Via Egnatia - In the footsteps of the ancient Romans

15 day roundtrip

Tour itinerary

Day 1: Anreise Tirana – Durres

Flight to Tirana. Bus and guide are already waiting for us here. Drive to Durres and check into our hotel.

Day 2: Durres - Tirana - Durres

In the morning we visit the old town and the Roman theatre in Durres. Durres was already a Roman port and the starting point of the famous Via Egnatia. Then drive to the Albanian capital for an extensive city tour. Return to Durres to our hotel.

Day 3: Durres - Apollonia - Berat - Durres

In the morning drive to the excavations of Apollonia. More than 2,500 years ago, the Greeks built a colony here in honour of Apollo. After the visit, drive to Berat. The city of 1,000 windows - as Berat is also called - and its fortress, which is still inhabited today, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to our hotel in Durres.

Day 4: Durres - Elbasan - Struga - Ohrid

In the morning we continue to Elbasan, where the Romans also left their traces. We cross the border to Macedonia and reach Lake Ohrid. Sightseeing of Struga and we continue to our hotel in Ohrid.

Day 5: Ohrid

Today is dedicated to the UNESCO town of Ohrid, situated on the lake of the same name. The lake is the deepest lake in Europe, the second deepest in the world. The city is also called the Jerusalem of the Balkans, there are no less than 365 churches and monasteries in and around the city. A short boat trip on the lake shows us the beauty of this area. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay in Ohrid.

Day 6: St. Naum

Today we visit the monastery of St. Naum. Naum Monastery, nestled in unique natural surroundings. Not only the monastery is located here, but also the springs of Lake Ohrid, which we explore on a rowing boat trip. On the way back to the hotel we visit the "Bay of Bones" museum. Hotel in Ohrid.

Day 7: Ohrid - Bitola - Kalampaka

Drive from Ohrid to Bitola. Here we visit the town as well as the excavations of Heraklea Lincestis, once founded by Filip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. The city also developed into an important trading centre in Roman and Byzantine times. We then cross the border to Greece and reach our hotel in Kalampaka, situated at the foothills of the Meteora rocks.

Day 8: Kalampaka - Vergina - Thessaloniki

Today we first visit the famous Meteora monasteries. We will also see the inside of one of the monasteries built like a bird's nest on the rocks. Afterwards we continue to the excavations of Vergina, where the burial mound of Filip II of Macedon is located. In the evening we reach our hotel in the Thessaloniki area.

Day 9: Thessaloniki

Today we visit the city of Thessaloniki, where the Romans also left clear traces. During a city tour you will get to know the sights of this city. You will see, among other things, the imposing White Tower, which was once a powerful harbour bastion, the old city wall and some famous old Byzantine churches. From the highest point of the city you have a magnificent view of the city and the Aegean Sea.

Day 10: Thessaloniki - Philippi - Kavalla

In the morning we drive to the excavations of Philippi, which we visit in detail. In the afternoon we reach the town of Kavalla, after the sightseeing we check into our hotel.

Day 11: Kavalla - Avdira - Komotini - Alexandroupouli

After breakfast we visit the charming village of Avdira, where you can still admire well-preserved Thracian mansions and old Orthodox churches. Avdira is also the birthplace of the ancient philosophers Protagoras and Democritus. On the way to Xanthi we stop at the beautiful marina of Porto Lagos, where two monastery churches stand on islands in the middle of a lagoon behind the sea. Via Komotini (sightseeing) to our hotel in Alexandroupouli.

Day 12: Alexandroupouli - Ipsala - Tekirdag - Istanbul

We cross the Turkish border. First stop in Ipsala (sightseeing), further to Tekirdag (sightseeing). In the afternoon we reach Istanbul.

Day 13: Istanbul

Today is dedicated to the Turkish metropolis Istanbul. You will be picked up from your hotel and we will have a full day Old City Tour. Among all the highlights, discover the spiritual side of Istanbul at the Blue Mosque, the only mosque with six minarets and one of the most beautiful Ottoman mosques in the country. Then there's the Hagia Sophia Museum. You will be impressed by its 1,500 years of history and amazing architecture. It was built as a church, converted into a mosque and is now a museum for the world to explore and enjoy. After visiting the Grand Bazaar return to our hotel and overnight.

Day 14: Bosphorus

This morning after breakfast our guide will take us on another lovely tour, starting with the famous spice market, then we will take a cruise on the Bosphorus. The Bosphorus is 32 km long, separating Europe from Asia and connecting the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea. We cruise along the Bosphorus and discover Istanbul's tourist attractions, magnificent palaces, ancient castles and other historical sites, as well as beautiful seaside residences and the Bosphorus Bridge. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 15: Transfer to the airport

Transfer to Istanbul airport and return flight

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