In the Steps of Saint Paul

In the Steps of Saint Paul - Greece

Purpose:	Faith, Art, History, Culture, Fun
No. of days:	9 days - 7 nights
First & Last Cities:	Athens
Other cities:	Thessaloniki, Kavala, Philippi, Kalambaka, Meteora, Corinth
Starting cost:	On Request

Day 1: USA, Athens

Depart the USA on an overnight flight to Athens. Dinner and breakfast served on board.

Day 2: Athens, Thessaloniki

After you pass arrival formalities at Athens airport board your connecting flight to Thessaloniki. There, you will be met, on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Discover vibrant Thessaloniki, a city at a unique crossroads of civilizations, where East meets West, and where cultures and religions have mixed for thousands of years. Take the afternoon to soak up the thriving culture of Greece's beloved Northern capital with its idyllic sea views, tree-lined streets and colorful bazaars. In the afternoon meet your fully trained and professional Tour Director for a meeting. We’ll kick off the tour in style with a lovely welcome dinner to follow (included) and stay overnight in Thessaloniki. [D]

Day 3: Thessaloniki, Kavala

Today your journey takes you to the biblical port city of Neapolis, now known as

Kavala, where St. Paul first set foot in Europe. En route to Kavala you have the opportunity to see the mountain peninsula UNESCO world heritage site that is widely considered the holiest place in Modern Greece: Mount Athos. We will take a guided cruise of the epicenter of Eastern Christian Orthodox Monasticism. You will have a chance for reflection, spending the morning cruising the very same pristine Aegean waters that Paul, Silas and Luke passed through on their long journey from Troy. After lunch we continue on to Kavala, where in 45 AD, Paul docked and began his mission. Take the afternoon to visit the atmospheric old town with its famous aqueduct, Byzantine castle and neoclassical mansions. Enjoy dinner at a Kavala picturesque seaside “taverna“ and settle in for the night. [B/D]

Day 4: Kavala, Philippi, Thessaloniki

After breakfast we will officially commence following the footsteps as we travel, just as St. Paul and his companions did, from Kavala to Philippi, where he preached his first sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. Our licensed expert will guide us through the monumental ruins, including the site where Lydia was baptized and where St. Paul was imprisoned. We will visit the Acropolis, the theater and the remains of the first Christian Basilica established in Europe. We will continue our journey in chronological order, stopping in Ancient Amphipolis, before returning to dynamic Thessaloniki for another night stay. [B/D]

Day 5: Thessaloniki, Kalambaka

The prolific words from Paul's letters to the Thessalonians will play through our minds as we are led through the very places where he lived, preached and wrote about. Our local expert guide will expose Thessaloniki’s ancient roots, taking us through the Arch of Galerius built over the Egnatian Way, to the neighboring Rotunda and through the ruins of the Ancient Agora. We’ll also visit the beautiful churches St. Demetrious and St. Sophia before setting off, as Paul and Silas did, for Veria. At nearby Vergina, we’ll see the burial site of the kings of Macedon, including the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. After an enlightening day, we’ll make our way to Kalambaka, home of the breathtaking Meteora Monasteries, for dinner and an overnight stay. [B/D]

Day 6: Kalambaka, Meteora, Athens

When you awaken to see the awe-inspiring rock formations unfold before your eyes, you will easily understand why we call this place Meteora, which means “suspended in the heavens above.” Today we will climb above the charming mountain villages of Kastraki and Kalabaka to visit two of the six surviving Monasteries of Meteora, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in the world. Though Paul passed through Greece long before hermits began cave-dwelling here in the 9th century, one cannot deny that the message of his mission is alive and is exceptionally well-preserved here. We will see how the monks live today and enter some of the most captivating Byzantine basilicas in Greece. In the afternoon we’ll head south to the world-famous capital city of Athens for dinner and a several nights stay. [B/D]

