1. Day01

   Saturday, June 5

   Depart the U.S.

   The day has arrived and we board our motorcoach to the airport, where we depart the U.S. on our overnight air journey to Greece.

   Meals in flight. Overnight in flight.

   

2. Day02

   Sunday, June 6

   Arrive in Greece

   Today we arrive in Greece at Thessaloniki airport (SKG). We will be met by our guide and driver and will transfer to our hotel. Whatever remains of the day will be spent at leisure.

   Dinner included. Overnight Thessaloniki. Grand Palace Hotel or similar.

   

3. Day03

   Monday, June 7

   Kavala, Philippi, Thessaloniki

   After breakfast, we follow the route of the Via Egnatia to Kavala, the ancient Neapolis, where the Apostle Paul first made landfall on European soil. We see the harbor and a mural dedicated to his arrival. We then proceed to Philippi, where we visit the Baptistery of Lydia near the river, the site where Paul baptized her, the first convert on European soil. We also explore the ruins of the Forum, the ancient Christian Basilicas, the theater, and the prison where it is believed Paul was once held. We return to Thessaloniki (biblical Thessalonica), where we see both the Upper Town, including the traditional House of Jason, as well as the lower town including the harbor and the city’s famous White Tower.

   Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight Thessaloniki. Grand Palace Hotel or similar.

   

4. Day04

   Tuesday, June 8

   Veria, Vergina

   After breakfast, we depart for Vergina, where we visit the remarkable museum housing four ancient tombs, most notably those of Philip II and Alexander IV, as well as a small shrine known as the Heroes Garden. We then travel to Veria, the biblical Berea, built at the foot of Mount Vermio, where Paul fled after causing a riot in Thessalonica. Here the people searched the Scriptures to see whether what Paul was teaching was true (Acts 17:10-11). We visit the Step of the Apostle Paul, a platform dedicated to his preaching to the Bereans, as well as the city’s synagogue, the most ancient in Northern Greece. We proceed to the region of Kalambaka.

   Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight Kalambaka. Divani Meteora Hotel or similar.

   

5. Day05

   Wednesday, June 9

   Meteora, Drive to Athens

   Today we will visit one or more of the world-famous Meteora Monasteries, Byzantine monasteries that are perched on the summits of gray rock peaks. Their history goes back to the 14th century when monks sought refuge in the cliff-side caves, then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, which were later transformed into monasteries. We then drive to Athens, where whatever remains of the day will be spent at leisure.

   Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight Athens. Wyndham Grand or similar.

   

6. Day06

   Thursday, June 10

   Corinth, Athens

   After breakfast, we depart for Ancient Corinth, the once-glorious city near the Isthmus, where Paul met Aquila and Priscilla and spent a year and a half preaching the Word of God (Acts 18). We visit the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temples, and the famous Bema where Paul stood before Gallio, accused by the Jews of Corinth. We then drive to Cenchreae, the small harbor from which Paul sailed back to Asia, thus ending his second missionary journey. We return to Athens, where we follow our guide to the world-renowned Acropolis, taking in the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, and the Parthenon. We visit Mars Hill, where Paul delivered his speech on the Unknown God (Acts 17). We also see the Agora, the ancient center of economic and public life, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. During our bus tour we see Constitution Square with the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium, and the neoclassical buildings of Athens. Free time in the city center.

   Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight Athens. Wyndham Grand Athens or similar.

   

7. Day07

   Friday, June 11

   Embarkation, Mykonos

   After breakfast, we make our way to Lavrion Port and embark on our cruise. We sail to the quaint isle of Mykonos, the island of windmills. Upon arrival, we disembark and have time to experience the waterfront lined with shops and cafes, strolling the charming walkways through a maze of whitewashed buildings. No excursions are included today, as we explore the island at our leisure.

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard the Celestyal Discovery.

   

8. Day08

   Saturday, June 12

   Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos

   In the morning, we arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey. A short drive takes us to Ephesus, where Paul spent three years during his ministry. The impressive remains include the Agora, the Theater, the Stadium, the Library of Celsus, and the ruins of the Temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the afternoon, we sail for the island of Patmos, where we visit the Monastery of St. John, perched on one of the island’s highest points. From there, we walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse, the site of the apocalyptic visions of St. John the Divine. (Ephesus and Patmos excursions included.)

