Tour leaders
Saul & Johnna Hernandez
Johnna is a lifelong travel enthusiast who owns & operates A Magical Traveler along with her husband Saul. She enjoys helping people craft the trips & experiences of their dreams. Saul works in IT and is an Elder and teacher at Celebration Church. Saul enjoys fleshing out details for travelers, so their experience is worry free! Saul and Johnna live in Bristol, VA with their daughter and frequent travel companion, Julie.
Their partner on this tour, Immanuel Tours. Their team has years of experience leading tours and have helped countless travelers.
ItinErary “Footsteps of Paul” Greece Tour
Oct. 23rd : Depart from USA
Oct. 24th : Arrive in Greece
Schedule your flight to arrive at Athens International Airport (ATH). Transfer to the hotel and refresh from your flight.
Oct. 25th : Athens & Corinth
After breakfast, we will depart for Ancient Corinth, which was an important city - state in Ancient Greece and dates back from the Neolithic Period (5.000-3.000). Our first stop will be at the Isthmus of Corinth. It is a narrow strip of land 6 kilometers in length joining Central Greece with Peloponnese. We will have free time to take photos. Then, we will arrive to the archaeological site of Acrocorinth and Ancient Corinth. We will visit one of the largest museums in Greece, in terms of the wealth and quality of the findings (Acts 18:1-17 & Acts 19:22). We will see the bema of Gallio and the Erastus inscription. Afterwards, we will visit Cenchreae (Acts 18:18), before continuing to Nafpaktos, a coastal town situated in the Corinth Gulf, a city of great history. It appears in 1104 BC with Dorians. It is known for the naval battle that was taken place in 1571 between Christians and the Turks. We will have free time to wander in the picturesque Venetian harbour and visit the Venetian Castle of Nafpaktos or Monestary. Departure for Delphi. Arrival to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Oct. 26th : Delphi & Kalambaka
After breakfast, we will visit Delphi. It was an ancient Greek city in which the most important Oracle of ancient Greek world was operated. Earlier myths include traditions that Pythia, or the Delphic oracle, already was the site of an important oracle in the preclassical Greek world (as early as 1400 BC) and, rededicated, served as the major site during classical times for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew Python, "a dragon" who lived there and protected the navel of the Earth. We will be guided around the archaeological site and the Museum. Afterwards, we continue to our hotel in Kalambaka. Arrival to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Oct. 27th - 28th: Meteora, Thessaloniki & Berea
After breakfast, we will visit the prefecture built in a rare geological phenomenon of Meteora. It’s a cluster of huge dark colored stones made of sandstone. The name Meteora is attributed to the monk of the monastery, Agios Athanasius the Meteorite. We will have the chance to enjoy the panoramic ride and to visit one of the six visited monasteries. We depart for the capital of Imathia, which name is Veria (Acts 17:10-12). It is built at the foot of Mount Vermio. We visit the monument of Apostle Paul and the Synagogue. It is located next to the Barbouta area, which over time came to be known as the Jewish District. The stone-built Synagogue is the most ancient synagogue in the Northern Greece. Then, we will head to Vergina, where we will visit the museum with the four tombs, two of which are the most significant, and a small shrine, the Heroes Garden. Two of the tombs are the most significant, the one of Philip II and the other of Alexander the fourth. Then, we will be heading to the second largest city of Greece, Thessaloniki , dinner and overnight.
On the second day after breakfast, we visit Palaios Panteleimon - City tour Thessaloniki. Dinner & overnight breakfast, we visit Palaios Panteleimon - City tour Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight Thessaloniki. .