Day 7: Athens

Today we will explore the fascinating city of Athens, a city whose deeply spiritual citizens have dedicated themselves to Gods for over 4,500 years, leaving behind countless places of worship to visit. We will begin our morning climbing up the rock of the Acropolis, while our experienced guide uncovers the stories behind the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erectheum, the Propylae, and perhaps the most perfect piece of architecture ever built, the majestic Parthenon. Afterward, we will ascend the Areopagus, Mars Hill, where Paul spoke to the Athenians who were gathered in the Ancient Agora below. We’ll continue on to the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of the Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. To follow we will see the National Gardens, the Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square, the University of Athens, and finally the National Library. Take a walk through the enchanting Plaka and pass by some of the city's most precious Byzantine churches afterward. Dinner and overnight in lively Athens. [B/D]

Day 8: Athens (Corinth)

After Athens, Paul went to Corinth. At the foothills of the Corinthian Acropolis, he lived, worked as a tent maker and taught the word of God for 18 months. We will visit the ruins of the ancient city, walking in the same paths that he walked thousands of years before while our guide reveals the ruins of the 6th century BC Temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Peirene, the Agora where Paul's trial by Gallio took place and where the famous Bema stands. Afterward we will pass by the ancient port of Kechries, where Paul departed from for Ephesus and later on we’ll marvel at the engineering feat of the Corinth Canal, designed in Paul’s time, but finally realized in the late 1890s. We’ll return to Athens for a special last evening together, as our steps on land will have come to an end. [B/D]

Day 9: Athens, USA

As your footsteps of St. Paul tour ends, say farewell to the vibrant city of Athens. Enjoy a nice breakfast at the hotel and be ready to be picked-up for your transfer to Athens airport to board your flight back home. [B]

[B] = Breakfast | [D] = Dinner | [B/D] = Breakfast and Dinner

Tour includes

· Airfare between the USA and Greece

· Arrival & Departures transfer service to Thessaloniki hotel

· Arrival and Departure transfer service from Athens hotel to Athens International Airport

· 7 nights’ accommodation in select hotels:

o 2 overnights in Thessaloniki

o 1 overnight in Kavala

o 1 overnight in Kalambaka

o 3 overnights in Athens

· Meals

o Daily breakfast

o Daily Dinner

· Guided sightseeing of Mt. Athos by sea, Phillipi, Amphipolis, Thessaloniki, Veria, Vergina, The Monasteries of Meteora, Athens, and Ancient Corinth (5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites)

· Trained & professional Tour Director, Insured Driver and Luxury vehicle

· All entrance fees

· All hotels porterage

· All local taxes

Not included in tour

· Airfare fees and taxes

· Travel Insurance

· Expenses of personal nature

· Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

· Tips to guides or drivers

· Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

· Tips to guides or drivers

Hotels in your Tour

Category	Hotel Name	Tripadvisor
Tourist Class
Thessaloniki	The Caravan	5
Kavala	Villa Nickolas	4
Kalambaka	Dellas Boutique Hotel	5
Athens	Inn Athens	5
First Class
Thessaloniki	The Excelsior	5
Kavala	Egnacia City Hotel & Spa	4
Kalambaka	Amalia Hotel Kalambaka	4
Athens	AVA Athens	5
Deluxe
Thessaloniki	Makedonia Palace	5
Kavala	Imaret Hotel	4
Kalambaka	Divani Meteora Hotel	4
Athens	Hilton Athens	4.5

MEAL PLAN: Normally we include daily breakfast and dinner for all groups. However, the meal plan may vary depending on the organizer's request

All hotels will be requested after discussion with the group Organizer

Tour Pricing

The price for the group will be quoted based on the number of passengers, season, hotel type and meal plan.

Inclusion of tour conductors must be considered at time of request.

If you wish to use this program for your group please either call us (1-855-55-TOURS or use the web Group Quote Request.
In either case our specialists will work with you to refine all the details and they will get you a quote with 2 business days. Quotes may be obtained for the air and land portions of just for the land journey.
Booking both air and land with us will represent savings for you because of our special Leisure Fares, buying power and longtime relationship with the airlines.
We will also may have the choice between regular fares and special leisure fares not available to the public.

Tour Code: GR01ATH22XX

Options

Lunches and dinners can be arranged for groups at top restaurants or any restaurant requested by you.
We can revise the itinerary to spend more time and provide more depth in those areas that you are interested on.
Any other changes to the itinerary will be accommodated depending on the facilities available in the area.

Others

Group organizers always travel for free if the group has 15 or more paying passengers.