Northern Greece: Along The Via Egnatia

Having met at our city centre hotel and had a light lunch and an introductory briefing from our tour leader, we will start our walking tour of Thessaloniki, a city with over 2,500 years of history. On the course of the tour we will visit such highlights as Aristotelous Square, the White Tower – probably the most iconic building in the city – the 4th century AD Rotonda and the Arch of Galerius. After returning to our hotel for a rest and change we’ll head out to a restaurant for both dinner and live music.

Today we take a tour back in history as we take in two of the most important archaeological sites of northern Greece - Pella, the glorious kingdom of ancient Macedonia, and Vergina, the ancient first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia. We depart first for the village of Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, and visit the archaeological site and the museum. The excavations have brought to light the interesting findings of the ancient city, exhibited at the local museum. Here we'll marvel at the mosaic floors that used to decorate the city's grand mansions – the most famous are the ones depicting the Abduction of Helen, Rapture, the Amazonomachy (the battle of Amazons), and the Deer Hunt. From here we head to Vergina, the ancient capital of the Macedonian Kingdom, which is now home to one of the most impressive museums of Greece. We'll visit the museum, which contains the royal tomb of King Phillip II, Alexander the Great’s father, along with other artefacts of an incredible beauty and value. From here we will head on to one of the highlights of the tour, the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Meteora.

This morning after breakfast we will hike the trails with our local guide, see several monasteries and experience the most captivating views from the summit of this famous landmark. Following in the footsteps of the first monks who arrived here more than 15 centuries ago, the walk offers a grand way of seeing the unique rock formations and to learn the history of the region. Having visited various monasteries, we’ll walk down the old footpath back into town and take lunch in a small tavern. The afternoon will be free to enjoy the region on your own, Dinner, although not included, will be at a local restaurant with spectacular views of Meteora.

Total distance 5kms, 320m ascent / 380m descent. Approx 4hrs

This morning we will leave Meteora and drive into the Pindos Mountains to the village of Metsovo, a town famous for its agriculture and artisan products such as wine and cheese. From here we will do a beautiful circular walk along the Ursa Trail through stunning natural landscapes. After our walk we will head to the Katogi winery for a wine tasting tour paired with cheese and pie platters and will then have the rest of the afternoon at leisure, where you can explore the cobblestone alleys of Metsovo.
Total distance 8km, 430m ascent / 430 descend. Approx 3hrs

After breakfast today, we will begin our journey to the pretty lakeside town of Kastoria, a place famous for both its wildlife and it Byzantine churches and one that has been inhabited for nearly 2,000 years. Here we will take a wander through the village to visit some of the 11th, 12th and 13th century churches and well as along the lakeshore to spot some of the region's many birds, which include pygmy cormorants, pelicans and herons. The walk will finish with a tasting of many local delicacies and liqueurs. After lunch we will walk via the Dragon's cave and on to the monastery of Virgin Mary Mauriotissa (3km walk). Dinner will be at a small local restaurant.

Today we will discover Prespa Lakes, which are situated right on the Via Egnatia! We will start the day with a hike around the traditional town of Agios Germanos enjoying the narrow cobbled alleyways, 1000 year old church and fully restored watermill (2.5km trail). We will then move on to our next trail the Agios Achillios, this hike loops around the island of Agios Achillios which is famed for its basilica built in 10th century AD (4km trail). This afternoon we will then head to Psarades to enjoy a boat trip on the Megali Prespa lake. Here you can expect to encounter giant pelicans and post-Byzantine frescos on the rocks. We will then head back to Kastoria for dinner with live traditional music.

This morning we head off on another adventure, driving over three hours from Kastoria to Lake Kerkini. Although something of a long drive we will break this journey with a stop along the way at Nymphaio Bear Sanctuary and Greece’s highest waterfall at Edessa. Firstly we will visit the bear sanctuary, a shelter for orphaned and rescued bears where we support the conservation efforts for the brown bear, and here we can spend an hour being shown around. Next we move on to Edessa, which holds a special place in the history of the Greek world as, according to some ancient sources, it was here that Caranus established the first capital of ancient Macedon. Later, under the Byzantine Empire, Edessa benefited from its strategic location, controlling the Via Egnatia as it enters the Pindus mountains, and the town became a centre of medieval Greek culture, famed for its strong walls and fortifications. We will enjoy lunch in a tavern in Edessa before driving on to Lake Kerkini. Here we will take a boat tour on the lake to view some of the region's impressive and varied birdlife. Depending on weather conditions the boat tour may take place this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Dinner tonight will be in a local tavern where we can enjoy local produce.

First up today we step deep into Greek mythology by visiting one of the most impressive caves in Europe. According to Greek mythology, the Sphinx made her appearance at the Gorge of Aggites that traverses the Alistratis Cave area. Myth also mentions Pluto, the god of the Underworld, bringing the kidnapped Persephone, the daughter of goddess Demeter, to this natural ravine where a Gate to the Underworld existed. We will have a picnic lunch before visiting the famous archaeological UNESCO World Heritage site of Philippi. Founded in 356 BC by the Macedonian King Philip II, the city developed as a “small Rome” following the Battle of Philippi, in 42 BC and the succession of Rome. The vibrant Hellenistic city of Philip II, of which the walls and their gates, the theatre and the funerary temple are still to be seen, was supplemented with Roman public buildings such as the Forum and a monumental terrace with temples to its north. Following the visit of the Apostle Paul in 49-50 AD, the city became a centre of the Christian faith and the remains of its basilicas constitute an exceptional testimony to the early establishment of Christianity. And from here we head on to the sea at Kavala with the opportunity to have dinner (not included in tour price) at a restaurant overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Today we will slow the pace down after a busy few days. This morning we take a walking tour of the Old City (Panayia), including visits to some of the city’s highlights such as the Castle, Acropolis, the Imaret and the Old Lighthouse. We will then head to Mohammed Ali square, the landmark of the Old City, and named for Mohammed Ali, the General and founder of the Egyptian dynasty. The square is dominated by his statue created in Paris by the famous Greek sculptor Konstantinos Dimitriadis. We visit Mohammed Ali’s house, now a museum, which is considered to be one of the most splendid examples of eighteenth century Ottoman architecture in Greece. Please note that Ali's house can be closed without prior notice so it may only be possible to view from the outside. After the morning tour you will have the rest of the day for some personal exploration. You may choose to visit the nearby beach for a swim in the azure blue waters or enjoy a Hammam or massage treatment at Imaret. Alternatively you may want to wander through the old town and soak up the traditional atmosphere. This evening we will have our farewell dinner in a Greek tavern overlooking the Mediterranean sea.

This morning we will have some time at leisure in Kavala. Later this afternoon we will then transfer to Thessaloniki Airport for departure flights and onward journeys.