Day 1

Sunday, May 30, 2027 — Land program begins. After customs and baggage claim, meet your tour leader at Skopje International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Skopje is the capital of North Macedonia—a modern city of almost one million and the country’s political, economic, educational, and cultural center. Rest after your journey. Tour briefing, then welcome dinner at a local restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.

• •Airport meet-and-greet and transfer
• •Tour briefing
• •Welcome dinner (included)
• •Overnight: Skopje Marriott Hotel (or similar)

Day 2

Monday, May 31, 2027 — After breakfast, depart for Matka Canyon for a boat trip to visit Vrelo Cave (easily accessible for visitors). Lunch is arranged outdoors inside the canyon when weather allows you to enjoy the setting; if conditions worsen, lunch moves to a farm-to-table restaurant in the nearby village of Shishevo. Back in Skopje, take a walking sightseeing tour of the center (Old Bazaar, central square, pedestrian Makedonija), then free time. Optional dinner with wine tasting at a nearby wine bar.

• •Boat trip in Matka Canyon to Vrelo Cave
• •Lunch in the canyon or Shishevo, per conditions (included)
• •Guided walking tour of central Skopje; free time
• •Optional wine-bar dinner (not included)
• •Included: breakfast (hotel), lunch. Dinner in Skopje not included unless you join the optional evening
• •Overnight: Skopje Marriott Hotel (or similar)

Day 3

Tuesday, June 1, 2027 — After breakfast, depart by coach from Skopje toward Ohrid. En route, visit the Monastery of Bigorski (optional lunch at the monastery restaurant—not included). Afternoon arrival in Ohrid; check-in within the old town. Guided walking tour of the UNESCO-protected old town (Upper Gate, Church of Perivlepta, Ancient Theatre, King Samuil’s Fortress, Church of St Sophia). Dinner at a small family-owned restaurant by the lake in the old town.

• •Visit Monastery of Bigorski en route
• •Guided sightseeing in Ohrid old town
• •Dinner by the lake (included)
• •Included: breakfast (hotel), dinner. Lunch near Bigorski not included unless you choose the optional monastery meal
• •Overnight: Villa & Spa Chunarot (or similar)

Day 4

Wednesday, June 2, 2027 — Breakfast at a local restaurant by the lake. Private pontoon cruise along the east coast of Lake Ohrid, including the Monastery of St Naum and the Bay of Bones Museum. Lunch in the coastal village of Trpejca. Late afternoon: wine tasting at a boutique winery in the village of Openica, then home-cooked dinner at the family home of Marina and Trene in Kuratica.

• •Full-day pontoon cruise on Lake Ohrid (St Naum, Bay of Bones)
• •Lunch in Trpejca (included)
• •Wine tasting in Openica; dinner in Kuratica (included)
• •Included: breakfast (local restaurant), lunch, dinner
• •Overnight: Villa & Spa Chunarot (or similar)

Day 5

Thursday, June 3, 2027 — Breakfast at a nearby local restaurant by the lake, then checkout and transfer to Krushevo. En route, coffee break in Prilep’s old bazaar. Guided sightseeing in Krushevo—historically the key Macedonian stronghold during the 1903 Ilinden rebellion against the Ottomans. Lunch in Krushevo; afternoon at leisure. Dinner optional.

• •Prilep old bazaar (coffee break)
• •Guided sightseeing in Krushevo
• •Included: breakfast (local restaurant), lunch. Dinner in Krushevo optional / not included
• •Overnight: Panorama Spa, Krushevo

Day 6

Friday, June 4, 2027 — Breakfast, then checkout and transfer from Krushevo toward Kastoria via Bitola. In Bitola, visit Heraclea Lyncestis—ruins of a city founded by Philip II of Macedon—and explore the pedestrian center (optional lunch in Bitola, not included). Afternoon transfer to Kastoria, Greece, known for its fur trade and many Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches. Free time, then included dinner at a local restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.

• •Guided time in Bitola; Heraclea Lyncestis archaeological site
• •Welcome dinner in Kastoria (included)
• •Included: breakfast (hotel), dinner. Lunch in Bitola not included
• •Overnight: Doltso Hotel, Kastoria

Day 7

Saturday, June 5, 2027 — After breakfast, checkout for more adventure. Morning sightseeing walking tour in Kastoria and its surroundings—the Dispilio neolithic settlement and Dragon Cave (one of the most impressive caves in Greece). Transfer toward Veria, nicknamed “Little Jerusalem” for its many Byzantine churches and as a pilgrimage site where the Apostle Paul preached in 50 AD. Stop for lunch at a restaurant by Lake Vegoritida. Free time and overnight in Veria; evening on your own.

• •Kastoria walking tour; Dispilio settlement & Dragon Cave
• •Lunch by Lake Vegoritida (included)
• •Included: breakfast (hotel), lunch. Dinner in Veria not included
• •Overnight: Olganos VL Luxury Rooms & Suites, Veria

Day 8

Sunday, June 6, 2027 — After breakfast, checkout. Morning walking tour with a local guide exploring the legacy of St Paul in Veria. Continue to Vergina to visit the royal tombs of Philip II (UNESCO World Heritage). Optional lunch in Vergina (not included), then onward to Thessaloniki for free time. Dinner in Thessaloniki is on your own.

• •Guided sightseeing in Veria (St Paul)
• •Visit royal tombs at Vergina
• •Afternoon and evening in Thessaloniki (dinner not included)
• •Included: breakfast (hotel). Lunch in Vergina optional; dinner in Thessaloniki not included
• •Overnight: The Maroon Bottle Luxury Suites (or similar), Thessaloniki

Day 9

Monday, June 7, 2027 — After breakfast, checkout. Thessaloniki is Greece’s vibrant second city—Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman layers with rich food and culture. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour with a local guide. Later in the afternoon, coach transfer back to Skopje (optional en-route lunch stop in Gevgelija). Farewell dinner in Skopje’s old town.

• •Guided sightseeing in Thessaloniki
• •Coach to Skopje; optional lunch stop in Gevgelija
• •Farewell dinner in Skopje old town (included)
• •Included: breakfast (hotel), farewell dinner. Optional lunch in Gevgelija not included
• •Overnight: Skopje Marriott Hotel (or similar)

Day 10

Tuesday, June 8, 2027 — Breakfast together, then morning airport transfer to Skopje International Airport for flights home (or extend your stay—details with Martha).

• •Breakfast (included per program)
• •Timed group transfer to Skopje Airport for return flights