Land tour from Dubrovnik to Athens

Boka Kotorska bay. Pick up from your hotel in Dubrovnik and departure to Montenegro. Drive along the Kotor bay with photo stops and visit Kotor old town. The Bay of Kotor, also known as the Boka, is the winding bay of the Adriatic Sea in southwestern Montenegro and the region of Montenegro concentrated around the bay. It is also the southernmost part of the historical region of Dalmatia. The bay has been inhabited since antiquity. The city of Kotor is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. It is located on the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. Some have called it the southernmost fjord in Europe, but it is a ria, a submerged river canyon. Together with the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen, Kotor and its surrounding area form an impressive landscape. Free time in Kotor for individual visits. Afternoon drive towards Cetinje, on the scenic mountain road. Cetinje is the former royal capital of Montenegro and is the location of several national institutions, including the official residence of the president of Montenegro and the former seat of Montenegrian kings. Cetinje was founded in the 15th century and became a cradle of the culture of Montenegro and a Serbian Orthodox religious center. Its status as the honorary capital of Montenegro is due to its heritage as a long-serving former capital of Montenegro. Recommended to visit is the National and Relief museums. King Nikola’s Museum was founded in 1926, within the residence of the last Montenegrin ruler Nikola I Petrović Njegoš, in continuation of the tradition of collecting and carefully preserving the materials on the Montenegrin past. At one place you can see the most important museum material on the political, military and cultural history of Montenegro. Overnight in Budva area.

Montenegro coastline to Kosovo. Drive along the Montenegro coastline with several photo stops. Passing the north part of Albania and arrival to Prizren. The picturesque town of Prizren is located on the south-eastern part of the country and it is designated as the historical capital of Kosovo. A lot of Christian and Muslim monuments make this town unique. Prizren is one of the oldest settlements in Kosovo and the western Balkans. Prizren has been traditionally identified with the settlement of Theranda in Roman Dardania. Prizren Fortress is a hilltop fortification overlooking the river which flows through Prizren, which developed around the fortress. The fortress is situated on a dominant hill at the eastern part of the town of Prizren, set on a strategic position, contoured with lines that follow distinguished features of the terrain's natural morphology. While in Prizren, you will have a chance to visit this site on your own, since the fortress is reachable after 20 min walking uphill. Accommodation and overnight in Prizren.

Welcome to Macedonia. Morning visit to Pristina and Gracanica monastery and drive to Skopje. As the Kosovo capital and the biggest city, Pristina is the seat of the eponymous municipality and district. You will have a chance to walk in the main pedestrian zone and feel the vibrant life of this city. Visit the unique Serbian Orthodox monastery located in the small village of Gracanica. It was built by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin in 1321 on the ruins of a 6th-century basilica. The monastery was declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and on 13 July 2006 it was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name of Medieval Monuments in Kosovo. In the afternoon border crossing and arrival to Skopje. Skopje is the capital and largest city in Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic center. The territory of Skopje has been inhabited since at least 4000 BC; remains of Neolithic settlements have been found within the old Kale Fortress that overlooks the modern city center. River Vardar, the longest Macedonian river is dividing the city into the old part, located on the left bank of the river and the modern part of Skopje, located on the right bank. Walking tour with our local guide. The Old Bazaar is situated on the eastern bank of the Vardar River, stretching from the Stone Bridge to the Bit-Pazar.] As one of the oldest and largest marketplaces in the Balkans, it has been Skopje's center for trade and commerce since at least the 12th century. Beside its importance as a market place, the Old Bazaar is known for its cultural and historical values. Although Ottoman architecture is predominant, remains of Byzantine architecture are evident as well, while recent reconstructions have led to the application of elements specific to modern architecture. The Old Bazaar is still home to several active mosques, two churches and a clock tower. The Mother Teresa Memorial House, dedicated to the humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa, can be found in her hometown Skopje, where she lived from 1910 to 1928. Construction of the house began in May 2008. The project was financed by the Government of Macedonia and carried out by the Ministry of Culture. It is a modern, transformed version of Mother Teresa's birth house with a multifunctional but sacral character. Inside the house, part of her relics are preserved, which were transferred to Skopje with the support of the Roman Catholic Church of Skopje. There is a museum that includes realistic sculptures of Mother Teresa and members of her family. One sculpture shows Mother Teresa as a ten-year-old child, sitting on a stone and holding a pigeon in her hands. Overnight at centrally located hotel in Skopje.

