“What a trip! Leading up to visiting Israel we were excited with anticipation, but boy did it exceed anything we had imagined. Our tour guide CJ was outstanding. He broke down the Jewish culture, past and modern history, biblical connections/application, and geography of Israel at every site. It was just so awesome with how many sites and artifacts we were shown and how seamlessly our trip was organized. Throughout the week we were taken well care of. We stayed in very nice hotels, ate great food, and enjoyed a comfortable, air-conditioned bus driven by our expert driver, Happy. Happy made sure we stayed hydrated and took extra special care of us in keeping us safe. CJ and Happy complemented each other wonderfully. With packed days of touring, we enjoyed restful evenings. We also felt safe and secure throughout our travels, allowing us to delve fully into what we were learning and what God was teaching us about Himself.
Besides enjoying CJ and Happys sense of humor, we quickly experienced camaraderie between the rest of our group, which made little things like traveling, eating, and taking pictures fun. Thank you all for loving on us; we thank God for you and this short time we were able to connect. And most importantly we thank God as we recognize all the lessons we learned along the way. He definitely used this trip to reveal new things to us as we learned more about the Bible, God, and ourselves.
Thank you and many Blessings,
Jeanne Jackson
See the ministry of Paul the Apostle firsthand and take a relaxing cruise of the Aegean Sea on this all-inclusive tour!
What’s Included
- Airfare from group departure city
- All Transfers
- Baggage Handling
- Breakfast & Dinner Daily
- Entrance Fees to all Sites
- Gratuities
- Itinerary as per Description
- Premium Accommodations
- Professional Tour Guides
- Transportation by Deluxe Motor Coach
Schedule
Day 1 Depart USA
Relax and rest on your flight from the USA.
Day 2 Arrive in Greece
We arrive in Thessaloniki and we begin the day by following the massive battlement Byzantine wall to the citadel for a panoramic view of the city. The New Testament books of I & II Thessalonians will come alive to us today as we visit Thessalonians! Afterward we check into the hotel. Enjoy a free rest of the day and dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 Thessalonica Harbor/Philippi
We begin the day by visiting Philippi and Kavala. Kavala is Greece’s prettiest mainland port with a most elegant harbor. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Lucas the evangelist also came here from Troas. Imagine walking on the same sod as these men of the Bible! We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known since the 5th century as Kavala. Continue on to Philippi where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We return to Thessalonica and visit St. Demetrius basilica, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert before returning to the hotel for the night. Enjoy dinner & an overnight stay in Thessalonica.
Day 4 Berea/ Vergina
Visit Berea and see King Phillip's tomb in Vergina. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.
Day 5 Meteora Monastery
You will visit the Byzantine monasteries and then travel to Athens for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Mykonos
We will board our cruise ship and sail this morning from Athens to the quaint isle of Mykonos, called the island of windmills. This is a stunningly picturesque Cycladic town with a maze of tiny streets and whitewashed steps, lanes, houses and churches, gathered around its harbor in the middle of a wide bay. Experience the waterfront lined with shops and cafes and then stroll the charming walkways. Return to the ship for dinner and evening activities.
Day 7 Ephesus/ Patmos
This morning your cruise will be docking in Turkey. You will enjoy a tour of Ephesus, the city of the Bible and one of the largest restorations still in progress with miles of ancient treasures. Today you can still see the spectacular excavations of the major streets in this ancient city. This afternoon we will visit the Isle of Patmos, under statutory protection as a historic monument, you will take a tour to see the fortified monastery of St. John and the cave claimed to be where John received the Revelation. This grotto is believed to mark the spot where John of Patmos received his visions that he recorded in the Book of the Apocalypse (Revelation)
Day 8 Crete / Santorini
You will wake up to visit the island of Crete. Participating in the optional excursion, you can visit the Palace of Knossos and its famous “Labyrinth” which was the Centre of the Minoan civilization. Next you will visit the island of Santorini which is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek islands. The town of Thera has white washed houses, narrow streets, and open air cafes that are accessible by cable-car or mules. Again we return to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment.
Day 9 Athens/Corinth
Disembark from the cruise. We will leave Athens and drive southwest until we reach the Corinth Canal which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. Visit Corinth and see the Agora (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life) and Apollo’s Temple. Then we visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Erectheum before viewing Athens atop Mars Hill where Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation. You will also see the house of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and the Presidential Palace. Dinner and overnight in Athens
Day 10 Return to USA
Return to USA
Jeanne Jackson
This was my first time to Isreal, and it was such a fantastic trip due to our guide Adam and our driver Money Mike! Adam is so knowledgeable and was really able to make each site come alive for me. We had a really large group, and I am sure that Adam felt like he was “herding cats” all week, but he kept us together and moving through the areas while sharing so much information. With Mike’s driving and sense of humor, I felt very safe even though the streets sometimes seemed way too narrow for all of the buses and cars! The team of Adam and Money Mike were fabulous, and I would highly recommend them!!
Adrienne Carter
If you’re doing the Holy Land Tour, there’s no question in which company to choose - it’s Travel With Friends! The entire trip was very well planned and wasted no time in getting us in and out of sites while beating the crowds. Ibrahim was a phenomenal guide! He was personable, fun, and incredibly knowledgeable in the Bible and history of the land. Will definitely do this trip again and go through Travel With Friends!
Ellie Hill