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Itinerary
In the Footsteps of Philip, Alexander the Great,
St. Paul and Beyond:
Three Balkan Countries
Greece, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Bulgaria
June 11–26, 2010
| Program description | Print-friendly itinerary |
Friday, June 11
Group flight departs Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Saturday, June 12
Arrive Thessaloniki (D)
On arrival in Thessaloniki, we are met by our national guide and driver, who will stay with us for the duration of the program. Transfer in our private coach to the hotel.
Known as “Greece’s Second City” and “Mother of Macedonia,” Thessaloniki lies in a wonderful location along the broad expanse of the Thermaic Gulf. You can often see Mt. Olympus in the distance. While Athens languished, Thessaloniki flourished. The city’s strategic location on the main land route from Europe to Asia made it a powerful city during the Roman Empire. Thessaloniki’s greatest pride — its superb and enduring churches — were built during the Byzantine Empire.
Walking orientation tour of central Thessaloniki. Group dinner and overnight in four-star Mediterranean Palace or similar.
Sunday, June 13
Thessaloniki/Day Excursion (B, D)
Day Excursion to Pella to visit the remains of the ancient capital city of Alexander the Great and the museum with its unique pavement mosaics. Return to Thessaloniki for a broader city tour including the archaeological museum, White Tower, Rotunda, Roman Agora, the walls of the town, and the church of St. Demetrius (patron saint of the city). Lunch on your own. Group dinner in a selected ouzeri. Overnight in the hotel Mediterranean Palace or similar.
Monday, June 14
Thessaloniki/Day Excursion (B, D)
Day Excursion to Vergina to visit the Royal Tomb of King Philip II and the museum. Continue to Verroia to visit the monument of St. Paul, who preached here. Lunch on your own here or in Edessa, famous for its waterfalls. Afternoon return to Thessaloniki. Group dinner and overnight in hotel Mediterranean Palace or similar.
Tuesday, June 15
Thessaloniki – Ohrid (B, D)
Drive to Ohrid, in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Ohrid is a charm-filled old town with red-roofed houses, sidewalk cafés, and rustic fish restaurants surrounding the world’s second deepest lake after Lake Baikal in Russia. Ohrid is acclaimed as one of the true beauty spots in all of Europe, and UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. (Descriptions from frommers.com)
Walking tour of Ohrid. Lunch on your own. Group dinner and overnight in first class hotel Millennium or Donco.
Wednesday, June 16
Ohrid (B, D)
Guided tour of the monument of St. Cyril and Methodius, Upper and Lower Gates, city museum, churches of St. Sofia, Virgin Mary and St. Clement, the ancient theater, Perivleptos (“Mother of God the Most Glorious,” a completely preserved medieval monument), Samoils fortress, and Ohrid’s marketplace. Lunch on your own and some free time. Group dinner and overnight in Ohrid.
Thursday, June 17
Ohrid (B, D)
Visit the church and beautifully renovated monastery of St. Naum. The original church and monastery were built in 900 by St. Naum, a pilgrim, buried in 910 in a small beautifully frescoed chapel. Continue to Bitola for lunch (pay on your own), and then visit ancient Heraclea, famous for its dazzling mosaics, ancient theater and Roman baths, and perhaps the most vividly preserved city from ancient times surviving in the country. Founded in the 4th century B.C.E. and conquered by the Romans two centuries later, it was built on the Via Egnatia and became one of the key stations on this trading route. Lunch on your own. Return to Ohrid for group dinner and overnight in Ohrid.
Friday, June 18
Ohrid — Sofia (B, D)
Transfer to Stobi, an impressive, ancient Greek-Hellenistic-Roman city with important buildings still in place, such as theater/temples, the agora, and Byzantine ruins. Lunch on your own. Continue to Bulgaria and on to the capital city Sofia for a short city tour before group dinner and overnight in the four star Dedeman Princess or Rodina Hotel.
Saturday, June 19
Sofia — Kavalla (B, D)
City tour of Sofia, including a visit of the impressive Russian Orthodox Church. Start our drive back toward Greece, visiting the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and possibly the most impressive monastery of Bulgaria. Lunch on your own. Continue to Kavalla on the sea for group dinner and overnight at the Hotel Lucy or similar.
Sunday, June 20
Kavalla/Day Excursion (B, D)
Transfer to Philippi, where St. Paul was imprisoned, to visit the Roman agora and the basilicas, and the place where Lydia was baptized. Lunch on your own. Group dinner and overnight at Hotel Lucy or similar.
Monday, June 21
Kavalla — Alexandroupolis (B, D)
Ferry to Thassos for a visit to the city ruins, the small archaeological museum, the ancient theater, and the ancient marble quarries at Alykes. Lunch on your own, perhaps in one of the fishing taverns. On the way back to the port we stop at the monastery of Archangel Michael, built on a cliff overlooking the sea. Ferry back to the mainland and transfer to Alexandroupolis. Group dinner and overnight at first class Hotel Alexander Beach or similar.
Tuesday, June 22
Alexandroupolis — Samothrace (B, D)
Ferry or hydrofoil to Samothrace (subject to timetables and weather) to visit the sanctuary of the Great God with its vast area of temples and buildings visited by dignitaries from ancient Greek and Roman times. From here the statue Winged Victory of Samothrace was taken to the Louvre Museum. Lunch on your own. Group dinner and overnight at the hotel Kastro or similar.
Wednesday, June 23
Samothrace — Alexandroupolis (B, D)
If ferry schedules permit, visit the mountain village of Fonias before returning by ferry to Alexandroupolis. Lunch on your own. Group dinner and overnight at Hotel Alexander Beach or similar.
Thursday, June 24
Alexandroupolis/Day Excursion (B, D)
Visit the Dadia sanctuary for birds of prey. At the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, Dadia is on one of the two main bird migration routes in Europe and has a unique mosaic of habitats. Continue to the Evros River delta at the border of Greece and Turkey, a classic spot for birdwatchers because of its 330 different species. Group dinner and overnight at Hotel Alexander Beach or similar. (We may travel half-way or so to Thessaloniki today and overnight en route. This plan will be confirmed well before departure.)
Friday, June 25
Alexandroupolis — Thessaloniki (B, D)
Travel to Thessaloniki by way of Mesimbria Zoni, where we stop to visit the ancient city, and Komotini. Farewell group dinner and overnight at Mediterranean Palace or similar.
Saturday, June 26
Return to the United States (B)
Breakfast and transfer by private coach to the airport for return flights to the U.S.
Register
Register online, call toll-free 866-255-6523 or fax 507-786-8232. A deposit of $500 per person guarantees your space.
