Northern Greece, Albania & Macedonia: Ancient Lands of Alexander the Great

DAY 1
Depart U.S.
Depart the U.S. today for your overnight flight to Thessaloniki, Greece.

DAY 2
Arrive Thessaloniki, Greece
Accommodations: Mediterranean Palace Hotel or similar

Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, an OAT representative will meet you at the airport. You’ll transfer to our hotel, and meet your Trip Leader and fellow travelers, including those who took our optional pre-trip extension to Istanbul, Turkey. Later, dinner is on your own this evening.

DAY 3
Explore Thessaloniki
Meals included: B D Accommodations: Mediterranean Palace Hotel or similar

Today, we’ll explore Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city and the capital of the northern Greek region of Macedonia (not to be confused with the neighboring Republic of Macedonia). First, we’ll board a bus to visit historic Ano Poli (Upper Town), the only section of the city that managed to escape the devastating Great Thessaloniki Fire of 1917. We’ll wander through Ano Poli to admire the Byzantine churches, traditional pastel-painted homes, and restaurants that cater to the locals.

Then, we'll drive back to the city center where we'll stop to sample some local Greek sweets before stopping at two of Thessaloniki’s bustling traditional markets—the city’s main street market, Modiano; and Kapini, a 200-year-old market perched on a hilltop, with local shops and tavernas. After time for lunch on our own, we’ll visit the Museum of Byzantine Culture to view its extensive collections of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and icons from the Byzantine period.

Later this afternoon, we'll enjoy a discussion on contemporary Greek politics and the economy, followed by a Welcome Drink and Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 4
Thessaloniki • Mount Olympus • Nature hike
Meals included: B L Accommodations: Mediterranean Palace Hotel or similar

After breakfast, we’ll set off by coach to Mount Olympus, mythical home of the ancient Greek gods. We'll enjoy a hike around the foot of legendary mountain where Alexander the Great made sacrifices before setting off to conquer the world. After taking in the natural beauty of our surroundings, we’ll meet our coach and drive to the village of Litohoro, where we’ll enjoy an included lunch before returning to Thessaloniki and the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Please note: Depending on weather conditions, our hike at the base of Mount Olympus may be replaced with a hike further up the mountain from Prionia to the Monastery of St. Dionysius.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

DAY 5
Thessaloniki • Royal Tombs of Vergina • Meteora
Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Doupiani House or similar

After breakfast, we begin our journey to Meteora, stopping en route at the village of Vergina, home to Aigai, the ancient capital of the Macedonian kings. Discovered beneath a man-made hill almost 40 years ago by Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos, the sacred site contains the fourth-century BC tombs of King Philip II—father of Alexander the Great—and other ancient royals, along with numerous items of daily life from the Macedonian era, housed in an underground museum.

After an included lunch, we'll continue our drive to Meteora. Upon arrival, we’ll check into our hotel followed by dinner at a local restaurant featuring a syrtaki dance performance—with a chance for you to learn and try out some of the steps made famous in the movie Zorba the Greek.

DAY 6
Explore Monasteries of Meteora
Meals included: B D Accommodations: Doupiani House or similar

This morning, we’ll witness the towering rock formations of the region, on top of which are built the famous monasteries of Meteora, some of which date back to the early 14th century. The word meteora actually means “suspended in the air,” and these astonishing retreats are indeed perched atop pinnacles that rise about 1,000 feet from the valley floor. For centuries, the monasteries served as Christian redoubts while the Ottoman Turks ruled Greece, and this morning we’ll visit two of these historic structures, which will be dependent on local restrictions at the time. Then, after lunch on your own in Kalambaka Town, we’ll visit a nearby icon-painting workshop, followed by leisure time to pursue individual discoveries.

This evening, we’ll regroup to head out to a local restaurant for dinner featuring an accompaniment of Greek music.

DAY 7
Meteora • Visit Metsovo village • Ioannina • Zagoria
Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Aristi Mountain Resort or similar

After breakfast, we set off to Metsovo, a small village nestled in the Pindus Mountains renowned for its stone mansions, cobbled streets, and longstanding cultural and craft traditions. We’ll explore Metsovo’s picturesque town square and enjoy a cooking lesson from a family that owns a local taverna, where we’ll learn to prepare handmade pies, a regional specialty. We'll have lunch while our pies are baking, and then get to sample our freshly-baked creations.

