Ancient Cities & Empires (Athens - Dubrovnik)

DAY 1 Athens
Welcome to Athens! You will be met and transferred to your hotel from Athens Airport. Then the day is free to relax at your hotel or begin exploring this historical city on your own. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner and meet your fellow travellers and Tour Manager.

Stay at: Stanley Hotel (4 star) or Titania Hotel Athens (5 star) or similar
Meals included: Dinner

DAY 2 Athens
See the highlights of Athens this morning on a sightseeing tour that also includes a visit the immortal Acropolis, the Parthenon.This cosmopolitan and bustling capital city is set amid reminders of a long and a glorious past, graceful temples, centuries old monasteries and ornate Byzantine churches and it is all yours to further investigate at your own pace for the remainder of the day.

Stay at: Stanley Hotel (4 star) or Titania Hotel Athens (5 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 3 Athens - Kalambaka
Your first stop today is Delphi, where the famous Oracle once foretold the destiny of men! You will see the Sacred Way, the Stadium and the Castilian Fountain, where pilgrims cleansed themselves in preparation for consulting the Oracle in the 6th century BC temple of Apollo . Included is a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, which contains an impressive collection of finds from the site, including the beautiful "Bronze Charioteer”, before continuing your epic journey to Kalambaka.

Stay at: Grand Meteora Hotel (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 4 Kalambaka - Ohrid
After breakfast, admire the Meteora landscape, known as “the rocks that fell from the sky”. Here, monks built their monasteries on the top of these rock formation, far away from civilization. Out of the 13 large, 20 small monasteries and numerous hermit’s cells, only four are now active. The most important is Megalo of Great Meteoro, of peculiar architecture with its tall and intricate dome, twelve sides and fine frescoes. Continue across the border to the Republic of North Macedonia, and on to Ohrid for your overnight stay.

Stay at: Hotel Granit (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 5 Ohrid - Tirana
The lakeside UNESCO’s World Heritage site of Ohrid is an important cultural and spiritual center. Start your day with a walking tour through the cobblestone streets of the old town. Visit the Cathedral of St. Sofia, containing some magnificent frescoes from the 10th century. Early this afternoon, you will continue your journey to Tirana, Albania’s Capital.

Stay at: Hotel Colosseo (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 6 Tirana
On your sightseeing tour, you will see Sheshi Skenderbej (Skanderbeg Square) the Mosque of Ethem Bey, the Clock Tower, and the statue of G.K. Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero; the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance, and the National History Museum with a mosaic on its façade portraying Albanian history. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring at your own pace, shop, or simply just relax.

Stay at: Hotel Colosseo (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 7 Tirana - Shkodra - Tivat
Immediately after breakfast you will depart for the cultural center of Shkodra. It was the center of the Illyrian tribe, Labeat, until it was taken by the Romans in 168 BC. Take in the views of the Rozafa Castle, magnificently situated on a rocky outcrop of limestone high above the city, before you continue to Montenegro and drive via Bar, Budva to Tivat.

Stay at: Hotel Palma (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 8 Tivat - Kotor Montenegro - Dubrovnik
Today you will depart for Dubrovnik via Kotor. Here you will see Kotor Bay, the only Southern European fjord, not formed by glaciers but rising sea levels.

Stay at: Hotel Lero (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 9 Dubrovnik
Take in the fantastic sights of Dubrovnik's Old Town this morning as you embark on a walking tour. Visit the Rector's Palace, and see the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando's Column, Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery, and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is free or join an Optional Excursion visiting a local home inclusive of dinner (paid locally).

Stay at: Hotel Lero (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 10 Dubrovnik
Your tour concludes after breakfast with a shared departure transfer to the Dubrovnik Airport.

Meals included: Breakfast