Oct. 29th : Thessaloniki, Philippi & Kavala
After breakfast, we will depart for the Ancient Colony of Philippi, which was built in 356 B.C. by Alexander’s father, Philip II. We will see the Ancient Theatre, the Church of Philippi, founded by Apostle Paul in 49 A.D. It was the first church in European territory. We will visit the Baptistery of St. Lydia of Filippisias. Next, we proceed to Kavala for a panoramic view of Port of Neapolis first place where Paul put his feet in Europe (Acts 16 7-11). Lunch in a local restaurant. A short walk along Via Egnatia, where Paul walked on his way to Thessaloniki. On our way back to Thessaloniki with a stop at a local winery [Vivlia Chora]. A typical visit includes a guided walk around the grounds of the estate with vistas of the privately owned vineyard, the fermentation hall, bottling line, bottle maturation rooms and underground cellars. The tour ends in the wine tasting room where visitors have the opportunity to taste the estate’s wines. Then, we return back to Thessaloniki. Arrival to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Oct. 30th & 31st : Athens
Departure for Athens, early check-in the hotel and have a half free day in Athens, Enjoy free time in Athens for shopping dinner. On the second day after breakfast, we go for an early visit at Mars Hill/Areopagus (Acts 17:16–34) where Paul delivered his message about the One True God, then we will visit is the Acropolis with magnificent monuments such as the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, the Propylaea, the Ancient Agora, the theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. We will have the chance to walk around the Parthenon Monument, which was built in the 5th century BC by the architects Ictinus and Kallikrates.
Afterwards we drive to Lavrion Port for those taking the Cruise.
Note on Oct. 31st : Return to USA or Begin Cruise
Schedule flight to return to USA from Athens International Airport (ATH)
or
Begin 3 night Celestial Cruise
add on crUISE oPTION - Celestial Cruises (ADDITIONAL COST)
ICONIC AEGEAN SEA CRUISE - 3 NIGHTS
Our magical Iconic Aegean cruise delivers a packed schedule and takes you to no fewer than six enchanting destinations in the romantic Aegean Sea. Embark on a fascinating journey as you glide through emerald waters to unravel the mystery of history, take in breathtaking landscapes and discover iconic landmarks. This remarkable voyage invites you to experience the Mediterranean lifestyle, sample authentic Greek cuisine and visit iconic locations.
Oct 31st : Mykonos (Greece)
Mykonos is an island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. It's popularly known for its summer party atmosphere. Beaches such as Paradise and Super Paradise have bars that blare thumping music. Massive dance clubs attract world-renowned DJs and typically stay open well past dawn. Iconic landmarks include a row of 16th-century windmills, which sit on a hill above Mykonos town.
Nov. 1st : Kusadasi (Turkey) & Patmos (Greece)
Kuşadası is a beach resort town on Turkey’s western Aegean coast. A jumping-off point for visiting the classical ruins at nearby Ephesus (or Efes), it’s also a major cruise ship destination. Its seafront promenade, marina, and harbor are lined with hotels and restaurants. Just offshore on Pigeon Island is a walled Byzantine castle that once guarded the town, connected to the mainland via causeway.
Patmos, an Aegean island in the north of Greece’s Dodecanese island group, is a significant Christian pilgrimage site. Its Cave of the Apocalypse is where John of Patmos (St. John the Theologian) is said to have written the Book of Revelations. A fortresslike, 11th-century monastery dedicated to the saint overlooks the whitewashed houses of the hilltop capital, Hora (also known as Chora).
Nov. 2nd : Heraklio (Crete) & Santorini (Greece)
Heraklion, also known as Iraklio, is a port city and the capital of the Greek island of Crete. It’s known for the Palace of Knossos, just outside the city. The huge archaeological site dates back thousands of years to the Minoan civilization, and includes frescoes and baths. Guarding the city’s Venetian port is the 16th-century Koules fortress. Heraklion Archaeological Museum has a large collection of Minoan art.
Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.
Nov. 3rd: Return to Athens Schedule flight to return to USA from Athens International Airport (ATH)
Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple. The Acropolis Museum, along with the National Archaeological Museum, preserves sculptures, vases, jewelry and more from Ancient Greece.