04 Feb Saint Paul in Greece combined with Santorini (7 Days / 6 Nights) – 2 Options
OPTION 1:
THESSALONIKI – KAVALA – THESSALONIKI – KALAMBAKA (METEORA) – DELPHI – ATHENS – SANTORINI – ATHENS – ANCIENT CORINTH – PATRA
DAY 1 – THESSALONIKI ARRIVAL: Meet in the arrival’s hall at Thessaloniki airport and with an official English Speaking Guide proceed on your Four Days Tour. See the White Tower, (the symbol of the city), the Church of St. Dimitrios, Arch of Galerius, Rotunda, Upper City, Citadel, Byzantine Walls, Roman Agora. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki Hotel.
DAY 2 – THESSALONIKI – KAVALA – THESSALONIKI: Breakfast in the hotel. Drive to Kavala (Biblical Neapolis) and visit Philippi. See the remains of the Agora, the Octagon, the remains of the Basilicas, St. Paul’s prison, Lydias’ Baptismal site, Church of St Nicholas, Old Port, Aqua docks. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki Hotel.
DAY 3 – THESSALONIKI – VERGINA – VERIA – KALAMBAKA (METEORA): Breakfast in the hotel. Drive south, into central Greece, to Kalambaka, the town nestling at the foot of Meteora. On the way visit Vergina. Visit the Archeological site and Tomb of Philip the 2nd father of Alexander the Great. Visit the mountain town of Veria. See the spot, Bema, Mosaic Wall, from where St. Paul preached the gospel. Continue onto Kalambaka. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit Meteora with its impressive scenery, ageless Monasteries, suspended between earth and sky. Inside, see priceless historical and religious treasures. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka hotel.
DAY 4 – KALAMBAKA (METEORA) – DELPHI – ATHENS: Breakfast in the hotel. Continue to Delphi. Visit the Archaeological site of Delphi on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus. See the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios and the museum. Lunch at a local restaurant. Drive to Athens via Thebes and Levadia. Arrive in the evening and transfer for dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner transfer to the hotel and check in. Overnight in Athens Hotel.
DAY 5 – ATHENS – SANTORINI – HALF DAY TOUR TO OIA AND FIRA TOWN: Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Athens port and take the Speed Boat (Tickets Not Included) to the island of Santorini. Meet at Santorini port and transfer to the hotel. Lunch at a local restaurant. (Roundtrip Transfer for Meal is Not Included, Restaurant 10 minutes walking distance from the hotel). Meet at the hotel and proceed on your Half Day Island Tour. The tour starts with first stop the traditional settlement of Oia which is located on the northern tip of the island, high on the cliff top. Oia hosts the most magnificent views on Santorini and a picturesque road with cliffs on one side and sea on the other leads to this attractive town. Walk around and discover the typical Santorinian architecture with houses sunk deep into the volcanic soil, their whitewashed walls and blue domes sparkling under the sunlight. Return then to Fira the capital town of the island. Wandering through the white cobbled streets of Fira a town of about 2000 inhabitants one gets the feel of the old-world charm blended in with the modern day comforts and Gold Street where someone can find the most interesting jewelleries. Free at own leisure in the afternoon after the tour (No Coach Service). Dinner and overnight in Santorini Hotel.
DAY 6 – SANTORINI – ATHENS – ATHENS SIGHTSEEING: Breakfast in the hotel. Free at own leisure on this amazing island of Santorini. Lunch at a local restaurant (starters, salad, main course, dessert). (Roundtrip Transfer for Meal is Not Included, Restaurant 10 minutes walking distance from the hotel). Transfer from the hotel to Santorini airport and take the Flight (Tickets Not Included) to Athens. Meet on arrival at Athens Airport and transfer to the city centre for your Half Day Tour. With an official English Speaking Guide, see Syntagma Square, the House of Parliament and the Tomb to the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the Evzones in their traditional costume. See the Athens Academy, the University and the National Library. Stop at the Pan Athenaic Olympic stadium, (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896). See the archaeological site of the Temple of the Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the Parthenon. Free time at own leisure for shopping in Plaka area and Syntagma square (Coach and English Speaking Assistant Service Included) until transfer to a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, transfer to the hotel and check in. Overnight in Athens Hotel.
DAY 7 – ATHENS – ANCIENT CORINTH – PATRA: After breakfast, pickup from the hotel for your Half Day Tour. With an official English Speaking Guide, depart for Corinth, drive along the coastal highway, the Apollo coast and stop to see the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean and the Ionian Seas. Continue to and visit Ancient Corinth. See the Bema, the Temple of Apollo, the remains of the Agora, and Pyrene Fountain. Pass by Cenchreae and see from where St. Paul departed on his journey. After lunch, transfer to Patra port and take the Ferry (Tickets Not Included) to Italy.
