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Thessaloniki • Phillippi • Kavala • Kalambaka • Meteora • Delphi • Corinth • Athens • Piraeus • Mykonos • Kusadasi (Turkey) • Ephesus (Turkey) • Patmos • Santorini • Istanbul (Turkey)

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• 13 Days - Airfare and All Inclusive

Choose From the Following Dates to Book Your Trip Online.

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Trip Includes

• Flights can originate from anywhere in the U.S. where published. (same price)
  There is no supplemental surcharge to fly from an airport near your home town!
• Daily Mass is available but not mandatory. Proximo Travel has always one or more Catholic Priests accompanying the group as chaplain(s).
• Airport Taxes, Security Fees Fuel Surcharges
  Saving you an average of $400-$600!
• Transfers as per itinerary
• 4 or 5 star hotels in downtown areas
• Transportation with luxury bus
• All breakfasts and all dinners. Wine included with all dinners
• All tips to driver, hotel, and tour guide
• Shore excursions while on ship include the following:
• Mykonos ~ Walking tour
• Kusadasi ~ Ephesus & the House of the Virgin Mary
• Patmos ~ Monastery of St. John and Grotto of Apolcalypse
• Heraklion ~ A taste of Crete
• Santorini ~ Thira & Oja Village
• Port taxes and fees
• Guided Tours and Tour Fees
• Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
• Remember: Our trips are not more expensive during high season ~ Passengers will never be expected to pay extra for anything while on the trip ~ Our group size is small to medium ~ We have group sizes as small as 7 to 10 passengers!  ~ We always wait for passengers and never leave anyone behind ~ There are no extra charges if a passenger would like to depart from overseas at a later date

Trip Does Not Include

• Lunch
• Travel Cancellation Protection Policy (optional) : $200 per person
• $700 Single Supplement
  Traveling alone?  No problem!  Proximo Travel, LLC will be glad to place you with another passenger who is also traveling alone at no additional charge.  If you want a guarantee of your own room for the entire trip then we offer the Single Supplement.  By purchasing the Single Supplement, you are guaranteed your own room for the entire trip!

