European Frontiers - Overland Trip

Itineraries

Arrival day.

We spend this morning exploring Sofia on foot, visiting some of the magnificent churches, cathedrals and mosques. In the afternoon, we take a bus across the border with Macedonia to Skopje. (B)

Skopje is a city with a turbulent past, from its takeover by the Ottoman Empire to its time as a part of the former Yugoslavia. Now it is the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, and home to a quarter of the countries population. We spend the day in the old town, perhaps visiting the Daud Pasha Baths, once the largest Turkish baths in the Balkans and now the City Art Gallery, the imposing Mustafa Pasha Mosque, or the bustling old market area. Later we take a bus to Tirana, in Albania. (B)

Albania’s capital city is an intriguing place to explore; the downtown area of Tirana was designed by well-known Italian architects of the Mussolini period and the city itself is a mixture of communist, Art Deco and modern architecture We explore the area around Skanderberg Square, built in 1929, before travelling to Berat in the south of the country. Berat is one of Albania’s prettiest towns and contains a 14th century citadel, old Ottoman style houses as well as a Muslim quarter, remnants of the region’s past role as a crossroads between Ottoman Turkey and Europe. (B)

After a free morning in Berat we travel to Saranda, by the Ionian Sea. (B)

In the morning we visit Butrint National Park to explore ancient ruins, then visit the seaside town of Dhermi. (B)

Today we leave Albania, returning to Macedonia and the beautiful Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B)

A full day at Lake Ohrid. We start our day with a hike followed by a cycling trip to Bachilo, where shepherds bring traditional mountain cattle for summer pasture. If you feel less active, the lake offers great places to relax at numerous beaches. (B)

Travel to Plovdiv, one of the most ancient cities in Europe. (B)

Older then Rome, Carthage, Athens and Constantinople, Plovdiv is famous for its ancient and diverse culture. We have the chance to explore this historic town, with its archeological sites and museums. (B)

We take a train to the charming city of Veliko Tarnovo, where the River Yantra winds through a gorge in the centre of the city and the houses cling precariously to the cliffs of either side. (B)

Free day to explore Veliko Tarnovo; perhaps take a trip to nearby Svishtov and take a boat out on the River Danube. (B)

Travel to Varna, an atmospheric city situated on the Black Sea. (B)

This morning we cycle to Pobitite Kamani, an intriguing geological site made up of numerous limestone pillars and cones. This evening we take an overnight train to Sofia. (B)

Tour ends on arrival in Sofia.