Athens, Macedonia & Albania - 7 Days

Athens - Delphi - Meteora - Kalabaka. Our tour begins in the Greek capital of Athens, with a pick up from your hotel, so make sure you arrive in the city at least one night before your tour begins.

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.

A short drive from Gjirokaster takes us to The Barrels, a family-run vineyard and restaurant set among rolling hills. Soak in the scenery, then enjoy some free time for a meal, a glass of wine or a leisurely stroll.

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 (Albania) - 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 (Macedonia) - 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. The Lake was named "Lyhnidas" (the Light Lake) by the Romans.

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.

We will also stop at the Paper Museum, one of Ohrid’s most fascinating small museums, to discover the ancient art of handmade paper production, using techniques dating back to the time of Gutenberg. You can even buy a piece of handmade paper as a souvenir. After this, we drive 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.

Spend the rest of the day to explore the capital independently.