Group: September 2023 Greece

 

 

 

Journeys of Paul in Greece and Greek Isle Cruise

 

 

Tour Dates: 09/09/2023 - 09/19/2023

 

Trip Price Includes:

  • International Flights
  • First Class Hotels
  • Overseas Airport Transfers (when air is booked through ETS)
  • Deluxe Motor coach transportation with air conditioning
  • Guided Sightseeing with Top Local Guide & Driver
  • Breakfast and Dinner Daily
  • All Entrance fees, site fees and admin fees

 

Not Included:

  • Love Offering for Driver ($4/person/day) and Guide ($6/person/day)
  • Lunches (approximately $15/day)
  • Optional Travel Protection Program
  • Visas and Transfers for all ground only passengers

 

Selling Price with Air:  $4,896 from LAX                                         

Single Room Pricing:  $898

Ground Only Price:  $3000

ITINERARY

 

Day 1 (Sept 9th) DEPART USA 

Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.

 

Day 2 (Sept 10th) ARRIVE IN GREECE

You will arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 3 (Sept 11th) AMPHIPOLIS, PHILIPPI, and NEAPOLI (KAVALA)

Follow in the footsteps of Paul and Silas to Amphipolis and explore the ruins of the many Christian basilicas there. In Philippi is a baptismal site commemorating where God opened the heart of Lydia (a seller of purple from Thyatira) to hear the words of Paul (Acts 16:13 -15). Lydia and her household were the first Christian converts baptized on European soil. View the Roman-era crypt thought to have served as a prison for the apostle Paul, and explore Philippi’s famous Acropolis, Market Place, the Basilica of Paul, and Theater. Today’s last stop is Neapolis (Kavala), one of Greece's most picturesque mainland ports where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. See the Roman Aqueduct and Acropolis before returning to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 4 (Sept 12th) THESSALONIKA and VERIA (BEREA)

Discover Thessaloniki, where Paul was accused of turning the world upside down with his preaching of Christ (Acts 17: 3 -6). As you explore St. George's Basilica, believed to be built over the synagogue where Paul preached, reflect on the two epistles the apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church here. Stroll through the Archaeological Museum and the beautiful basilicas of St. Sophia and St. Demetrios, dedicated to a distinguished Roman proconsul martyred for his Christian faith. Along the Via Egnatia stands the Galerus Arch, and you can look out over the second largest city in Greece from the Old City Ramparts, some dating back to Roman times.  Follow the path of Paul when he fled Thessaloniki for the safety of Veria (Berea), where Jews and some honorable Greeks accepted the new faith (Act 17: 10-12). Continue on to Kalambaaka for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 5 (Sept 13th) METEORA and DELPHI

As you visit the rock forest of Meteora (“in the heavens above”) in western Thessaly, imagine the apostle Paul walking that treacherous terrain on his missionary journey. Gaze up at the breathtaking Byzantine monasteries spectacularly perched on soaring, sheer sided grey sandstone pillars. In the 13th century, monks sought refuge in cliff side caves before fleeing higher to build the original wooden shelters that later became these monasteries.  After a monastery tour, travel to scenic Delphi, religious center of the ancient Greek world and marked by the conical stone called the omphalosor (“navel”).  Walk the Sacra Via to the Athenian Treasury, Theatre and the Temple of Apollo, where the oracle performed her prophetic rituals. As you consider the incredible amount of pagan influence just in Delphi alone, you will gain a new appreciation for the tremendous spiritual opposition the apostle Paul faced in preaching the Gospel of Christ here. In the Museum are many ancient treasures, including the 5th century bronzed Charioteer, so detailed you can see his eyelashes. Continue to Athens for overnight.

 

Day 6 (Sept 14th) CORINTH and CENCHREAE

Tour the city of Corinth, where the apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla and received a vision from the Lord saying, "I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee:  for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18: 10).  As Paul spoke, Crispus (chief ruler of the synagogue) and many others believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8), establishing the church at Corinth to whom Paul later wrote his two epistles.  Discover the Archaeological Museum, Market Place and Temples.  As you walk among the ruins, stand on the Bema, where the apostle Paul stood before Gallio to face charges brought against him by the Jews. Stop briefly at the port town of Cenchreae from which Paul later departed for Syria (Acts 18: 12 -18).  Return to Athens for dinner and overnight

 

Day 7 (Sept 15th) – EMBARK IN PIREAUS & MYKONOS

Board the ship and sail the blue waters of the Aegean Sea. In the evening, you will arrive at the world-famous Greek Island of Mykonos, where gleaming white-washed buildings seem to climb atop each other to reach the azure sky.

