Day 1: Athens
The 8 days private tour in the footsteps of St Paul starts from Athens.
No tour would be complete without a visit to the most important sites of the city, including of course the crown of the city, the Acropolis, and the Mars Hill where St Paul delivered his famous sermon.
The tour in Athens includes visits to all major highlights of the city, such as the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, the Panathenian Stadium, where the first modern Olympic games took place in 1896), the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Academy, the University and the National Library.
The private tour will also take you to some of the must-see quarters of Athens, such as Monastiraki, Plaka, the ancient and the roman agora as well as the renowned hill of Athens, Lycabettus, offering panoramic views to the city.
In the afternoon, the tour will take you to the Monastery of Kaisariani, which was founded in the 11th century A.D. and is of significant Christian interest, as it is consecrated to the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple. The evening is free, allowing you time to wander around the city of Athens.
Day 2: Athens, Corinth canal, ancient Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplion, Epidaurus, Athens
The second day, the tour will continue after your breakfast towards Corinth, one of the major stops of St Paul, who spent 18 months there, preaching to the locals, Gentiles and Jews.
Since his stay in Corinth caused him much difficulty, he wrote four letters to the locals (Letters to Corinthians). You will have the chance to visit the Acropolis (Acrocorinth) overlooking the city of Corinth, and make a tour of the ancient Corinth.
Continuing the private tour you will visit Mycenae with the Cyclopean walls and the Royal Tombs.
Later, you will be visiting Nafplion, the first capital of modern Greece, and Epidaurus, where you will have the chance to see the theater of Epidaurus, one of the most significant theatres in the world with remarkable acoustics.
Your driver will bring you back to Athens for an overnight.
Day 3: Athens, Delphi, Kalmbaka, Kastraki,Meteora
The third day of the tour will start again from Athens, driving towards Delphi, which is one of the most intriguing sites of ancient Greece.
Delphi is the home of the Oracle, a site dedicated to God Apollo. You will visit the archaeological site, as well as the Museum with the important artefacts and statues from the antiquity.
You will enjoy your lunch in Delphi or the nearby picturesque village of Arachova and head towards Meteora, spending the night in Kastraki.
Day 4: Meteora, Thessaloniki
The private sightseeing tour will bring you early in the morning to the suspended rocks, known as Meteora in Greek.
It is an area featuring a natural phenomenon, with a strange formation of rocks, home to the Meteora Monasteries, the second most important complex of Byzantine monasteries after Athos.
Meteora monasteries exhibit superb icons, manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes.
After lunch the tour will drive you to Thessaloniki for overnight.
Day 5: Thessaloniki
After breakfast you will enjoy a city tour of the second larger city of Greece, Thessaloniki, which is also one of St Paul’s major stops, where he established a church (Acts 17:1-10).
The tour in Thessaloniki includes visits to the churches of St Sophia and St Demetrios, the upper part of the Old City Walls, the famous White Tower of Thessaloniki and the Triumphal Arch of Galerius.
Overnight in Thessaloniki or Verroia.
Day 6: Verroia and Vergina
On the 6th day of the private tour you will depart Thessaloniki heading towards Verroia, where St Paul successfully preached to the Jewish community.
In Verroia you will see the reconstructed steps of the rostrum, where Paul was believed to have preached, and later you will head towards to Vergina, the first capital of Macedonia of Alexander the Great. Return to Thessaloniki for overnight.
Day 7: Philippi / Kavala (Neapolis)
The private tour will start from Thessaloniki towards Philippi, named after King Philip II of Macedonia.
This is the place where St. Paul delivered his first sermon ever in Europe and where he baptised a woman named Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe.
Close to Philippi, you will visit Kavala, the ancient city known as Neapolis, where St Paul arrived, setting foot to Europe. Kavala is also a lovely city, with numerous sites of immense importance that you will have time to visit.
Overnight in Kavala.
Day 8: Return to Athens
The last day of the tour will bring you back to Athens, passing by interesting sites, such as Katerini, Tembi, Larisa, Lamia, Thermopylae, the site of the battle of the 300. You will arrive in Athens late in the afternoon.
Considerations:
During winter time, there will be slight changes in the itinerary due to the fact that the archaeological sites close at 3pm, while remain open till 5-7pm during summer time.
Also, this tour is available for driving with a mini bus or motor coach bus for larger groups.
In the case of Corinth canal, ancient Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplion, Epidaurus tour , the itinerary can also be customized and will be shorter (due to international driving safty regulations), again based on your specific needs and requirements.
Your private tour/driver is at your disposal at any time to discuss and plan your private full day tour accordingly.