OPTION 2:
ATHENS – ANCIENT CORINTH – ATHENS – SANTORINI – ATHENS – DELPHI – KALAMBAKA (METEORA) – VERGINA – VERIA – THESSALONIKI – KAVALA – THESSALONIKI – IOANNINA – IGOUMENITSA
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL ATHENS – ANCIENT CORINTH (Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth) – ATHENS SIGHTSEEING TOUR: Meet in the Arrival’s Hall at Athens airport and with an official English Speaking Guide proceed on your Half Day Corinth Tour. Depart for Corinth, drive along the coastal highway, the Apollo coast and stop to see the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean and the Ionian Seas. Continue to and visit Ancient Corinth. See the Bema, the Temple of Apollo, the remains of the Agora, and Pyrene Fountain. Pass by Cenchreae and see from where St. Paul departed on his journey. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Athens and proceed on your Half Day City Tour. See Syntagma Square, the House of Parliament and the Tomb to the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the Evzones in their traditional costume. See the Athens Academy, the University and the National Library. Stop at the Pan Athenaic Olympic stadium, (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896). See the archaeological site of the Temple of the Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the Parthenon. Completing the tour, transfer for dinner to a local restaurant. After dinner transfer to the hotel and check in. Overnight in Athens Hotel.
DAY 2 – ATHENS – SANTORINI – HALF DAY TOUR TO OIA AND FIRA TOWN: Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Athens port and take the Speed Boat (Tickets Not Included) to the island of Santorini. Meet at Santorini port and transfer to the hotel. Lunch at a local restaurant. (Roundtrip Transfer for Meal is Not Included, Restaurant 10 minutes walking distance from the hotel). Meet at the hotel and proceed on your Half Day Island Tour. The tour starts with first stop the traditional settlement of Oia which is located on the northern tip of the island, high on the cliff top. Oia hosts the most magnificent views on Santorini and a picturesque road with cliffs on one side and sea on the other leads to this attractive town. Walk around and discover the typical Santorinian architecture with houses sunk deep into the volcanic soil, their whitewashed walls and blue domes sparkling under the sunlight. Return then to Fira the capital town of the island. Wondering through the white cobbled streets of Fira a town of about 2000 inhabitants one gets the feel of the old-world charm blended in with the modern day comforts and Gold Street where someone can find the most interesting jewelleries. Free at own leisure in the afternoon after the tour (No Coach Service). Dinner and overnight in Santorini Hotel.
DAY 3 – SANTORINI – ATHENS – SHOPPING: Breakfast in the hotel. Free at own leisure on this amazing island of Santorini. Lunch at a local restaurant (Roundtrip Transfer for Meal is Not Included, Restaurant 10 minutes walking distance from the hotel). Transfer from the hotel to Santorini airport and take the Flight (Tickets Not Included) to Athens. Meet on arrival at Athens Airport and transfer to the city centre. Free time at own leisure for shopping in Plaka area and Syntagma square (Coach and English Speaking Assistant Service Included) until transfer to a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, transfer to the hotel and check in. Overnight in Athens Hotel.
DAY 4 – ATHENS – DELPHI – KALAMBAKA (METEORA): After breakfast, pickup from the hotel and with an official English Speaking Guide depart for your Four Days Tour. With an official English Speaking Guide, leave for Delphi via Thebes, Levadia and the picturesque village of Arachova, on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus, arrive in Delphi, visit the Archaeological site and the Museum. See the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios, the Treasury of the Athenians. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon leave Delphi for an interesting trip through central Greece to Kalambaka (Meteora). Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka hotel.
DAY 5 – KALAMBAKA (METEORA) – VERGINA – VERIA – THESSALONIKI: After breakfast, visit Meteora with its impressive scenery, ageless Monasteries, suspended between earth and sky. Inside, see priceless historical and religious treasures. Lunch to a local restaurant. Depart to Vergina. Visit the Archeological site and Tomb of Philip the 2nd father of Alexander the Great. Visit the mountain town of Veria. See the spot, Bema, Mosaic Wall, from where St. Paul preached the gospel. Continue to Greece’s second city, Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki hotel.
DAY 6 – THESSALONIKI – KAVALA – THESSALONIKI: After breakfast, depart to Kavala, Biblical Neapolis. Drive to Kavala (Biblical Neapolis) and visit Philippi. See the remains of the Agora, the Octagon, the remains of the Basilicas, St. Paul’s prison, Lydias’ Baptismal site, Church of St Nicholas, Old Port, Aqua docks. Lunch to a local restaurant. Return to Thessaloniki and proceed on City Tour. See the White Tower, (the symbol of the city), the Church of St. Dimitrios, Arch of Galerius, Rotunda, Upper City, Citadel, Byzantine Walls, Roman Agora. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki hotel.
DAY 7 – THESSALONIKI – IOANNINA – IGOUMENITSA: After breakfast, depart to Igoumenitsa. On the way visit Ioannina, the capital city of Epirus, spread out around the beautiful lake Pamvotida. A walk through the city has the feel of a bygone era, full of secret places and legends still living. Wonderful buildings and the entire historic centre of the town are unique attractions. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the evening, arrive to Igoumenitsa port and take the Ferry (Tickets Not Included) to Italy.
The above programs can be well combined with ITALY (5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS) – 3 OPTIONS.