ATHENS, BYZANTINE CHURCHES & MT. ATHOS8 days 
                   
                   
Day 1: USA-ATHENS ARRIVAL
Arrive Athens International Airport, meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel for check in. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
                     
Day 2: ACROPOLIS & BYZANTINE CHURCHES
After breakfast, meet with your guide and climb up to the marble-capped Acropolis to visit the famous Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike and Propylaea. We then walk down to the Ancient Agora to see the late 10th century Byzantine church Agioi Apostoli (Solaki), the first significant church in Athens and it was dedicated to Holy Apostles in remembrance of the teaching of Apostle Paul to the Athenians in 51 A.D. We continue to the nearby Roman Market to see the remains of the 12th century Agios Asomatos sta Skalia (on the steps) which was built up against the north section of the facade and northern part of the propylene. We then continue to see the Byzantine church of Panagia Kapnikarea, built in the 11th century. We stop for lunch on our own before getting back to the hotel. Evening at leisure .Dinner at a Greek traditional dinner show with folk dancers & Greek music. Overnight in Athens.
                     
Day 3:  DELPHI – OSSIOS LOUKAS – KALAMBAKA
In the morning depart to central Greece. Halfway to Delphi from Levadia, we stop to visit the 11th century Byzantine Monastery of Ossios Loukas. The cathedral is decorated with splendid mosaics, and architecturally, it is one of the finest Byzantine monuments in Greece. We enjoy the superb view from the monastery terrace, taking in the whole of the green valley below. Continue to Delphi, the centre of the Ancient world, the "omphalos" (navel) of the earth - whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. On the slopes of Mt. Parnassos, in a landscape of unparalleled natural beauty and majesty, lies the archaeological site of Delphi. We visit the Sanctuary of Apollo, and the Treasury of the Athenians. Depart to Kalambaka. Overnight at the hotel in Kalambaka.
                     
Day 4: METEORA – THESSALONICA
In the morning we enjoy a spectacular drive up to visit Meteora. Visit two of the spectacular Byzantine monasteries, perched precariously on huge finger-like rocks.  View the superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes. Arrive in the evening and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Thessalonica.
                     
Day 5: THESSALONICA
In the morning after breakfast we will have a 3 hour tour of the city with a drive to the upper part of the Old City Walls.  Here we have excellent views of the City and the opportunity to take pictures.  We continue with a sightseeing drive of the city viewing the White Tower, the Triumphal Arch of Galerius standing on the Egnatian Way and we see the Rotunda. We see St. Demetrius' Church with its early Byzantine mosaics and also St. Sophia the first Christian church in Thessaloniki. Return to hotel, afternoon in leisure, dinner and overnight.
                     
Day 6: THESSALONICA- HALKIDIKI- MT. ATHOS (CHALKIDIKI)
Today men will visit one of the Monasteries on Mt. Athos, the garden of the Virgin Mary or Mother of God (Perivoli tis Panagias) and out of bounds to all other women. Monks live there since the 4th century. From Byzantium the Orthodox faith spread to the Balkans and monks from these lands arrived on Mount Athos to establish monasteries. Today more than 1650 monks live in these monasteries. Women in the meantime will stay in Ouranoupolis, from where they will depart for a 3hour cruise around Mt. Athos. The ship heads to the south-western part of the peninsula and reaches the sea-borders of the monastic state and its territory. From there, passes the area of the first Russian cloisters and some unique beaches, it passes the first monastery, Iera Moni Dochiariou and another 7 monasteries follow as well as the Holy Mount's central port, Daphni, and finally the cloisters, small villages, where groups of monks live in every house. Overnight at hotel in Ouranoupolis.
                     
Day 7: CHALKIDIKI- ISLAND OF AMMOULIANI
Today our day is devoted to relax and swim. Our  bus will get us to Tripiti village where we will take the small ferry across to Ammouliani island. The entire day we will have spare time to have seafood, swim and relax to the nice island. Around noon will go back to Tripiti and across to our hotel in Ouranoupolis.
                     
Day 8: CHALKIDIKI-THESSALONIKI-USA
Return to Thessaloniki and get directly to the airport for the flight back home.