Gems of the South of Europe, takes you to a journey of some of the most hidden charmed cities of Europe. From the majestic, and fascinating of Athens, to the breath taking sceneries of Santorini, while crossing over history and culture abundance of Corinth, the Meteora’s nature in display.. Continue to Veria, Thessaloniki, Philippi and Kavala, where history seems to abound, and simply world’s culture at its finest, you will have the sentiment who have lived in the abundance of these cities’ heroic times. An opportunity to discover some of the world’s oldest cities, birth place of God’s mythology, a trip that will certainly pick curiosity as well charm your spirit, come along and spend some lovely moments.
Depart to Greece, journey to Gems of South Europe
Athens Visit
So much can be said about Athens, no matter how much is known or heard or read about this astonishing city, being in the city brings certainly awe, as all greatness is all around. Thus, it's only right we start our discovery in Greece’s capital, as Greece has once been called the cradle of western civilization.
We will visit the Acropolis situated in the heart of ancient Athens, the citadel which is safeguarded in the hilltop. Visit the temple of the Parthenon and the temple of Athena Nike.
Visit the National Archeology Museum. then we will go around the city of Athens free time to visit the shops on one of the busiest streets of Athens, like Monastiraki Square, local markets, and feel the vibe of this lively city.
Overnight Corinth / Athens
Another day to discover history at its finest in Corinth, let yourself be captivated by its historical wealth, the view of the Corinth canal crossing over the Peloponnesian Peninsula will maintain your captivation.
Epidaurus Visit- important commercial center on the eastern coast of the Argolid which is the most important ancient place of worship of the god Asclepius, also his birthplace, where you get up close and personal with some of the most mysterious parts of Ancient Greek religion and believes
Mycenae Visit - the archaeological site, where the palaces of Mycenae are located. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The fortified citadel is nested over the fertile plain of Argolis near the seashore in the northeast Peloponnese. The Stunning Lion Gate is considered to be the most famous spot of Mycenae Greece, it is the entrance of the town, and the Treasury of Atreus, the vaulted tomb of King Agamemnon.
Overnight Kalambaka
Allow yourself to be mesmerized by a visit to Meteora, Pillars of rocks sculpted by prehistoric rivers and crowned by otherworldly monasteries. We will discover how grand can nature be in conjunction with history, architecture, and man’s everlasting desire to connect with the divine. From the early time of Christianity, the Meteora high cliffs were regarded and an ideal place to connect with the inner self, thus achieve peace, harmony which gives a sense of a deep spiritual reach
Overnight Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki Visit - offers the cosmopolitan culture and energy of a big city with the friendly ambience and charm of a smaller town. It’s a wonderful destination to experience the real Greece without the Ouahs and congestion of the Greece major cities like Athens.In short we will see how Thessaloniki Majestic third century ruins co-exist in harmony with neoclassical mansions.
We will admire a rich multi ethnic heritage, due to the many civilizations Thessaloniki has known that have left a mark by the likes of the Romans, Venetians and some more.. We will visit The Byzantine Churches and St Paul Church built in honor of Apostle Paul.. A visit to the archaeology museum that showcase Greece’s history considered by many as one of the world’s best.
Overnight Thessaloniki
We start the day looking forward to visiting some very Christian historical strongholds, by visiting Kavala where the apostle Paul arrived in, called Neapolis then, now Kavala. Paul’s entrance to Macedonia, Kavala was the first step he took in bringing the Gospel to the EU Continent. Cozy and narrow streets led him to Philippi. Now modern Kavala is a vibrant and dense city.
Philippi – and Lydia baptism site, a small town in Northern Greece, that has become very famous for its name mentioned in the Bible. Founded in the 4th Century BC by settlers of the island of Phasos.. in search of an ally in a time of the invasion, they turned to Philipp of Macedon and now bear his name
Apostle Paul visited Philippi around 50 AD, and it became the bishopric of the main outlets of Christianity. Throughout the city, many ruins of Byzantine churches and Christian symbols manifest such fact can be seen in many areas. The city also had a rich cultural presence which we can admire through the ruins of the Amphitheater, the Agora, and the Forum.
Visit the court’s ruins where Paul and Silas were sentenced in the Roman marketplace, and the prison they were held at.
Just outside the Archeological Park, see the Zagatus river where Lydia was baptized, which made her the first Christian convert in Europe.
Overnight Athens / Corinth
Santorini – OIA, Fira
We depart to Santorini, the long-awaited visit of our journey, well indeed it’s worth waiting for. Many beautiful islands compose Greece, none more talked about nor visited than Santorini. This Volcanic Island with explosive beauty, and its core structure makes it one of the most recognizable islands on Earth; as its 2 tons of whitewashed and blue-domed enhanced its beauty, it’s like a place out of this world.
Just picture yourself watching one of the most glamorous sunsets, where it seems that the Sun is defying its time to set off, overlooking this odd yet fascinating rock formation which is the remains of Fortress Skaros.
Overnight Santorini
Ready to explore and relish more of Santorini? Say no more, Oia and Fira, some of the most south after visit areas of the island in Santorini Oia and Fira, the more one walks around these areas more you want to explore, as the narrow streets hive feeling there is much more to be seen, discover and appreciate. The cafes, the cozy restaurants, have a drink, experience local dishes, watch the sunset, they can bring out different types of feelings of peace, excitement, joy, no matter the mood they bring, you ll remember you were there, experienced these breathtaking moments. It’s certainly mind-boggling to see how man transformed volcano craters into some of the most beautiful places on Earth to visit.
