Eastern Europe Program

Day 1

Athens Arrival

Corinth tour lunch and Athens tour

Upon arrival at Athens International airport, meet and greet with our local Representative. Transfer to city center and begin to tour. We visit Acropolis Parthneon, first Olympic Stadium, Zeus Sculpture, Syntagma square, Unkown soldier statue, and lunch time. After lunch we drive bus Corinth channel. Free time to Corinth channel and return at hotel check in. Dinner and Overnight

Day 2

Athens – Delphi – Kalambaka

After breakfast we drive bus Delphi. We will visit the Ancient Oracle, the Stadium, the Ancient Theatre where could seat more than 5000 spectators and of course the Museum of Delphi, where you can admire the ‘’Charioteer’’, one of the best bronze statues ever! Delphi is perhaps best known for the oracle at the sanctuary that was dedicated to Apollo during the classical period. Afterwards, we can visit and have coffee or lunch, at the most famous winter resort in Greece, Arachova (a traditional and at the same time modern small city in an altitude of 1000 meters)! Depart from Arachova and driving through Central Greece, and the city of Trikala (quick stop), we arrive in Kalambaka, a small traditional town that is built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks of God, at the shadow of the great Meteora Monasteries. Meteora enjoying a unique and most impressive scenery of ageless monasteries, containing priceless historical and religious treasures, standing between Earth and Sky atop huge rocks. Overnight and dinner at Kalambaka.

Day 3

Kalambaka – Ioannina – Thessaloniki – Kavala

After breakfast we drive bus Ioannina and Pavmotis lake. We will visit the palace of Tepelene Ali Pasha. We take a boat and go to small island of Pavmotis lake, return to City and visit Castle of Ioannina. We visit inside the castle Ali pasha mosque and handmade silver museum and go to restaurant and eat our lunch. After lunch we drive bus Thessaloniki. Thessalonikiis the second biggest city of Greece and where Great Alexandra born. In the city tour we visit White Tower, Agios Dimitrios church, Rotanta , Old Ottoman hamam, Aristoteles square. After Thessaloniki tour we will go Kavala. we will reach the town of Kavala and then Filippoi, where St, Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians in Europe! Visit the ”Baptismal”site, where Lydia baptized as the first European woman, and the secret crypt where Paul was prisoned in. Finally, we visit Acropolis of Filippoi, the Anvient Market, Basilica and Theatre. Overnight in Kavala.

Day 4

Kavala – Sofia – Skopje

After breakfast we drive bus Sofia . You will see part of the city walls, churches and streets from the antiquity side by side with edifices built during the Byzantine period. You will visit inside the 4th c. AD St. George Rotunda, the 6th c. AD church of St. Sophia and The Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevski. The beautiful building of the University, the National Art Gallery, the National Theater, numerous monuments and open spaces in the city will make the tour a pleasant one.
After lunch we drive bus Skopje. a half-day sightseeing tour of Skopje with a professional local guide – a visit to the old railway station; the statue of Mother Teresa; the Stone Bridge; the Daut Pasha Baths National Gallery (Daut Pashin Hamam); The church of St. Spas (Holy Salvation); the Fortress Kale. The tour ends in a walk through the Old Skopje Bazaar. Overnight and dinner at Skopje.

Day 5

Skopje – Tetovo – Ohrid

After breakfast we drive bus Ohrid. Our first stop Tetovo Alaca Mosque. After Tetovo we drive bus Ohrid. Visit Church “St. Sofia”, built between the 11th and 14th century, was the seat of the Archbishop. “St. Clement”, a classic Orthodox Byzantine church, dominating the Old Town, demonstrates the link between Byzantine and Italian Renaissance art. At “Plaoshnik”, in the 9 the century, St. Clement of Ohrid founded the first University of Europe and educated 3.500 students, St. John at Kaneo, stands alone on a small promontory which juts out into the Lake at the western end of the Old Town, and provides spectacular panoramic views of the Lake and surrounding mountains, Samuil fortress, etc. Other visits include: Saint Painteleimon Church, The Holy Virgin of Peribleptos Church, Kuloglu mosque, Cinar square.
After a short walking tour we will have lunch at one of the many restaurants with a lovely view of the lake or city center. Afternoon a visit to the beautiful and popular Monastery of St Naum with new inns built in the last decade that make up the Hotel of Sveti Naum. The original church of the Holy Archangels was built in the early 10th century by St Naum and later it housed the tomb and relics of St Naum himself but today its remains are buried beneath the present 16th-century church. The source of the River Crna Drim which feeds the lake is nearby, Overnight and dinner at Ohrid or Near Ohrid.

Day 6

Ohrid – Tirana – Shkoder – Ulcinj

After breakfast we pass the Albania border and drive bus Tirana, Our first stop in Tirana World Bektashi Center. After Center we visit Skender beg square and Ethem Beg Mosque, Enver Hoxha Pyramide, Presidental house Clock tower. We eat our lunch there and drive bus Shkoder. We visit Shkoder mosque and of the biggest Catholic church of Balkans area than we will pass border to go Ulcinj. Overnight and dinner Ulcinj.

Day 7

Ulcinj – Bar – Budva – Kotor – Trebinje

Breakfast at hotel. Depart To city of Bar. Visit new BAR CENTRAL MOSQUE, Ortodox Sirp church Jovana Vladimira Depart to Budva and proceed for city tour visit (Ancient City remains, Old city walls, Poet’s Square, churches square & Citadel). Transfer to Kotor with lunch enroute at local restaurant. Upon arrival at Kotor, proceed for city tour visit Kotor City walls, Arms Square, Clock Tower, Prince’s Palace, Napoleons Theatre, Cathedral of St. Tripun, Maritime Museum and Orthodox Square,Afternoon we drive bus to go Trebinje.Obernigt and dinner Trebinje.

