Tour 166 Athens, Corinth with Greek Isle Cruise & Medugorje 11 days  
Athens, Corinth, Kusadasi, Patmos, Ephesus, Santorini, Medjugorje

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
crossbullet Round-trip air from New York to Greece (special Add-on Airfares from all US gateways)
bulet ALL AIRPORT TAXES & FUEL SURCHARGES!
bulet One way flight from Greece to Medjugorje
bulet 9 nights at centrally located first class hotels as follows: (or similar)
             2 nights:  Hotel Divani Palace, Athens, Greece
             3 nights: Cruise on Louis Hellenic Cruise Lines (outside cabin)
             4 nights:  A modern home/hotel with private baths in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina
bulet Transfers as per itinerary
bulet Breakfast and Dinner daily
bulet Wine with dinners
bulet Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
bulet Assistance of a professional local Catholic guide(s)
bulet Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
bulet Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction
bulet Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
bulet Port taxes & fees
bulet Shore excursions while on ship include:
            ~ Mykonos – Walking tour
            ~ Kusadasi – Ephesus & the house of the Virgin Mary
            ~ Patmos - Monastery of St. John & Grotto of Apocalypse
            ~ Santorini – Thira & Oia Village
bulet Mass daily & Spiritual activities (English at 10:00am, and Croatian at 6:00pm)
bulet Meeting with visionaries (if visionaries are in Medjugorje during your trip and pending availability)
bulet Visit to Community Cenacolo

bulet Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents

 

Not Included: Tour escort during cruise, Lunches. Travel Insurance optional (www.206tours.com/insurance), Extended Cancellation Protection Plan @ $199 (www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection), Tips to your guide & driver (€7-9 per day). Items of a personal nature.


Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:
Day 1 - Depart USA  to Greece
Evening departure from your home town, for the overnight flight to Greece. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.

 

Day 2 - Arrive Athens, Greece
Upon arrival in Athens you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Time to relax, meet your fellow pilgrims.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

 

Day 3- Athens - Excursion to Corinth
After breakfast we will visit the Acropolis to see the ruins of the Parthenon, Erectheum and Propylae. For twenty five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis; we see the ruins of the Parthenon, the Erectheum and the Propylae. Afterwards, we will 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; former center of the Athenian public life. We continue for a drive through the city to see the House of Parliament on Syntagma Square, the evzones in their picturesque uniforms guarding the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also see the Library, the University, the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympics of the modern era were held, the temple of the Olympian Zeus and Adrian’s Arch.  This afternoon we continue our tour to Ancient Corinth. Here, under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, St. Paul preached and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly Gentile Church he founded here in 50 AD caused him much grief and prompted him to write, at least, four letters to them. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of the first century shops, the agora where Paul's trial by Gallio took place, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo and the Bema. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 4 - Athens - Start 3-day Cruise (Luis Hellenic Cruise Lines) Mykonos
After breakfast we make our way to our Pireaus port to board our cruise. Our first port-of-call is Mykonos. It is the most cosmopolitan of all Greek islands and attracts many visitors from all over the globe, including large numbers of artists and intellectuals. Your coaches will take you to Hora the island's capital where you'll enjoy a walking tour in the narrow cobbled streets of the town, passing by chic boutiques, elegant nightclubs and white washed houses till reaching Alefkandra. Alefkandra is a charming corner of Hora, known also as the "Venice" of Mykonos. The houses are built on the sea, with wooden balconies that evoke Venice. These were built from the mid 18th century onward and were homes of wealthy merchants and captains. At one of the famous restaurants of Alefkandra you'll enjoy the sunset on Mykonos island while drinking your refreshment accompanied by Greek meze. You'll return then to Mykonos Town (Hora) from where you'll take the ship's shuttle service back to the port to meet your ship!

 

Day 5 - Kusadasi & Ephesus (Mary's House) & Patmos
We begin our day arriving at Kusadasi is a lively Turkish port. Drive through the colourful town of Kusadasi to reach Mt. Koressos. Situated in a small valley, it is here where you will visit the humble chapel which lies on the site of the little house where The Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days. Despite the many controversies, the Christian World still favours this belief and the site has been officially sanctioned by the Vatican for pilgrimage. Continue on to Ancient Ephesus and accompanied by your guide, walk through the Magnesian Gate which is the entrance to the ancient city of Ephesus. Your guided walking tour will take you through one of the most magnificent excavations in the world. See the Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the steam-heated Baths of Scolastika, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, the Library of Celsus and The Great Theatre, where St. Paul preached, which is the largest theatre in antiquity having a capacity of 24,000 people. Walk back to your motor coach along the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. While driving back to Kusadasi and just outside Ephesus, view the Basilica of St. John, which was erected over his grave in the 6th Century AD by the Emperor Justinian. Before returning to the ship, enjoy free time in Kusadasi.

