In the footsteps of Paul the Apostle (Self-Drive Package)

After arriving at the Thessaloniki Airport, we complete the car rental procedure and we are ready to leave. We will be transported to our hotel in downtown Thessaloniki so we can get a taste of the city. We will have dinner and rest from the flight.

After breakfast we will depart for Kavala, the picturesque coastal town of northern Greece. Here we will visit the famous walls that have received dozens of interventions throughout history, the church of St. Nicholas at the center of town, the fortress and the aqueduct which are the trademarks of the town. Then we can walk around the small streets of the old town and see what life is like today. Then we will depart for Philippi where Paul the Apostle began his apostolic work. This is the place where he built the first Christian church in Europe. In the archaeological site we will also visit the Roman market, the ancient theater, the Basilica, which was built over the Roman buildings dedicated to Paul the Apostle, and sections of the ancient Egnatia Highway. On our way back to Thessaloniki we will visit the archaeological site of Amphipolis. Here we will see the ruins of the ancient city, which was located on the banks of River Strymonas and was built by the Athenians in 437 BC. Dozens of important findings have come to light including “Leontas” (the lion) and the tombs. We return to Thessaloniki for dinner and rest.

Today we will explore the city of Thessaloniki and admire its monuments and sights. Some of them are: the arch of Galerius, the castle of the city, the church of Agia Sophia and the Basilica of St. Dimitrios with the crypts. We will walk around the old markets and sense the smells of cooking from dozens of restaurants. Then we will depart for Kalambaka. We will choose the route that passes next to the mythical Mount Olympus, the mountain of the gods. We arrive in Kalambaka and stay overnight.

Today’s trip has a great surprise for you: Meteora. After we enjoy our breakfast we will depart for the rocks dominating over Kalambaka. The gigantic vertical rocks are sculptures made by prehistoric rivers, on which famous monasteries lie. The view of the high dark rocks is awe-inspiring and many monasteries nest on the peaks since the 11thcentury. The monks used ropes, nets or their bare hands to climb the rocks and reach them. Today climbers from all over the world come to Meteora, to experience the giant rocks themselves. Meteora is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites meeting both the “cultural” and “natural” criteria. The Greek State has characterized Meteora as a “sacred place, unchangeable and inviolable”. Add your piece to Meteora’s Guestbook, visited by 2 million guests each year. On our way back we will visit the modern city of Trikala, where we will stay for a little while, and then head for the historic site of Thermopylae. Here we will admire the statue of Leonidas and walk in the actual field of battle. Prepare yourself for awe and emotion. We leave for Delphi where we will stay overnight.

At the beginning of the day we will visit the archaeological site of Delphi as well as the archaeological museum. Here was founded and flourished the most important religious center of antiquity. According to mythology, here is where they met, the two eagles sent by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the center of the world. That’s why Delphi was identified as the Earth’s navel. Here used to be the famous oracle, the Temple of Apollo and the Krystallia Spring, the oldest spring in history. In a short distance we will visit the picturesque village of Arachova where we will stay for a while. We will walk around the picturesque streets and enjoy our coffee. Back on the road and on our way to Athens we stop by the temple of Saint Lucas. A UNESCO-protected 1,000-year-old monastery, welcomes many visitors every day, who bow to its unparalleled aesthetics and undeniable architectural value. This is where St. Lucas, known for his healing gift, lived, and it is one of the most distinctive and greatest accomplishments of the Middle Byzantine era. Finally we will depart for downtown Athens where we stay overnight.

The city of Athens surely has a lot to offer. We will start with the Acropolis hiking tour, where we will be able to visit the archaeological site, the museum, the Areopagus, the ancient market, Plaka and Thissio. All the magic of ancient Greece is here. We can also walk around the picturesque streets and shop in the hundreds of shops. In the afternoon we can drive along the coast, to the south side of the city and head to the end of the Attica region where we meet the Temple of Poseidon. The point was of strategic importance to the ancient Athenians. The view of the Aegean Sea is fantastic from here. On our way back to Athens we can visit the Monastery of Paul the Apostle in Lavrio.

We leave the city of Athens behind and head south towards the Peloponnese. After about an hour’s journey we will stop at the Corinth Canal. From the central bridge at a height of 80 meters we will admire this constructional wonder of its time. The area has been of strategic importance since antiquity and that’s why it has flourished so much. Then we will depart for Epidavros and its famous ancient theater, known for its acoustics and special architecture. Then we will visit Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece. We will walk around the scenic streets and enjoy the sea view of Bourtzi. Our next stop is “Golden Mycenae”, the realm of mythical Agamemnon, which Homer first praised in his epics. It is the most important and richest palace of the Late Bronze Age in Greece and one of the most brilliant cultures of Greek prehistory has been named after it, the Mycenaean culture. On the way back towards the north of the Peloponnese we will stop at Ancient Corinth, one of the most important cities of Ancient Greece. Here we will go to the Akro-Corinth Castle, walk to the archaeological site next to the Apollo Temple and visit the archaeological museum. Paul the Apostle visited this area during his second and third tour. The church of the area is dedicated to the Apostle and we can visit it. At the end of the day we will take you to the picturesque seaside town of Loutraki where we will spend the night.

The return date has arrived! We head for the Athens Airport where we will deliver the car. A magical journey has come to an end …