 

Day 8 (Sept 16th) – EPHESUS & PATMOS

This morning, you arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey, and journey to Ephesus, where the apostle Paul spent three years of his ministry. He planted a church here and later wrote to them in his Epistle to the Ephesians. Many of the ruins of Ephesus (known as “the marble city”) have been restored to show the city as it was in the apostle Paul’s time. Visit the Agora and imagine where Demetrius the silver-smith, sold his silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. Stroll through the great theater where Paul witnessed faithfully for Christ. Not far away is the stadium where chariot races took place and gladiatorial combats were held. Tradition has it that the Apostle Paul himself fought here against wild beasts. Visit the ruins of St. John’s Basilica, where early Christian tradition tells us the “disciple whom Jesus loved” was buried. View one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”, the ruins of the Temple of Diana (Artemis) before setting sail for the Island of Patmos to visit the Monastery of St. John, high on the mountain overlooking the entire island. Walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse and the caves where it is believed that the exiled Apostle Paul John lived and was inspired by God to write the Book of Revelation as well as other letters to the early church.

 

Day 9 (Sept 17th) – CRETE & SANTORINI

Dock this morning in Crete’s port of Heraklion, just three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of

Knossos. Discovered in 1899 and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. Disembark at Santorini, one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands where picturesque whitewashed villages topped with brilliant blue domes stand in stark contrast to the sheer drop cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. The island itself perches on the edges of a volcano whose eruption 3,500 years ago is thought to have led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization.

 

Day 10 (Sept 18th)– ATHENS

Enjoy the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as your guide introduces you to the world renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erectheum.  Stand on Mars Hill as the apostle Paul did when he proclaimed, "I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.  Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17:23). As you stroll the Agora (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life), recall that this was where the Apostle Paul preached "Jesus and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18) to the skeptical Athenians. Also see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon is free to explore Athens on your own or enjoy an optional journey to Sounion to visit the famous Temple of Poseidon (additional $75).  Dinner and overnight is spent in Athens.

 

Day 11 (Sept 19th) – RETURN TO USA

Return home with a new appreciation of the Apostle Paul's life and ministry.

 

Terms & Conditions

 

Hotel Gratuities & Porterage:

Gratuities to Restaurant Staff and Hotel Porters are included. Tips for the guide and driver are not included. The suggested amount is $6.00 a day to the guide per person and $3.00 a day to the driver per person which should be presented at the end of the tour.

 

Single Rooms:

  • $898

 

 

  • Passenger Payment Schedule:
    • $500 Due at time of registration

 

Credit Cards:

Visa, Mastercard, Discover & American Express are accepted.

 

Travel Protection Plan:

Travel Protection Plan is automatically added for all passengers unless declined on the registration form. Travel Protection can be declined up to 115 days prior to departure; however, it cannot be added after the 115-day final payment deadline.  Travel Protection is not effective until the premium is paid to ETS.

 

Cancellation Penalties:

The following cancellation penalties will apply:

From day of registration to 116 days prior to departure = $100 Per Person

115-60 days prior - $400

59-45 days prior - $600

44-31 days prior - 40% of total cost

30-0 days prior- 100% of total cost

Any airline penalties will be charged in addition to the penalties above.

 

  1. 115 days prior to departure:

Final Payment is due 115 days prior to departure. Unpaid accounts will be cancelled and cancellation fees will be applied. Travel Agent must submit a rooming list. Passengers without a roommate will be assessed the single room supplement.

 

 

  • Passports

Passports must be submitted to Travel Agent as a photo. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the return date. Passports must submitted by the final payment date.

 

  • Fit to Travel Statement

People registering for the tour accept the responsibility for being in good health and able to walk and travel on the tour. Because many of the sites are not accessible to the physically challenged, those needing wheelchairs, oxygen, or other ambulatory assistance will find the tour extremely limiting in their experiences.

 

Children

ETS does not allow children younger than 13. Children aged 10 to 13 may only travel with a private group with written approval from the group leader. Anyone under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian.