Athens, Corinth, Istanbul & 7-Day cruise on the Greek isles
Duration: 10 Days
Program only valid for private groups of 20 or more people
2023 ARRIVAL DAY TO ATHENS | |
|---|---|
MAY | 26 |
JUNE | 16 |
JULY | 7, 28 |
SEPTEMBER | 8, 29 |
STOPS: Athens, Corinth, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Mykonos, Rhodos, Santorini, Athens.
Day 1: ATHENS - ARRIVAL
Arrival in Athens, the birthplace of Western Civilization and a vibrant city! After check-in, enjoy some free time to explore the city! By day, the Attica light will lead you to streets filled with pulsating life and colors, a different story in every shop. You will be amazed by the culinary delights of the city and the unique cafes, each with a personality of its own. By night, you can stroll through the numerous restaurants and tasty tavernas available. Check in and overnight at the hotel in Athens.
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Day 2: ATHENS
Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Athens, we climb up to the marble-capped Acropolis, the sacred rock of Athens and citadel of the city in antiquity. We become time travelers by visiting the famous Parthenon and the Erechtheion. Then, we go to the nearby Mars' Hill (Areopagus) to read Acts 17:22 where Paul gave his famous speech to the Athenian philosophers (Acts 17:18-34) and spoke about “an unknown god”. We view the ancient Agora of Athens from the Acropolis before visiting the Acropolis museum, which was built to house every artifact found on the Acropolis, from the Greek Bronze Age to the Roman and Byzantine period. Our tour continues with the highlights of modern Athens: we pass by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Parliament House, the Academy, the University of Athens, the National Library, we view the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Hadrian’s Arch. Return to the hotel in the afternoon. Rest of the day is free for you to explore the city of Athens. Overnight at hotel.
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DAY 3: CORINTH
We depart at 8:00 a.m. for our excursion out of Athens. This takes us by the Saronic Gulf, where in 480 BC, the course of history was changed! The small Grecian fleet managed to defeat the enormously powerful armada of the Persians. From here, we arrive at ancient Corinth (Acts 18:1-18) via the historic Corinthian Canal. It was to this megalopolis where the Apostle Paul came and worked, established a thriving church, subsequently sending two of his epistles, now part of the New Testament. Here, we see all of the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. The small archaeological museum here is an absolute must! Following the tour, return to the port of Athens and prepare to embark on your 7-day cruise at 5 pm. Dinner and overnight on board.
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DAY 4: KUSADASI, TURKEY
At 6:30 am. our cruise-ship docks at Kusadasi, Turkey, the starting point for the guided excursion to visit the ancient city of Ephesus, where the Apostle Paul preached and lived for three years (Acts 18:19-21). Enjoy free time for souvenir shopping in Kusadasi and set sail at 12:30 pm to Istanbul, Turkey. All meals and overnight on board.
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DAY 5: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
At 10:00 am arrival in Istanbul. Today you will start the day by visiting Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine jewel built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, considered one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Continue with a visit to the St. Chora Church, where you will see its beautiful mosaics. The tour concludes with a visit to the world famous Grand Covered Bazaar, housing thousands of vendors offering textiles, spices, carpets and countless other goods. Sail at 10:00 pm to Mykonos, Greece. All meals and overnight on board.
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DAY 6: DAY AT SEA.
Enjoy the day on board relaxing and participating in the various ship activities. All meals & overnight on board ship.
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DAY 7: MYKONOS – GREECE
Arrive at 8:00 am in Mykonos, enjoy your morning walking and exploring the pebbled streets of the cosmopolitan Chora and have a coffee in “Little Venice”. There will be ample time to discover the pretty alleyways of Mykonos town and the gorgeous beaches. At 5:00 pm departure to Rhodes, Greece. All meals and overnight on board.
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DAY 8: RHODES – GREECE
At 8:00 am, we arrive at the beautiful island of Rhodes. The island instantly greets you with serene white-sand beaches and the harbor where the now-destroyed wonder of the ancient world once stood. Then, head to the Old Town, surrounded by medieval walls and seven ancient gates. Don't miss the Palace of the Grandmaster, with its mosaic floors dating from Hellenic, Roman and early Christian times. Shop for a colorful menagerie of seashells by the shoreline. At 6:00 pm sail for Santorini, Greece. All meals and overnight on board.
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DAY 9: SANTORINI – GREECE
At 10:00 am., our cruise-ship drops anchor in Santorini. Join the optional guided excursion to visit to the beautiful and picturesque village of Oia where you can see the famous blue domed churches, or take the cable car up to the town of Fira, perched high on the rim of the ancient volcano. Free time for taking photos, browsing, shopping and enjoying the breathtaking view of the caldera.
At 9:00 pm sail for Athens, Greece. All meals and overnight on board.
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DAY 10: ATHENS, GREECE
Arrive at Piraeus port at 7:00 am. After breakfast on board, transfer to Athens International Airport for departure flight.
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