Albania, Macedonia & Greece (16 Days): The BEST with Style - Detailed Itinerary

Departure Date: Friday, 22 May 2009
Meeting Point: Saturday, 23 May 2009 in Tirana, ALBANIA
Departure Point: Saturday, 6 June 2009 in Thessaloniki, GREECE
 
Price:
$8,995 per person, based on double occupancy
The Single Supplement: $1,495 (This will be a double occupancy room for single occupancy)

This is an "A Free Universe" EDD (Exclusive DavidTravel Departure) featuring a luxuriously "ALL INCLUSIVE"** Itinerary. 

**ALL INCLUSIVE

Tirana, Sheraton Tirana Hotel 
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DAY 3, Sunday
Kruja, ALBANIA & Tirana, ALBANIA

Tirana, Sheraton Tirana Hotel 
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DAY 4, Monday
Lake Ohrid, MACEDONIA

After breakfast, depart for Macedonia along picturesque roads that take you to the shores of the Balkans’ deepest lake. On a clear day, the waters of Lake Ohrid sparkle in the sunlight, a deep and brilliant blue.

Bounded on the south by the Aegean Sea and the north by the mountains of Skopska Crna Gora, Macedonia occupies a particularly beautiful area of the Balkan Peninsula. Its history rich with tales of kings and warlords, empires and battles, great victories and crushing defeats, present‐day Macedonia offers visitors a blend of old‐fashioned charm, quick wit, and spectacular scenery.

Visit Struga, a pretty town along the lakefront, and enjoy a stroll through some of its quaint streets. The monks in Kalishta Monastery have carved their cells and chapels directly from the living rock. Explore this fascinating complex with a guide who will explain the history of the area and the founding of the monastery. The quiet village of Vevcani is famed the country over for its limpid springs, bringing life and vivacity to the surrounding area. Visit the waterworks and then enjoy a lunch of local cuisine at a restaurant that is just steps away from the springs.

The afternoon is yours at leisure to explore the area or relax at your hotel.

The ancient city of Ohrid, seated on the banks of magnificent Lake Ohrid, is a wonder of Macedonianarchitecture and a treasury of valuable cultural and historical monuments. The city hides a cornucopia of delights in its twisting cobbled streets and traditional architecture. Spend the morning wandering through the town with an expert guide, well versed in the history, culture, and folklore of the area.

The National Museum beckons visitors with its exquisite displays of Macedonian art and culture. Walk on to the medieval church of St. Sofia and marvel at its splendid architecture and well‐preserved frescoes. St. Clement is the patron saint of Ohrid and the church that bears his name stands sentinel at the water’s edge, protecting the city night and day.

After lunch, visit the Samuil fortress, situated on a hill in the center of Ohrid, which provides an ideal spot for a panoramic view of the town, the lake, and the surrounding countryside. Though ravaged by time and battle, the fortress has been restored and its expansive ramparts and soaring towers provide a striking reminder of its ancient grandeur. Another memento of the past is the ancient Roman amphitheater with marvelous views of the cerulean waters beyond its walls.

The rest of the afternoon is free for independent exploration.

Today’s full-day excursion takes you across the lake by boat to the monastic complex of Sveti Naum, one of the most famous sights in Macedonia. For more than 1000 years, Sveti Naum has overlooked Lake Ohrid from its perch high on a cliff.

A close friend of St. Clement of Ohrid, St. Naum designed this church and monastery to be a place where monks could contemplate the grandeur of God while remaining close to the earth. Stroll around its magnificent grounds, pausing for views of the lake, the surrounding hills, and the host of hospitable peacocks who have made Sveti Naum their home for centuries.

Your visit includes a guided tour of the spectacular Byzantine church along with its ancient frescoes, turreted towers, and spartan monastic quarters. Pay your respects at the tomb of St. Naum, where, rumor is, you can hear his still‐beating heart by placing your ear against the stone.

Return to Ohrid for dinner.

On your drive today from Ohrid to the Albanian Adriatic port town of Durres, stop at Elbasan Castle. Excavations suggest that the outer walls were first built in the 4th century AD, and today the castle stands as a monument to a bygone era.

Insider’s Note: “Driving in the north of the country you’ll see that the Albanians are pretty superstitious - they
have dolls tied to their house that are supposed to ward off evil. They use are anything from stuffed animals to
cupie dolls to scarecrow stuffed pillow cases.

For centuries the largest port on the Adriatic, Durres now holds the title of Albania’s second largest city. Most impressive are the ruins of a Roman amphitheater in the center of town. Explore the site before visiting the archaeological museum to learn more about this historically rich area.

Delve into the ancient hilltop town of Berat, a marvel of ancient houses, winding stone paths, and magnificent vistas. Set alongside the banks of the river Osum, Berat has long been called the “City of a Thousands Windows” for its striking architecture and the way the old houses have been built up on each other from the river’s banks all the way to the foot of the mountain that provides a dramatic backdrop for this lovely town. Stroll through Berat’s fortified castle (one of the only castles in Europe that still has houses and inhabitants within its walls) and visit the museum of Onufri, a 16th‐century Albanian painter who had such a love for a particular shade of red that it has since been known as “Onufrian Red.”