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Trip Itinerary

• Day 1: Departure from USA. ~ Dinner and Breakfast will be served in-flight.
• Day 2: Arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece. ~ You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Time to relax and meet your fellow pilgrims. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
• Day 3: Philippi, Kavala, Thessaloniki ~ Visit Philippi where Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe, sowing the seeds of Christianity. "And from there (He went) to Philippi" Acts 16:12-18 Here Paul baptized a certain woman named Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe. Among the ruins, located on the rocky ledge above the town's main road is the prison where Paul and Silas were thrown. Continue into the modern port city of Kavala, ancient Neapolis, where Paul accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy, first set foot in Europe. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
• Day 4: Thessaloniki, Meteora: Thessaloniki city-tour ~ Paul preached in Thessaloniki during the winters of 49-50 AD and wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. See the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting at the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire. Depart for Kalambaka, visit Meteora Monasteries. Among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks, that seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless monasteries where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Dinner and overnight in Itea.
• Day 5: Delphi - Athens ~ Visit Delphi, the center of the ancient world (navel) of the earth, whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. Continue to Athens which is one of the most glorious cities in the world and the cradle of western civilization as we know it today. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
• Day 6: Athens - Excursion to Corinth ~ we will visit the Acropolis to see the ruins of the Parthenon, Erechtheum and Propylae. For twenty five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis; we see the ruins of the Parthenon, the Erechtheum and the Propylae. Afterwards, we will ascend Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians about the one and only God. From here we have an excellent view of the ancient agora; former center of the Athenian public life. We then drive through the city to see the House of Parliament on Syntagma Square, the Evzones in their picturesque uniforms guarding the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also see the Library, the University, the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympics of the modern era were held, the temple of the Olympian Zeus and Adrian's Arch. Continue our tour to Ancient Corinth where, under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, St. Paul preached and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly Gentile Church he founded here in 50 AD caused him much grief and prompted him to write, at least, four letters to them. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of the first century shops, the agora where Paul's trial by Gallio took place, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo and the Bema. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.
• Day 7: Athens ~ Start 3-day Cruise (Luis Hellenic Cruise Lines) Mykonos Our first port-of-call is Mykonos. It is the most cosmopolitan of all Greek islands and attracts many visitors from all over the globe, including large numbers of artists and intellectuals. Your coaches will take you to Hora the island's capital where you'll enjoy a walking tour in the narrow cobbled streets of the town, passing by chic boutiques, elegant nightclubs and white washed houses till reaching Alefkandra. Alefkandra is a charming corner of Hora, known also as the "Venice" of Mykonos. At one of the famous restaurants of Alefkandra you'll enjoy the sunset on Mykonos Island while drinking your refreshment accompanied by Greek meze. You'll return then to Mykonos Town (Hora) from where you'll take the ship's shuttle service back to the port to meet your ship!
• Day 8: Kusadasi and Ephesus (Turkey) and Patmos ~ we begin our day arriving at Kusadasi which is a lively Turkish port. Drive through the colorful town of Kusadasi to reach Mt. Koressos. Situated in a small valley, it is here where you will visit the humble chapel which lies on the site of the little house where The Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days. This site has been sanctioned by the Vatican for pilgrimage. Continue on to Ancient Ephesus and accompanied by your guide, walk through the Magnesian Gate which is the entrance to the ancient city of Ephesus. See the Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the steam-heated Baths of Scolastika, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, the Library of Celsus and The Great Theatre, where St. Paul preached, which is the largest theatre in antiquity having a capacity of 24,000 people. Walk back to your motor coach along the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. While driving back to Kusadasi and just outside Ephesus, view the Basilica of St. John, which was erected over his grave in the 6th Century AD by the Emperor Justinian. Before returning to the ship, enjoy free time in Kusadasi. Continue our journey, Patmos, where we will enjoy a short journey to the village of Chora, where the monastery of St. John is built within the walls of a strong fortification. As you walk uphill towards the entrance of the monastery marvel at this magnificent structure, which was build 900 years ago, exceptional in its architecture. View the courtyard, the monk's dining room and the old bakery before you visit the main church noting its outstanding frescoes and interior decoration. Next, see the priceless ecclesiastical treasures housed in the beautiful but small museum: books and manuscripts, mosaics, Icons, splendid medieval textiles and vestments as well as jewelry. Return to your motor coach to continue on to the nearby Grotto of the Apocalypse, where above stands the Monastery of the Apocalypse, a sub-unit of the main monastery. Walk down the steps to visit the Grotto of the Apocalypse. Here you will see the silver niches in the wall that mark the pillow and ledge used as a desk by the author of the Book of the Revelation as well as the three-fold crack made by the voice of God emphasizing the honor of the Holy Trinity. Afterwards, drive back to the port of Scala and enjoy some free time in this quaint and picturesque harbor.
• Day 9: Heraklion and Santorini ~ in the morning we will visit Heraklion. Heraklion is just three miles away from 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. It is in Heraklion where Paul met the owner and captain of the ship who warned him of continuing his journey to Rome. In the afternoon we will cruise on to the idyllic island of Santorini. Santorini is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. In the town of Thira white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques cling to steep cliffs, accessible by cable-car or mule. Return back to the ship.
• Day 10: Piraeus - Athens - Istanbul ~ today marks the end of our cruise. After disembarkation you will be transferred to Athens airport where you will take a short flight to Istanbul, Turkey. Free afternoon to relax and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
• Day 11: Istanbul ~ the tour today will be an unusual combination of Greek Orthodox, Roman, Ottoman, and modern day Islam including entrance into the famed Blue Bosque and St. Sophia Church. After lunch, we visit the fascinating Topkapi Palace housing the many priceless treasures and colorful stories of Ottoman Sultans. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
• Day 12: Free day in Istanbul. Dinner and overnight.
• Day 13: Istanbul - USA ~Departure to USA.

General Trip Information