This afternoon, our discoveries continue in Ioannina, a regional capital situated on the western shores of Lake Pamvotis. Ioannina was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the sixth century AD, and was often referred to as the “Metropolis of knowledge” during Byzantine times. We’ll have some free time to stroll through the downtown area of this ancient lakeside city before arriving at our hotel in one of Zagoria’s mountain villages.

We’ll enjoy an included dinner together this evening.

DAY 8
Explore Zagoria • Optional Vikos Gorge Rafting OPTIONAL TOUR
Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Aristi Mountain Resort or similar

This morning, we’ll journey into the past to explore Zagoria, a magical region in the Pindus Mountains dotted with hidden villages linked by mountain roads and arched stone bridges. We'll stop in Vitsa, a centuries-old village perched on a mountain slope near the Vikos Gorge. About 12 miles long and a depth of some 3,000 feet in spots, Guinness lists Vikos as the world’s deepest canyon. Travelers can elect to hike down the famous Vitsa stairs (which date from the 17th century), down to the tiny village of Kapesovo. After lunch at a local restaurant, we'll return to our hotel, with the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Or, you may join our optional Vikos Gorge Rafting excursion, which features a gentle raft ride along the crystal-clear waters of the Voidomatis River with experienced local guides, along with a monastery visit.

Dinner is included this evening at our hotel.

DAY 9
Journey to Albania • Explore Butrint • Gjirokaster
Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Hotel Kalemi 2 or similar

After breakfast, we leave Greece and cross the border into Albania. we embark on an excursion to explore the stunning ruins of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Butrint was the site of a Greek colony, a Roman city, and a bishopric of the Byzantine Empire. Following a period of prosperity under the Byzantines, then a brief occupation by the Venetians, the city was abandoned in the late Middle Ages after marshes formed in the area. We’ll explore the archaeological site on foot, marveling at the repository of ruins representing each period in the ancient city’s development.

Then, we’ll enjoy an included lunch at the nearby seaside resort town of Saranda before arriving at our hotel in Gjirokaster. Dinner this evening is at a local restaurant.

DAY 10
Explore Gjirokaster • Visit a traditional Albanian village
Meals included: B L Accommodations: Hotel Kalemi 2 or similar

After breakfast, we explore the southern Albanian hillside town of Gjirokaster, whose collection of Ottoman-era mansions is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Birthplace of Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha, Gjirokaster is nicknamed the “City of Stone” for the distinctive stone roofs adorning its old homes. Our morning discoveries feature a walk through the steep cobblestone streets of the Ottoman bazaar whose origins go back to the 17th century.

Then, we’ll visit the small village of Dhoksat, where we’ll be treated to a community lunch with members of a local family. After lunch, we'll return to Gjirokaster where you can spend the rest of the afternoon pursuing independent discoveries. Dinner is on your own this evening.

DAY 11
Journey to Tirana • Excursion to Berat
Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Kotoni Boutique Hotel or similar

After breakfast, we begin our journey to Tirana, with a stop along the way through Albania’s wine-producing region to witness the stunning collection of Ottoman-style homes of Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our discoveries will include Berat Castle, a 2,500-year old fortress and “living castle” situated high above the Osum River, where we’ll also enjoy an included lunch. Then, we’ll walk the narrow streets of Old Town, and visit Mangalemi and Gorica, neighborhoods connected by a stone bridge over the river to discover why Berat is nicknamed the “town of a thousand and one windows.”

We’ll arrive in Tirana early this evening, and enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant in Blloku, or the Block, site of the former dictator Enver Hoxha's villa—once forbidden to the public, the Block is now one of the city’s most vibrant districts.

DAY 12
Explore Tirana • Optional Kruja tour OPTIONAL TOUR
Meals included: B Accommodations: Kotoni Boutique Hotel or similar
After breakfast, we visit the National History Museum to learn about Albania's turbulent history before and after World War II, along with the country's post-war difficulties under a Communist regime. Then, we'll gain further insights into Albania during a discussion with a local journalist. The city was founded in 1614 by Sulejman Pasha, who was drawn here by its location at the crossroads of caravan routes, and flourished until the 19th century, when the death of the founder’s grand-nephew, Kaplan Pasha, left the city under the control of a megalomaniac, Esat Toptani. It was not until Tirana was named the capital of Albania in 1920 that it began to thrive again. Today, mud-brick houses and cobbled alleyways have largely been replaced by modern architecture and wide paved streets, hills have been reforested and inviting parks created, and the gray façades that characterized the Communist regime now exude a jumble of bright colors.