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard the Celestyal Discovery.

   

9. Day09

   Sunday, June 13

   Crete, Santorini

   In the morning, we arrive at Heraklion, Crete. We take a short ride through the town and arrive at the Knossos excavations, where Sir Arthur Evans’ archaeological discoveries revealed a civilization dating back to 4000 BC. Paul left Titus in Crete and gave instructions on appointing church leaders in the towns (Titus 1:5ff). In the afternoon, we cruise to the isle of Santorini, often called the most breathtaking of all the Greek islands, and disembark to explore the exquisite whitewashed villages, including the town of Fira, which cling to volcanic cliffs. (Crete and Santorini excursions not included.)

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight aboard the Celestyal Discovery.

   

10. Day10

    Monday, June 14

    Disembark, Flight to Rome

    After breakfast, we disembark at Lavrion Port and transfer to Athens Airport for our flight to Rome (FCO). Upon arrival, we meet our local guide and begin a walking tour of Baroque Rome, taking in the iconic Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.

    Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight Rome. Hotel Orazio Palace or similar.

    

11. Day11

    Tuesday, June 15

    Ancient Rome

    After breakfast, we explore Ancient Rome. We begin with a visit to the Colosseum, the largest of the ancient amphitheaters, completed in 80 AD, which served as the site for the torture and martyrdom of countless early Christians, among them Ignatius of Antioch and Telemachus. We continue with a walk through the Roman Forum, which contains the ruins of ancient Roman government buildings. We then visit the Mamertine Prison, where it is believed the Apostle Paul was once held, and stop at Circus Maximus, another site of ancient Christian martyrdoms.

    Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight Rome. Hotel Orazio Palace or similar.

    

12. Day12

    Wednesday, June 16

    Rome, Free Day

    After breakfast, the day is yours to explore Rome at your own pace, whether shopping, visiting sites on your own, or simply savoring la dolce vita. No transportation or guided tour services are included today.

    Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight Rome. Hotel Orazio Palace or similar.

    

13. Day13

    Thursday, June 17

    Depart

    After a final breakfast, we check out and transfer to Rome airport (FCO) for our departure flight home. Upon arrival we board our motorcoach back to the church.

    Breakfast included if time permits.

More from our travelers →

• How much walking is there?Expect about 2 to 3 miles of walking on a typical touring day, a little more on the Rome walking days, much of it on uneven ancient paving, with climbs at the Acropolis, Meteora and Patmos and time to rest along the way. Arrival, flight and departure days have very little walking, and we travel between cities by motor coach, with three nights aboard ship and a flight from Athens to Rome.
• Traveling alone?You can have a room to yourself, with a single supplement of $2,570, or share a room. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a traveler of the same gender and a similar age. If no match is found, the single supplement applies.
• What will I spend beyond the price?Lunches on land, drinks at meals beyond the basics, the Crete and Santorini excursions, travel insurance if you choose it, the EU ETIAS travel authorization (about $23), and your own shopping. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. Tips are already included on this trip. We recommend paying for most things by credit card: cards are accepted almost everywhere you will go, and credit card purchases usually come with protection that cash does not. We suggest bringing a couple hundred U.S. dollars in cash for emergencies and small purchases. When a card machine or ATM asks whether to pay in dollars or in the local currency (euros in Greece and Italy, lira in Turkey), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
• What if I need to cancel?Cancel in writing. Up to March 7, 2027 (90 days before departure), everything you have paid is returned except $200. After that date, the $450 deposit and any costs we cannot recover are kept. Travel insurance may cover a cancellation, depending on the reason.
• Who is going?This expedition is organized for Calvary Port Saint Lucie and led by Pastor Tiago Dovale and Matt Wiggins.

More answers in our Traveler Support Center, or call us at (877) 234-3002.

• Miami (MIA)Included
• I plan to book my own flights−$1,000