Overnight Santorini
Return to main land Athens, Greece
An opportunity to bring back some souvenirs, well a piece of the magnificent Country of Greece.
Overnight: Athens /Corinth
Free day to explore on your own, or simply enjoy a peaceful day at the hotel
En Route back to Miami FL, It was certainly a pleasure to have you. Have a safe trip back home,
We will be delighted to have you once more
"We had a wonderful time in Greece, the crew for the tour did a great job"
"I have traveled before with many tour companies, honestly, Your preferred tours is the best that I have experienced. I have been to Europe with them many times, Israel, just recently Greece, they are professionals, customers service oriented, flexible payments terms, great excursions selected,above all they make everybody feel welcome"
"The trip was phenomenal, I’ll be back to another tour with them again for sure"
"Jinni Mathurin, the organizer is on point in everything. I would definitely give her 10 stars if I could."
"It was a very pleasant moment that I’d experienced with the YPT group. Everything was very well planned and the leaders were very nice and ready to respond to every need that we had. They’d carefully chosen the informative and pleasant sites that made everyone happy and very satisfied."
"A superb journey that will memorable for several reasons including sound organizing, choices of the best places to say and awesome places to visit, gatherings to worship, unwind and build friendship, as well as a comprehensive approach to meet our expectations. I will recommend Gems of South Europe to all my relatives and friends. Bravo!"
"I absolutely enjoying my vacation."
"At first I was very nervous about the trip since I was one of the youngest (21) joining the trip, but I must say that the leaders Jennie and Nicole did an amazing job making everyone feel included and making sure there were plenty excursions that the entire group can enjoy. With this group you will feel beautifully included ,travel to amazing places while getting to build a safe and inclusive community with people that are looking to do the same!"
"Knowing knew places with YPT"
"Great relaxation!"
"Wonderful experience, unforgettable trip. Thank you YPT"
"It is a well organized tours, very very professional. The organizers Jinnie and Nicole are very caring persons . They make people feel welcome, they participate in everything we do. You feel like your travel in family. Their outstanding commitment to the success, the top 5 stars hotels, the super restaurants we are eating , and some late get together open to all males this organisation very different from a lot of other companies where you are just a number and not part of a great family where every one in the tours becomes friend with each other before they leave. Thank you ladies, great job, I will be back again."
"Another wow moment swith your pref.erred tours in Greece 2023"
"I appreciate all your efforts in putting it all together for us to make it fun,it was a therapy for me.The trip was well organized,my sister and l,we were pleased with the guide,the hotels ,and the foods that were served .Many thanks for organizing such a wonderful trip to Israel,I am looking to go for more trips with you,and l will recommend to some friends to travel with you,l want also to thank you for your patience.Both of you did a wonderful job."
"First time traveling with a group out of the states. Definitely will not be my last with 'your preferred tour' I genuinely cannot wait for my next experience."
"Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! I had a wonderful time. Sister Nicole and Jenni are the Best of the Best."
"I enjoyed my trip to Israel with Preferred tours! The guides were excellent, the trip was fun, and I met a lot of new people. Seeing where Jesus was as well as others in the Bible was eye opening and has changed the way I read the Bible."
"I had a blast!!"
"The Jerusalem trip was one of the best spiritual experience for me and my spouse; tracing the steps of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Jinny and Nicole are great leaders; they make a wonderful team. Their communication skills, professionalism, and patience are impeccable. They are always ready to answer questions with a smile. The spiritual leaders (pastor David), Hotels selection, the food, tour guide, drivers etc were excellent. I am getting to travel with them again. Thank you preferred tour for chosen such a great team to help with our traveling experience."
"Great communication between the host and the group. Everything on the itinerary was fulfilled. Exceed my expectations. Definently my preferred tour."
"I went on the “Retracing Jesus’s steps” tour in Israel late Jan/early February 2023 and had a blast! The excursions were well thought out and organized to satisfy a group of 70+ pilgrims from the USA. Lots could go wrong with such a large group but we experienced minimal issues. The local tour guides were A+ ( Gavriel was my local group tour guide and Khalil was our driver). Gavriel was super knowledgeable, patient and kind. He went above and beyond answering all of our questions (spiritual, cultural and political) ensuring we had a great experience and kept us safe at all times. There is not a cultural site that I didn’t like. We really walked the paths Jesus walked while on earth in Israel which was a humbling experience for me. The stories from the Bible came alive, making you feel special. The accommodations were comfortable, and it was a big plus that the tour operators (Jinnie and Nicole) included daily breakfasts and dinners as part of the package. Out of pocket expenses were for lunch and your own shopping. They did their best to ensure everyone had a good experience from airports to shuttles to hotels to excursions with time planned for shopping. You could join all the activities or stay in your hotel if you didn’t want to. The cost of the tour was very competitive and more affordable than other organized tours I was considering before deciding to go on this tour. One suggestion for change is to possibly stay more nights at 1 or 2 centrally located hotels for the duration of the tour to limit packing and moving if possible. This tour is appropriate for all age groups as long as you’re mobile to walk the grounds comfortably. Everyone was nice and helpful to one another. I highly recommend this tour."
"Your guide was very professional,"
"It was a good experience,my preferred Tours leaders are very talented and caring,I will fly with them again with no problem"
"Nicole & Jinny handled to tour very well! I enjoyed every bit of the trip. Highly recommended."
"Fun, beautiful ex tour guid perience, well organized, great guide and driver, keeps up the good work sister Nicole and Jenny"
"Excellent service, best tour leaders and guides, affordable prices, flexible payment terms"
