Greece, the Balkans & Croatia

Board your overnight flight to Athens today.

Welcome to Greece! Meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

A local guide introduces you to the ancient highlights and traditional flavors of this bustling capital, home to the world's first democracy.

• Set off on a guided walking tour of the Plaka District and the markets in the Monastiraki neighborhood
• Stop to sample a variety of cheeses and loukoumades, a type of sweet fried dough
• See the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and Erechtheion on a walking tour of the Acropolis

Enjoy a free afternoon in Athens or add an excursion.

Travel to the mountainous Delphi region for a guided tour of the legendary home of the mystical oracle. You’ll visit the Temple of Apollo where, according to legend, the gods once communicated with mortals.

Spend a free evening in Delphi or add an excursion.

Travel to the remote village of Kalambaka at the foot of the Pindus Mountains. Then, take a guided walking tour of the Meteora monasteries.

• Enter two monasteries such as Russanu, St. Stephen’s Monastery, or Varlaam
• Hike up to the monasteries to admire views from 1,000-foot-high pinnacle rocks

This afternoon, meet with local nuns for a chat about the traditions and faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church. You’ll learn more about this branch of Christianity, their lives, and the work they take part in at the monasteries.

Pass through the scenic vistas of northern Greece and cross the border into North Macedonia as you make your way to the village of Dihovo.

• Enjoy an included farm-to-table lunch of local specialities paired with local wine and brandy
• Tour the on-site organic apiary to learn about beekeeping and sample organic honey and honeycomb

Later, continue on to North Macedonia's UNESCO-recognized Lake Ohrid.

Please note: The apiary visit may be replaced with a similar culinary farm experience.

Take in all that the charming lakeside city of Ohrid has to offer on a guided tour.

• Enter Samuel’s Fortress and walk along its historic 4th-century walls
• See the Ancient Theatre of Ohrid, built in the Hellenistic style
• Walk up to the cliff-top Church of Saint John at Kaneo for panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains
• Pass by the Church of Saint Sophia and enter the National Workshop for a paper-making demonstration
• Board a boat and enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Ohrid

Then, spend the afternoon exploring the Bay of Bones Museum and the medieval Monastery of Saint Naum.

• Step inside the Bay of Bones Museum, a prehistoric settlement located on Lake Ohrid
• Sit down for a expert-led talk on local conservation efforts to protect the biodiversity of Lake Ohrid, Europe’s oldest lake
• See the resident peacocks that roam the grounds at the Monastery of Saint Naum
• Enter the monastery to view its intricate frescoes

Cross the border into Albania as you make your way to Tirana, stopping along the way to tour an Albanian winery.

• Visit Uka, an organic winery dedicated to maintaining the production of rare Albanian grapes
• Sit down for a farm-to-table lunch and enjoy a multi-course meal featuring only locally produced, organic ingredients

Then, continue on to Tirana.

Get to know the Albanian capital today on a guided tour.

• Enter Bunk’Art 1, a museum dedicated to the history of Albanian communism built in the nuclear bunker of former dictator Enver Hoxha
• Tour the museum with a guide to learn about the daily lives of Albanians during the communist period
• See Skanderbeg Square, an eponymous tribute to the Albanian national hero, and the Pyramid of Tirana
• Stroll past the 18th-century Et’hem Bey Mosque
• Walk to the New Bazaar neighborhood to learn about Tirana’s rebirth post-communism and enjoy free time in the area

Enjoy a free afternoon in Tirana or add an excursion.

Continue on to Budva, making stops along the way.

• Stop in Shkodra, a small city situated at the foot of the Albanian Alps, to step inside the hilltop Rozafa Castle
• Travel through the Lake Skadar region of Montenegro to the town of Virpazar, where you'll embark on a scenic boat ride
• Continue along the Montenegro coast to Budva, paying a visit to the charming peninsula village of Sveti Stefan en route

Sit down for an included dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

Join a local guide on a walking tour of Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic capital.

• Enter King Nichola’s Palace, the residence of Montenegro’s first and only king
• View the historic foreign embassies and Alaska Church, which was built in 1450
• See the fence made from captured enemy rifle barrels that wraps around the church

Continue to the village of Njugsi, located on the slopes of Mount Lovcen, and enter a traditional Montenegrin smokehouse to sample aged-prosciutto, cheese, and other specialities.

Enjoy stunning views of the Bay of Kotor as you drive down the winding Serpentine Road. Then, explore the scenic town of Kotor on a walking tour.

• Pass through the UNESCO-recognized medieval old town to view the ancient city walls and Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
• See the old clock tower and Orthodox Church
• Opt to hike up the section of Kotor's UNESCO-listed fortified walls located on the mountain of St. John to enjoy stunning views of the Bay of Kotor

Travel along the Bay of Kotor to the Venetian town of Perast. Here, you’ll embark on a boat trip out to the man-made islets of Saint George and Our Lady of the Rocks.

Then, leave Montenegro behind as you make your way to Croatia's Dalmatian coast.

• Visit an agriturismo in Croatia’s Konavle valley and tour the farm’s vegetable garden

• Learn about the over 500 years of family farming traditions in the valley

• Enjoy a tasting of traditional liquor and sit down for a lunch featuring products grown on the farm

  Then, continue on to Dubrovnik.

Please note: Travelers should be prepared to show their passports at the border crossing between Montenegro and Croatia.

Set on a peninsula on the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik’s massive walls have served as the city’s calling card for centuries. Today, you’ll take a guided tour.

• Stroll through the UNESCO-protected old town
• Pay a visit to the 13th-century Franciscan monastery, which boasts the most extensive library in the region
• View the Rector’s Palace and the city’s ornate cathedral

Spend a free afternoon in Dubrovnik or add an excursion.

Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to continue exploring Croatia.