Page 79 - 2018-2019 Worldwide Journeys by Alexander + Roberts

ROMANIA
CROATIA
MONTENEGRO
SERBIA
1 Skopje MACEDONIA
BULGARIA
Adriatic Sea
Tirana 4 ALBANIA
ITALY
2
Gjirokastra
2 Ohrid GREECE
1
Kalambaka
Aegean Sea
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia
OUR JOURNEY
DAY1 Welcometo
| Tirana, Albania
On arrival, you’ll be escorted to the Hotel Plaza. Meet your fellow travelers and Trip leader Alexander over cocktails and dinner. meals d
DAY 2 | Excursion to Shkodra
In Shkodra, enjoy a special tour
of the workshop where Venice’s Carnevale masks have traditionally been made; it’s a unique reminder of the town’s historic ties to Venice. Ascend to Rozafa Castle, built in 350 BC, and take in the views of this ancient city, once a part of
the Venetian Empire. Sit down to lunch at Mrizi i Zanave, famed for its farm-to-table cuisine, and then return to Tirana. meals b+l+d
DAY3 Kruja+Tirana |
At a Dervish monastery in Kruja, the caretaker shares insights into ancient Sufism. Enjoy coffee with the curator of the Ethnographic Museum, set in an Ottoman house. Have lunch within the walls of Kruja Castle and browse through the old bazaar. Back in Tirana, explore the Blokk district, erstwhile enclave of the Communist elite and now one of Tirana’s most vibrant areas. Visit Skanderbeg Square and the city’s other landmarks. Tonight, you’ll dine at Era. meals b+l+d
Durrës + Apollonia DAY 4 | + Gjirokastra
Travel to Durrës and delve into its richhistoryasyoutourthecity’s Venetian, Byzantine and ancient Roman landmarks. Meet resident monks at the Ardenica Monastery and learn about their life since the end of Communism. Then tour the remarkably preserved ruins
of Apollonia, one of the greatest cities of the Greco-Roman world. Continue to the Kalemi 2 Hotel in
Gjirokastra. meals b+l+d
DAY 5 Discover Gjirokastra
Begin with a guided tour of
this lovely town, perched on the slopes of the Drino Valley. Then spend time with the matriarch of a Balkan family for insight into Albania’s enduring traditions as well as its more recent Communist history. Discover the town’s fine Ottoman architecture as you delve into the work of Nobel-nominated author Ismail Kadare, who set many novels here. Enjoy dinner and a performance by Iso Polifonia, a widely-acclaimed polyphonic choir. meals b+l+d
Onward to Ioannina DAY6| +Kalambaka,Greece
In the castle town of Ioannina,
built by the Emperor Justinian, you’ll see remarkable Byzantine ruins and the 17th-century Aslan Pasha Mosque. Continue to Kalambaka and ascend to the Great Meteoran Monastery. As the oldest,
most impressive and highest of the six remaining 14th-century Meteora monasteries, it’s the best place to watch as the sun sets over this remarkable landscape. Overnight at the Amalia Hotel. meals b+l+d
Meteora Monasteries DAY 7 | + Heraclea + Skopje
Seemingly suspended in the air, the monasteries of Meteora were built atop towering sandstone pinnacles. Continue your touring this morning at St. Trinity Monastery, one of
the most beautiful. At Heraclea Lyncestis, an archaeologist leads your tour of this city founded by King Philip II of Macedon. At the Tikves Winery, sample their fine wines before a dinner with selected pairings. Continue to the Marriott Hotel in Skopje. meals b+l+d
DAY 8 | To Ohrid, Macedonia Visit the imposing Skopje Fortress
and 15th-century Stone Bridge. Then meet a young artist to learn about the city’s modern spirit and browse in the old bazaar. Enjoy a free afternoon in the lakeside town of Ohrid and spend two nights at the City Palace Hotel. meals b+l+d
DAY9| AncientOhrid
Your full-day tour in one of
Europe’s oldest cities reveals rarely-studied chapters of history and remarkable cultural treasures of the Renaissance, Byzantine and Slavic eras. Meet a local artisan to
learn about Macedonia’s enduring traditions before a lake cruise and lunch. This afternoon, visit the
St. Naum Monastery, a Byzantine church set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake. meals b+l+d
DAY10 BacktoTirana |
On the return journey to Tirana, stop in the timeless village of Labinot to experience a slice of rural Albanian life. Continue to Elbasan and dine within the old fortress walls before a tour of this 15th-century landmark. Continue to Tirana for another night at the Hotel Plaza. meals b+l+d
DAY 1 1 Depart Tirana |
Transfer to the airport for your onward journey. meals b
MEET OUR TRIP LEADER ALEXANDER
With his Masters in Archaeology from the University of Tirana, our Trip Leader Alexander is delighted to share his knowledge of Balkan history with our guests. But beyond his passion for the heritage of his native lands, he delights our trav- elers with his engaging demeanor, attentive ways, and the deeply personal cultural insights which he brings to their travels.
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forPrivateorCustomJourneysCALL 800-221-2216
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