Program

Day 1 Holy Saturday 19/4: Larnaca – Athens – Kamena Vourla – Volos
Gathering at Larnaca airport and departure for Athens. Arrival, boarding the buses and we begin our journey to the geographical department of Thessaly in central Greece, with an intermediate stop in Kamena Vourla. Traveling along the lacy coasts of the Maliakos Gulf, we arrive at our destination in the capital of the Magnesia prefecture, the beautiful city of Volos, a modern city with a rich history, neoclassical buildings and parks, bathed in the Pagasitikos and shaded by Pelion with its myriad villages. Check-in to our hotel rooms and free time for a first acquaintance with the city. In the evening, transfer to the church for the Easter service. Dinner follows where traditional magieritsa, red eggs and other delicacies will be served. Overnight stay.

Day 2 Easter Sunday 20/4: Kalambaka – Meteora – Trikala
HAPPY EASTER, CHRIST IS RISEN!!!
After breakfast, departure for an excursion to beautiful Kalambaka, which is built right under the imposing rocks of Meteora. It is the largest city in the region and the capital of the homonymous province. From there, we will climb the enormous rocks of Meteora that dominate Kalambaka between the mountains of Koziaka and Antichasion. This masterpiece of nature has been revealing all its grandeur for centuries, as it is a unique geological phenomenon in beauty and an important monument of Orthodoxy. Meteora, which has been characterized as the second Mount Athos, has continued the monastic tradition for about six centuries. Our festive Easter meal follows. We continue our journey to Trikala, a fairly “tidy” city with beautiful places to walk, such as the pedestrian center. The Litheos River is its jewel, the banks of which are adorned with towering trees that create a unique green lung. Return to Volos in the afternoon. Free time to walk along the beach with the famous tsipouro bars. Overnight.

Day 3 Easter Monday 21/4: Volos (tour) – Makrinitsa – Portaria
Breakfast and tour of the city of Volos. We will admire the neoclassical buildings and parks, the old industrial buildings, the monument to those who fell for National Independence, the beautiful harbor, while we will walk along the coastal pedestrian street. Immediately afterwards we ascend to the verdant legendary mountain of Pelion, which stubbornly resists time and the sirens of the modern lifestyle. We arrive at the “balcony of the Pagasitikos”, the famous Makrinitsa, which, perched on the steep slope of the mountain, stands like a sleepless watchman above the city of Volos. A walk to the central square with its centuries-old plane trees, a pilgrimage to the church of Agios Ioannis Prodromos, photos at the marble fountain “Immortal Water” with its lion-shaped taps and time for a coffee at the famous “Theophilos”. Then we head to the traditional Portaria, with its running water and picturesque cobblestone streets. Free time for a walk, herb markets, mountain tea and royal jelly. Pilgrimage to the Holy Monastery of Panagia Hodigitria, founded in 1961 by the late Philotheitian Elder Ephraim of Arizona America, who came from Volos and was a great figure of Orthodox spirituality. The hospitable monastery follows the Athonite ritual and is a spiritual oasis in today's world. Return in the afternoon to Volos. Overnight.

Day 4 Easter Tuesday 22/4: Full-day cruise to Skiathos
Breakfast and departure for the port of Achilleion, located south of the city of Volos. Arrival and boarding the ship for the full-day cruise to the largest island of the Sporades, Skiathos. The greenest island in Greece welcomes you with its clear turquoise waters and lush landscape due to the evergreen trees. There are more than 60 awe-inspiring beaches, all with golden sand and crystal clear waters. This beautiful landscape truly stands out as one of the jewels of the Aegean. The highlights of our trip start from the old picturesque port to visit the town of Skiathos. We will follow the picturesque alleys to explore Skiathos Town and the distinctive style of whitewashed houses surrounded by colorful Bougainvillea, the house of the famous writer Alexandros Papadiamantis, Bourtzi and the church of Agios Nikolaos overlooking the island. We will then depart from the port of Skiathos to sail and enjoy one of the famous beaches of Skiathos - Koukounaries. Free time for swimming (weather permitting) in the crystal blue waters. Late in the afternoon we return to Achilleion and transfer to Volos. Overnight stay.

Day 5 Easter Wednesday 23/4: Chania – Kissos – Tsagarada – Milies – Vyzitsa
Breakfast and we begin our excursion to villages of unique architecture and beauty of the magical Pelion, the mythical mountain of the homeland of the Centaurs and summer residence of the Olympian gods. Our first stop is in Chania where the Agriolefkes ski resort is located with a spectacular view of the Pagasitikos on one side and the Aegean on the other and is the most mountainous settlement of Pelion at an altitude of 1190m. Then we arrive at the village of Kissos, hidden in a dense forest, which is composed of plane trees, beeches, chestnut trees, lime trees, apple trees, walnut trees, fir trees, bearberry trees, cherry trees, vines, hydrangeas and of course countless ivies. Pilgrimage to Agia Marina, a three-aisled basilica of 1650, which was renovated in 1745. Rigas Feraios was appointed teacher in Kissos. Then we arrive at Tsagarada with its cobblestone square, the oldest plane tree in Europe, perhaps 1000 years old, the stone bridge that has stood the test of time and the ancient churches with their great frescoes, in a blessed place, sculpted by the wind, light and stone with a magnificent view of the Aegean. Our next stop is in the beautiful Milies where in 1821 Anthimos Gazis raised the flag of the Revolution in the village and took part in all the battles that were fought in the wider area. The church of Taxiarches, built before 1741, the folklore museum and the library, one of the oldest in Greece, are the sights of the village. Finally, we will board our bus to depart for Vizitsa, the village that won the “Golden Apple”, as one of the most well-preserved traditional villages, with beautiful and impressive mansions. In the afternoon, return to Volos and free time. Overnight stay.

Day 6 Easter Thursday 24/4: Glyfa – Agiokampos – Osios David – Agios Ioannis Rossos – Chalkida – Athens – Larnaca
Breakfast at the hotel and we leave Volos for Glyfa, boarding the boat for Agiokampos in Evia. Arrival and we continue our journey to the male Monastery of Osios David, which is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior. In the temple of the Monastery, the miraculous bones of Osios David the Elder, His censer and petracheli are kept. We then arrive at the village of Prokopi and the church of Agios Ioannis the Russian for a pilgrimage to the holy relics of the eponymous miracle-working Saint. Immediately afterwards we visit Chalkida, the so-called city of "crazy waters", where it is built on both sides of the Evripos Strait, where one part of it occupies part of Evia, and the other in Central Greece. It is the capital and largest city of the island, the second largest island in Greece and the sixth in the Mediterranean. We will see the tidal alternating movement of the waters of the Euboean Gulf. Late in the afternoon, boarding the bus towards the "Eleftherios Venizelos" airport and the return trip to Cyprus with our suitcases full of beautiful memories from our six-day stay in Greece.