Description

Day 1

We start from Athens and a visit to the Acropolis (Propylaea, Erechtheion, Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, Odeon of Herodes Atticus). Leaving Acropolis behind us, we come to the location of Areopagus (later called “Mars Hill” by the Romans) where Apostle Paul was officially invited to speak to the rulers of Athens. The text of his famous speech can be seen, written on a brass plate.

After a short tour of Athens, where you will have the opportunity to admire some of its other sightseeing attractions (Temple o f Olympian Zeus, Arch of Hadrian, Panathenaic Stadium, old Royal Palace, the Academy, the University, the National Library). Then, you will have the opportunity to see the Changing of the Presidential Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in front of the Parliament.

We continue our private tour and we will ride up the hill of Lycabettus , where the panoramic view from its top will take your breath away. After lunch, we leave Athens behind us and head towards Corinth, which in antiquity was the richest city in ancient Greece and where Apostle Paul stayed and taught for a long time.

Our first stop will take place at the Corinth Canal which connects the Saronic with the Corinthian Gulf. Our few minutes stop there, will give us the opportunity to take some amazing pictures.

Continuing our private tour, we will reach the ancient city of Corinth, where Apostle Paul taught Corinthians. At the archaeological site, you will see the Temple of Apollo, the Ancient Agora, the fountains of Pirene and Glafki, the Roman Odeon, the ancient theater and the location called “Vima” (Step) where Apostle Paul was led to be tried by the Roman Proconsul Gallio, who refused to prosecute him. The museum of Ancient Corinth is situated in the same location.

After the ancient city, we will drive to the Corinth fortress, known as Acrocorinth, where we will make a short stop and take pictures.

Our next stop is the church of St. Paul, where we will admire the beautiful mosaic, dedicated to the life and visions of the Apostle.

The last stop on our tour in Corinth is the ancient port of Kechrion, where Apostle Paul departed from Corinth to sail to Ephesus.

Leaving behind us the city of Corinth, we head west, with the Corinthian Gulf on our right hand. After about half an hour, we reach Rio. Here lies the impressive 2,880-meter Rio-Antirrio Bridge that connects the Peloponnese with mainland Greece.

After crossing the amazing bridge, we head east and reach the coastal town of Nafpaktos, a traditional settlement with a long history. In 1571, the Battle of Nafpaktos, also called the Battle of Lepanto, took place here, when the combined fleets of Spain, Venice, Genoa, the Maltese Knights, the Duchy of Tuscany and the Pope destroyed the united Ottoman fleet.

Nafpaktos is where we will spend our first night.

Therefore, you will have the chance to walk along its picturesque, fortified harbor, which was the far end of a large castle just above the current city.

Day 2

We’ll start our second day of our Christian tour and after your breakfast we will depart from Nafpaktos towards Delphi. The route is amazing with an incredible view to the beaches of the Corinthian Gulf, as we pass through small, picturesque, seaside villages. We will cross Galaxidi (one of the most famous holiday destinations) and Itea in the middle of huge olive groves, which will leave you in awe.

We will reach the archaeological site of Delphi around 10:00 to 10:30 in the morning. At the site you will admire the Temple of Apollo, the Athenian Treasury, the ancient Theatre as well as the Stadium where the Pythian Games took place. You will also visit the Delphi Museum, the Castalia Spring and the Dome of Athena Pronaia.                               

Lunch will follow in a fantastic restaurant with a fantastic view.

After your lunch, we will head north with Kalambaka as our next destination. The first half of our route will be between the mountains of Oeta, Giona and Parnassus. Then we will continue, crossing the Thessalian plain, rich in cotton and sunflower crops.

We will arrive in Kalabaka in the afternoon and check-in at our hotel. A little later, your driver will take you to the spectacular Meteora rocks where you will enjoy an unparalleled sunset tour.

An evening meal and rest will follow.

Day 3

After a good breakfast, we will start on the third day of our Private Christian Tour, heading for the Meteora rocks and monasteries, which are built on top of them.