No visit to Albania is complete without a trip to the ruins of Apollonia. Founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC, it developed into a cultural center for literature and music until it fell into decline some 700 years later. Still only partially excavated, explore its ancient roads, the expansive library, and an orthodox monastery, which has been transformed into an archaeological museum.

Hotel Vlora International 
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Travel along the Albanian unspoiled coastline on your way to Saranda, the southernmost town on the Albanian coast at the Ionian sea. You will be delighted at the dramatic and rugged beauty of the Albanian Riviera with its steep backdrops to white sandy beaches. Citrus, fig and olive trees dominate the landscape giving it a classical Mediterranean beauty. Set on the Adriatic, Saranda looks across the sparkling waters to the jewel‐isle of Corfu.

Occupying a small spit of land between the Straits of Corfu and Lake Butrint, the site of Butrint has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Spend the morning exploring Butrint, marveling at the layers of civilizations—Greek, Roman, Venetian, and others—brought to light by the excavations. Visit the Roman amphitheater, the well-preserved Byzantine basilica, the ruins of a 2nd-century nymphaeum, and the famous Lion’s Gate.

The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure in the seaside town of Saranda. Tonight, gather for dinner at the 17th-century Lekursi Castle with its magnificent views of the Bay of Saranda and the Isle of Corfu.

After breakfast, drive to Gjirokastra, the birthplace of former dictator, Enver Hoxha. Perched on a cliff
above the rushing clear waters of the Drino River, Gjirokastra is famous also for its uniquely wellpreserved
Ottoman architecture. Visit the imposing castle and have lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, say mirupafshim (good-bye) to Albania and cross the border to Kakavija in northwest
Greece. Accompanied by local guides, travel to Ioannina, inhabited since ancient times and home to the
Dodoni archaeological site.

This morning enjoy a guided tour of the highlights of Ioannina’s old town before taking a boat out to the island in the middle of sparkling Pamvotis Lake. On this picturesque island, visit several churches and see how the under-100 permanent inhabitants go about their daily lives. Lunch is served in a restaurant specializing in local delicacies of trout and frogs’ legs.

The oracle at Dodoni was the oldest in ancient Greece and travelers would come from all over the world to ask questions about their fate to the priests who lived there. Having taken the questions, the priests would sit under the holy oak tree and listen to the wind rustle through its leaves and branches. From these sounds, they would discern the fates of the questioners.

Hotel du Lac 
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The tiny mountain village of Metsovo draws travelers with its blend of beautiful scenery, picturesque architecture, and twisting cobblestone pathways. Spend the morning exploring the charming Swiss‐like village known for its traditional way of life.

Continue to Meteora for lunch. Afterward explore the stunning complex of mountaintop monasteries that are some of the wonders of the modern world. Monastic cells and churches have been carved from the massive sandstone pillars; ascend to the clouds to visit these miraculous creations of ancient hermit monks.

This morning embark on a scenic drive through northern Greece on the way to Vergina, the last resting place of the great Macedonian rulers of old. The most impressive ruins are the monumental palace with its intricate mosaics and glorious painted stuccoes and the necropolis, which houses the tombs of Phillip II (Alexander the Great’s father) and other Macedonian royalty. Continue to Thessaloniki, the heart of northern Greece and home to delicious local cuisine and famed Greek hospitality.

The day begins with a tour of Thessaloniki. Since its founding in 315 B.C., the city has been home to a vast number of civilizations with both a strong Hellenistic presence and a rich Byzantine history. Visit the massive Rotonda, built by Galerius Caesar in AD 300, as well as the church of St. Dimitrious, and the old city walls from which there are marvelous views of the Thermaic Gulf. The famed archaeological museum houses artifacts from the city’s more than 2,000 years of history.

The afternoon is yours at leisure. Tonight enjoy a cocktail party and farewell dinner with your fellow travelers and your Travel Director.

This morning you will be taken to the airport in Thessaloniki for your flight home or on to your next destination.

Journey accommodations end with the hotel night on Day 15. Check-out time is approximately 11am on Day 16.

Included meal services end with Breakfast on Day 16.

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NOTE: The Daily Itinerary above is subject to change dependent upon local conditions and/or operational changes or improvements. The specific times and order of inclusions within each destination may also be altered to best accommodate unscheduled closures, special events, weather, traffic, etc. Please contact DavidTravel before scheduling any coinciding appointments. You will receive an updated itinerary approximately 30 days prior to your journey’s scheduled departure date.

ACCOMMODATIONS  

15-Day Itinerary: Per person price is based upon two people sharing a room. Airfare is additional.

CUSTOM JOURNEY EXTENSIONS:

• Air transportation; airport taxes; passport expenses
• Inoculations and medications
• Visas if required
• Alcoholic beverages (except as noted in itinerary) and caviar
• Expenses of guides, buses or cars for sightseeing not included in the itinerary
• Laundry, expenses of a personal nature and gratuity for any personal services
• Health, accident, baggage and trip cancellation insurance
• Excessive baggage charges imposed by airlines
• Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional additional coverage)
• Customary end-of-the-trip gratuity to the Travel Director
  (Depending on your satisfaction with their services, $12-$15 per person, per day is customary.)

DT-EDD-23may09
PO#: 1000444