Following Paul: Greece

Day 1: Athens – Kamena Vourla

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

Day 2: Kamena Vourla, Arachova – Delphi, Kamena Vourla

• Breakfast at the 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 Ionian Sea
• Delphi: visit the archaeological museum and the Gallion inscription on which the dating of Paul is based (Acts 18:12), The Sphinx of Thebes, Temple of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom
• Overnight and dinner at the hotel

Day 3: Kamena Vourla, Meteora, Kalambaka

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Meteora, one of 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 Meteora
• Drive back to the hotel for overnight and dinner

Day 4: Kalambaka, Vergina – Veria, Thessaloniki

• Breakfast at the 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 the hotel for overnight and dinner

Day 5: Thessaloniki, Philippi – Kavala – Thessaloniki

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive east to Philippi 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, the first place where Paul set foot 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 the hotel for overnight

Day 6: Thessaloniki – Mt Olympus - Larissa

• Breakfast at the 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 – Mt. Olympus including nature walk near Stavros, enjoy panoramic views of Mytikas, traditional place of the Palace of Gods
• Visit Agios Dionysius – ancient monastery named after the first Athenian converted by Paul (Acts 17:34)
• Drive to Larissa
• Overnight and dinner at the hotel

Day 7: Larissa – Mt Metamorphosis – Athens

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Tour of Larissa including the Ancient Roman Theatre and Byzantine Acropolis
• Drive up to Mt Metamorphosis and enjoy the panoramic view of the Gulf of Kamena Vourla
• A short walk 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 the hotel

Day 8: Athens – Ancient Corinth – Athens

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Visit Acropolis and Mars Hill where Paul talked to the Athenians near the altar to the Unknown God (Acts 17) converting Dionysius and Damaris
• Drive along the city sites from the King’s Palace to the first Olympic Stadium and enjoy some free time at the Plaka Market
• Drive along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Canal
• 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 the hotel

Day 9: Athens

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