Macedonia - land of wines. After breakfast drive towards central Macedonia and the most famous wine region - Tikvesh. On the way, stop and visit to Stobi archeological site. Stobi or Stoboi was an ancient town of Paeonia, later conquered by Macedon, and finally turned into the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia Salutaris It is located near Gradsko, Macedonia, on the main road that leads from the Danube to the Aegean Sea and is considered by many to be the most famous archaeological site in North Macedonia. Stobi was built where the Erigon (Crna River) joins the Axios (Vardar), making it strategically important as a center for both trade and warfare. Well preserved Roman amphitheater, unique mosaics, the Baptistery and many more makes this site must see. Macedonia’s vineyards heartland, Tikves, has produced wine since the 4th century BC. It features rolling vineyards, lakes, caves and mountains, plus archaeological sites and churches. It’s especially beautiful at dusk, when the fading sunlight suffuses soft hills laden with millions of grapes. Tikves’ local grapes generally retain an ideal sugar concentration (17% to 26%). Tikves is the most well-known wine region in Macedonia. It is located in the very heart of the country and stretches along similar latitudes as the Bordeaux region in France, Tuscany region in Italy and the Napa Valley region in California. The wine district is situated on around 2,000 sqm of fertile land, surrounded by mountains on three sides. Visit to the local winery where you will be invited for lunch with wine tasting at the winery restaurant. Late afternoon arrival in Bitola, the second biggest town in Macedonia. Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of Macedonia. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba, Nidže and Kajmakčalan mountain ranges. The city stands at an important junction connecting the south of the Adriatic Sea region with the Aegean Sea and Central Europe, and is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational center. It has been known since the Ottoman period as "The City of The Consuls", since many European countries had consulates in Bitola. The main pedestrian street called "Shirok sokak" its two squares, the Clock tower and Bitola old bazaar are must see locations. Overnight at centrally located hotel in Bitola.

From Bitola to Ohrid and Ohrid lake. Morning visit to. Heraclea archeological site. It is located only few kilometers from the center of Bitola. it was established in 3rd century BC by Philip II, the father of Alexandar the Great. Heraclea was a strategically important town during the Hellenistic period, as it was at the edge of Macedon's border with Epirus to the west and Paeonia to the north, until the middle of the 2nd century BC, when the Romans conquered Macedon and destroyed its political power. The Romans divided Macedonia into 4 regions and Heraclea was in the province of Macedonia Prima. The main Roman road in the area, Via Egnatia went through Heraclea, and Heraclea was an important stop. The prosperity of the city was maintained mainly due to this road. Objects discovered from the time of Roman rule in Heraclea are votive monuments, a portico, thermal (baths), a theatre and town walls. Drive towards Ohrid and Ohrid lake. Lake Ohrid is a lake which straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern part of Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is the Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, with a unique aquatic ecosystem of worldwide importance, with more than 200 endemic species. Macedonia's side of Lake Ohrid was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, with the site being extended to also include the cultural and historic area of Ohrid in 1980. In 2010, NASA named one of Titan's lakes after it. In 2014, the Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Reserve between Albania and Macedonia was added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Albania’s side of Lake Ohrid was also designated UNESCO world heritage status in 2019. Walking tour at Ohrid old town. Because of its religious importance Ohrid is also known as "Jerusalem on the Balkans". Its old town and plenty of churches and other sites are just part of the walking tour. Ohrid is known for once having 365 churches, one for each day of the year. The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. In 1979 and in 1980 respectively, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are Cultural as well as Natural sites. The Ohrid fortress is known as "Samuilova tvrdina" or The fortress of Tsar Samuil. it is on the highest part of the hill where Ohrid is situated. According to recent excavations by Macedonian archaeologists, it was contended that this fortress was built on the place of an earlier fortification, dated to the 4th century BC, which was probably built by King Philip II of Macedonia. Situated on a small cliff right above the lake, on a natural platform, the unique church of St. John of Kaneo is landmark of Ohrid. Saint John the Theologian, Kaneo or simply Saint John at Kaneo is a Macedonian Orthodox church overlooking Lake Ohrid. The church is dedicated to John of Patmos, the writer of Revelation, who has been by some considered to be the same person as John the Apostle. The construction date of the church remains unknown but documents detailing the church property suggest that it was built before the year 1447. Archaeologists believe that the church was constructed some time before the rise of the Ottoman Empire very likely in the 13th century. Evening at leisure and overnight in Ohrid.

