TAKE AN OPTIONAL PRE EXTENSION ON AN

AGEAN CRUISE

DAY 1 - NEW YORK / ATHENS - Tour members are welcomed at JFK International Airport for our departing flight to Athens via widebody aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board.

DAY 2 - ATHENS - Arriving in beautiful Athens this afternoon, we are met by a courier and transferred to the hotel.

DAY 3 - ATHENS / PIRAEUS / MYKONOS - This morning we are taken to Piraeus to start our Aegean Cruise. Late this afternoon we arrive at our first stop, Mykonos. Imagine a hilly, rock-ribbed island of 29 square miles,dotted with more than 350 tiny chapels built by 19th-century pirates for the protection of their patron saints. Picture dozens of quaint windmills and a small town of houses set neatly along narrow winding paths. Visit a fishing harbor with shops and boutiques selling handmade sweaters, dresses, fabrics, jewelry and other items at bargain prices. This evening we return to the ship for overnight and resume sailing.

DAY 4 - RHODES - This morning we arrive at the island of Rhodes. Separated by a mere 10-mile strait from the Asia Minor coast, Rhodes is blessed by nature with exceptional gifts. Homer called it "the Bride of the Sun," later poets "the Island of Roses." In the Middle Ages, the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem established themselves at Rhodes and built a fortified city, now the best-preserved of its kind in the Mediterranean. AN OPTIONAL excursion is available to explore the lush hills and valleys of the eastern coast on the way to Lindos.

DAY 5 - EPHESUS / PATMOS - This morning our cruise arrives in the Turkish port of Kusadasi ( Island of Birds). Here we find delightful shopping opportunities in the Oriental Bazaar and in stores famous as carpet exporters. An OPTIONAL excursion takes us to one of antiquity's greatest cities: Ephesus, a half-hour ride by bus from Kusadasi. Then on a walking tour through the ancient city made almost entirely of marble, we see the 24,000-seat theater mentioned in Acts:19, Hadrian's library, the mile-long marble-paved " Harbour Avenue" and the Temple of Diana. In the afternoon we arrive at the beautiful island of Patmos, where St. John the Evangelist wrote the Revelation while in exile. An OPTIONAL excursion by bus takes us to an ancient hilltop monastery with a spectacular view of the island and harbor. A brief stop along the way allows us to visit a cave thought to be where St. John lived while on the island. Return to the ship for our evening sail.

DAY 6 – PIREAUS / ATHENS - After the cruise we will transfer to our hotel. Today is at leisure to explore the city on our own, shop in the Plaka or just relax. Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 7 - ATHENS / THESSALONIKI - This morning we transfer to the Athens airport and meet the members joining us on our flight to Thessaloniki. This afternoon we arrive and are met by a courier and transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

STEPS OF PAUL TOUR BEGINS HERE

DAY 1 - NEW YORK / ATHENS - Tour members are welcomed at JFK International Airport for our departing flight to Athens via widebody aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board.

DAY 2 - ATHENS / THESSALONIKI - Arriving in beautiful Athens this mornign we transfer to our flight to Thessaloniki. This afternoon we arrive and are met by a courier and transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3 - THESSALONIKI / PHILIPPI / KAVALA - This morning in Thessaloniki, birthplace of Aristotle, where we see the old Byzantine churches and the ancient citadel with its view over the bay to Mount Olympus. We continue to Philippi, named after Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great; Europe's first Christian church was established here. Visit the Forum, the theater, the prison of Paul and Lydia's Baptistery. We proceed to Kavala, where Paul landed and which he visited twice. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 4 - THESSALONIKI / KALAMBAKA - This morning we continue on to Pella, birthplace of Alexander, where we see excavations, mosaic floors and artifacts from the 4th century BC. Visit nearby Vergina with the tomb of Alexander the Great and then on to Veria, or Beroea, where Paul found people who eagerly received his message, “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true” (Acts 17:11). Continue our drive to Kozani and on to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.

DAY 5 - KALAMBAKA / DELPHI - This morning we visit Meteora, a cluster of pillars of rock, and the “Hanging Monasteries” perched on top of rock cliffs. There are 13 monasteries here, only 4 of which are inhabited by monks. We continue our drive through the beautiful scenery of Greece. Imagine Paul walking with his followers and teaching them God’s word as they continued down the road. Our bus will take us through Larissa, Lamia and Trikala and on to Delphi for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6 - DELPHI / ATHENS - This morning in Delphi we visit the museum with the famous Bronze Charioteer and other items that date back to the time of Paul. We visit the Temple of Apollo, where Paul must have spoken to the people about the Living God, continue to the Theater, the Athenian Treasury and the Castalian Spring. We then follow Paul’s ministry south as we travel on the national highway through famous Thebes, Levadia and the village of Arachova. Continue to the hotel in Athens where we check in for dinner.

