In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Indicative itinerary subject to changes until the departure date

Day 1 Tirana

Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, free time to start discovering the city surrounded by mountains. The city is the cultural and industrial center of Albania. Accommodation.

Day 2 Tirana / Elbasan / Ohrid

Breakfast. Visit to Tirana. In Skanderbek Square, visit the Et'hem Bey Mosque, which, thanks to its historical value, was preserved even during the communist era. Right next door are other monuments, such as the opera house, the clock tower, and the palace of culture, as well as the Orthodox and Catholic cathedrals. Continuation towards National Martyrs Boulevard, where you can learn a little about the daily life of former dictator Enver Hoxha by visiting the pyramid. Walk through the Blloku neighborhood, the most popular neighborhood among young people, with shops and cafes. After the visit, continuation to Elbasan, on the border with Macedonia, and shortly after arrival in the city of Ohrid, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 3 Ohrid

Breakfast. This day is dedicated to the city of Ohrid, located on the lake of the same name. The lake is the deepest in Europe and the second deepest in the world. The city is also called the Jerusalem of the Balkans; there are no less than 365 churches and monasteries in and around the city. A short boat trip on the lake shows the beauty of this area. In the afternoon, visit the monastery of St. Naum. It is set in a unique natural environment, which not only houses the monastery but also the springs of Lake Ohrid, which will be explored during a rowing boat trip. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 4 Ohrid / Heraclea Lyncestis / Thessaloniki

Breakfast. Departure for southern Macedonia. Near Bitola is the city of Heraclea Lincestis, discovered shortly before World War II and founded by Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, in the middle of the IV century BC. At midday, taste the excellent Macedonian wines in a wine cellar. Continuation of the trip towards Greece and arrival in Thessaloniki in the afternoon. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 5 Thessaloniki / Vergina / Kalambaka

Breakfast. Panoramic tour of the city, during which you will see the sights of Thessaloniki. Then visit the unique excavations at Vergina, which include the burial treasure of Philip II of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great, and further south, the wonderful scenery of the “mountain of the gods,” Mount Olympus. Continuation of the trip to Kalambaka. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 6 Kalambaka / Ioannina / Saranda

Breakfast. In the morning, visit one of the monasteries of Meteora and admire the unique view it offers. Continuation to the beautiful city of Ioannina, located at an altitude of about 480m, on the western shore of Lake Pamvotida. Visit the historic center, which is located on a peninsula surrounded by the walls of the Frourio fortress. Admire the exterior of the Aslan Pasha Mosque. After the visit, departure from Greece and crossing the border into Albania towards Saranda. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 7 Saranda / Butrint / Ksmail / Saranda

Breakfast. Departure for Butrint to visit the ancient Greco-Roman city, which was inhabited until the end of the Middle Ages and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. On the way back to Saranda, stop at Ksmail, the most beautiful and popular on social media for its spectacular beauty, located on the famous Albanian Riviera. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 8 Saranda / Gjirokaster / Berat

Breakfast. Departure for Gjirokaster with a brief stop at the “Blue Eye” karst spring. The water in the inner spring is a very dark blue, like the pupil of an eye, and a lighter shade of blue like an outer ring, the iris, which gives the impression of a blue eye. Arrival in the city of Gjirokaster, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and visit to the city, including the fortress. Continuation to Berat. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 9 Berat / Tirana

Breakfast. Visit the city of Berat, known for its historic architecture and scenic beauty. Visit the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Onufri Museum with its sixteenth-century icons, and the lower part of the city with its old neighborhoods of Mangalemi and Gorica, on the banks of the Osum River. Free time. On the way back to Tirana, stop at the Cobo winery, with its long wine-making tradition. The wines are produced exclusively from Albanian grapes. You will have the opportunity to taste these excellent wines and learn some interesting facts about their production. Arrival in Tirana, dinner, and accommodation.

Day 10 Tirana

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.