TUE 3 OCT – Day 1
Arrival / Thessaloniki
Depart from London Gatwick on our flight to Thessalonica. On arrival transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

WED 4 OCT – Day 2
Pella, Thessaloniki / Thessaloniki
After breakfast meet with our guide and depart northwards to Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia and the birthplace of Philip II and that of his son, Alexander the Great. Here we can see the animated pebble mosaics. After our visit we return to Thessaloniki to spend the rest of our journey into the heart of Thessaloniki a city renowned for its well- preserved monuments of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. Named after the sister of Alexander the Great, this industrious port city was founded in 315 B.C, and today serves as Greece’s second major economic and cultural centre, and we will see some of the city’s finest historical monuments. Tour the city centre to view the ancient walls, the White Tower, Saint Demetrius, and Saint Sophia. Continue to visit the Rotunda, the oldest building in the city centre which served as a mausoleum for Emperor Galerius in the 4th century, and now serves as the Church of Saint George.
Dinner and overnight in Thessalonica.

THU 5 OCT – Day 3
Kavalla, Philippi / Thessaloniki
Today’s sightseeing includes a full day excursion to Kavalla and the ancient city of Philippi. Drive to the seaside city of Kavalla (biblical Neapolis) where Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy first set foot in Europe from Troy. The tour continues along the Via Egnatia, a remnant of Rome’s highway, to Philippi. It was here that Paul preached his first sermon in Europe and “baptised a certain woman named Lydia,” Europe’s first convert to Christianity. While in Philippi, visit the ruins of some of the largest churches ever constructed and the site of Paul’s imprisonment.
Walk by the stream near where Lydia was baptised. View the ancient ruins of the Roman City Forum, the market, and early basilicas. See the site where Paul was flogged, imprisoned, and later released. View the 16th century aqueduct built by Suleiman the Magnificent - founder of the Turkish Empire. Continue in Paul’s footsteps through Amphipolis and Apollonia.
Dinner and overnight in Thessalonica.
 
FRI 6 OCT – Day 4
Berea, Vergina / Kalambaka
We leave Thessalonica and travel to Veroia (Berea in the New Testament). Upon arrival, visit the Church of Christ, one of the finest examples of early brick churches. Founded in the 14th century, the church’s interior features beautiful frescoes portraying the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the apostles. A modern shrine commemorates Paul’s visit.Then we drive southwards and we stop at Vergina to visit the local museum to view the treasures unearthed from a tomb believed to be that of King Philip II of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great.
We continue on our journey that takes us close to Mount Olympus and onwards to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.

SAT 7 OCT – Day 5
Meteora, Thermopylae / Delphi
This morning we will be visiting the Orthodox monasteries of Meteora. Amazing rock formations, like towers of sandstone, stand ageless, and have provided sacred retreat for monks over the centuries. A number of monasteries dating back to the 11th century are hidden on top of Meteora hiding unique treasures. The view over the plain is breathtaking. Meteora is considered among the most beautiful areas of mainland Greece and belongs to Unesco’s list of world heritage monuments. Early in the afternoon, we will depart for our drive towards Delphi. On the way we will make a short stop at Thermopylae, the famous site of the defeat of the 300 Spartans by the Persian in 480 BC. The three-day battle for the little rocky pass of Thermopylae is the stuff of legend, in which the Spartan King Leonidas died in trying to delay the vast army of Xerxes. This incident occurs between Esther chapters 1 & 2 in the Bible. The mound of the last stand was identified in 1939 and in 1955 King Paul of the Hellenes inaugurated the famous monument to Leonidas and his men.
Dinner and overnight in Delphi.

SUN 8 OCT – Day 6
Castalian Fountain, Delphi, Ossios Loucas / Athens
After our breakfast, we will be exploring the area of Delphi. We will visit the ancient site of the Apollonian Oracle, nestling in the mountains of Parnassus and with an unforgettable view across acres of olive trees as far as the Gulf of Corinth. It was here that individuals sought the advice of the infallible Oracle. We visit the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Castalian Fountain and the Theatre. Next we will enter the Museum of Delphi where you will find Kourus Statues, Kleobis and Vitom. After some free time for lunch, we will start heading towards Athens. On the way, we will make a short deviation to visit the monastery of Ossios Loucas, with the amazing mosaics.
Arrival in Athens, dinner and overnight.

MON 9 OCT – Day 7
Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus / Athens 
Today, we travel to the Peloponnesian Peninsula and the biblical town of Corinth -the city where Paul ministered for nearly two years. Passing the Corinth Canal which links the Aegean and Ionian Seas, you arrive in Corinth, the very town St. Paul visited for 18 months (51-52 A.D.). Visit the excavations, the Agora is dominated by the columns of the Temple of Apollo; on the opposite side is the tribunal before which Paul was accused. See also the Bema Seat, and the Temple of Apollo. Our day will continue to Nafplion the ancient port city crowned by the ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress. Walking tour in the old town with the cobble-stoned streets and the neo-classical buildings. Free time for lunch or a coffee at the sea-front promenade with great views to Bourtzi, the tiny, fortified islet guarding the entrance of Nafplion’s port. Our day continues to Epidaurus, one of the most important healing centers in antiquity, and today known for its ancient theatre, the best preserved in Greece, famous for its acoustics. As we take the road back towards Athens, we will stop at Cenchrae, the eastern Roman seaport connecting the Aegean and Corinthian Seas, from where St. Paul set sail.
Arrival in our hotel in Athens early in the evening for dinner and overnight.

