Day 1 ~
Depart USA on overnight flight to Tirana, Albania.

 

Day 2 ~ Tirana, Albania
Arrival today into Mother Teresa Airport of Tirana. After immigration and customs formalities we meet our Albanian hosts who will transfer us to the hotel in Tirana. After checking into the hotel and some free time, we depart for the sightseeing tour of Tirana: visits to the Skanderbeg Square, NationalHistory Museum to get an excellent introduction to Albanian history and traditions, E’them Bey Mosque, and the clock tower.

Day 3 ~ Vlora, Albania
After breakfast we departure for  Kruja, a medieval town near Tirana. It was the center of Albanian resistance during the Ottoman invasion in the 15th century. We enter the castle in the city, which houses the Skanderbeg Museum and the Ethnographic Museum.

On the way to Berat we will make a short stop in the city of Durres for a walk along the promenade located on Adriatic sea. After Durres continue the trip to the city of Berat one of the most beautiful cities in Albania.. The approach to Berat is impressive with its typical buildings. Visit the castle and the churches protected within in powerful stone walls and other sites: “Onufri Museum”, Lead Mosque, Bachelor’s Mosque, Gorica bridge and beautiful dwellings from the 18th and 19th centuries. After Berat we visit the archeological site of Apollonia. We visit the ruins of ancient city founded by Greeks in 6th century BC; defensive walls, theater, obelisk, temples, etc. Then visit the remains of medieval monastery (museum and Byzantine church). Continue  to Vlora for overnight. The Bay of Vlora is where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas divide, giving the town a real Mediterranean feeling.

 

Day 4 ~ Saranda, Albania
This morning we continue our drive along the coast to Saranda with a breathtaking vista through the mountains, white sandy beaches, villages,  and towns as well as so called the castle of Porto Palermo, also known as the Ali Pasha Castle . Arrive in the city of Saranda and continue the trip to the ancient city of Butrint. The atmosphere here is very tranquil and unspoiled with crickets chirping among the ruins. The site is extensive and there are many things to see – the old Amphitheater, the Temple of Aesculapius, the Baptistry with colorful mosaics and the ancient city walls. Overnight in Saranda.

Day 5 ~ Korca, Albania
We drive to  Gjirokastra, a UNESCO heritage site otherwise called the “Museum City”. The characteristic houses resemble medieval towers built one on top of the other. Visit in the Argjiro castle and the house of the former ruler of Albania, Enver Hoxha. Continue the trip to the city of Korca driving through breathtaking scenery of the mountainous area of Leskovik and Kolonja. Overnight in Korca.

 

Day 6 ~ Ohrid, Macedonia
After a short drive to Macedonian border we cross the Tushemisht and enter into Macedonia for Ohrid. On the way we will  visit the Monastery of St. Naum, a popular sight, almost on the Albanian border, with wandering peacocks and well-kept grounds. Overnight in Ohrid

Day 7 ~ Ohrid, Macedonia
Ohrid is one of  the prime jewels of the Macedonian crown. UNESCO protection is assigned because of its rare environmental, scientific and cultural significance.  The lake itself is one of the world's oldest, belonging to the ranks of Lake Baikal and Lake Titicaca. The town’s history dates back to Neolithic times; much of it still can be seen in the museum or in the form of churches, castles, and other architecture. It is also home to many painters, sculptors, woodcarvers and other artisans, hidden away in many of Ohrid's tiny streets. The town of Ohrid has "a religious site for every day of the year" scattered around Lake Ohrid. The National Museum is one of the oldest on record. We will visit local artisans in woodworking, paper-making, and silver filigree. A visit to the Tsar Samoil's Fortress, dating from the ancient times and named after a medieval ruler, gives us a magnificent view of the lake. 