Meteora were named after meteors and are a global geological phenomenon, with the area being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are 6 Monasteries, still operating today:

1. Transfiguration of Christ Monastery, also known as the Great Meteoron

2. Holy Monastery of Varlaam

3. Monastery of the Holy Trinity

4. Monastery of Saint Stephen

5. Holy Monastery of Roussanou – Saint Barbara

6. Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapausas

You will have the opportunity to visit the three most important monasteries and be guided around all the Meteora, so that we are sure everything will be photographed.

Lunch will be served at a traditional Kalabaka restaurant.

After your meal, we will head to Veria, one of the cities where Apostle Paul visited and taught.

You will visit Apostle Paul’s Altar, the “Bema”, located in the city center of Veria, made in honor of the Apostle.

You will spend the night in the city of Veria.

Day 4

After breakfast, we will start the 4rth day of our 6 days Christian tour by visiting Vergina or Aegae (ancient name) which was the first capital of Macedonia.

You will visit the royal burial cluster of Vergina and admire the tombs of the ancient kings of Macedonia. Among the tombs is that of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.

Leaving Vergina behind, we will head northeast, and after about two and a half hours, we will reach Philippi.

After your lunch, we will visit the place where Apostle Paul began his teaching in Greece. This place is located next to a small river named Gakitis.

It was there that Apostle Paul first taught a small group of women. A woman named Lydia was the first to believe his words and was baptized in the river. At this point a church has been built in honor of her, which we will visit.

We will also visit the archaeological site of Philippi, the city named after Philip II, which flourished during the Roman years. In the archaeological site, you will admire the ruins of the ancient city, the ancient theater, the Roman market, the library, the foundations of the first Christian church founded by the Apostle as well as the prison where he was imprisoned.

Our next stop will be the city of Kavala (known in the ancient times as Neapolis) where you will admire the mosaic in honor of the Apostle made by the inhabitants in recent years.

In Kavala, you will also have your overnight stay.

Day 5

After breakfast, we will leave the city of Kavala and head towards Thessaloniki, where we will arrive around 10:00 to 10:30 in the morning.

This means that we will have the whole day to enjoy the Thessaloniki tour.

We will start from the highest point of the city, Heptapyrgion and the Vlatades Monastery.

This fantastic 14th century Byzantine monastery is still in operation today.

Tradition says that the monastery was built at the exact site where Apostle Paul preached and lived. You will also visit the Heptapyrgion fortress.

Continuing and reaching the center of the city, you will visit the church of Saint Demetrius, patron saint of Thessaloniki.

It was founded in 313 AD and started as a small chapel. Underneath the temple, there are catacombs and crypts where the Saint died as a martyr. 

As we continue our tour, we will visit the Roman Agora, the White Tower and the amazing Archaeological Museum. We will also visit the Galerius Arch, Rotunda and many more sights.

As there is an overnight stay in Thessaloniki you will have the opportunity to walk and dine in the evening in the Ladadika area, where there are dozens of restaurants and taverns with music.

Day 6

This is the last day of our Christian tour. After enjoying your morning coffee overlooking the Thermaic Gulf and tasting the popular Thessaloniki bougatsa (a sweet snack, trademark of the city) we will take the road back to Athens.

Arriving in the Vale of Tempe, we will make a stop at the Holy Place of Saint Paraskevi.

It is a small, picturesque chapel, reached by a suspension bridge over the river Pineios. Next to the chapel there is a small cave, in the middle of which there is a spring from which Holy Water springs forth. The scenery is idyllic.

We will then move on to reach our next stop at Thermopylae.

You will see the hot springs of Thermopylae and the place where the Thermopylae battle took place between the 300 Spartans led by Leonidas and the Persians.

You will also see the statue of Leonidas, located in the same place.

Nearby is the seaside area of Kamena Vourla, where you will dine, right by the sea.

After your meal, we will continue and arrive in Athens in about 2 hours, having completed a truly unforgettable trip!