Greece & the Balkans

Athens - Delphi - Meteora - Kalabaka. Our tour begins in the Greek capital of Athens, with pick up from your hotel.

We'll kick off our journey by heading to Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Delphi boasts remarkable monuments like the Temple of Apollo, the Castalian Spring, and the Naxian Sphinx. Marvel at the Athenian Treasury, the Theatre, the Stadium, and the Museum, which houses the renowned statue of Antinous and the unique bronze Charioteer statue from 475 B.C.

Next, we continue to Meteora, another UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its monasteries perched atop dramatic rock formations. We can enjoy a beautiful sunset at Meteora before making our way to our accommodation in Kalabaka.

Kalabaka - Ioannina - Gjirokaster (Albania). Our first stop today is the Greek city of Ioannina, where we explore the cobbled streets of the old town. The architecture showcases remnants from the Byzantine and Ottoman eras, including ancient walls and quaint houses. We also visit the impressive Ioannina Castle, where you'll discover a maze of narrow streets and historic buildings inside the castle walls. As well as guided sightseeing, you'll enjoy some free time in Ioannina before we head to the Albanian border and our destination for tonight, Gjirokaster, also known as the "Stone City".

Today, we will explore UNESCO-listed Gjirokaster. The city resembles a fortress, where each house appears like a small fortress. Gjirokaster's origins trace back to the Gjirokaster Castle, built in the 4th century AD, and it is regarded as one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Balkans. Before entering the castle, we will pass through the medieval bazaar and the picturesque old town, with its graceful hillside setting. The old town is filled with narrow stone streets adorned with local handmade crafts. We will also have the opportunity to visit one of Gjirokaster's best-preserved houses, which maintains its original and authentic features.

Gjirokaster - Berat. After breakfast, we will head to Berat,a UNESCO-listed city offering stunning views of medieval houses with windows seemingly stacked atop one another. Berat's began life as an Illyrian settlement, evolving into the castle city of Antipatrea in the 3rd century BC. Remarkably, residents still inhabit the houses within the castle walls. The city boasts a beautiful medieval castle, ancient churches and mosques, a vibrant lower town with grand old houses on steep hills, an old stone bridge, fascinating museums, and remnants from Albania's communist era. Berat is also celebrated as the birthplace of Onufri, a renowned church painter famous across the Balkans for his unique reddish colour. As part of our sightseeing, we will also visit the city's Gorica neighbourhood.

Berat - Drilon National Park - Tushemisht - Ohrid (North Macedonia). Today, we will cross the border into North Macedonia, but first, we'll visit Albania' Drilon National Park. Known for its spring waters that form a small lake, Drilon is surrounded by lush greenery, including ancient weeping willow trees along the shoreline.

Our next stop will be the village of Tushemisht, before we cross the border into North Macedonia. Our first stop is St. Naum, home to the monastery of St. Naum. This historic site is located at the source of the River Crni Drim, which flows into Lake Ohrid. This monastery complex is part of the Galicica National Park and is one of its strictly protected areas. After our visit here, we continue to Ohrid, offering stunning views of Lake Ohrid.

Ohrid to Tirana (Albania). Today, we will explore Ohrid, one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Since 1980, both the city and Lake Ohrid have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The area around Lake Ohrid was historically inhabited by the Illyrian tribe known as the Enkeleys.

Our tour will take us to notable sites, including the famous viewpoint at the Church of St. John, the Church of St. Nicholas, and the Halveti Hayati Tekke mosque. During the Byzantine Empire, Ohrid became an important centre for Orthodox Christians and is renowned for its 365 Orthodox churches, one for each day of the year. After enjoying a wonderful day by Lake Ohrid, we will proceed to Tirana, the capital of Albania.

Today, we'll explore Tirana, the capital of Albania, with the help of a local guide. Our first stop is a local spot known mostly to residents, where we can enjoy breakfast like a true local by trying Byrek - a traditional Albanian dish made with dough and filled with ingredients like cheese, meat, or spinach.

Next, we'll visit Cam Bazaar, where you can have a go at bartering. We continue with our local guide, navigating past tourist hotspots to uncover the city's gastronomic highlights and hidden gems. We'll also introduce you to Albania's rich coffee culture at a cozy café, where you can try traditional "Albanian coffee."

Our journey continues through Tirana's charming neighborhoods, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of its residents. We'll also visit the Bicycle Bazaar, and the New Bazaar, where you can indulge in traditional Albanian lunch items such as Qofte (meatballs) grilled to perfection and served with freshly baked bread.

Our final destination is BUNK'ART, one of Tirana's most intriguing museums. Originally designed as a nuclear bunker to protect Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha and his inner circle during the Cold War, it remained hidden from the public until 2014. The Albanian government transformed it into a museum that offers video exhibitions about the history of the Albanian communist army and the everyday lives of Albanians during that period.