Day 8 ~ Sofia by way of Melnik, Bulgaria
Today our final destination is Sofia the capital of Bulgaria. We cross Macedonian/Bulgarian border and our first stop will be the city of Melnik, one of the most unusual and beautiful towns in Bulgaria,    a veritable museum with its national revival period homes and various ruins. We can also see the “sand pyramids” surrounding the village. These sand and clay formations have been eroded through the centuries to form many strange shapes. We visit the Kordopulov house – the largest residential building in the Balkans – and enjoy a wine-tasting in the cellar of the house. We continue our travel to visit the Rila Monastery UNESCO site and along the Struma river valley to Sandanski, the home town of Spartacus, and Rojen Monastery. We end our day in Sofia by passing through the small picturesque villages and valleys.

Day 9 ~ Sofia, Bulgaria
Relax this morning before we begin our tour of Sofia. Sites include the National Museum of History for an introduction to the history of Bulgaria, the Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral, St Sofia, St. George Rotunda, the Presidency, the Roman walls, the City Garden and the National Theatre, Boyana Church UNESCO site, Parliament Square, and the ruins of ancient Serdica.

Day 10 ~ Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Morning departure to the Valley of Roses, known as well as the Valley of the Thracian Kings and its centre - Kazanluk, where once 75% of the world’s attar of roses was produced. Here we will visit Thraciantomb, UNESCO site( 4-5th c B.C ). Then we drive to the  Bulgaria’s second largest city. We visit the beautifully preserved Old Plovdiv Architectural reserve. We also visit the best preserved Roman amphitheatre in the Balkans. We also see the Ethnographic Museum, Hindlian House, St. Constantine and Helena Church, the Trakart Roman Villa mosaics and the workshops of local potters.

Day 11 ~ Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Today we leave Plovdiv for Black Sea coast. En route short stop to Stara Zagora for lunch and visit the central part with the Roman ruins ( the city was founded by Thracians and renamed Augusta Trajana in honour of emperor Trajan ). We will visit the Neolithic dwellings museum (the oldest preserved in Europe). Than we drive  via Burgaz to Nessebur.

In the afternoon we visit the Bachkovo Monastery – second largest in Bulgaria, after Rila. It was built in the 11th century and its history is connected with the 3rd Crusade. On the way we see the Assenova Fortress which is the gate between Plovdiv valley and the Rhodope mountains. Return to Plovdiv for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 ~ Varna, Bulgaria
Morning tour of the Old Nessebur UNESCO town. Visit the museum and some of the Mediaeval churches. Free time for lunch. Departure along the Black Sea coast to Golden Sands. Check in at Helios Spa 4* hotel and free time to enjoy the hotel's facilities and the beach in one of the most famous Bulgarian seaside resorts. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 ~ Veliko, Turnovo, Bulgaria

Departure from Golden Sands to Varna. Visit Varna Archaeological museum to see the oldest gold found and processed by a human being ( Varn Necropolis ). Panoramic tourof the city to enjoy the architecture, via Asparuhov bridge over the channels and the Lake of Varna with the port, the Central railway station, the Theatre, the Sea Garden and the Cathedral. Departure towards the small town of Devnya to visit the Mosaics museum.

Day 14 ~ Veliko, Turnovo, Bulgaria
Today we tour the Medieval capital city of Bulgaria with visits to the Tsarevets Royal Hill and the fortress, the remains of Baldwin tower ( the leader of the 4th Crusade ) and the Patriarchs' complex. Walk along Samovodska Charshia - the street of crafts, antique shops and workshops in Veliko Turnovo. We will also drive to Arbanassi museum village and visit Nativity of Christ church. In the afternoon  we will drive  via Gabrovo and Etura Open-air Ethnographic complex to Tryavna museum town. Visit Daskalov House ( woodcarving museum).

Day 15 ~ Sinaia, Romania

Today we travel from Bulgaria to Romania through Ruse  know as the “Small Vienna” for its architecture. Here we visit the UNESCO site of Ivanovo Rock Monasteries. In the valley of the Roussenski Lom river, in north-east Bulgaria, a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries and cells developed in the vicinity of the village of Ivanovo. This is where the first hermits had dug out their cells and churches during the 12th century. The 14th-century murals testify to the exceptional skill of the artists belonging to the Tarnovo School of painting. We cross the Bulgarian/Romanian boarder at Giurgiu and continue our travels to Sinaia, Romania for dinner and overnight.

