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DAY 1: VENICE

Arrive in Venice airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Mestre/Marghera. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight.

DAY 2: VENICE – OPATIJA

Breakfast and departure to Venice, called “Serenissima” and “The Queen of the Adriatic”, one of the most glorified and romantic cities in the world and thus one of the most desired destinations. Founded in the 5th century and gradually spread over 118 islets, intersected by canals, linked by some 400 bridges which make an impression of a floating city, Venice became the world’s most powerful maritime force in the 10th century. The entire city is an incredible architectural masterpiece; the works of some of the world’s most prominent artists like Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, etc., can be found even in its smallest buildings. This romantic city is a labyrinth of waterways, walkways, small squares and narrow streets. Museums and public buildings offer a glimpse of the rich Venetian history, architectural wonders abound, quaint cafes line the walkways and shopping opportunities are endless. A pleasant boat ride of around twenty minutes will take us to this magnificent city for a sightseeing tour: St. Mark’s Square with its famous Basilica – one of the finest examples of Byzanthine architecture in the world, the Bell Tower, the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. After the visit you can enjoy your free time in individual activities, have lunch, and take an optional gondola ride. There will be some time to explore or perhaps visit a glass blowing factory where you will see the demonstration of a traditional Venetian glass blowing. Enjoy Venice at your own pace, shop, have a drink in one of the elegant cafes in the square or stroll along the Rialto Bridge. In the afternoon we continue to Opatija for overnight.

DAY 3: OPATIJA – NATIONAL PARK PLITVICE – ZADAR

Breakfast. Departure to Plitvice Lakes, the largest national park in Croatia. The area of Plitvice Lakes was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. It is breathtakingly beautiful with its 16 lakes linked by waterfalls and surrounded by dense forests. It will take us almost 4 hours to explore the area by electric boat and minibus and you will need a great deal of film to record a fraction of the beauty around you. In the afternoon we continue to Zadar for overnight.

DAY 4: ZADAR – SPLIT

Breakfast. Morning visit of the old town with its pre-Romanesque church that dates from around the 9th century which is a symbol of Zadar. Right in front of the Church of St. Donat are the remains of the Roman forum dating from the 1st century BC. At the end of the Western Quay is Zadar’s newest feature, the Sea Organ. Afternoon drive towards Split – a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The city grew around the palace-house of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, born in the 3rd century. Today within the grounds of the ancient Diocletian’s Palace one can admire a beautiful mixture of all styles that makes this city unique and unforgettable. We shall see Diocletian’s Palace (3rd century), the Peristyle, the Cathedral of St. Domnius the patron of the town and the Jupiter’s Temple. Overnight in Split.

DAY 5: SPLIT – MOSTAR – DUBROVNIK

Breakfast. Morning drive towards Mostar, city of contrasts and culture, nested in the deep valley of the river Neretva. The town developed in the 15th century as an Ottoman trading and frontier town and continued it’s growth in the Austro-Hungarian period. The ancient Turkish houses and the spectacular Old Bridge give Mostar an oriental flavor... The Old Bridge area, with its Eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and Western European architectural features is an outstanding example of a multicultural urban settlement. In the afternoon we continue to Dubrovnik for overnight.

DAY 6: DUBROVNIK

Breakfast. Morning sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik includes visits to the Franciscan Monastery with one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral. We shall also see Orlando’s Column, Bell Tower Clock and the Sponza Palace. In the afternoon, we shall have free time for individual visits and leisure. There will be plenty of time for an optional touring on the city walls with their magnificent fortresses and towers. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

DAY 7: DUBROVNIK – KOTOR – CETINJE – BUDVA

Breakfast. Departure towards Kotor, a scenic drive towards the city in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor and surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. Visit of UNESCO protected site surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period and the cathedral of St. Triphon. In the afternoon continuation to Cetinje to visit the spiritual and political seat of the Montenegrin people, a treasure of cultural and historical heritage. Two of the most representative buildings are the Monasteries of Cetinje and Biljarda. Cetinje Monastery was built in 1701 and even though the Turks destroyed it several times, the people built it up again. After the visit, drive to Budva for overnight.

