Bible Journeys

Biblical Greece - Plus Ephesus Tour

11 Days / 9 Nights Land/Cruise Program

Departures Every Tuesday from March to November

Our most popular tour of Biblical Greece is this 11-Day program which allows us to experience the most important Christian sites in Northern Greece, such as Thessaloniki, Philippi and Kavala, as well as Corinth.  A three-night cruise also takes us to Patmos, where John wrote the Book of Revelations, and to Turkey for a visit to Ephesus.  The tour also lets us see popular points of interest in Greece, including Athens, the Parthenon, and the Greek Islands of Mykonos, Crete and Santorini.

Sample Group Itinerary 

Day 1, Tuesday  -  Depart USA
This morning we depart our origin airport and board our international flight destined for Athens.

Day 2, Wednesday  -  Arrival in Athens, Greece.
Meet/assist, inside customs, by your local host and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Welcome dinner. Overnight in Athens. (D).

Day 3, Thursday  -  Athens. Sightseeing and Excursion to Corinth.
Depart after breakfast for an Athens sightseeing tour with your English speaking guide in Athens. Visit all city highlights including the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Areopagos Hill, where Paul delivered his famous sermon on the identity of the Unknown God and the New Acropolis Museum. Continue in the afternoon to Corinth for a guided visit of the excavations where Paul worked for 18 months with Aquila and Priscilla. Return to Athens and overnight. (B).

Day 4, Friday  -  Athens–Piraeus (Embarkation)–Mykonos (6 PM - 10 PM).
We transfer after breakfast to the port of Piraeus, where we  embark on our cruise ship for a 3-Night Greek island and Turkey cruise. We visit the famous island of Mykonos. Free time to explore the island before returning to the ship for evening entertainment. (B, L, D).

Day 5, Saturday  -  Kusadasi, Turkey (0700-12:00).  Patmos (4 PM - 9 PM)
Arrive in Kusadasi- Turkey for a tour to the ruins of Ephesus. The people of Ephesus were the recipients of Paul’s epistle, and to the House of Mary, where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent her last days.  We'll see the Grand Theatre where Paul preached, as well as the baths.  We continue our cruise and arrive in Patmos, the "Jerusalem of the Aegean."  We take a tour to the Monastery of St. John and tour the Cave of the Apocalypse, where John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation during his exile. (B, L, D).

Day 6, Sunday  -  Sun Crete (Heraklion 7 AM - 12 Noon).  Santorini (4:30 PM - 9 PM).
Arrive in Heraklion, the capital of Crete, at 7:00 am. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and birthplace of Zeus, king of the ancient Greek Gods. The optional tour takes you to Knossos, to visit the famous Minoan Palace there, discovered by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans and you’ll experience this great culture and the labyrinth of King Theseus and the Minotaur legend. Sail from Crete at 12:00 Noon and through the Cretan Sea in the Aegean arrive in the island of Santorini at 4:30 pm.  History and nature combine to make this one of
the most unforgettable places in the world.  You have the chance to climb a volcano and visit
the beautiful town of Fira, perched on the rim of the caldera and offering panoramic views of breathtaking beauty. (B,L,D)

Day 7, Monday  -   To Piraeus, (7 AM) Greece (Disembarkation)–Thessaloniki.
Disembark in Piraeus and depart with your English speaking guide driving north to Thessaloniki. Enjoy a guided tour of this city, named after Alexander the Great’s sister, figuring prominently in the New Testament. The city and its citizens were the center of Paul’s activities in Northern Greece and here he preached and founded a church. Overnight in Thessaloniki. (B)

Day 8, Tuesday  -  Thessaloniki. Excursion to Philippi and Kavala
Depart from Thessaloniki for a full-day tour along the ancient route of Paul to Amphipolis.  Visit
ancient Philippi, named after Alexander the Great’s father.  In Philippi, Paul preached, established the first church in Europe and to the citizens of Philippi he wrote one of his epistles. It was here that Paul met Lydia, who accepted Christianity and was baptized in the nearby river. Next, visit Kavala, the ancient port of Neapolis. Return to Thessaloniki and overnight. (B)

Day 9, Wednesday  -  Thessaloniki–Veria–Kalambaka.
Depart Thessaloniki after breakfast and visit Veria, where Paul and Silas were sent by friends after being accused by the Romans in Thessaloniki of treason. Visit the Bema where Paul stood and preached the Gospel to the local community. Continue south to Kalambaka, near Meteora and overnight. (B).

Day 10  -  Thursday  -  Kalambaka–Meteora–Athens.
In Meteora, visit two Byzantine Monasteries, part of the UNESCO’s World Heritage List with priceless historical and religious treasures. Built in the 15th century by Christian Monks to evade the Ottoman Turks, they stand, suspended like, between earth and sky on top of huge granite rocks. Return to Athens and enjoy a farewell dinner with Greek floor show and entertainment. Overnight in Athens. (B, D).

Day 11  -  Depart Athens.
Your local host meets you at the hotel to transfer you to the Athens International airport for your return flight. (B).

Cruise/Tour Includes:
-Round-Trip Air Transportation from U.S. to Athens;
-Six (6) Nights' Accommodations  in Superior First-Class Hotels;
-Three (3) overnights on the Aquamarine of Louis Hellenic Cruises in an inside cabin with two lower beds. All meals on cruise;
-Welcome dinner at the hotel in Athens;
-Farewell dinner in Athens with Greek floor show and entertainment;
-Deluxe A/C motor coach during all transfers and tours;
-English speaking assistant during all transfers;
-Professional English speaking guide during the tours;
-All Entrance fees in the sites and museums visited; and,
-All porterage, taxes, port charges, security and service fees.

Not Included:
Beverages with included meals and gratuities; and,
Items of a personal nature, such as phone calls, internet access fees, laundry, etc.

  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Call Us at:  800-752-3723

Return to Bible Journeys Page