Arival at Skopje airport. On our first stop in Macedonia, at the Royal Winery Queen Maria in Demir Kapija, we will have a warm welcome and a tour of the winery with wine tasting afterwards. We then continue to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Upon arrival, accommodation in hotel and dinner. After the dinner we can suggest an evening walk to explore Skopje city square with the illuminated monuments and a stroll on the promenade of River Vardar.

After Breakfast in the morning we’ll have a transfer to the Old part of Skopje. First, we will visit the Kale fortress, then the Old Bazaar, which is the second biggest in the world, after the one in Istanbul, the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, the church of St. Savior, the Kapan Han, Chifte Hammam and other unique spots. The group will enjoy a stroll in the narrow cobblestone streets filled with lots of artisan shops and oriental tastes (we kindly suggest visiting the Archaeology Museum afterwards). Coming out of the old bazaar and crossing the 15th century Stone Bridge, we will gaze on the central square with its imposing fountain monument of Alexander the Great. Follows a visit of the memorial house of Mother Theresa afterwards. We’ll then make a pause for lunch in local restaurant. In the afternoon we will visit St. Panteleimon monastery, a 12th centrury Bizantine church where the highlight is the famous fresco “The Lamentation of Christ”. According to Andrew Graham-Dixon, a British art historian and writer, these frescoes with their „…physical, electric presence…” are proof that there was more to Byzantine art than the formality and otherworldliness of its mosaic and icon tradition. In his book, Graham-Dixon questions 16th century Vasari’s beliefs that Giotto di Bondone finally turned fresco painting away from the primitive influence of Byzantium. The frescoes contained within St. Panteleimon at Nerezi are not seen as static, they had the capacity to change into something more obviously human and realistic, anticipating the West’s emphasis on depicting Christ as a man of flesh and blood by some 150 years. The lamentation of Christ fresco is described as being a fusion of life and death in a single image as Mary movingly mourns Jesus, cradling him between her legs. Graham-Dixon reminds that these frescoes from the 1160s precede Giotto’s similar emotional frescoes from the Arena Chapel in Padua, circa 1305. He concludes „…the Byzantine east played a much more formative role in the development of renaissance art than Vasari was prepared to concede.”   

After the tour we’ll head out to dinner in a local restaurant serving exceptional traditional dishes where we’ll have the opportunity to discover and enjoy some of the Macedonian Cuisine and wine.

After dinner, we’ll have transfer to the hotel for overnight.

After we’ve filled our belies in the morning we drive west to the city of Tetovo where we will visit the magnificent Painted Mosque built in 1438. The mosque is a unique and protected masterpiece, a cultural heritage from the Ottoman architecture and art. After we’ve spoiled our eyes  with the wonderfull drawings inside and out of the mosque, we continue to the National Park of Mavrovo, where we will visit the imposing Bigorski Monastery, but before, we will enjoy lunch in a museum like restaurant called the House of the Miyaks. This restaurant depicts the tradition and cultural heritage of the Miyak Macedonian tribe that is indigenous for this region.After lunch we’ll go up to the monastery for a sightseeing tour. This place is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, a well-respected saint for the Macedonian Orthodox Christians.  One of the most valuable treasures that the monastery holds is the wood carved iconostasis,  considered as one of the finest examples of wood-carved iconostases in the world.In the afternoon we will drive to the city of Ohrid. Upon arrival we’ll accommodate in a hotel to relax and refresh and then we’ll have dinner in one local restaurant by the lake.

After breakfast today we’ll do a walking tour of the Ohrid Old town which is an inseparable part of the UNESCO protected Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region. Our tour will start from the Upper Gate, from where we’ll firstly visit the Fortress of Tsar Samoil, then the St Mother of God – Perivlepta monastery, the Plaoshnik archeological complex, the St John Kaneo church, the Antic Theatre and the St Sophia Cathedral. All these attractions will paint the picture of the importance and richness of the oldest human settlement in Europe. After the tour we’ll sit and relax for lunch in a lovely restaurant in front of St. Sophia Cathedral or by the lake. After the lunch we’ll take a short drive with minibuses in order to reach the nearby villages we intend to explore. Firstly, we’ll have the opportunity to learn about village life by visiting a village and then we will visit another village where we’ll witness the process of clothes washing in “Valajca”, an ancient washing machine of sorts.After the tour, we’ll return to our hotel in Ohrid.For the evening we’ll have dinner in a local national restaurant, accompanied with live music and a folklore show.

This morning, after breakfast, we depart towards the Prespa Lake region, which is laying on the other side of Galicica Mountain, a natural barrier between the two lakes but also an underground link of the two lakes. Firstly, we will visit a small private Ethno museum, in the village of Podmocani, to hear the great story of the founder Mr Jone who spend his whole life chasing his passion which is collecting traditional dresses. His collection is impressive and the oldest dress is more than 400 years old. In his small museum we can admire the beauty and uniqueness of the exhibits and the more persistent guests can even try some traditional dress as well. After a coffee break with a lovely view of Prespa Lake we will drive through the National Park of Galichica to reach St Naum monastery, where we will enjoy lunch, a small boat tour to the springs of River Drim and hear the story and legend about the monastery and his founder Saint Naum. St. Naum is known for his miracles and inside the monastery church there is a possibility to lay down your ear on his tomb and hear his heartbeat.After the lovely day we return to our hotel in Ohrid. Free time till dinner which we’ll have in the hotel.

Today, we go east to explore the city of Bitola and then south to the Aegean Sea and the city of Thessaloniki.  Upon arrival in Bitola, we’ll do a walking tour of this “Consul city” with its impressive 19th century facades, in order to learn about its legends, it’s happy stories but also some sad stories like the one about the Jewish community. After the city tour follow a visit of Heraclea Lyncestis, an antic city built by King Filip II where we’ll learn much about this regions history and where we’ll enjoy the lovely flor mosaics. After the visit, we’ll have lunch in local restaurant and then continue our way towards Greece and Thessaloniki. Upon arrival we’ll accommodate in our hotel. In the evening we’ll have dinner in hotel.

After breakfast at hotel we drive to the ancient city of Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. Upon arrival we will visit the Archaeology Museum and the Archaeology park of Pella. Here we’ll learn about the rise and fall of the Macedonian empire. The story about the Ancient Macedonians will continue with a visit of the tomb of King Filip II and the Archaeological site of Aigai which is a UNESCO protected site. After the sightseeing tour we’ll enjoy lunch in a local restaurant in the small village of Vergina. In the afternoon we will return to Thessaloniki and have free time at leisure until it’s time for dinner in a local Greek restaurant.

After the breakfast at the hotel we’ll meet with our special storyteller for Thessaloniki. The walking tour will begin on the hills of the city with the visit of the Byzantine walls and the Vlatadon Monastery, from where we will enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the city. The tour will continue with the visit of Osios David, a 5th century orthodox church with amazing mosaic of Jesus depicted as a teenager which is a very rare site, then follows a short walk to Prophet Elias church, from the 14th century and then the downhill walk will finish with a visit of St. Demetrious church. All of the above mentioned are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage. Our coach will then take us to lunch in a local restaurant. Afterwards well continue the tour with a visit of the Rotonda, the Arc of Galerius and the St. Sophia Church.’Once we’ve finished the exploration of Thessaloniki, we’ll have free time at leisure until the time for dinner comes. Todays dinner will be in a lovely ambient in one of the restaurants on the famous Ladadika street.

On our breakfast today we’ll have the opportunity to talk and share our thoughts and impressions of the tour with our throughout guide, host and cicerone. Transfer to the airport. Farewells and goodbyes with the guide and driver before departure.