Day 8

Trebinje – Mostar – Sarajevo

Depart to Village of Pocitelj. Upon arrival, take a walking in that historical Village. Ali pasa Mosque, Hill of Pocitel, Time Tower and great nature will be visited during the Village Walking. Proceed to Blagaj, visit of Blagaj dervish lodge which is next to the source of Buna River with lunch at local restaurant Depart to Mostar. Mostar city tour visit Nesuh-aga Mosque, Old Town, Koski Mehmet Pasa Mosque, Mostar Bridge and Narrow Bridge
Transfer to Sarajevo lunch enroute at local restaurant. On the way we visit Konjic and Tito s Nuclear BUNKER. Arrive Sarajevo, proceed for city tour include Eternal Flame, City Hall & The House of Spite, Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, Bazaar, Library Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sebil, Bascarsi Mosque. Check in hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 9

Sarajevo – Bihac ( plitvice lake ) – Zadar ( sibenik )

Breakfast at hotel. Visit to ALIA IZZETBEGOVICH moseluem. to Plitvice – which is popular with waterfall and its lakes. Arrival at Plitvicka and taking walk in National Park .Lunch at local restaurant. Andafter tour we drive bus Zadar.Overnight and diner at Zadar.

Day 10

Zadar – Split – Dubrovnik

After breakfast we begin tour of Zadar, a city built in the centre of the Croatian Adriatic with three thousand years of tumultuous history. Embark on a guided promenade about the city and visit the Western Quay for an up-close look at the Sea Organ and the Monument to the Sun, follow by St. Donatus Church, the Roman Forum, St. Anastasia’s Cathedral, St. Mary’s Church and the Lion’s Gate.
We will enjoy an in depth sightseeing tour of Split. We will visit Diocletian’s Palace – a well preserved fortress that was once encircled by 750 foot walls. Highlights include remains of the original palace and the Temple of Jupiter
we will enter into the old town which is traffic free. We’ll see the Rector’s Palace, the City Walls, Onofrio’s fountain and the Franciscan & Dominican Monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik and its five bastions are sure to cast a spell on you.

Day 11

Dubrovnik – Berat ( Tirana )

After breakfast drive to Berat – a wonderful Museum town and UNESCO site. On the way stop in Durres for a quick visit of the amphitheatre considered the largest in the Balkans. Continue on to Berat a strikingly beautiful town representing the best of Ottoman architecture outside of Turkey. Visit the Fortress, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th century who had a weakness for a particular red colour he used so much that it is known today as the Onufrian Red. Many of his wonderfully painted icons still remain in the museum while others can be found in churches in Albania and Greece where he worked. Berat is also known for its ties with religious practice, two of the oldest bibles in the world have been found here. One dates from the 6th century AD and the other from the 9th century AD. In the downtown we visit the Leaden Mosque, the King’s Mosque, the Bachelor’s Mosque and the Halveti Tekke. Overnight and dinner at Berat.

Day 12

Berat – Butrinti– Sarande

After breakfast we drive bus Sarande. Nearly lunch time we arrival Sarande. We will eat our lunch Ksamil or city of Saranda. Ksamil is the Maldives of Adriatic area.After lunch we will proceed to visit to the ancient city of Butrint-another UNESCO world heritage site. The city was first settled by Greek colonists and was continuously inhabited for centuries forming archaeological layers of different civilizations, making it an important discovery in the Mediterranean. It is situated in a beautiful peninsula among dense vegetation offering visitors more than just old ruins. Overnight in Saranda.

Day 13

Sarande – Butrinti – Gjirokaster – Ioannina

In the morning we depart for Gjirokastra, a Museum Town under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site with beautiful and very distinct architecture. In Gjirokastra we will visit the Castle, part of which was turned into a political prison for dissidents of the communist regime and the Arms Museum. Visit to the Ethnographic Museum, which is also the house the Albanian dictator was born in, as well as a 300 year old house next to it, where the grandeur of Gjirokastra’s master builders can be observed. Lunch in Gjirokastra (optional). Depart to Ioannina, Greece, where we will visit the castle of Ali Pasha in the centre of Town, the burial place of the pasha and the Mosque turned into his museum. Overnight in Ioannina.

Day 14

Ioannina – Thessaloniki

In the morning depart to Meteora, a wonderful monument of nature complemented by the ingenuousness of man. Breathtaking rocks hundred of meters high situated in the middle of vast lowlands which seem to have fallen off the sky, very likely the word Meteora has been purposely been used based on this impression the rocks give to anyone who sees them. These rocks which on their own are stunning enough carry on their backs wonderfully crafted monasteries which make for a monumental interaction between nature and man which never ceases to impress new and repeat visitors to this place. The most famous and probably the best monastery out of all Meteora monasteries, the Great Meteora Monastery or as it is known locally the Megalo Meteoro Monastery or Metamorphisis. We will visit some monasteries and then overnight in Kalambaka just below the Meteora rocks. arrival in Thessaloniki. Overnight Thessaloniki.

Day 15

Thessaloniki – Kul

After early breakfast we make small panoramic city tour of Thessaloniki. White Tower, Agios Dimitrius, Rotanta ,Aristoteles square.Later we transfer to Thessaloniki airport.

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