We’ll depart by coach with our guides to visit the sights of the island of Corfu. First of all you will visit the Achilleon Palace, built between 1889 and 1891 following the orders of Empress Elisabeth (better known as "Sisi") in honor of her favorite Greek hero, Achilles. The neo-classical palace is dedicated to Achilles and the Iliad and is decorated, as are the gardens, with numerous classical statues including the "Dying Achilles", the emblem of the residence.

As the Achilleion is currently closed for restoration, the visit is replaced by that of the Corfu's archaeological museum. The archaeological museum boasts a number of pieces, including the famous statue of the Gorgon that once adorned the temple of Artemis. It is said to be one of the best-preserved archaic pieces in Greece. All the works on display date from antiquity, more specifically from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenic and Roman periods.

The visit will continue by coach through the Kanoni peninsula, an extraordinarily beautiful site. You will be able to admire an unforgettable view where all the shades of blue and green mingle, in the sky, the sea and the nature of Corfu. Off the coast of Kanoni is an island on which stands the Vlacherna monastery and the famous Pontikonissi Island (Mouse Island), with the Church of Pantokrator. According to legend, Mouse island is said to be Ulysses' mythical ship which Poseidon turned to stone, as Homer tells us in the Odyssey.

The visit will end with a walking tour down the winding streets in the island's capital, Corfu City, whose Old Town developed in a confined space, between two fortresses and encircled by ramparts. You will visit St Spyridon church, the city's most famous monument built at the end of the 16th century and whose interior will stun you with the splendor of its Byzantine icons.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We’ll depart by coach with our guides to visit the sights of the island of Corfu. First of all you will visit the Achilleon Palace, built between 1889 and 1891 following the orders of Empress Elisabeth (better known as "Sisi") in honor of her favorite Greek hero, Achilles. The neo-classical palace is dedicated to Achilles and the Iliad and is decorated, as are the gardens, with numerous classical statues including the "Dying Achilles", the emblem of the residence.

As the Achilleion is currently closed for restoration, the visit is replaced by that of the Corfu's archaeological museum. The archaeological museum boasts a number of pieces, including the famous statue of the Gorgon that once adorned the temple of Artemis. It is said to be one of the best-preserved archaic pieces in Greece. All the works on display date from antiquity, more specifically from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenic and Roman periods.

The visit will continue by coach through the Kanoni peninsula, an extraordinarily beautiful site. You will be able to admire an unforgettable view where all the shades of blue and green mingle, in the sky, the sea and the nature of Corfu. Off the coast of Kanoni is an island on which stands the Vlacherna monastery and the famous Pontikonissi Island (Mouse Island), with the Church of Pantokrator. According to legend, Mouse island is said to be Ulysses' mythical ship which Poseidon turned to stone, as Homer tells us in the Odyssey.

The visit will end with a walking tour down the winding streets in the island's capital, Corfu City, whose Old Town developed in a confined space, between two fortresses and encircled by ramparts. You will visit St Spyridon church, the city's most famous monument built at the end of the 16th century and whose interior will stun you with the splendor of its Byzantine icons.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Stari Bar, meaning “Old Bar,” is located a few miles from the newer city of Bar at the foot of Mount Rumija. Although Stari Bar was abandoned after the 1979 earthquake because the aqueduct that supplied water to the town was damaged, it was restored some years later and the population began to return. The walls along Stari Bar contain some fascinating ruins, including the foundations of St. George Cathedral, the Church of St. John, and the Church of St. Verenada. Enjoy some free time to stroll about the town on your own.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Stari Bar, meaning “Old Bar,” is located a few miles from the newer city of Bar at the foot of Mount Rumija. Although Stari Bar was abandoned after the 1979 earthquake because the aqueduct that supplied water to the town was damaged, it was restored some years later and the population began to return. The walls along Stari Bar contain some fascinating ruins, including the foundations of St. George Cathedral, the Church of St. John, and the Church of St. Verenada. Enjoy some free time to stroll about the town on your own.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Berat is one of the highlights when visiting Albania, whose most striking feature is the white houses climbing up the hill to its castle. The center of Berat is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains rare examples of Ottoman-style architecture. The old quarter contains lovely ensembles of whitewashed walls, tiled roofs and cobblestone roads. Although Berat is now a major tourist site, it has managed to retain its easy-going charm and friendly atmosphere. Don't miss it! We'll enjoy lunch during our excursion and then continue on to the largest archaeological site in Albania: Apollonia. Apollonia was founded in 588 B.C. by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth. The city flourished during Roman rule and was home to a renowned school of philosophy. Julius Caesar rewarded Apollonia with the status of “free city” for supporting him during the Great Roman Civil War. The future Emperor Augustus completed his studies here. The picturesque ruins within the city walls include a small theatre and the elegant pillars on the restored facade of the city's administrative center.

