ALBANIA AND NORTH MACEDONIA

Arrival at Skopje Airport. Guided walking tour in the centre of Skopje - Macedonia Square, the statue of Mother Teresa; 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. Stop at Mavrovo Lake - the biggest artificial lake in North Macedonia, part of Mavrovo 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. Walking tour in Struga - the town of poetry - St. George Church, Miladinovi Brothers Memorial House, Old Bazaar. Departure for Albania. Arrival in Tirana, accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. 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 Martyr's 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, the impressive Scanderbeg Museum, the Etnographic Museum and the Turkish-style bazaar. Drive to Durres, accommodation and optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Durres.

Breakfast. Full day trip to Apollonia and Berat. Visit to Apollonia Archaeological Park including the city centre of ancient Apollonia and the archaeological museum housed in the wings of a beautiful mediaeval monastery. Visit to Berat architectural reserve – beautiful ensemble from the Revival period, included in the world cultural heritage list of UNESCO – Kale fortress, the churches 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. Arrival in Ohrid in the afternoon. Accommodation. Optional dinner at traditional restaurant with live music. Overnight in Ohrid.

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, the Church of St. Sophia, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Upper gate, St. Clement’s Church, the church St. John Kaneo, Tsar Samuel’s fortress, Ohrid’s marketplace, 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 its remains are buried beneath the present 17th-century church. Optional boat tour on the Ohrid Lake (approx. 1 hour). Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Ohrid.

Breakfast. Departure for the town of Bitola. Sightseeing tour - the famous Clock Tower, first built in 1664 but got its present appearance in the 19th century, the church St. Demetrius, the main Shirok Sokak Street. Visit to the ancient town Heraclea Lyncestis founded by Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. Drive to Stobi and tour of the archaeological reserve – one of the most developed Roman cities in the province of Macedonia, important early Christian center. Drive to Veles. Sightseeing tour of the town, located on the two shores of Vardar River, and visit to one of the most impressive Revival churches in North Macedonia, built in the middle of 19th century by a famous local master. Drive to Skopje. Accommodation, optional dinner at the hotel and overnight in Skopje.

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport and departure.