguration
• Drive to Athens
• Overnight and dinner at hotel

Day 8 – Athens – Ancient Corinth – Athens

• Breakfast at hotel
• We begin with a visit to Acropolis and Mars Hill where Paul talked to the Athenians near the altar to the Unknown God (Acts 17) converting Dionysius and Damaris.
• We drive along the city sites from the King’s Palace to the first Olympic Stadium and enjoy some free time at the Plaka Market
• In the afternoon we drive along the Saronic gulf to the Corinthian Canal
• We will visit ancient Corinth and the Roman sites associated with Paul’s ministry: the Agora, the Bema, Temple of Apollo, Gallio Seat
• Overnight and dinner at hotel

Day 9 – Athens

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to Athens Airport
• Depart to USA