Continue our journey, Patmos, where we will enjoy a short journey to the village of Chora, where the monastery of St. John is built within the walls of a strong fortification. As you walk uphill towards the entrance of the monastery marvel at this magnificent structure, which was build 900 years ago, exceptional in its architecture. View the courtyard, the monk's dining room and the old bakery before you visit the main church noting its outstanding frescoes and interior decoration. Next, see the priceless ecclesiastical treasures housed in the beautiful but small museum: books and manuscripts, mosaics, Icons, splendid medieval textiles and vestments as well as jewelry. Return to your motorcoach to continue on to the nearby Grotto of the Apocalypse, where above stands the Monastery of the Apocalypse, a sub-unit of the main monastery. Walk down the steps to visit the Grotto of the Apocalypse. Here you will see the silver niches in the wall that mark the pillow and ledge used as a desk by the author of the Book of the Revelation as well as the three-fold crack made by the voice of God emphasizing the honor of the Holy Trinity. Afterwards, drive back to the port of Scala and enjoy some free time in this quaint and picturesque harbor.

 

Day 6 - Santorini
In the morning we will cruise on to the idyllic island of Santorini. Santorin is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. In the town of Thira white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques cling to steep cliffs, accessible by cable-car or mule. Return back to the ship.

 

Day 7- Athens - Medjugorje
Today marks the end of our cruise as we disembark.  Transfer to the Athens Airport for our flights to Medjugorje. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by a tour guide and/or driver who will then take you on the 2 1/2 hour drive by private coach to the village of Medjugorje. Guide will be with your throughout your stay. Once there, you'll meet your fellow pilgrims and your spiritual leader and be introduced to your host family in whose modern and comfortable house you will be staying for the next four nights.

 

Day 8 to 10 - Medjugorje
Experience the beauty and peace of this simple village. During your stay in Medjugorje you will have the opportunity to share faith with pilgrims from all over the world.

Here are some of the activities you'll be sharing with our fellow pilgrims: Each morning at 10am we assemble at St. James Church for the English-language Mass (Feast days and Sundays English Mass is at Noon). Follow the path up Apparition Hill where the visionaries first encountered Our Lady. Touch and pray before the cross that commemorates the spot where Mary first appeared to the visionaries.

 

Each evening at 5pm or 6pm daylight savings time, we will join the villagers and pilgrims to pray the rosary. The apparition takes place at 5:40pm or 6:40 daylight savings time, and then stay on for Croatian Mass. Don't miss on Tuesdays and Saturdays Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and on Fridays Veneration of the Cross in the Church. Each evening during Croatian Mass, there is the Blessing of the Sick and blessing of the items you have with you.

Our guide will arrange meetings with the visionaries at their own homes provided that they are in Medjugorje during your trip, and pending their availability. We will have the opportunity to climb Krizevac Mountain, where in 1933 the villagers built a 30' high cross on the anniversary of Jesus' crucifixion. Visit and pray at "Blue Cross", which is a place of great healings and graces- a very special place at the base of Apparition Hill.

 

We will visit the community of Cenacolo.

 

* This part of  your trip in Medjugorje is meant to provide you with time for a personal retreat. As such, your time in Medjugorje is not designed to be a “tour”, but rather to provide you with time to pray, reflect, and explore on your own as you feel called. On arrival, you will have an orientation tour after which a representative of 206 Tours will be available should you have any questions or requests, however, you will not have a guide with you through out your stay. Daily Mass in English, as well as English confessions are available at St. James Church. During your stay in Medjugorje you will have full discretion over how your time is spent, in order to have the fullest spiritual experience possible. If you would prefer our traditional pilgrimage/tour of Medjugorje, we would recommend you consider our Tour #1 (www.206tours.com/tour1) which provides a tour escort and spiritual leader through out your stay.

 

Day 11 - Medjugorje - USA
Experience the beauty and peace of this simple village. During your stay in Medjugorje you will have the opportunity to share faith with pilgrims from all over the world.

 


 

Travel Dates Land Only
(no airfare)
*Air & Land # of
Pilgrims
Jun 19 - Jun 29, 2012   $2,649 $4,699
Jul 24 - Aug 3, 2012   $2,649 $4,699
Aug 28 - Sep 7, 2012   $2,699 $4,749
Oct 2 - Oct 12, 2012   $2,599 $4,399

 

 

     Please select your departure airport. If you are not departing from New York (additional fees may apply)
For your local airport, please click on drop down menu below

 

 

Single Supplement/Private Room $799
Land with Inter-European Flight one-way from Greece to Medjugorje
(no international airfare or arrival/departure transfers are included)
Please contact us for an affordable quote
Business Class Upgrade (one-way) $1,650
First Class available upon request
Children's discounts for children under 12 upon request
Clergy Discount 10%

 

 

For groups of 20 or more, you may choose your own departure and earn FREE trips

 

 

 
 
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