Day 1: Depart

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

Day 2: Athens

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

Day 3: Athens and Plaka

This morning is free with many things to do and see. This afternoon we will begin our tour of the city of Athens with a visit to 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 market place and center of Athenian public life), the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential Palace. A short walk from your hotel is the famous Plaka with a multitude of shops and cafes.

Day 4: Corinth - Mycenae

This morning we leave Athens by motor coach, stop for a rest stop and photos at the Corinth Canal and then travel to the ancient city of Corinth. 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 ancient to modern day. We will be sure to gather for a devotional around the Bema where Paul stood and challenged the Corinthians. The Museum houses a variety of antiquities to include pottery, statues, mosaics and art work. Our guide will be sure to show you the room dedicated to the medical care of that period. After the visit to ancient Corinth we travel to Mycenae where the remains of the ancient city date back to the Bronze Age. We will have a lunch stop (on our own) today in Mycenae at a wonderful restaurant where Jackie Kennedy Onassis enjoyed lunch. This afternoon we see the famous Lionesse Gate, the Tomb of Agamennon in the shape of a Beehive, and many other sites before returning to Athens for the evening.

Day 5: Cruising Mykonos

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.

Day 6: Rhodes

The largest of our adventure islands, Rhodes is rich in Roman and Greek culture. Stroll down the Street of the Knights to the market area for shopping and a wonderful Greek lunch. You may enjoy an optional tour to the ancient city of Lindos. Magnificently situated between two bays with sandy beaches, an ancient acropolis and medieval castle, Lindos is famous as a most striking and impressive city. Again we return to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment.

Day 7: Patmos & Ephesus, Turkey

This morning we visit the Isle of Patmos, under statutory protection as a historic monument. You may choose to take an optional tour to see the fortified monastery of St. John and the cave claimed to be where John received the Revelation. Docking in Turkey, enjoy an optional 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. We'll view the Library, Agora, Temple of Artemis and visit the Basilica of St. John. The basilica is believed to be the site of the grave of John. From here we'll also enjoy a panoramic view of the area. Back on the ship, enjoy the Captain's dinner before settling in to your cabin for the night.

Day 8: Optional Day - Delphi or Cape Sounion

Those interested in an optional tour of Delphi will need to disembark early at 7:00 AM. Those taking this tour will travel to lovely mountain region of Delphi-the ancient sanctuary of Apollo. Here you will gain a greater understanding of the Greek religious heritage and their influence on the early Christian church. We also visit the museum where we will marvel at the site of the Charioteer, a bronze statue so delicate we will see his eyelashes. You may choose to visit the Plaka where you can find the finest of jewelry, leather, pottery and marble, or the fun souvenirs all "tourists" enjoy. Be sure to taste the Greek almonds and pistachios from the street vendors. If you choose not to shop, there are several interesting museums including the Museum of Folklore or the National Archaeological Museum. This afternoon, you may choose to travel along a coastal road past many wonderful beaches to the southern most point of Attica, Cape Sounion, where the white marble pillars of the Temple of Poseidon stand. Today's sightseeing is at your own expense.

Day 9: Rome

We transfer to the airport for our flight to Rome, our home for the next three nights. The remainder of the day is free with many things to do and see.

Day 10: Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter Basilica

After breakfast you will begin a full day of site seeing. First visit Vatican City where you will see the Basilica at St. Peter, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican

Museums with stunning works of art at every turn. After some free time for lunch, you will visit the 4th century Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the traditional site of Paul’s tomb, and the Scala Santa, where Martin Luther made his stand against the practice of indulgences. The spiritual and historical insight gained from this tour will be invaluable to you in your understanding and application of scriptural truths.

Day 11: Forum, Mamertine Prison, Coliseum, Catacombs

We begin our walking tour at the ancient Roman Forum, where our guide will divulge its secrets. We will visit the Arch of Titus which commemorated the sack of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70.. We will step inside the Mamertine Prison, where tradition says the Apostle Paul was imprisoned. Next, we visit the Coliseum, where thousands of people and animals perished during gladiatorial games. The Coliseum first opened in AD 80 and within 100 days of its opening, 5000 wild beasts perished here. The slaughter of both humans and animals continued for three more centuries. Historians believe the Coliseum could hold between 40,000 and 80,000 people depending on how close the seating was. The floor has recently had a plank placed over the middle making it accessible for people to walk over the labyrinth of brick cells, ramps, and elevators used to transport animals and gladiators into the arena. Hear the stories of the games that have fascinated people for years. We conclude our day at the Catacombs where thousands of Christians were buried in a remarkable tiered series of galleries.

Day 12: Home

This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to the USA.