NORTH MACEDONIA, GREECE, BULGARIA

Arrival at Skopje Airport. Meet with local guide and transfer to the city. Visit to St. Panteleimon Monastery, located on the slopes of Vodno mountain, with beautiful panoramic view towards the Macedonian capital. Its main church is well known for its magnificent mediaeval frescoes, among which the “Lamentation of Christ” is a genuine masterpiece. Lunch at a local restaurant in Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje with local guide: Mother Teresa Memorial House, Macedonia Square, Old Bazaar, Church of St. Spas (Holy Savior), Mustafa Pasha Mosque. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Skopje.

Breakfast. Transfer to Ohrid via Matka Canyon Valley & Tetovo. Upon arrival at Matka Canyon – visit of St. Andrew Monastery. Boat trip along Matka lake and visit of the famous Vrelo cave. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to the town of Tetovo for a visit of the Painted Mosque. Drive to Mavrovo area and visit of St. John Bigorski Monastery. Continue to Ohrid. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight in Ohrid.

Breakfast. Morning sightseeing tour of the old town of Ohrid with local guide (min. 2 hours): visit to St. Sophia Church, Virgin Mary Peribleptos Church, Tsar Samuel’s Fortress, St. Clement and St. Panteleimon Church. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, free time at leisure. Optional Ohrid Lake boat cruise (1 hour). Transfer to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Ohrid.

Breakfast. Departure for St. Naum Monastery. Visit of the monastery and optional boat trip along the Drim river to the local springs at the Albanian border. Lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to a panoramic viewpoint in Galichica national park for a magnificent view of the Ohrid lake. Transfer to the town of Bitola and accommodation. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Bitola.

Breakfast. Visit to the ancient town of Heraclea Lyncestis near Bitola, famous for its magnificent ancient Roman mosaics. Departure for Greece. Lunch at a local restaurant in Edessa and visit to the famous Edessa waterfalls. Departure for Pella. Visit to the Archaeological Museum and the ancient town of Pella, birthplace and capital of Alexander the Great. Continue to Thessaloniki, check-in and dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Thessaloniki with local guide (min. 2 hours): visit of St. Demetrius Church, the famous Arch of Galerius, the Rotunda, the old acropolis with Eptapirgio Fortress. Lunch at a local tavern. After lunch, drive to Vergina, archaeological site of Aigai – first capital of the ancient Macedonian kingdom. Sightseeing of the complex of the Royal Tombs in Vergina, where Philip II was buried. Return to Thessaloniki. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

Breakfast. Departure for Halkidiki. Boat cruise starting from Ouranoupoli to see Mount Athos Monasteries (appr. 3 hours). Lunch at a local tavern. Afterwards we continue to Kavala. Accommodation at the hotel in Kavala. Dinner and overnight in Kavala.

Breakfast. Transfer to Philippi and visit to the archaeological site and the local museum. Lunch at a local restaurant in Greece. Drive to Bulgaria. Visit of Rupite – memorial complex of Vanga, the Bulgarian prophet. Check-in at the hotel in Blagoevgrad and dinner. Overnight in Blagoevgrad.

Breakfast. Departure for Panichishte. Climb to the Rila Lakes hut by lift and hike in the area with beautiful panoramic views. Return to the slopes of Rila mountain for lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to Rila Monastery. Visit of the monastery complex including the main church, the local historical museum, Hrelyu’s Tower. Departure for Sofia. Accommodation, dinner at the hotel and overnight in Sofia.

Breakfast. Half-day sightseeing tour of Sofia with local guide, including visit of Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral, Church of St. Sophia, Central Market, Banya Bashi Mosque, etc. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon – visit to Boyana Church, included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage. Dinner at a local restaurant. Transfer to Sofia airport and departure.