In the Footsteps of Saint Paul A customized tour for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Lynchburg VA

10 days, staying in Thessaloniki, Meteora, Nafplion & Athens, with visits to Kavala, Philippi, Veria, Vergina, Delphi, Corinth, & the Island of Hydra!

September 1st - 10th, 2016 Land Only: $2,499 With air from Washington Dulles: $3499

September 1st, 2016: Your Greek Adventure Begins Yo ur Greek adventure begins today with an overnight flight across the Atlantic to Greece’s second city. September 2nd, 2016: Thessaloniki Following an early morning flight connection we’ll arrive in Thessaloniki, this morning. Our time in Greece begins with an included Greek lunch, followed by an introductory afternoon city tour of this historical city to which St Paul wrote in his Letter to the Thessalonians. Highlights include the remains of Roman Thessalonica, the old city walls, the Chain Tower & Citadel, the central market, & the city’s noted Byzantine churches. Later, after checking-in to our hotel for a two night stay, there will be time to relax & refresh before a welcome dinner featuring traditional Greek cuisine. September 3rd, 2016: Kavala, Philippi, & Thessaloniki We begin our journey in the Apostle’s footsteps with a morning excursion to Kavala (ancient Neapolis & later Christoupolis), one of Greece’s prettiest ports. It was here that Paul landed with his disciples Timothy & Silas as he began his European travels. After lunch we’ll continue on to Philippi, once an important Roman town & the location where Paul preached & baptized the first Christians on European soil. Our expert local guide will explain the archaeological site to us & it’s relation to St. Paul. Later we’ll return to Thessaloniki, stopping briefly as we pass Amphipolis en-route, just as Paul did. You’re free this evening to enjoy dinner in a local restaurant of your choice. September 4th, 2016: Veria, Vergina, & Meteora Today we depart Thessaloniki, for the journey south-west to Kalambaka (Meteora). Along our way this morning we’ll visit Veria (ancient Berea). There is little evidence of the early Christians left but we’ll make a stop at the modern monument to Paul before continuing to Vergina, home of one of Greece’s greatest archaeological treasures, the Tomb of King Phillip (father of Alexander the Great). After stopping for lunch we’ll travel onwards to the Meteora area where you’ll be astonished by the world famous Byzantine monasteries, where monks have lived for centuries perched precariously atop rocky outcrops. Of course a visit will be made to one of the monasteries. We’ll end our day in Kalambaka, the largest town in the area, for an overnight stay & our group dinner.

For more information please contact [email protected] or 434-665-2622 September 5th, 2016: Delphi & Nafplion After breakfast today we continue our journey south through the Greek heartland. A full morning’s drive will bring us to Delphi, site of the legendary oracle & center of the ancient Greek world. There will be time for lunch in a local restaurant before we visit Delphi’s archaeological site, spectacularly located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus with an incredible view below. During our guided tour we’ll see the Sanctuary of Apollo, the stoa of the Athenians, & the site museum that contains masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture. Our base for the next three nights is the beautiful Peloponnese port of Nafplion. This charming town of around 10,000, overlooked by twin Venetian fortresses., was modern Greece’s first capital. After checking-in, your tour leader will take you for a short walking tour to introduce you to this charming historic town, followed by our group dinner in a local taverna - Greek specialities guaranteed! September 6th, 2016: The Island of Hydra We’ll take a drive today to Metochi, a small fishing village & port on the Peloponnese coastline from where we take a water ‘taxi’ across the water to Hydra. Just a mile & a half off the coast, Hydra is one of the prettiest Greek islands, with a unique architecture (protected by a strict development policy) & an interesting history of seafaring & freedom-fighting. Spend your day exploring the picturesque harbor, swimming in the deep-blue waters, lazing on one of the islands beaches or perhaps taking a donkey ride - cars & motorbikes are banned on the island! We’ll return to Nafplion early this evening after a great day out, & you’re free to enjoy Nafplion at leisure. September 7th, 2016: Corinth & Nafplion This morning our sightseeing takes us to the nearby site of Corinth, where St. Paul lived for some 18 months & to whose early Christian community he wrote his Letters to the Corinthians. As we tour the site of the ancient city with our local guide we’ll see sights such as the Bema (place of judgment), the market place & temples, & an inscription mentioning an individual named ‘Erastus’, believed to be the very same Erastus that Paul wrote about! Back in Nafplion this afternoon there will be free time to relax - perhaps on the town’s small beach, to explore the town, or to shop it’s many boutiques. September 8th, 2016: Welcome to Athens We depart Nafplion this morning to travel to Greece’s modern capital, Athens. There will be time en-route to stop at the Corinth Canal, an engineering wonder of the 19th century. After checking-in to our hotel for a two night stay & taking time for lunch, our Athens sightseeing will begin with an in-depth expert-guided tour to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon & Temple of Athena Nike. Visits to the excellent new Acropolis Museum & to ‘Mars Hill’ (the very spot where Paul preached to the Athenians!) will also be included. This evening your tour leader will introduce you to the narrow streets of the Plaka district as we make our way to the restaurant for this evening’s included group dinner. September 9th, 2016: Athens in Depth & at Leisure Today, our last day in Greece, has essentially been left free for you to enjoy at your leisure. If you wish you may choose to join your tour leader this morning to visit the Agora, the ancient market place of Athens, the huge Temple of Olympian Zeus, & Syntagma Square to see the Changing of the Guard at Greece’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The rest of the day is your for more sightseeing, shopping, or simply relaxing before we rendezvous again for tonight’s farewell dinner, complete with Greece music & maybe even dancing!

For more information please contact [email protected] or 434-665-2622 September 10th, 2016: Farewell to Greece This morning, as your Greek journey comes to an end, we’ll transfer to Athens airport for a return flight to the USA, arriving home later the same day. Or…

Extend your travels with our optional extension - details coming soon!

Please note that due to logistical reasons the exact order of sightseeing & may vary. However all sightseeing & group meals listed will be included.

For more information please contact [email protected] or 434-665-2622