Visit Russia and Greece

Duration: 12 Days

1 day: ARRIVAL IN MOSCOW.

Arrival in Moscow international airport (DME, VKO, SVO)
Meet with guide and transfer via motor coach to the city centre
Transfer to the hotel
Check in and overnight stay at hotel

2 day: REVIEW TOUR OF MOSCOW

Buffet breakfast at the hotel
10.00 Departure with guide and transport for excursions
Walk along Red Square with views of St Basil Cathedral, GUM, Mausoleum, and Kremlin Walls
Visit Ice Skating-ring in Red Square
12.00 Walk through Alexandrovskiy Garden
12.30 Excursion of the Kremlin (territory and cathedrals)
Visit Christmas Bazaars, shopping
15.30 End of excursions with return to hotel

3 day: VISIT THE IZMAILOVSKIY VERNISAGE and ILLUMINATION TOUR ROUND MOSCOW

Buffet breakfast at the hotel
09.00 Departure with guide and transportation for days excursions
10.00 Visit Izmailovskiy Vernisage for shopping of souvenirs, fur hats, matreshkas etc.
12.00 Visit Izmailovskiy Park with a horse carriage ride
13.00 Metro tour
14.00 Walk along Old Arbat street
15.00 Illumination tour around Moscow with a visit to Christmas Markets
17.00 End of excursions with return to hotel

4 day: DEPARTURE FOR THESSALONICA, GREECE

Buffet breakfast at the hotel
09.00 Check out, meeting with guide in the lobby of the hotel and departure for excursions and transfer
10.00 Excursion in Novodevichi Monastery with Cemetry
12.00 Transfer to airport for departure flight to Thessalonica, Greece
Arrival at Thessalonica International Airport “Macedonia”. Meet, assist & transfer to your hotel in Thessalonica. Check-in. & overnight.

5 day: AMPHIPOLIS - PHILIPPI - KAVALA - THESSALONICA

After having breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Philippi, where we make a quick stop for photos at the Lion statue of Amphipolis. We continue to Philippi, the site where Apostle Paul came to preach the word of God, establishing an early Christian church. Of the many churches Paul founded, none was so close and dear to him; he later dedicated his Philippian letter to this congregation (Acts 16:9-33). We will see the river where Lydia was baptized, the ruins of a Prison where Paul and Sylas were kept, the Agora, a 5th and 6th century Basilica, as well as a Theatre. After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue to Kavala, the ancient port of Neapolis (Acts 16:11). We return to Thessalonica for dinner and an overnight at the Hotel.

6 day: PELLA - BEREA - VERGINA - THESSALONICA

After having breakfast at the hotel, we drive to ancient Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. Here, we will visit the excavation site and museum, which displays sculptures, reliefs and mosaics of Classical and Hellenistic times. We continue to Vergina (the ancient Aigai) which was the first capital of Macedonia. Here, we will visit the tomb of King Philip II of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great, which is one of most important tombs ever discovered (by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos). After lunch at a local restaurant, we have a stop in Berea, where Apostle Paul arrived according to his custom at the synagogue and to his pleasant surprise, he discovered that the Jews were “more noble” than those he had encountered in Thessalonica. There is a mosaic in the monument commemorating his preaching. According to the local tradition, it was at this place where he stood and delivered his sermons (Acts 17:10-11). We return to the hotel in Thessalonica for dinner and an overnight.

7 day: THESSALONICA

After having breakfast at the hotel, we start our morning with a panoramic city tour of Thessalonica, including a drive to the upper part of the Old City Walls, which offers excellent views and photo opportunities. Continuing our tour, we visit St. Demetrius’ Church with its early Byzantine mosaics, along with St. Sophia, the first Christian church in the city. In Thessalonica, Paul immediately went to the synagogue where he explained the prophecies of the Old Testament to Jews and Greeks alike (Act 17:1) for three Saturdays. According to the book of the Acts, many Greeks and even many “Greek chief women” (Acts 17:1-4) believed the prophecies. After lunch, we will continue our travels further South, starting with Meteora, then Athens, Corinth and finally a one-day cruise. Upon arrival at Meteora, check in at the hotel for dinner and overnight.

8 day: METEORA -ATHENS

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the breathtaking Meteora and two of its monasteries built on the top of the towering vertical rocks. Perched above the town of Kalambaka, at heights up to 400 m (1200 ft.), several of the summits are nestled with historic monasteries. Listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, the six remaining monasteries (out of an estimated 24), were built by monks who were previously hermits and lived in individual caves in the area. Following this, we have lunch at a local restaurant and then continue our tour to Athens, the capital city of Greece. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Glyfada, Athens.

9 day: FREE DAY IN ATHENS

Today is a free day to visit the city of Athens. If you like to worship the lord we can arrangements to transfer your group a on English speaking local congregation of believers.

10 day: ATHENS – ANCIENT CORINTH- ACROPOLIS

After breakfast at the hotel, our excursion takes us to the Saronic Gulf, where in 480 BC the small Greek fleet managed to defeat the enormous armada of the Persians in the naval battle of Salamis, changing the course of history. We cross the manmade Corinth Canal to arrive at Ancient Corinth (Acts 18:1-18). It was in this Ancient megalopolis that the apostle Paul established a thriving church, subsequently sending two of his epistles, now part of the New Testament. Here we see all 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 is an absolute must. We stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the ruins of an early 5th century Christian basilica in Cenchrea. We then set off on our half-day sightseeing tour of Athens (Acts 17:15). This includes a trip to Mars' Hill (Areopagus) where the Apostle Paul delivered his well-known sermon (Acts 17:22). Then we climb up to the marble-capped Acropolis to see the famous Parthenon and the Erechteum. Our tour continues with the highlights of modern Athens: we pass by the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, Panathenian Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Academy, the University and the National Library. We return to the Hotel to rest and have dinner & an overnight.

11 day: ONE DAY CRUISE FOR 3 BEAUTIFUL GREEK ISLANDS

After having breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a full day of island-hopping in the Saronic Gulf, visiting and getting to know the local beauties of Hydra, Poros and Aegina. We depart early in the morning for the cosmopolitan island of Hydra, with its picturesque architecture and unique absence of cars. On this serene island, you either walk, use a bicycle, donkey, or a sea-taxi. Our next destination is Poros, the island of peace, greatly known for its endless lemon groves and pine trees. Last but not least, our final stop is Aegina that is rich in history and where you can view many Ancient sites, such as the well-preserved temple of Aphaia (500 BC). The island is most famous for cultivating pistachio trees, which began in 1896. During the cruise, you can enjoy a lunch buffet on board, accompanied by traditional Greek music & dance. We arrive back in Athens late in the afternoon. Dinner & overnight at the hotel.

12 day: DEPARTURE

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer on your own to Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” for your departure flight.