TUE 10 OCT – Day 8
Athens City tour, Acropolis, Acropolis museum / Athens
We start driving our panoramic tour visit the Panathenian Stadium, passing by the tomb of the Unknown soldier, the ruins of the Temple of Zeus and continue with our morning tour of Athens which includes visits to the legendary Acropolis and its New Museum. We begin with the ascent of the Acropolis where the full splendor of the 5th century BC Athens comes to life : the Propylaia (gateway), the Temple of Athena Nike (victory), the Parthenon, and the Erechteion. Visit Mars Hill, where Paul’s famous sermon is inscribed on the rock at its foot, and the expansive Agora of Athens, where former philosophers counselled and taught, lies below. Time at leisure in the old part of Athens called Plaka.
Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Athens.
 
WED 11 OCT – Day 9
Departure.
Coach and English-speaking escort will pick you up from the hotel for your transfer to Athens airport for our return flight to London Gatwick.

Itinerary subject to change.

Price £1945 per person

What the price includes

• Flights from London Gatwick to Thessalonica and from Athens to London Gatwick. Details of flight numbers and times have not yet been finalised)
• Accommodation in good quality hotels in twin bedded rooms with private facilities on half board basis
• Transfer of passengers and baggage
• Sightseeing as in itinerary
• Fully qualified English speaking guide
• Travel by air-conditioned coaches
• Entrance fees, gratuities, service charges and porterage
• Airport taxes
• ATOL Protection Contribution*

Not included in the price

• Single supplement £345 per person
• Any costs related to COVID 19
• Travel insurance including COVID 19 cover Staysure

Please note that the cost of the tour may be subject to surcharges - please see the booking conditions. Currency exchange rates used £1 = € 1.3299 as published in the Financial Times on 29th September 2022. APC (ATOL Protection Contribution) provides passenger protection via the ATTF (Air Travel Trust Fund). For further information visit www.caa.co.uk

* APC (ATOL Protection Contribution) provides passenger protection via the ATTF (Air Travel Trust Fund). For further information visit www.caa.co.uk

HOW TO BOOK

Either click 'Book' at the top of this page or download, complete and return the booking form to:

Worldwide Christian Travel 36 Coldharbour Road, Bristol, BS6 7NA UK

Tel: 0117 973 1840

Worldwide Christian Travel has been organising Christian holidays and tours, mainly to the Holy Land, for over 50 years. We cover all aspects of travel and are one of the most comprehensive Christian travel organisers in the country. Worldwide Christian Travel is a trading name of Hadler Tours Limited.

General Information

Fitness
People of all ages are welcome, but, whatever your age, we must insist on a reasonable level of fitness. A number of sites involve rough walking.

Your Protection
Hadler Tours Limited is a member of ABTA with membership numbers 93522 & V2096. ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you or if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 68-71 Newman Street London W1T 3AH Tel: 020 7637 2444 or visit www.abta.com.

All monies paid by you for the air holiday package shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 3078. For more information see our booking terms and conditions.

Passports, Visas and Vaccinations
Travellers are responsible for ensuring that they have a valid passport for travel to the relevant countries and that it is valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel. A visa is not required for British Passport holders visiting Greece and no inoculations are required for travel but you may wish to consult your own doctor for advice concerning this. If you have any queries regarding the above, we will be happy to help.

Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice please visit www.fco.gov.uk or call 0870 606 0290.

Further Information and Paying The Balance
Further information will be sent to you regarding any action that may be required approximately 12 weeks before departure. A final invoice will also be sent at this time and the balance for the tour must be paid at least 10 weeks before departure.

Travel Information
Full travel information, including details of meeting points, flight times, accommodation and travel information, will be sent to you approximately 2 weeks before departure. Normally, tickets are not issued but are handed to you at the airport or departure point by our representative who will be there to ensure that you depart without a hitch and to deal with any last minute difficulties.

Travel Insurance
It is compulsory to have travel insurance for your booking. Staysure have a range of policies available at very competitive prices. You can obtain a quote online by clicking here.

Gratuities
Our normal procedure is to deal with tips on a group basis and if these are included in the price the tour leader will distribute them to the guide, driver and hotels on your behalf. Individual tipping is not recommended unless the circumstances are exceptional.

Room Check In and Check Out Times
The standard international practice is to let rooms from midday to midday. However times do vary. Check-in times are usually between 2pm and 3pm, check-out times between 11am and 12 noon on the day of departure. Therefore, if you check-in immediately after a night flight this would normally count as one night’s accommodation. Similarly if your return flight is at night you will normally be required to vacate your room at 12 noon prior to leaving for the airport. Day rooms are subject to availability/cost and should be arranged locally with the accommodation management.

Page published January 2023