Itinerary
- Day 1
Dubrovnik
You'll arrive in Dubrovnik for a welcome meeting at 6 pm. The old town features white stone architecture surrounded by city walls, and it's all walkable. If you get in early, head to one of the nearby Elafiti Islands such as Lopud, Kolocep, or Sipan. Otherwise, check out the 15th century Rector's Palace, monasteries, and baroque churches around the city.
Optional Activities
- Visit Elafiti Islands (Lopud, Kolocep, or Sipan)
- Explore Rector's Palace
- Visit monasteries with cloistered gardens
- Visit baroque churches
Landmarks/POIs Dubrovnik Old Town Rector's Palace Lopud Island Kolocep Island Sipan Island - Day 2
Dubrovnik to Kotor
A private transfer takes you to Kotor, Montenegro, about 3 hours from Dubrovnik. This 5th-century World Heritage site sits on a secluded bay surrounded by towering peaks. Walk through the crooked alleyways to find the 12th-century Cathedral, South Gates, and Armoury Square. Consider a cruise on the Kotor Fjord to visit an island church, then return to see the city walls lit up after dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit 12th-century Cathedral
- Visit South Gates
- Visit Armoury Square
- Cruise on Kotor Fjord
- Visit island with church
Landmarks/POIs Kotor Old Town Kotor Cathedral Kotor Fjord - Day 3
Kotor to Tirana
After breakfast, cross into Albania and drive to Shkoder, roughly 3 hours away. Here you'll see Rozafa Castle, occupied since Illyrian times with the most visible structures from the Venetian period. Then it's another 2 hours to Tirana, Albania's capital. On arrival, take an orientation walk around this compact city to get a sense of its Italian and Turkish architectural influences.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Rozafa Castle
Landmarks/POIs Rozafa Castle Shkoder - Day 4
Tirana
Head out on a half-day trip to Kruja, a mountain village and former capital that was the last stronghold of Skanderbeg's army. Explore the citadel and browse the bazaar area, then check out the ethnographical museum inside the fortress. After lunch back in Tirana, spend the afternoon at the National History Museum and the Et'hem Bey Mosque on the main square, which is currently under renovation but still shows visible frescoes and portico.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Kruja citadel visit
- Kruja bazaar exploration
- Skanderbeg Museum (ethnographical museum)
Optional Activities
- Visit National History Museum
- Visit Et'hem Bey Mosque
Landmarks/POIs Kruja Citadel Skanderbeg Museum Kruja Bazaar National History Museum Et'hem Bey Mosque - Day 5
Tirana to Berat
Take a public bus to Berat, known for its thousand windows and one of the few Albanian towns that avoided modern demolition. The old Mangalemi district is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the afternoon, walk through town and up to the kala fortress from the 13th century, which is still inhabited. The walk is steep and slippery so wear proper footwear, but you'll get great views across Berat and the Osum river valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Berat walking tour with local guide
- Castle visit (Kala)
Landmarks/POIs Berat Old Town Berat Fortress (Kala) Mangalemi District Osum River Valley - Day 6
Berat to Ohrid
Travel by private bus to Ohrid in North Macedonia, about 3 hours away, a town on Europe's oldest lake. This place once had 365 churches (one for each day) and earned the nickname 'the Macedonian Jerusalem'. Get your bearings on an orientation walk, browse the Old Bazaar for bargains, then take a scenic cruise on the turquoise lake waters ringed by mountains, villages and beaches.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Lake Ohrid boat cruise
Landmarks/POIs Ohrid Old Town Lake Ohrid Old Bazaar - Day 7
Ohrid
You have a free day to explore Lake Ohrid at your own pace. Visit the Macedonian Orthodox Church of Sveti Jovana Kaneo perched on a rocky outcrop above town with lake views. Check out the old walls and fortress behind it, or head to Sveti Naum Monastery on the southern shore with its well-kept grounds and peacocks. Tsar Samoil's Fortress on Ohrid Hill offers views across town, or see the 2,000-year-old Roman theatre near the Upper Gate.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Macedonian Orthodox Church of Sveti Jovana Kaneo
- Explore old walls and fortress
- Visit Sveti Naum Monastery
- Visit Tsar Samoil's Fortress
- Visit Roman theatre
Landmarks/POIs Sveti Jovana Kaneo Church Sveti Naum Monastery Tsar Samoil's Fortress Roman Theatre (Upper Gate) - Day 8
Ohrid to Skopje
Take a public bus to Skopje, the capital, about 3 hours away. Walk past Byzantine domes, Turkish baths, newly built neo-classical buildings and monuments. Try traditional gozleme and baklava along the way. The city has 30 mosques, caravanserais and hamams from its Ottoman past. Visit the Daut Pasha Hamam or Holocaust Museum, wander the narrow lanes of Carsija neighbourhood, cross the stone bridge over the Vardar River, or check out the Museum of the City in the old Railway Station.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Matka Canyon visit and boat ride
Optional Activities
