South of Albania and Macedonia

South of Albania and Macedonia

Ioannina in Northern Greece and
International airport Corfu

Friday, May 22 ÇƒÏ Monday, June 1, 2009 Çƒ¢ $4940 from JFK via Olympic Airlines

Preliminary Day by Day Itinerary

May 22 DEPART JFK
Friday
Meet your traveling companions at JFKÇƒÙs International Airport as we prepare for our Albanian adventure! Our small group of no more than 15 travelers will depart for Athens at 4:30 PM. Meals will be served en route.

May 23 ATHENS
Saturday IOANNINA (ya-ni-na)
We arrive in Athens at 9:00 AM. Day rooms will be reserved and ready for check-in at the Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel. Most of the day will be at your leisure for rest or exploring Athens prior to our short flight north at 6:00 PM. We then arrive in Ioannina at 7:10 PM. Accommodations tonight will be at the beautiful Epirus Palace. Dinner will be at a local restaurant this evening, near the lake.

D ***** Epirus Palace

May 24 SARANDA
Sunday BUTRINT
This morning we make a scenic drive via private coach approximately 1.5 hours from Ioannina, Greece to Saranda, Albania. Upon arrival in Saranda, we will eat breakfast and then begin our journey to the National Park of Butrint.

Butrint National Park is both a city and an archeological site in Albania, close to the Greek border. It was known anciently as Bouthroton in Ancient Greek and Buthrotum in Latin. It is located on a hill overlooking the Vivari Channel. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Butrint has been the site of an Epirot city, a Roman colony and a bishopric.

We will enjoy lunch in the park or on Ksamil Beach. Dinner this evening will be at Likursi Castle.

B-L-D ***** Hotel Butrinti

May 25 BUTRINT
Monday KSAMIL ISLAND
After breakfast this morning, we make our way to the Butrint National Park once again to attend an enlightening presentation and lecture at the Ancient Theater. A special visit will be arranged at the new excavations of the Roman Colony of Butrint within the Vrina Plain. Afterwards, we will enjoy lunch at Restaurant Livia, which is inside the park. This afternoon we will visit the Excavations of Saranda Synagogue.

The synagogue, which dates from the 5th or 6th century C.E., is located in the city of Saranda, a coastal city in Albania, opposite the Greek island of Corfu. The synagogue underwent various periods of use, including its conversion into a church at its last stage, prior to being abandoned. Initial excavations at the site were conducted some 20 years ago. At that time, the building was identified as a church. However, additional rooms excavated recently adjoining the elongated hall whose mosaic floors depict such features as a seven-branched candelabrum (menorah), flanked by a citron (etrog) and a ram's horn (shofar). All symbols which are associated with Jewish holidays.

The newly exposed rooms (which in fact were an extension of elongated hall) contain more of the decorative mosaic paving, including representations of fish, a popular theme in the ancient world. The construction of the basilica, close to the elongated hall, was the last major development of the synagogue.

We will enjoy dinner tonight once again at the Lekursi Castle

B-L-D ***** Hotel Butrinti

May 26 PHOINICE
Tuesday EPIRUS
SARANDA
After breakfast at Hotel Butrinti (or Livia) we travel towards the Ancient City of Phoinice. First, enjoy a small presentation about the ancient city of Phoinike. It is one of the great cities of Epirus and its Theater has 15,000-18,000 seatsÇƒÓone the biggest in the world! It was not excavated properly, but nonetheless, is still a very fascinating place to visit. After Lunch in a near by local restaurant we will take a walk to visit the Monastery of Mesopotam. Following, weÇƒÙll return to Saranda for the evening where we will enjoy dinner at the hotel.

B-L-D ***** Hotel Butrinti
May 27 GJIROKASTRA
Wednesday
We will wake and eat a hearty breakfast at the hotel. Following, we begin driving to the City of Gjirokastra. Entering the Drinos Valley through the Pass of Muzine. beautiful landscape dotted with small villages in the footsteps of the Mountains. On the way looking the city of Hadrianopolis

We then arrive in Gjirokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage City. It is one of the most venerable towns of Albania. It is located in the south of the country, 300 meters above sea level, Gjirokastra has a beautiful and dramatic situation in a lush valley between the high Gjer?¥ mountains and the rushing Drinos River.

