Gjirokaster , Albania
Northern Greece , Albania & North Macedonia :
Ancient Lands of Alexander the Great
Greece : Thessaloniki , Meteora , Zagoria | Albania : Gjirokaster , Tirana | North Macedonia : Ohrid , Skopje For departure dates , available single space , and pricing , visit www . oattravel . com / grepricing
18 days from $ 4295 including international airfare Single Supplement : FREE Save a FULL 10 %, up to $ 510 , with our Good Buy Plan — reserve by 3 / 31 / 23 Valid for June 2023-December 2024 departures
Journey into the past to explore legendary lands once traversed by the Macedonian king Alexander the Great . Visit ancient Thessaloniki , witness the breathtaking clifftop monasteries of Meteora , and explore the wilds of Zagoria . Then , cross into undiscovered Albania to explore the Ottoman-era town of Gjirokaster , and Tirana , whose Communist-era trappings are fading into memory . Step into the homes of locals , where culture comes to life in intimate discussions . And discover the Republic of North Macedonia , a small Balkan nation rich in Greek , Roman , and Ottoman history .
WHAT TO EXPECT
View all physical requirements at www . oattravel . com / gre
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . Depart for your overnight flight to Thessaloniki , Greece .
DAY 2 • Thessaloniki , Greece Meet your Trip Experience Leader and fellow travelers at our hotel in Thessaloniki , including those who took our optional pre-trip extension to Ancient Greece : Athens & the Isle of Crete .
Mediterranean Palace Hotel or similar
DAY 3 • Thessaloniki Discover Thessaloniki ’ s historic Ano Poli ( Upper Town ) and visit the Museum of Byzantine Culture . Then , explore the city center and visit the traditional markets of Modiano and Kapani .
B , D — Mediterranean Palace Hotel or similar
DAY 4 • Thessaloniki • Controversial Topic : Greece ’ s refugee crisis • Mount Olympus Learn about the Controversial Topic of Greece ’ s refugee crisis with a member of an organization that supports the country ’ s vulnerable populations . Then , visit Mount Olympus , the mythical home of the ancient Greek gods , and hike along the Enipeas Gorge , part of the Mount Olympus trail .
B , L — Mediterranean Palace Hotel or similar
DAY 5 • Thessaloniki • Explore Royal Tombs of Vergina • Meteora On our way to Meteora , stop at the village of Vergina , a sacred site that contains the fourthcentury BC tombs of King Philip II — father of Alexander the Great — and other ancient royals . Tonight ’ s dinner in Meteora features a live bouzouki music performance .
B , L , D — Doupiani House or similar
DAY 6 • Monasteries of Meteora • Home- Hosted Dinner Explore the monasteries of Meteora , a series of Greek Orthodox monasteries perched on the peaks of towering sandstone pillars . Later , visit an iconpainting workshop and join a local Greek family for a Home-Hosted Dinner .
B , D — Doupiani House or similar
54 Northern Greece , Albania & North Macedonia : Ancient Lands of Alexander the Great