ALBANIA AND NORTH MACEDONIA

Arrival at Skopje Airport. Guided walking tour in the center of Skopje - Macedonia Square, the Memorial Museum of Mother Teresa, the Stone Bridge - symbol of Skopje, the church of St. Spas (Holy Salvation), Skopje Fortress, Old Varosha quarter, etc. Accommodation, optional dinner at the hotel and overnight in Skopje.

Breakfast. Departure for Mavrovo National Park. Photo break at Mavrovo Lake - the biggest artificial lake in North Macedonia, part of the national park. Photo break by the flooded church of St. Nicholas, build in mid-19th century. Visit to the mystical and tranquil Monastery of St. John Bigorski (St. John the Baptist). In the monastery church you can see an icon of St. John the Baptist dating from the 11th century as well as stunning iconostasis carved out of walnut tree – masterpiece of Debar school masters from the 19th century. Departure for Albania. Arrival in Tirana, accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel, or optional visit to Albanian night show with dinner, live music and folklore program. Overnight in Tirana.

Breakfast. Guided sightseeing tour of the Albanian capital - Scanderbeg Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, the National History Museum, the University and the Martyrs' Cemetery with the statue of Mother Albania. Visit to Kruja - home of Albania's national hero, Scanderbeg, who in the 15th century successfully fought off the Turks for over thirty years. Visit to the Old Castle, where you can witness the impressive Scanderbeg Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Turkish-style bazaar. Drive to Durres, accommodation and optional dinner at the hotel located by the beaches on the Adriatic seashore. Overnight in Durres.

Breakfast. Full-day trip to Apollonia and Berat. Visit to Apollonia Archaeological Park including the administrative center of ancient Apollonia and the archaeological museum housed in the wings of a beautiful mediaeval monastery. Visit to a local winery in the area of Berat for wine tasting. Visit to Berat architectural reserve – beautiful ensemble from the Revival period, included in UNESCO’s list of the world cultural heritage list – Kale fortress, the churches of Virgin Mary and Holy Trinity, the Red and White Mosque, Constantine the Great Square. Return to Durres in the evening. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Durres.

Breakfast. Departure for Ohrid. On the way short walking tour in Elbasan, famous for the well-preserved Ottoman city walls and the remains of several early Christian basilicas. Returning in North Macedonia, you will make a short walking tour in Struga – the town of poetry: St. George Church, Miladinovi Brothers Memorial House, Old Bazaar. Arrival in Ohrid in the afternoon. Accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel, or at traditional Macedonian restaurant with live music. Overnight at the Ohrid Riviera. 

Breakfast. Guided sightseeing tour in the old town of Ohrid. The tour starts in front of the statue of St. Cyril and Methodius, and it continues to the Lower gate of Tsar Samuel’s fortress, the Church of St. Sophia, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Upper gate, St. Clement’s Church, main pedestrian zone, etc. Free time. In the afternoon – tour to the beautiful monastery of St. Naum. St. Naum is the most famous monastery complex in North Macedonia. The original church of the Holy Archangels was built in the early 10th century by St. Naum himself and later it housed the tomb and relics of the saint. Today the remains of the original temple are buried beneath the present 17th-century church. Optional boat tour on the Ohrid Lake. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the Ohrid Riviera.

Breakfast. Departure for the town of Bitola. Visit to the archaeological complex of the ancient town of Heraclea Lyncestis founded by Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. Sightseeing tour in the historic center of Bitola – local historical museum, once an academy for Ottoman officers where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk received his military education, the main Shirok Sokak Street, the famous Clock Tower, first built in 1664 but got its present appearance in the 19th century. Departure for Tikvesh – the most famous wine region of Macedonia, and visit to a local winery for wine tasting. Drive to Skopje. Accommodation, optional dinner at the hotel and overnight in Skopje.

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport and departure.