Greece Food, Faith & Wine Tour + 3-Day Greek Isle Cruise

Today we embark on our Journey to the lands of ancient treasures and Christian history with an overnight flight to Greece. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Get some rest on the flight…Tomorrow you will be walking in the footsteps of Paul!

We arrive in Thessaloniki and check into our hotel. You will have the remainder of the day free to relax or take a stroll along the streets of Thessaloniki to enjoy the flavor of the city. This evening our group will enjoy the first of many delectable Greek dinners.

We begin the day by following the massive battlement Byzantine wall to the citadel for a panoramic view of the city. Next, we will visit Philippi and Kavala. Kavala is Greece’s prettiest mainland port with a most elegant harbor. St. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Luke, the Evangelist, also came here from Troas. This ancient city of Neapolis was later renamed Christoupolis because it was the first European city to accept Christianity. Imagine walking on the same sod as these men of the Bible! We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known since the 5th century as Kavala. Continue on to Philippi where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We will view the baptismal site where Lydia surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt dating from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre. Before returning to Thessaloniki, we stop at Drama to visit Domain Lazaridis. There you will enjoy a guided visit to the winery followed by a wine-tasting session.

We return to Thessalonica and visit St. Demetrius Basilica, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert, before returning to the hotel for our overnight.

Before we leave Thessaloniki we drive through town we see remnants of the original Roman road that spanned the nation during Paul’s time. En route, we will view the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument that was transformed into a church, and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia. Then we continue to Berea to view the ancient synagogue where Paul spoke and the Bema surrounded by mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the “more noble” church. Continue to Naoussa, famous for the Xinomavro wine, a red grape variety. Enjoy a visit and a wine-tasting session at Kir Yiannis Winery. We will spend the night in Kalambaka.

Following Breakfast this morning we begin with our tour of the Meteora Monasteries. Here we see the world-famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. Later you will continue with a visit to the museum and a truffle hunting session. You will have the opportunity to do a mushroom product tasting with 5-6 kinds of mushrooms and traditional mushroom spoon sweets which are accompanied by a glass of local wine. From there our tour travels southward past Thermopylae where we learn of the famous Spartan battle of 300. Our lodging tonight is in Athens.

We sail this morning from Athens to the quaint isle of Mykonos, called the island of windmills. Experience the waterfront lined with shops and cafes and then stroll the charming walkways through a maze of whitewashed buildings before returning to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment.

Docking in Turkey, enjoy an included tour of Ephesus, the city of the Bible, and one of the largest restorations still in progress with miles of ancient treasures. Ephesus was once a thriving port town of 250,000 people. Today you can still see the spectacular excavations of the major streets in this ancient city including the Agora, the Odeon, the Library, the marble-paved main Street, the Baths, Trajan’s Fountain, the Residences of the Patricians, the Prytaneum, and Temple of Hadrian. The Great Theatre, built in the 4th century B.C., could accommodate 24,000 spectators and it is famous even nowadays for its acoustics. This afternoon we visit the Isle of Patmos, under statutory protection as a historic monument. Here we have an included tour to see the fortified monastery of St. John and the cave where John received the Revelation. Back on the ship.

Crete is the largest and the most rugged of the Greek islands. Take an optional tour of Heraklion and the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. This afternoon visit the island of Santorini which is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. The town of Thira where white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes, and glittering boutiques cling to steep cliffs, is accessible by footpath, cable car, or mule. During your stay in Santorini, you will visit Santo Wine Winery for a visit and a wine-tasting session. The Volcanic terrain of the island is ideal for the cultivation and production of unique white and red wine varieties. One of the most famous ones is Assyrtiko Wine. Again we return to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment. 

This morning we disembark and start our tour west towards the Peloponnese with a rest stop and photos at the Corinth Canal. We then travel to the ancient city of Corinth, another treat for the New Testament scholar. Corinth is the city that inspired many of Paul’s most familiar letters. See the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples. To enjoy a devotional in the midst of the ruins of the church of Corinth and see the pillars, steps, and public worship places where Paul preached will enhance your understanding and love of I & II Corinthians. The ruins of this important cultural center are fascinating as we walk along the stone path that the Apostle Paul walked. The engineering skill and intellect of these people are evident in the water systems that still flow from the ancient to the modern day. After your tour in Corinth, you will drive to Nemea, an area producing one of the famous Greek red wines Agiorgitiko, You will visit a local winery for a tour and a wine-tasting session.  Lunch in the winery.  Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight.

This morning we drive north to the glorious town of Sparta. Here we visit the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil. The museum walks its visitors through the culture, history, and technology of olive and olive oil production in the Greek realm from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. The museum’s objective is to highlight the ineffable relationship between the olive and the identity of Greece. The olive and olive oil are presented here from a variety of angles, such as the economy, nutrition, the olive’s uses, religious worship, art, and technology. After visiting the museum, we drive towards the LITHOS olive oil production facility, a modern refinery where we will have the opportunity to see how olive oil is produced and packed live. See how this olive oil is ranked #1 here.  This olive oil is the best of the Peloponnese, awarded as one of the three best olive oils in Greece by the gourmet and wine magazine `Weinwelt`, which writes: The oil smells fruity and fresh of lime and freshly cut olives and tastes fine-fruity, slightly grassy and very elegant with good spice and peppery aftertaste. Ideal for the Mediterranean-inspired spring and summer kitchen!  An olive oil tasting will be the highlight of our visit but also the Greek meze before we farewell Peloponnese. Continue to Athens. Dinner at The Hotel.

This morning we visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Erectheum before viewing Athens atop Mars Hill where Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation. Additional sites include the Agora (ancient marketplace and center of Athenian public life), the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Olympic Stadium, and the Presidential Palace. Following your tour you will enjoy a cooking class with a Greek chef to enhance your Greek culinary knowledge. Free time in Athens and continue to the Hotel.

Farewell Greek traditional Dinner in the Plaka area.

Transfer to Athens International Airport for your flight back home.