- Visit Daut Pasha Hamam
- Visit Holocaust Museum
- Explore Carsija neighbourhood
- Walk stone bridge over Vardar River
- Visit Museum of the City of Skopje
Landmarks/POIs Macedonia Square Old Bazaar (Carsija) Vardar River Stone Bridge Daut Pasha Hamam Holocaust Museum Museum of the City of Skopje - Day 9
Skopje
Head to Matka Canyon, a deep ravine 15 kilometres southwest of the city cut by the Treska River. Several medieval monasteries and caves are here, plus over 70 butterfly species. See St Andrew's Monastery with its artistic frescoes, or visit Vrelo cavern, a water-filled cave with incredible stalagmites. Take nature walks in the canyon or up ridge tracks. Later, return to Skopje with the afternoon free. Optionally take the Mount Vodno cable car to the 66-metre Millennium Cross for city views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Matka Canyon visit and boat ride
Optional Activities
- Visit St Andrew's Monastery
- Visit Vrelo cavern
- Nature walks in Matka Canyon
- Mount Vodno cable car to Millennium Cross
- Dinner in Old Bazaar or Debar Maalo area
Landmarks/POIs Matka Canyon St Andrew's Monastery Vrelo Cavern Mount Vodno Millennium Cross - Day 10
Skopje to Bitola
A scenic bus ride takes you to Bitola near Pelister National Park, North Macedonia's oldest national park across the Baba massif. In the afternoon, visit a local beekeeper's farm to learn about traditional honey-making and share a warm lunch with the family. By evening, return to Bitola for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Warm, authentic lunch with beekeeper family)
Included Activities
- Beekeeper farm visit and lunch
Landmarks/POIs Pelister National Park Baba Massif Bitola - Day 11
Bitola to Kastoria
Private transport takes you to the Greek border to explore Heraclea Lynestis archaeological site before continuing to Kastoria. This medieval town sits on the western shore of Lake Orestiada in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains. It has Byzantine churches and Ottoman-style architecture, including old villas from the skin and fur trade era. Take an orientation walk through the labyrinthine lanes and along the lakeside, or consider visiting Spilia tou Drakou (Dragon Cave) with its stalactites and underground lakes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Heraclea Lynestis archaeological site visit
Optional Activities
- Visit Spilia tou Drakou (Dragon Cave)
Landmarks/POIs Heraclea Lynestis Kastoria Old Town Lake Orestiada Spilia tou Drakou (Dragon Cave) - Day 12
Kastoria to Mt Olympus
The morning is free in Kastoria. You might visit the Neolithic lakeside village reconstruction at Dispilio for a feel of 6th millennium BC life. After lunch, transfer by private vehicle to Litochoro at the base of Mt Olympus. On arrival, take a short orientation walk to get familiar with the area. Head down to Plaka beach for some relaxation and a dip in the Aegean Sea before tomorrow's hike, or grab dinner at one of the fish tavernas along the shore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Neolithic village and reconstruction at Dispilio
- Swim at Plaka beach
- Dinner at fish tavernas by the shore
Landmarks/POIs Dispilio Mount Olympus Litochoro Plaka Beach - Day 13
Mt Olympus
Mount Olympus, Greece's highest mountain at 2,918 metres and home of the twelve Olympian gods in mythology, awaits. Head out early on a hike through lush trails in the national park to a beautiful waterfall. If it's hot, you can brave the cold water for a swim (bring a costume). There's an optional visit to the monastery of St Dionysios on the way back. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the countryside or watch the mountain from Plaka beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Orlias Waterfall hike in Mt Olympus National Park
Optional Activities
- Swim at waterfall
- Visit St Dionysios Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Mount Olympus National Park Orlias Waterfall St Dionysios Monastery - Day 14
Mt Olympus to Athens
Board a train to Athens, about 5.5 hours away, the centre of the ancient world. After arriving and checking into your central hotel, explore the capital's vibrant post-2004 Olympics energy mixed with visible history. Named after the goddess of wisdom, Athens has the ancient Acropolis with the Pantheon and city views. See the National Gardens, Temple of Olympian Zeus, original Olympic Stadium, and watch the changing of the guard at Syntagma Square. End with Greek cuisine and ouzo.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Acropolis and Pantheon
- Visit National Gardens
- Visit Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Visit original Olympic Stadium
- Watch changing of the guard at Syntagma Square
- Greek dinner and ouzo
Landmarks/POIs Acropolis Parthenon National Gardens Temple of Olympian Zeus Panathenaic Stadium Syntagma Square - Day 15
Athens
You can depart your accommodation anytime today as there are no planned activities. Athens has plenty more to see and do, so you might want to extend your stay. The tour operator can help arrange additional accommodation subject to availability.
- Meals
- Breakfast
