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Albania & Macedonia - Via Egnatia
From $2,975
Summary
This is a journey through time and civilizations across the dramatic landscapes of southeast Europe. Albania, Macedonia and the Balkans represent a vast patchwork of cultures and civilizations. Our tour takes in the tombs and treasures of Philip of Macedon, the late Imperial glories of Thessaloniki, and the beautiful Medieval churches on the shores of Lake Ohrid.
Divided by mountains, the Balkans are united by ancient roads, which kept the disparate states and Empires in contact and conflict. The greatest of these was the Via Egnatia, a series of tracks used by the Romans to expedite their conquest of Illyria and Macedonia.
Keeping you safe on your next tour
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FREE 'Travel Safe' kits for every traveller
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COVID-19 insurance
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Enhanced Health and Safety audits
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Distanced seating on coaches
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'Get me home' service and private airport transfers
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COVID protocols at our hotels, and aboard our cruise ships
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Packed lunches and flexible dining options
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Flexible balance payment date and COVID-friendly refund conditions
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COVID-testing and medical training for tour staff
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Constant monitoring and post-tour tracing
Meet your Experts
Expert guides, whenever you travel
We are proud of our team of expert guide lecturers. Whenever you travel, your guide lecturer will be on hand to answer questions, tell stories and deliver insights to make your trip truly remarkable.
Oliver Gilkes
Guide Lecturer
Oliver currently works for Andante Travels in the archaeology department, designing new tours all over the world.
Your itinerary
Day 1 - Tirana
We meet at our hotel in Durrës before we take dinner together as a group.
| Meals included | Dinner |
|---|
Day 2 - Durrës - Apollonia
We begin at Durrës, ancient Dyracchium, the principal terminus of the Via Egnatia. Visit the circular Forum of Anastasius where the road began. We continue south to Apollonia, starting point for the older, southern branch and a great Corinthian Greek colony which facilitated the Roman conquest of the Balkans. The young Octavian attended the schools of rhetoric here.
| Meals included | All meals included |
|---|
Day 3 - Durrës - Tirana - Ohrid
Visit Tirana, capital of Albania. A pastiche of a city with Ottoman, fascist, communist and modern elements mixed together. A visit to the National Historical Museum gives a particular view of Albanian history. We continue to Elbasan, ancient Scampis. After walking through the castrum, we follow the route of the road up the gorge of the river Shkumbini into Macedonia.
| Meals included | All meals included |
|---|
Day 4 - Ohrid
A day in wonderful Ohrid, ancient Lychnidos, founded by Philip of Macedon. It boasts a Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman past. The many Byzantine churches, trace the waxing and waning of Byzantine ambitions in the Balkans. We explore St. Clement’s, the churches of St. Panteleimon and St. Sofia and the 9th century fortress of Tsar Samuel and stroll past St. Jovan Kaneo.
| Meals included | All meals included |
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Day 5 - Ohrid - Bitola
Along the shore of Lake Ohrid to the ‘Bay of Bones’. Underwater excavations here revealed typical Bronze Age lake-shore settlements. We continue to Lake Prespa and St. Naum, a monastery founded by one of the disciples of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Next, we journey to Bitola.
| Meals included | All meals included |
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Day 6 - Bitola - Edessa
Begin in Heraklea Lyncestis, built by Philip II of Macedon to guard Macedonia’s northern border. Next, we explore Bitola, which was the hub of Ottoman Macedonia, a military garrison and market center. The town still retains very fine 15th century mosques.
| Meals included | All meals included |
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Day 7 - Edessa - Verghina - Thessaloniki
Cool and fresh Edessa has tree-lined streets and numerous streams. We visit the waterfalls and the ancient city below. On to ancient Aigai. Here, in the 1980s, a series of tombs were uncovered, including the tomb of the father of Alexander the Great, Philip II. On to Thessaloniki.
| Meals included | All meals included |
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Day 8 - Thessaloniki
Today we visit the Agora, the ancient city’s center, and church of St. Demetrius. See the palace complex, Rotonda of Galerius and the triumphal arch over the Via Egnatia. Visit the Archaeological Museum and Byzantine Museum.
| Meals included | All meals included |
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Day 9 - Thessaloniki
Our tour ends in Thessaloniki and we make our individual journeys home.
| Meals included | Breakfast |
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Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Accommodation
- Meals as per the itinerary, wine and tea or coffee with dinner
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- All taxes & gratuities
- Field notes
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single supplement | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 10 2021 | AVIE211010 | October 10 2021 (Sunday) | October 18 2021 (Monday) | Oliver Gilkes | $2,975 (ex. flights) |
$500 | $535 | Book Now |
| October 9 2022 | AVIE221009 | October 9 2022 (Sunday) | October 17 2022 (Monday) | Oliver Gilkes | $3,525 (ex. flights) |
$500 | $625 | Book Now |
Tour Enquiries
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Our helpful team would be happy to help you arrange your perfect trip. Send us an enquiry below or call them on +18883313476 and they'll be happy to help.
