Balkan Treasures | ![]() |

10 days / 9 nights

Tirana - Ohrid - Meteora Rock Monasteries - Thessaloniki - Melnik - Sandanski - Rila Monastery - Sofia
Day 1 Tirana
Arrival to Tirana airport and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Tirana.
Day 2 Tirana
Have 2 hours by foot, departure from Taiwan center by foot, walking to bllok area or forbidden city. During communism period it was not allowed to pass there. Walk to Mother Teresa Square of Congress, check point of Postbllok, Pyramid of Tirana, National Gallery of Arts, Et'hem Bey Mosque, the square of Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeg, National Historical Museum. Near is Bunker Art 1. Free time 2 hrs. in the afternoon visit Kruja for about 3 hours museums and old Bazar. Overnight in Tirana.
Day 3 Tirana - Ohrid (140km/2,30h)
Trip through picturesque countryside, will lead you to Ohrid. You will continue to sightseeing of this charming town with its small Byzantine churches which house intact medieval frescoes. Tour starts before the monument of St. Cyril and Methodius, the two Byzantine brothers, whose work influenced the cultural development of all Slavs. They are credited with devising the first alphabet. Continue to St. Nikola and St. Bogorodica, which requires water access, located on a wooded beach. Go to Lower gate ,the entrance of the old city of Ohrid and visit City Museum – the house of Robevi Family, which I very important historic building in Ohrid. The next stop is the church St. Sofia (XI century), Antic theater (III C.B.C), which is a great monument of antique Greco-Roman culture and offers a wonderful view of Lake Ohrid. Go thought the Upper gate, where to see the church St. Virgin Mary, St.Klement and Perivleptos, completely preserved medieval monuments, famous for their extraordinary architecture and fresco paintings. Visit the Gallery of effigies and after that continue on to the Samoil’s fortress. Find Plaoshnik, 250 meters below Samuil's Fortress. It is an archaeological site and holy place in Ohrid.Overnight in Ohrid.
Day 4 Ohrid - Kalambaka, Meteora rock monasteries (280km/5h)
Drive south to Kalambaka. You will proceed to one of the most astonishing places in Greece, the Meteora rock monasteries, perched on giant rocks above the town. Visit one of these incredible monasteries to enjoy the beautiful frescoes and wonderful view. Overnight in Kalambaka.
Day 5 Kalambaka - Thessaloniki (230km/3,30h)
In the morning you will continue from Kalambaka towards northeast to Thessaloniki, the heart of Northern Greece. Have free time. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 6 Thessaloniki
Explore St. Demetrius Church . See the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia.Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 7 Thessaloniki - Melnik (140km/3h) - Sandanski (20km/30min)
Drive north, you enter Bulgaria and continue to Melnik, the town well-known for its numerous wine cellars. Visit the Kordopulov House with wine cellar with 180 m. of labyrinthine caves hewn out of rock. Proceed to Sandanski spa resort for overnight.
Day 8 Sandanski - Rila Monastery (110km/2h)- Sofia (130km/2h)
Drive north to Rila Monastery, the biggest one on the Balkan Peninsula and visit this unique place. Proceed to Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria for overnight.
Day 9 Sofia
Sightseeing of Sofia's highlights the 3rd century St George Church, St Sophia Church, and the golden domed Alexander Nevski Cathedral. See theatre Ivan Vazov, Russian Church, the Parlia¬ment the National Assembly, the Banya Bashi Mosque and the Great Synagogue The rest of the day is free. Overnight in Sofia.
Day 10 Sofia
Transfer to the airport for final departure.