Visiting the Ethnographic Museum once the House of the Communist Dictator Enver Hoxha. A visit will be arranged also at the castle of Gjirokastra one of the largest Castles in the Balkans as well as the Museum of Arms. Lunch will be at a local restaurant at the Old Bazaar. Overnight in a local Old House converted to a B & B.

While in Gjirokastra we will visit one of the Monasteries of the Sufi Order of the Bektashis. This evening we will enjoy dinner at the old traditional restaurant at Ottoman Bazaar.

B-L-D Gjirokastra Restored B&B
May 28 Kor??a
Thursday LEUSA
PERMET
Following breakfast at our quaint B&B we begin driving to Kor??a. The town of Kor??a called the Çƒ?little ParisÇƒ? in the 1930ÇƒÙs because of its intellectual life is the regional capital of the south-east of Albania, dominated by the Morava mountains to the east. It is interesting, historic, with rich cultural traditions and some interesting buildings from the Ottoman period. This would include one of the most important mosques in Albania called the Mirahori Mosque, which was built in 1418.

Afterwards, we begin our drive through the Kelcyra Gorge. This is a famous battle place where King Philip of Macedonia fought the Roman army of Proconsul Paulius Emilius. We continue driving along the Vjosa River before reaching the village of Leusa. Continuing along, we visit Permet, and will enjoy walking to the Byzantine Church of Leusa. We then transfer to Kor??a where our hotel is located. After being assisted with our check-in, we will indulge in dinner at a traditional restaurant in Kor??aÇƒÙs old quarters. The remainder of the evening will be at your leisure.

B-L-D *** Hotel Regency
May 29 Kor??a
Friday LAKE OHRID
This morning, we fortify ourselves with breakfast before we leave Kor??a and cross the AlbanianÇƒÓMacedonian border. Our destination is Lake Ohrid, and upon arrival, we will visit the Famous Monasteries of Saint Naum.

Particularly impressive are the scenes from the life and miracles of St. Naum of Ohrid. They were painted in he second zone of the chapel above Naum's tomb. The five painted scenes were passed from one generation to another, and are deemed to be the miracles of Naum. The belief that St. Naum was capable to heal the mentally disturbed predominates. According to some sources, a "hospital" was operating within the monastery in 1662.

WeÇƒÙll enjoy lunch by the lake and stay overnight in Ohrid. The afternoon is at your leisure prior to dinner. Later this evening we will enjoy dinner at a local fish restaurant in Ohrid.

B-L-D Overnight at Ohrid Hotel
May 30 LAKE OHRID
Saturday ELBASAN
SARANDA
After nurturing ourselves with breakfast at our hotel this morning, we leave the town of Ohrid and the beautiful shore of Lake Ohrid. We will drive back towards the MacedonianÇƒÓAlbanian border again, driving through Elbasan. Lunch will be served on the way. Our destination is towards the South, in Saranda where we stay for the night. Dinner will then be at Paradise restaurant, located near the water.

B-L-D ***** Hotel Butrinti
May 31 DEPART ALBANIA
Sunday ARRIVE CORFU
The group leaves Albania for short ferry ride to Corfu Island. Upon arrival, you will be met and assisted with your luggage as you check in to the Hotel Cavalieri. Following, you will be met by your guide and enjoy a city tour of the unique Greek island of Corfu. Dinner tonight will be in the Old Town of Corfu at the traditional restaurant Buganvilia.

B-D **** Hotel Cavalieri

June 1 DEPART CORFU
Monday
This morning weÇƒÙll wake and catch with our short flight to Athens, Greece. It departs at 7:15 AM and will arrive in Athens at 8:15 AM. From Athens we depart to New YorkÇƒÙs JFK at 11:10 AM for our return flight home. We arrive in New York later today, at 2:55 PM. Welcome home!

Meals en route

Flight schedules subject to change

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner