Day 1: THESSALONIKI ARRIVAL (_,_,D)

Arrival at Thessaloniki airport. Meet our staff at the airport, welcome. Transfer to your hotel in Thessaloniki. Rest of day free to walk around in the beautiful city. In the evening dinner at a local tavern.

Day 2: THESSALONIKI – PHILIPPI – KAVALA -THESSALONIKI (B,_,D)

After breakfast drive to Kavala and then to Philippi. Kavala (Neapolis) was the port of Philippi. Paul passed through with Silas on his way from Asia Minor to Philippi. The city was visited by the Apostle Paul. From the Acts of the Apostles and the letter to the Philippians, early Christians concluded that Paul had founded their community. We will explore the ruins of the ancient sites with Forum, the Ancient Market, the Basilica and Theatre. In Philippi preached Paul his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christian in Europe. You will see the “Baptismal” site where Lydia was baptized as the first European woman and the crypt where Paul was imprisoned. To end the day, we will travel back to your hotel in Thessaloniki for dinner in a selected tavern at Ladadika. Overnight: Thessaloniki.
OPTIONAL Greek night – Dinner in a tavern at Ladadika with bouzouki music.

Day 3: THESSALONIKI TOUR – VERIA – VERGINA – METEORA (B,_,D)

After breakfast, we will explore Thessaloniki, where Paul preached and wrote two epistles to the Ancient Thessalonians. We’ll see the triumphal Arch of Galerius, built in 303 AD, the Rotunda, one of the most imposing monuments of Thessaloniki, the white Tower, Visit St. Demetrius Basilica, in which is located the underground ancient “Crypt”. We will visit the Vlatades Monastery, where it is said that Apostle Paul stopped there to drink water from a spring in those days. Paul and Sylas left Thessaloniki night because of riots created by his opponents and arrived to Veria. In Veria we will see the church of Apostle Paul and the “Vima of Apostle Paul” mural made of marble. This church is believed to be the location that Paul preached to the people from one of his beloved towns for many days. Then we will progress onwards to the ancient town of Vergina and to the King Philip tomb, Alexander’s the Great’s father. We continue to Meteora. Overnight at Kalambaka. Dinner at a local tavern with monasteries view.

Day 4: METEORA MONASTERIES – DELPHI – ATHENS AIRPORT – IZMIR / TURKEY (B,_,_)

Morning short drive to Meteora monasteries, standing at top of huge rocks and containing historical and religious treasures. We’ll visit the breathtaking rock tower monasteries of the 13 -16 th century! The Great Meteoron Monastery founded in 13 century, the Varlaam was founded in the 16th century and is located on the top of a rock at 380 meters high! and the Monastery of Saint Stephen, where we will admire a small treasure of Byzantine and Christian items at the museum inside the monastery. Then drive south to Delphi, the hometown of the famous oracle. In antiquity times, Delphi was one of the most important religious centers. The city was built above the River Pleistos gorge against the backdrop of Mount Parnassus, attracting hordes of pilgrims who came to consult the oracle of Delphi. Our tour through Delphi will take us to the agora, or market place, the first stop along the Sacred Way, the main road that winds through the lavish complex of ancient ruins at Delphi. Along this path, we see the remains of the “treasuries” of the Athenians, a bouleuterion, the Tripod of Plataea, the Temple of Apollo, famous for its oracle, the stadium and the museum with its amazing spectacular exhibits. We continue with a short stop at traditional village of Arachova and we arrive to Athens airport for your 1 hour flight to Izmir(Smirni),Turkey. Transfer to hotel.

Day 5: IZMIR – EPHESUS – PAMUKKALE (B,L,D)

After breakfast we start our tour to Seven Churches at Ephesus & Laodicea. Visit the city of Ancient Ephesus, the most important of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. See the great Library of Celsus, Agora, Odeon, Trajan Fountain, Domitianus Temple, Roman Latrines, Theater and Stadium in which St. Paul preached the gospel. Also visit the House of Virgin Mary, where she is said to have spent her final years and Isabey Mosque, a Byzantine church marking his burial place. After lunch, drive to Eskihisar, site of the Church of Laodicea, to which St. John addressed his letter concerning the city’s waning faith. Overnight Pamukkale