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The pearls of the Balkans

Greece-Macedonia-Albania-Montenegro-Croatia-Bosnia

Steps
Day 1: Athens / Greece
Arrival in Athens meeting with our local guide and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Athens - Acropolis
Morning: city tour of the capital city Athens, undoubtedly the most famous ancient city. Afternoon, optional excursion to the famous Acropolis site and its new museum.
Dinner and overnight time in Athens.

Day 3: Athens - Delphi - Kalambaka
After breakfast, departure to Delphi, the sanctuary of the Greeks ,having Apollo as its master, you will discover a landscape, the valley of olive trees, owned by God, shaped by the myths and the rituals as well as the museum which keeps the offerings of the winners , won during the games dedicated to Apollo. This impressive site, perched on a spur of Parnassus, was considered by the ancients as the center of the world.
Then we drive to Kalambaka for dinner and night in the hotel.

Day 4: Kalambaka - Meteora monasteries - Ohrid / Macedonia
In the morning we visit the Meteora monastery. Located above the valley of the bolt and the town of Kalambaka, this "forest of rocks" in fantastic shapes and its vertiginous walls, is at the top of famous Meteora’s monasteries (the "meteor" suspended in the air) . Built on top of rocky peaks, the almost inaccessible monasteries , the monks ensured the protection and the solitude required for contemplation.
We continue to Ohrid, museum-city World Heritage by UNESCO.
Transfer to hotel and dinner in the city.
Day 5: Lake Ohrid - Tirana / Albania - Durres
After breakfast, discovery of Ohrid, named as a World Heritage by UNESCO. Here was founded the first pan-Slavic University in Europe, the famous "Ohrid Literary School". Visit to the church of St. Sophia built on the old foundations of the sacred and the Church of St. Clement, known for its icon of Annunciation. The city has 800 Byzantine-style icons made between the eleventh and the end of the fourteenth century. It is considered to be the largest collection of icons ranked after the one of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
In the afternoon visit of the Monastery of St. Naum built on the shores of Lake Ohrid where St. Naum lived and rests in peace, he was a famous disciple of the first great masters of Slavic Christianity. Its marble columns, a thousand years old and some of which contain non -decoded inscriptions are a part of the reputation this place has.
Continue to Tirana, city tour: Skanderbeg Square, the Opera, the mosque and its frescoes, the clock tower.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Durres.
Day 6: Durres - Kruja - Durres
Morning departure to Durres. Visit of Durres (Durazzo): main port today, it was it the bridgehead for the crossing of the Adriatic at the time of the Roman Empire. Durres was the starting point of the famous route "Via Egnatia", the crossing point of leaving legions to the East, the land of exile of Cicero and the theater of civil war between Caesar, Pompey, Octavian and Marc- Antoine. Visit of the archaeological museum and well preserved amphitheater.
Proceed to Kruja, which was the capital of the Albanian national hero Gjergj of Kastrioti Skanderbeg visiting its dedicated museum , the ethnographic museum, and the local bazaar.
Lunch at a traditional restaurant in Kruja.
Back to Tirana, transfer to hotel and dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 7: Shkodra - Budva - Kotor / Montenegro - Dubrovnik / Croatia
After breakfast, departure to Shkoder, located by its lake it borders Montenegro , it is one of the oldest towns in northern Albania. It retains the powerful walls of the fortress of Rozafa.
Then we reach the border with Montenegro and we discover Budva.
Walk in the old citadel of Budva and its churches.
Then, departure to Kotor (Unesco cultural heritage), nestled profoundly in a deep creek - the Bay of Kotor - provides a natural spectacle of rare beauty at the foot of the steep mountain of Lovcen. Kotor is considered one of the finest natural harbors in the world. Founded by the Romans, it was a powerful autonomous city of the Byzantine Empire. It is from this period that these powerful walls as well as the magnificent Cathedral of St. Tryphon date. Walk through the old town and discover churches and palaces that combine the Romanesque, Byzantine and the Venetian styles
In the evening we get to Dubrovnik in Croatia.
Lunch and dinner during the visit.
Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 8: Dubrovnik / Croatia
After breakfast, visit to Dubrovnik, pearl of the Adriatic, listed as cultural heritage by UNESCO.
Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful fortified cities in the world. Visit in the Franciscan monastery, known as the third oldest pharmacy in Europe, which is always in operation.
Visit at the Rector's Palace which contains a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance, remains of different periods and owners. Visit of the Cathedral of the Assumption. It has many treasures such as paintings as well as the sumptuous relics of Saint Blaise.
Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik

Day 9: Dubrovnik - Mostar / Bosnia
After breakfast, departure to Mostar. City tour and discovery of the remains of a turbulent past. Mostar rises from the ashes. The reconstruction of the Mostar Bridge mythical just ended. Heavy fighting raged between Croats and Muslims. Since 1995, the city of Mostar is divided into two: the west part, Croatian, and to the east, the Muslim part. Visit of the historic center and its famous bridge over the Neretva River 500 years old located in the eastern part of the city . in the west part of it , in areas of Croatia, the buildings still bear the visible scars of the war.
Dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Mostar.

Day 10: Mostar - Sarajevo / Bosnia
After breakfast, departure for Sarajevo. Tour of the city ,its oriental houses and its famous tunnel. The main street called "Bascarsija" is known for its fountains, churches and mosques such as the Mosque of Begova. This is the most important Islamic building in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is distinguished by the clock tower that dominates the street.

Day 11: Return flight
Transfer to airport for return flight.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

- Transfer from airport to hotel and back
- Accommodation in a 3 * or 4 *
- Full board
- Entrance fees for museums and all visits program
- All transportation with driver
- Local guide