We'll take in panoramic views of the city from Sky Tower, a rotating observation deck situated high atop an office building close to Tirana's main square. Then, the remainder of the day is at leisure, with lunch and dinner on your own. Or, you can join an afternoon optional tour to Kruja, the fortified hilltop town from which Albania’s national hero Skenderbeg led the 15th-century resistance against the Turks, with lunch included.

DAY 13
Journey to Ohrid, Macedonia
Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Hotel Tino or similar

After breakfast, we’ll depart Tirana and make our way to Ohrid, the picturesque hillside city set along the shores of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. Upon arrival in Ohrid, we'll have a brief orientation walk followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Then, we’ll check into our hotel, and you'll have the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

This evening, we'll gather together and head out to a local restaurant for an included dinner featuring a performance of Macedonian folk music.

DAY 14
Explore Ohrid • Boat ride to Bay of the Bones "Museum on Water"
Meals included: B Accommodations: Hotel Tino or similar
Discover St Petersburg on a guided tour
Combining historical heritage with natural beauty, the town of Ohrid is Macedonia’s crown jewel. Set on the shores of Lake Ohrid, the lakeside town is one of Europe’s oldest human settlements—and the entire Ohrid region is listed by UNESCO as a Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. We’ll enjoy a walking tour along the narrow streets of Ohrid’s compact Old Town, a blend of beautiful old churches, modern restaurants, and vibrant cafés. We'll also visit a workshop specializing in world-renowned Ohrid pearls, created through a secret process passed down by just a few local families over several generations. Then, we'll take a boat ride along the lake’s azure waters to the Bay of the Bones and its “Museum on Water,” an open-air reconstruction of a Neolithic lake dwelling based on artifacts found on the surrounding lake bed.

After lunch on our own, the rest of the day is at leisure to pursue individual interests in Ohrid. Or you may wish to simply relax along the lakeside promenade to take in the region’s natural beauty. Dinner is also on your own this evening.

DAY 15
Ohrid • Explore a Macedonian village
Meals included: B L Accommodations: Hotel Tino or similar

After breakfast, we head out to explore Elshani, a traditional Macedonian village nestled between the mountains and Lake Ohrid. We'll meet with some villagers in their homes as they prepare a meal of traditional Macedonian food. While our lunch is in the oven, we'll board donkeys (or remain on foot) and head to the local spring or in search of firewood to get a true feel for the local traditions have endured for centuries in this tranquil region. We'll also visit a local school (when in session), sponsored in part by Grand Circle Foundation, where we can interact with the teachers and mingle with the schoolchildren. Afterward, we’ll meet back in the village square for a Community-Hosted Lunch with some of the village families that have welcomed us into their homes.

After lunch, we return to Ohrid for the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner is on your own this evening.

DAY 16
Depart for Skopje • Discover Tetovo • Boat ride in Matka Canyon
Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Hotel StoneBridge

After breakfast, we depart for Skopje. Along the way, we'll enjoy a stop in Tetovo, where we’ll visit the city’s unique Šarena Džamija, an ancient mosque decorated with bright floral paintings. Then, we’ll drive to Matka Canyon, a deep mountain gorge surrounding a man-made lake formed by the damming of the River Treska. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll view some of the region’s stunning scenery during a boat ride along the river canyon, and learn about the region’s ecosystem at one of the many natural caves found here.

Upon our arrival in Skopje, well check in to our hotel, enjoy a brief orientation walk to familiarize ourselves with the area, and then head out for an included dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 17
Explore Skopje
Meals included: B D Accommodations: Hotel StoneBridge

After breakfast, we’ll explore several highlights of the Macedonian capital on a walking tour, including the rich repository of historical and cultural heritage at the Macedonian Museum and the old Turkish bazaar.

After lunch on your own, the balance of the afternoon is set aside for individual pursuits in Skopje. This evening, we’ll gather together to celebrate our discoveries during a festive Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant featuring music.

DAY 18
Skopje • Return to U.S. or begin post-trip extension
Meals included: B
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our return flight home, or to begin our post-trip extension to Serbia: Nis & Belgrade.