DAY 8: BUDVA – SKADAR – TIRANA

Breakfast. Departure from Montenegro in the morning towards Albania. On the way to Tirana, stop in Skadar, one of Albania‘s oldest cities. Drive to National Park Skadar Lake. Boat ride around the lake from Rijeka Crnojevića to Virpazar. Continuation to Tirana for overnight.

DAY 9: TIRANA – OHRID

Breakfast. City sightseeing tour of Tirana: the Sahat Kulla (Clock Tower), visit of the Ethem Bey’s Mosque and the monument of Skenderbeg, Albania‘s national hero. The Sheshi Skënderbej city’s plaza has popular clock tower and it is surrounded with famous landmarks of Tirana, such as the National History Museum and mosque of Ethem Bey and a lot of buildings with designs of Turkish architecture due to the fact that Tirana was ruled by the Ottomans in the early 1800s. Continuation towards Macedonia, Ohrid – a city on the Eastern shore of Lake Ohrid. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and is referred to as the Macedonian Jerusalem. The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. A town of vast history and heritage, it was made a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1980. Overnight in Ohrid.

DAY 10: OHRID

Breakfast. All day on the shores of Lake Ohrid. This outstanding natural beauty is also UNESCO world cultural heritage and the place where Saint Climent and Saint Naum founded the first Slavic University and famous literal school of Ohrid. Morning tour includes the Old Town, the church of Santa Sofia (11th century), the most eminent Medieval monument in Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine frescoes and St. Clement Church. Afternoon visit to monastery St. Naum, built on the shores of Lake Ohrid, in the year 900 AD and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. Return for overnight in Ohrid.

DAY 11: OHRID – BITOLA – KALAMBAKA

Breakfast. In the morning departure to Bitola, once a very significant centre for the different empires which occupied it. The visit of the city gives a sense of its rich past and lifestyle, including the Heraclea Lyncestis that goes back to the 4th century BC when Philip II founded Bitola. In Heraclea, there we also be the chance to see thermae and the theater, which served as an arena for fighting. Another highlight is the Church of St. Dimitrija. In the afternoon, continuation to Kalambaka. Overnight in the Kalambaka region.

DAY 12: KALAMBAKA – METEORA – KALAMBAKA

Breakfast. Visit of Meteora, one of the most spectacular places in Greece. This rare geological phenomenon is one of the mysteries of nature and there are many theories though none have been proved. The only monastery visible from Kalambaka is St. Stephen’s monastery that was founded around 1400. Nowadays it’s a nunnery and although less spectacular in comparison to others, it’s very pleasant to visit and experience warm welcome of nuns. The rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Kalambaka region.

DAY 13: KALAMBAKA – THERMOPYLEN – DELPHI

Breakfast. Departure to Thermopylen, the location of the famous battle against Persians. The meaning of the name„Thermopyles“ is Hot Gates, from the hot water that comes out of the mountain. We will make a short stop at the Leonidas monument – where in 480 B. C. the Spartan King Leonidas, with 300 Spartans, fought against the Persian. In the afternoon, arrival in Delphi that in the ancient times was considered the centre of the known world, the place where heaven and Earth met. It is the most famous for its Oracle: pilgrims would come from all over the world to pay their respects at the Temple of Apollo and seek guidance from the Oracle. Among the other sights we will visit Archaelogical Museum approached via the Scared Way, the Temple of Apollo as well as the Stadium and the Castillian Fountain, where pilgrims cleansed themselves in preparation for consulting the Oracle. The rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Delphi.

DAY 14: DELPHI – ATHENS

Breakfast. Departure to the Greek capital Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world of the wonderful culture that made this city a centre for the arts, learning and philosophy. The visit includes major sights – Panathinaiko Stadium where the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. The National Gallery, the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, a monumental gateway resembling a Roman triumphal, the Prime Minister‘s residence, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the former Royal Palace, guarded by the colorful Evzons. The rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Athens.

DAY 15: ATHENS

Breakfast. Continuation of the city tour with a visit of the Acropolis of Athens and its monuments, the universal symbols of the classical civilization that form the greatest architectural and artistic complex of the Greek Antiquity in the world. Visit of the the most important monuments: the Parthenon, the Erechtheon, the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, designed by Mnesicles and the small temple Athena Nike. The rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Athens.

DAY 16: ATHENS

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport of Athens.

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