Depart Los Angeles on TK10 at 8:10pm.

Arrive in Istanbul at 7:15pm. Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, meet your tour guide and drive to the city center. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will meet your guide at the lobby of your hotel and start your day of exploration of history and architecture. Your first visit will be to the famed Hippodrome Square, which was once the sporting and social center of Constantinople. Istanbul boasts its monumental shrines of different faiths, and the Blue Mosque is probably one of the most famed masterpieces of Ottoman religious architecture. Standing right across the Blue Mosque is the Basilica of Saint Sophia, which was built by Justinian the Great during the 6th century. This massive structure will surprise you with surprise with its gigantic dome. Following the visit to Hagia Sophia, we continue to the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Cistern), one of the most impressive surviving examples of Byzantine engineering, famous for its forest of marble columns and mysterious atmosphere. In the afternoon, continue the morning with a visit to the home of the Ottoman Sultans, Topkapi Palace! Located on the very cape of the peninsula where Constantinople was founded, the Topkapi Palace was built as the center of administration of the Ottoman Empire when the city was conquered by Ottoman Turks in 1453 AD. Later in the afternoon, you will be wandering through the Grand Bazaar, where you can find opportunities for fine shopping, especially for jewelry, leather products, and many other handcrafted souvenirs. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

This morning, we will visit the St. Saviour in Chora with its beautiful mosaics and frescoes. Then continue to visit the Spice Market of the 17th century, where you can still feel the profusion of the oriental herbs and spices. Following the market experience, enjoy cruising on Bosphorus on the Bosphorus, the strait dividing Europe from Asia, an ideal way to appreciate the position of this beautiful and historic city with mansions, palaces, and villages lining the passage to the Black Sea. After the cruise, we proceed to the historic Fener and Balat districts, known for their colorful streets and rich multicultural heritage. In Fener, we visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate), the spiritual center of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and admire the Church of St. George. We then continue through Balat, once home to diverse religious communities, enjoying a walking tour through its atmospheric streets and historic buildings. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Istanbul Airport for a short flight to Athens. Take flight TK184 departing Istanbul at 11:50am and arriving in Athens at 12:20pm. Meet our guide and drive to the city for an orientation tour to explore the city of Athens. Highlights include a visit to the Acropolis to see the ruins of the Parthenon and ascend Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians about the one and only God. From here we have an excellent view of the ancient agora. Then continue to our hotel and have few hours’ free time to explore Palaka, the ancient portion of Athens. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and then we will leave for Lavrio port and set sail into the Aegean Sea. Lunch on the ship. In the evening we will arrive at Mykonos. The mountainous island of Mykonos has about 400 churches and consists of picturesque white houses and its trademark windmills. On own today, some must “sees” in Mykonos include the Church of the Virgin Paraportiani, the Cathedral on the main square, and many boutiques and taverns to along the tiny, paved streets. Evening dinner and overnight on the ship.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will arrive at the Turkish port of Kusadasi. From here we will explore Ephesus. We will walk the marbled roads rutted by wheels of countless chariots and pass the ruins which are architectural masterpieces. It is here that Paul preached to the Ephesians and was arrested and cast out of the city. Lunch on the ship. Visit the island of Patmos, where John wrote the apocalyptic Book of Revelations. We will visit the cave where he lived, now the site of a monastery housing priceless icons and manuscripts. Evening dinner and overnight on the ship.

Today you will spend the whole day on the unique island of Rhodes. We can walk to the old city inside the walls to admire the medieval Old Town of Rhodes, it is like stepping into a world of chivalry and knights, with castle walls and cobblestone streets. We will see the Palace of the Grand Master which you can visit or we can take the tour to Lindos and view St Paul beach where it’s said that he docked on his way from Asia Minor. Enjoy the plenty of shops and taverns around. Return to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment.

We will spend the day in the volcanic island of Santorini where we will enjoy a tour to the breathtaking panoramic view at Oia Village and the Blue Domes. Then we will have time in Tjira, the capital, to enjoy the Caldera view. Then we take the cable car to the ship. Dinner and overnight on the ship.

This morning, we will disembark the ship and continue across the Corinthian Canal to Corinth where Paul came after he left Athens. We will see the Temple of Apollo and Corinth Museum. As we return to Athens, we will stop at what used to be the ancient port of Cenchreae. It was from here that Paul sailed to Ephesus. Evening dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Athens International Airport for return flight home. Take flight TK1844 departing Athens at 9:50am and arrive in Istanbul at 12:25pm. Depart Istanbul on TK9 at 1:50pm and arrive in Los Angeles at 5:50pm.