PLEASE NOTE

• Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Berat is one of the highlights when visiting Albania, whose most striking feature is the white houses climbing up the hill to its castle. The center of Berat is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains rare examples of Ottoman-style architecture. The old quarter contains lovely ensembles of whitewashed walls, tiled roofs and cobblestone roads. Although Berat is now a major tourist site, it has managed to retain its easy-going charm and friendly atmosphere. Don't miss it! We'll enjoy lunch during our excursion and then continue on to the largest archaeological site in Albania: Apollonia. Apollonia was founded in 588 B.C. by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth. The city flourished during Roman rule and was home to a renowned school of philosophy. Julius Caesar rewarded Apollonia with the status of “free city” for supporting him during the Great Roman Civil War. The future Emperor Augustus completed his studies here. The picturesque ruins within the city walls include a small theatre and the elegant pillars on the restored facade of the city's administrative center.

PLEASE NOTE

• Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

For this excursion, we’ll leave Saranda and head inland, crossing the Bistricë River and the vast Vrina Plain before arriving at the salt lagoon known as Lake Butrint. We’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint, once part of the Greek and Roman colonies. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the city experienced a great period of prosperity under Byzantine rule. The most ancient objects found at the archaeological site are a stone hammer and a shaft belonging to the latter part the second millennium BCE. There are also many extraordinary Greek objects, including statues of their gods. The first modern archaeological excavations began in 1928 when Benito Mussolini sent an expedition to extend Italian dominance into the area. The excavations, which continued through 1943, uncovered the Hellenistic and Roman part of the ancient city including the "Lion Gate" and the "Scaean Gate." The most interesting ancient Greek monument is the theater, which is fairly well preserved. The major ruin from the paleo-Christian era is the baptistery, an ancient Roman monument adapted to the cultural needs of Christianity. In the 5th century, Butrint became an Episcopal center, only to be abandoned several centuries later. It was reconstructed under Byzantine control in the 9th century.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

For this excursion, we’ll leave Saranda and head inland, crossing the Bistricë River and the vast Vrina Plain before arriving at the salt lagoon known as Lake Butrint. We’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint, once part of the Greek and Roman colonies. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the city experienced a great period of prosperity under Byzantine rule. The most ancient objects found at the archaeological site are a stone hammer and a shaft belonging to the latter part the second millennium BCE. There are also many extraordinary Greek objects, including statues of their gods. The first modern archaeological excavations began in 1928 when Benito Mussolini sent an expedition to extend Italian dominance into the area. The excavations, which continued through 1943, uncovered the Hellenistic and Roman part of the ancient city including the "Lion Gate" and the "Scaean Gate." The most interesting ancient Greek monument is the theater, which is fairly well preserved. The major ruin from the paleo-Christian era is the baptistery, an ancient Roman monument adapted to the cultural needs of Christianity. In the 5th century, Butrint became an Episcopal center, only to be abandoned several centuries later. It was reconstructed under Byzantine control in the 9th century.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

The former Republic of Ragusa is famous for its medieval walls and its wide variety of historical architecture.

