Day 01 - Depart USA
You'll leave this evening on an overnight Flight to Athens, Greece, meal on board.
Day 02 - Athens
Welcome to Greece. You are greeted by your tour guide and transferred to the hotel. This afternoon embark on a city tour including a visit to tile Agora where Paul preached. Here Socrates thought and was forced to drink the deadly hemlock. On Mars Hill, Paul was brought before the council and delivered his great sermon. You also visit the ancient town of Acropolis to see the Parthenon, the theater of Dionyssos, the Temple of the Wingless Victory and other sights, which reflect the golden age of Greece.
Overnight: Athens.
Day 03 - Corinth
This morning visit ancient Corinth following closely the same route Paul took during his journey. Here you visit the marketplace where Paul preached to the Corinthians, visit the Temple of Apollo and the Corinth Museum. You return to Athens this afternoon to enjoy exploring the town on your own.
Overnight: Athens.
Day 04 - Athens - Mykonos
You are transferred to Piraeus today, where you board your cruise ship. The first stop is picture perfect Mykonos, with its white houses, chapels and windÂmills. You can take optional trip offered by Cruise Line or visit the island on your own. Overnight on Cruise
Day 05 - Rhodes
Today the ship docks in Rhodes, the island Paul visited during his third journey as he sailed toward Jerusalem. Tour the medieval city where the Crusaders gathered before sailing to the Holy Land, and the Knights of St. John built the magnificent town. Or take an optional tour to the majestic Acropolis of Lindos and tile old town built by the Crusaders.Overnight on Cruise
Day 06 - Patmos - Kusadasi - Ephesus
Our first stop is the sacred island of Patmos, where John received the mystical Revelation, which forms the last book of the New Testament. The optional excursion takes you to the Grotto of the Revelation. And the 11-century Monastery of St. John (which houses the original script of the Gospel). In the afternoon the ship arrives in the colorful Turkish port of Kusadasi, where you disembark. You will visit the most complete magnificent ancient city ever excavated, Ephesus. Tour the antique city, with its theatre, library, Temple of Artemis, declared as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Here you will see Mary’s House and St. John Basilica. Tradition tells us that the Apostle accompanied Mary to Ephesus. Overnight: Kusadasi.
Day 07 - Pamukkale - Laodicea
Proceed to the spa city of Pamukkale; see the cascading water from the cliffs forming crystallized, dazzling white “ frozen waterfalls “. Visit Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches. Christians were chastised here by John for being lukewarm. Overnight: Pamukkale.
Day 08 - Hierapolis - Philadelphia - Sardis - Izmir
After breakfast, visit the vast ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis, and see the magnificently preserved Necropolis, the Main Street and Gates. Continue to Philadelphia, which was referred to as “New Jerusalem”. Proceed to Sardis, the Lydian capital city where money first minted, tour the marble road the Roman Gymnasium, and the remains of the Artemis Temple, which symbolized one of the Seven Churches. Continue to Izmir for dinner. Overnight: Izmir
Day 09 - Thyatira - Pergamon - Canakkale (or Assos)
Today first visit is to Thyatira, the site of one of the Seven Churches. Then, proceed to Pergamum where the first Christians were executed by Rome. This was the most favored of the Seven Churches, and Christianity came here very early. You will see the Temple of Zeus, and the Temple of Athena, the fabled Acropolis and the Royal Gate. Here parchment was developed replacing papyrus. You will also visit Asclepion one of the foremost healÂing centers of the ancient world. Continue to Canakkale or Assos
for dinner. Overnight:Canakkale or Assos
Day 10 - Alexanria Troas - Troy - Istanbul
Visit Troas, where Paul had a vision in which he was called to Macedonia (Greece). Proceed to Troy to see the city made famous in Homer's poems, as the center of the Trojan War, including the legendary Trojan Horse. In the afternoon cross the Dardanelles, where you see Gallipoli, the famous site of the bloody World War I battle, then drive along the Sea of Marmara to Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul. Evening you can participate optional “Turkish Night Show” with belly dancing and Turkish Folk Music with dinner.
Overnight: Istanbul.
Day 11 - Istanbul
Full day city tour of magnificent Istanbul, the city that links two continents Asia and Europe to each other. Visit Topkapi the palace of the Sultans, Hagia Sophia, the magnificent former Christian Basilica, the Chora Church with its Byzantine artworks, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, with over 4000 little shops. Overnight: Istanbul.
Day 12 - Return to the USA
Transfer to Istanbul airport for your transatlantic flight back to the U.S.A