Kruje - Prizren (Kosovo). Leaving Tirana, our first stop today is Kruje, a historic city that epitomizes Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Empire's expansion in the 15th century. We can wander through the narrow streets and wooden houses of Kruje’s Medieval Old Bazaar, the ideal place to shop for souvenirs. Admire Kruje Castle, perched strategically atop a rocky hill. Our tour leader will guide you through hidden paths once used by locals to discreetly exit the castle when it was surrounded by enemies.

Later, we will cross the border into Kosovo and make our way to Prizren, often regarded as the country's cultural capital. A river runs through the heart of the old town, beneath numerous bridges that span the city. You have a free afternoon to stroll through Prizren's streets, lined with elegant medieval houses, and to admire the Sinan Pasha Mosque, with its vibrant arabesque patterns. For a breathtaking view, head to the fortress on the hill overlooking the town.

Prizren - Gjakove - Decan - Prizren. This morning, we head to Gjakove, home to Kosovo's oldest and largest bazaar. Despite being destroyed during the First Balkan War, the Second World War, and the Kosovo War, the bazaar has been rebuilt to its former glory. It's a lovely place to enjoy a meal or explore the shops that sell traditional handmade crafts from local artisans and producers.

Our next stop will be the UNESCO-listed Monastery of Decan, renowned for its striking white architecture and for being inhabited by Orthodox monks who produce fresh organic foods, such as cheeses.

Before heading back to Prizren, we will drive through the Rahovec Valley, where grapes have been cultivated since Illyrian times. The vineyards, located on the gentle hills of Rahovec at elevations between 350 and 520 metres above sea level, make it an ideal location for producing high-quality wines.

Prizren - Shkoder (Albania). Our first stop today is a renowned slow food agro-tourism farm in Albania. During our visit, we will tour the farm and learn about how it has created jobs for over 400 people in the surrounding areas. The farm specializes in collecting, processing, and preserving regional organic local products. You'll have some free time to enjoy a traditional lunch or purchase fresh produce from the farm.

In the afternoon, we'll head to Shkoder, in northwestern Albania. This is one of Albania's oldest cities, with a history stretching back a thousand years. Whilst here, we will explore Rozafa Castle, offering stunning views of the lake and the spot where three rivers converge before flowing into the Adriatic Sea. We will spend the night in Shkoder.

Shkoder - Budva (Montenegro) - Kotor - Montenegrin Riviera. Leaving Albania again, we head across the border to Montenegro and the small fishing village of Sveti Stefan. We'll then head to Budva, where we'll explore the old part of the city, including the historical centre, St. Ivan Church, the small Church of St. Mary, and the medieval wonders of the old town.

Our second destination today is Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is characterized by a labyrinth of narrow, cobblestone streets designed to confuse invaders in the past. Many historic buildings and churches display plaques indicating their construction dates and original purposes. We'll visit Saint Luke’s Church, which holds great significance for the locals as a symbol of unity. We'll spend the night near the Montenegrin Riviera.

Montenegrin Riviera - Mostar (Bosnia). From Montenegro, we will cross the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina and head towards Mostar. Our visit will include the iconic Old Bridge, known as Stari Most, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an example of typical Islamic architectural style from the 16th century. We'll explore the Old Bazaar, famous for its vibrant streets and lively atmosphere. Throughout the city, you'll see stones inscribed with “Don’t Forget,” commemorating Mostar’s history. The city beautifully blends the old with the new, evident as you stroll through its streets, featuring charming old mosques, bustling Turkish bazaars, and a network of cobbled alleyways.

We'll also visit the Blagaj Monastery, located just outside the city at the foot of a cliff, featuring stunning blue waters at its front. Blagaj is a small medieval Ottoman town in Herzegovina, known for its breathtaking nature and the impressive spring of the Buna River. In the afternoon, you'll have free time to explore and enjoy Mostar.

Mostar - Sarajevo. After breakfast, we will drive from Mostar to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today’s itinerary involves walking on uneven terrain as we explore some of the ruins during our tour of Sarajevo. You can still see many reminders of the Yugoslav War, such as bullet holes and cannon marks, throughout the town. We will visit the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian sections of Sarajevo, where the captivating markets, bazaars, mosques, churches, and synagogues reveal why the city is often called the "European Jerusalem." We'll also visit the Latin Bridge and learn about how World War I was sparked right here, in the heart of Sarajevo.

As well as its history, Sarajevo is renowned for its delicious meat dishes and desserts. You will have some free time to savour traditional cuisine and enjoy a coffee in the old town.

Our tour comes to an end today. Enjoy breakfast before hotel check out and an included transfer to either Sarajevo Airport or the city of Belgrade in Serbia, depending on your preference. Please let us know in advance of your tour which is your preferred drop off destination.