We'll visit the Dominican Friary, its lovely Gothic cloister, and its extraordinary museum of religious art - with several valuable paintings, including a triptych by Nikola Bozidarevic depicting Dubrovnik before the great earthquake of 1667. We'll then see the Rector's Palace, once the seat of the government and now a museum housing furniture, portraits, coats of arms, paintings, coins, and the original keys to the city gates. We'll also visit the cathedral which keeps in its core gold and silver reliquaries as well as paintings from Titian’s workshop, before moving on to the Onofrio Fountains and Sponza Palace, a superb Gothic-Renaissance structure.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

The former Republic of Ragusa is famous for its medieval walls and its wide variety of historical architecture.

We'll visit the Dominican Friary, its lovely Gothic cloister, and its extraordinary museum of religious art - with several valuable paintings, including a triptych by Nikola Bozidarevic depicting Dubrovnik before the great earthquake of 1667. We'll then see the Rector's Palace, once the seat of the government and now a museum housing furniture, portraits, coats of arms, paintings, coins, and the original keys to the city gates. We'll also visit the cathedral which keeps in its core gold and silver reliquaries as well as paintings from Titian’s workshop, before moving on to the Onofrio Fountains and Sponza Palace, a superb Gothic-Renaissance structure.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Join us for an excursion to Gjirokastër, one of the most beautiful sites in Albania. Its castle, which is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent structures in Gjirokastër, sits on a rocky bluff with the city stretching out around it. This “City of Stone” is also comprised of hundreds of Ottoman-style tower homes with distinctive stone roofs, wooden balconies, and whitewashed stone walls. We’ll visit the castle and the National Museum of Armaments located inside, which houses various arms from the neolithic period to World War II. We’ll also enjoy a tasting of some local products.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Join us for an excursion to Gjirokastër, one of the most beautiful sites in Albania. Its castle, which is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent structures in Gjirokastër, sits on a rocky bluff with the city stretching out around it. This “City of Stone” is also comprised of hundreds of Ottoman-style tower homes with distinctive stone roofs, wooden balconies, and whitewashed stone walls. We’ll visit the castle and the National Museum of Armaments located inside, which houses various arms from the neolithic period to World War II. We’ll also enjoy a tasting of some local products.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We’ll hit the road for Tirana, nestled between Dajti Peak and the coastal plains. We'll first visit the National History Museum, which takes you chronologically from ancient Illyria to the post-communist era. The museum is divided into pavilions, each portraying the diversity of Albanian history, including the Antiquity, Middle Ages, Ottoman Occupation and Albanian Resistance, as well as its independence from Turkey in 1912. There are two pavilions dedicated to the rise of fascism and the consequent era of communist terror. Bringing inspiration through all this, is the final pavilion dedicated to Mother Theresa’s life and work. Tirana's National History Museum is currently closed for restoration. The visit will be replaced by a visit to the Bunk'Art museum. This former nuclear shelter now houses a museum retracing the history of modern Albania, from the Italian assault of 1839 to the collapse of Communism, which you will discover through old photographs and original documents. After our visit, we’ll set out on foot for Skanderbeg Square, the city center surrounded by important government buildings, as well as the historic Et'hem Bey Mosque.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We’ll hit the road for Tirana, nestled between Dajti Peak and the coastal plains. We'll first visit the National History Museum, which takes you chronologically from ancient Illyria to the post-communist era. The museum is divided into pavilions, each portraying the diversity of Albanian history, including the Antiquity, Middle Ages, Ottoman Occupation and Albanian Resistance, as well as its independence from Turkey in 1912. There are two pavilions dedicated to the rise of fascism and the consequent era of communist terror. Bringing inspiration through all this, is the final pavilion dedicated to Mother Theresa’s life and work. Tirana's National History Museum is currently closed for restoration. The visit will be replaced by a visit to the Bunk'Art museum. This former nuclear shelter now houses a museum retracing the history of modern Albania, from the Italian assault of 1839 to the collapse of Communism, which you will discover through old photographs and original documents. After our visit, we’ll set out on foot for Skanderbeg Square, the city center surrounded by important government buildings, as well as the historic Et'hem Bey Mosque.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.