DAY 7 - ATHENS / ACROPOLIS / CORINTH / TEL AVIV - This morning we visit the important modern and archaeological sites in the city of Athens, the Acropolis and neighboring monuments. While driving through the main streets of Athens, we have an opportunity to see other places of interest such as the University, the Academy, the National Library, the Temple of Zeus, the Panathenian Stadium, Omonia Square, Constitution Square and the Royal Palace. This afternoon we drive along the coastal road to Corinth. Continue along the wonderful beach of Kinetta, make a brief stop at the Corinth Canal, then on to ancient Corinth to visit the Museum, the Bema of St. Paul, the Doric Temple of Apollo, the Askeleion, Agora, Lechaion Road, and the Peirene Fountain. Return to the hotel in Athens for dinner. (passengers going on the Holy Land Extension will leave for the airport for our flight to Tel Aviv)

 DAY 8 - NEW YORK / ATHENS - Tour members are welcomed at JFK International Airport for our departing flight to Athens via widebody aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board.

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS POST EXTENSION

 DAY 1 - TEL AVIV / NETANYA / TIBERIAS - Early this morning we arrive in Tel Aviv. We will be met and taken to our hotel. This morning we will be at leisure to sleep from the late night flight. This afternoon we will board our motorcoach and drive to Tiberias. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 2 - TIBERIAS / UPPER GALILEE - This morning we leave Tiberias and head north via Magdala into the valley of Gennesareth to Ginossar to view the New Testament boat found below the sea and to visit the kibbutz. Then on to Chorazin, through the Hula Valley to Hazor, ruins of the powerful Canaanite city destroyed by Joshua and rebuilt by Solomon to command upper Galilee. We continue to the northern limits of Jesus' travel as we cross the River Hatzbani to Dan and Banias (Caesarea Philippi), dedicated to Pan, Greek god of pastures, flocks and shepherds; here Peter made his great profession of faith. Driving to the foot of Mount Hermon, we ascend onto the Golan Plateau for a magnificent view of upper Israel. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3 - TIBERIAS / BET SHEAN / SEA OF GALILEE / TIBERIAS - This morning we follow the Rift Valley running parallel to the Jordan, along the route Jesus most frequently traveled to Jerusalem. We visit Bet Shean at the foot of Mt. Gilboa, where King Saul was slain, see the evidences of Egyptian, Roman and Byzantine occupations, and view the ancient tel, Roman Theater and church mosaics. In the afternoon we enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, then visit Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes. Our last stop today will be at the River Jordan then transfer to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

 DAY 4 - TIBERIAS / NAZARETH / CAESAREA / JERUSALEM - We leave Tiberias for Jerusalem, on the way visiting Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus. We pass through Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle, then proceed across the Plain of Jezreel to Megiddo to visit the excavations of over 20 different civilizations. Visit Muhraka on Mount Carmel. In the afternoon we visit Caesarea on the Mediterranean, the Roman aqueduct and port, Crusader's Moat, and the famous Roman Theater. We pass through Tel Aviv on our way to Jaffa (Joppa), the city of Jonah, where Peter had his housetop experience at the home of Simon the Tanner (Acts 10). Proceed by way of the Aijalon Valley to Jerusalem for check-in and dinner at our hotel.

DAY 5 - JERUSALEM / NEW CITY / BETHLEHEM - This morning we visit the New City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the Upper Room, the tomb of King David and Dormition Abbey. We enter the Jewish Quarter of the Old City to visit the Wohl Archaeological Museum, displaying the newly restored Herodian Quarter. Remains of this area of Jerusalem date back to the time of the Herodian Dynasty (37 BC to 70 AD). Proceed to the Shrine of the Book where we see the Dead Sea Scrolls on display then view the Knesset (Israeli parliament) building. Continue to visit Yad Vashem, a memorial of the Holocaust then visit the Model City. This afternoon we continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the Manger, Crusader's Cloister and the Grotto of St. Jerome. We then visit the cave in Shepherds' Field and view the Fields ofBoaz. En route to Jerusalem we see the Tomb of Rachel and other antiquities before returning to the hotel for dinner.

DAY 6 - JERUSALEM / MT. OF OLIVES / OLD CITY - Today we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem, visit the Church of Pater Noster and the Chapel of Ascension, then proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane. Crossing the Kidron Valley, we pass the tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and St. James, then visit the Pool of Siloam and the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu (Caiaphas' House).

We enter the Old City this afternoon through the Zion Gate and see the Cardo and the remains of Nehemiah's Wall on the way to the Western (Wailing) Wall. We visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, the Church of St. Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man"). We follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and end our day in the Garden Tomb before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7 - JERUSALEM / MASADA / JERICHO - We begin our day with a stop at Bethany, home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. Drive to Masada and ascend by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from 70 to 73 AD, Jewish defenders made their last stand in the Judean revolt against Rome. We see the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a sixth-century Byzantine church. Continuing alongside the Dead Sea, 1300 ft. below sea level -- the lowest spot on earth -- we proceed to Ein Gedi. Here we will have a stop for lunch and swim in the Dead Sea or walk the path to see the waterfall in the desert. This afternoon we continue to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We travel to Jericho, the world's oldest city. From the excavated tel atop the ruins of ancient Jericho we view the lush green Jordan Valley, Elisha's spring and Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation. We will head up to Jerusalem and return to the hotel for dinner.

DAY 8 - JERUSALEM / NEW YORK - We transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.

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