Welcome to Albania. Morning departure to Albania with border crossing. Arrival to Tirana in the afternoon. Tirana is the capital of Albania and the biggest city in the country. Walking tour with the local guide in the city center with visit to the National museum. Tirana is located in the center of Albania enclosed by mountains and hills with Mount Dajt elevating on the east and a slight valley on the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea in the distance. Due to its location at the Plain of Tirana and the close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, the city is particularly influenced by a Mediterranean seasonal climate. It is among the wettest and sunniest cities in Europe, with 2,544 hours of sun per year. Accommodation and overnight in Tirana.

Land of eagles. Drive from Tirana to the south part of Albania, with stop at Gjirokaster. The city is located in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and the Drino, at 300 meters asl. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as "a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate". The city is overlooked by Gjirokastër Fortress, where the Gjirokastër National Folklore Festival is held every five years. It is the birthplace of former Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha, and author Ismail Kadare. Free time in the old town. Border crossing to Greece and arrival in Ioannina. Ioannina, often called Yannena within Greece, is the capital and largest city of the Ioannina regional unit and of Epirus, an administrative region in north-western Greece. Ioannina castle is located at the south-eastern edge of the town, on a rocky peninsula of Lake Pamvotis, the castle was the administrative heart of the Despotate of Epirus, and the Ottoman vilayet. The castle was in constant use until the late Ottoman period and the fortifications underwent several modifications throughout the centuries. Ioannina lake is another attraction at this city. We recommend a boat trip to the island at your free afternoon in this city. Overnight at boutique hotel in Ioannina

Central Greece and Meteora monasteries. Drive towards the famous Meteora monasteries with stop and visit to Metsovo. Metsovo is a small town in Epirus, in the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the west and Meteora to the east. As the lhe largest centre of Aromanian (Vlach) life in Greece, Metsovo is a large regional hub for several small villages and settlements in the Pindus region, and it features many shops, schools, offices, services, museums, and galleries. The economy of Metsovo is dominated by agriculture and tourism, the latter of which flourishes in winter. Free time in the city center. In the afternoon arrival to Kalambaka, small town located on the footpaths of Meteora monasteries. Drive on the scenic road with panoramic view of the valley to reach the monasteries. Meteora is a rock formation in central Greece hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, second in importance only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on immense natural pillars and hill-like rounded boulders that dominate the local area. The Great Meteoron Holy also know as Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, is the biggest and oldest one of all. It was called the monastery which remains “suspended in the air” (meteoro), because of the cliff formation of a gigantic rock on top of which it was built. The Great Meteoro Monastery or “Megalo Meteoron” was founded in the 14th century by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite. If you prefer a little hiking, you will have a chance to visit this monastery, reachable only by uphill/downhill stairs. Accommodation and overnight at hotel in Kalambaka.

To Athens via Delphi. Drive to the south part of Greece and Athens with stop and individual visit to Delphi archeological site. The archaeological site of Delphi is at 1 km distance from the present settlement of Delphi. The modern road divides and delimitates the two ancient sanctuaries, namely the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia to the south and the Sanctuary of Apollo to the north. The sanctuary of Athena Pronaia comprises the Tholos, the temples of Athena and two (at least) treasuries, whereas next to it the impressive gymnasium is situated. Later on drive towards Athens and drop off at your hotel or address within Athens. End of the program