Day 16 ~ Sighisoara, Romania
Sinaia was the summer residence of the old kings of Romania. This morning we visit the Peles Castle, the former summer residence of King Carol I of Romania. It Was built between 1875 and 1883 in the neo-renaissance German style. We will continue, crossing the mountains through a beautiful scenery where the forest is interrupted from time to time by scenic clearings. We will then visit Bran Castle, set up by the Saxons upon the Wallachian – Transylvanian border of the time. Vlad the Impaler is said to have been hosted in this place once or twice. In the afternoon, we will have a walk in the old centre of Brasov, before continuing to the very core of Transylvania, to Sighisoara, where we will be accommodated in a hotel set in an old building inside the still inhabited fortress.

Day 17 ~ Gura Humorului/campulung Moldovenesc, Romania

This morning we will have a tour of the fortress in Sighisoara. Sighisoara is the only medieval citadel in Europe that is fully inhabited and mentioned in 1280 as “Castrum Sex”. Sites include the Clock Tower Museum, the Cover Stairs and the Church on the Hill. After the tour we will leave to the Northeast, crossing the Carpathians again through the scenic route that goes by the Red Lake and then along the impressive Bicaz Gorges. After continuing on the shore of Izvorul Muntelui Lake, we will drive through some very unique villages decorated with colorful house to reach the mythical land of Bukovina (Land of the Beech), annexed to the Habsburg rule between 1775 and 1918. This area is host of a multiethnic society which includes Romanians, Ukrainians, Jews and Poles.

Day 18 ~ Gura Humorului/campulung Moldovenesc, Romania
We spend the full day visiting some of the most important UNESCO monuments in Romania: the monasteries of Voronet, Sucevita,  Moldovita and Putna. The best known monastery is Voronet, nicknamed “the Sistine Chapel of the East” because of its blue scheme and the western wall painted with the “Last Judgment”. Sucevita has the greatest location, in a fairy tale-like setting. We also visit the black pottery masters workshop in Marginea.

Day 19 ~ Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania
Crossing two scenic passes, the Mestecanis and the Prislop, we leave Bukovina today to reach Maramures, the Land of Timber. Houses and churches are built of wood and local craftsmen are very good carpenters and wood carvers. The local wooden churches are also UNESCO listed, and we shall visit two of them today, the Ieud and the Poienile Izei, as well as a peaceful monastery complex, the Barsana. In the evening we will be accommodated in Elie Wiesel’s birth town, Sighetu Marmatiei.

Day 20 ~ Sibiu, Romania
In the morning we will explore Central Maramures, with a glimpse of the wooden houses and churches hosted along Coseu Valley. We will also visit the Merry Cemetery at Sapanta, the best expression of the fact that local people do not believe in death as an ending, but rather a transitory state; therefore they do not consider that one has to be sad at a funeral. This led to Master Stan Ioan Patras’ starting to paint funerary crosses in vivid colors, and placing funny epitaphs on them. After crossing a few traditional villages along the way and taking a secondary road across the mountains to Baia Mare, we will continue to the South. With a brief stop in Cluj, we will arrive in Sibiu (the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2007) in the evening.

Day 21 ~ Bucharest - Home

In the morning we will have a walk in the central squares of Sibiu, also visiting one of the most elegant residences there, the Bruckenthal, nowadays housing a great art gallery. We will then leave Sibiu and Transylvania, taking Romania’s highest asphalted road that crosses the Transylvanian Alps (Fagaras Mountains). The scenery is impressive, with glacial lakes, fir tree forests, extensive pastures and rocky cliffs. If weather does not permit this route, or if we come here during the winter closure (mid October – early July), the section between Sibiu and Curtea de Arges will be done along the scenic Olt Gorges. Then we shall go down and will visit the impressive Monastery of Curtea de Arges, haunted by a very interesting legend. In the late afternoon we shall reach Bucharest and have a panoramic tour of the city. Dinner and overnight in Bucharest.

Day 22~ Departure from Bucharest, Romania

This morning we will transfer you to the airport for home flight.