My next OAT tour is called “Ancient Lands of Alexander the Great.” It includes Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia, all countries I have not yet visited.
I already wrote about my plans for Rome at the beginning of October. These are actually all the same trip. From Rome I will go to Athens to begin my OAT tour.
Here’s the itinerary for these ancient lands.
Pre-trip extension: Athens and Crete
All OAT tours include an optional pre-trip and post-trip extension. These are not available for every departure, so I usually look for departure dates that have both available.
The pre-trip extension for this trip is Athens and the Isle of Crete. I honestly couldn’t imagine going to Greece and not having any time in Athens, even if it’s only for two nights.
And Crete. I do love history.
October 13
- Aegean Airlines flight from FCO to ATH
- Check in to Hera Hotel, Athens
October 14
- Welcome briefing
- Tour of Athens
October 15
- Fly from ATH to CHQ
- Check in to Kydon Hotel, Chania
- Tour of Chania
October 16
October 17
- Drive to Rethymno
- Walking tour
- Visit Archaeological Museum of Rethymno
- Drive to Heraklion
- Check in to Olive Green Hotel, Heraklion
October 18
- Visit Knossos Palace archaeological site
- Visit Spinalonga
Main trip
October 19
- Fly from HER to SKG
- Check in to Imperial Plus Hotel, Thessaloniki
October 20
- Tour of Thessaloniki
- Visit Museum of Byzantine Culture
- Visit Kapani Market
October 21
- Visit Mount Olympus
- Hike along Enipeas Gorge
October 22
- Drive to Vergina
- Visit the Royal Tombs of Aigai
- Winery visit
- Drive to Meteora
- Check in to Doupiani House, Meteora
- Dinner with live bouzouki music
October 23
- Visit the monasteries of Meteora
- Hike to Kastraki
- Visit Kalambaka
- Home-hosted dinner in Meteora
October 24
- Drive to Metsovo
- Cooking lesson in a local taverna
- Drive to Zagoria
- Check in to Gamila Rocks Mountain Hotel, Aristi
October 25
- Hike in Zagoria
- Vikos Gorge rafting excursion
October 26
- Drive to Ioannina
- Silversmith workshop demonstration
- Cross into Albania and drive to Gjirokaster
- Check into Hotel Argjiro, Gjirokaster
October 27
- Drive to Dhoksat
- “A Day in the Life” at a local farm
- Walking tour of Gjirokaster
October 28
- Explore Butrint
October 29
- Visit Berat
- Drive to Tirana
- Check in to Hotel Austria, Tirana
October 30
- Explore Tirana
- Visit House of Leaves
- Visit Dajti Mountain
- Visit Bunk’Art Museum
October 31
- Cross into North Macedonia and drive to Ohrid
- Boat ride on Lake Ohrid to Museum on Water
- Check in to City Palace Hotel, Ohrid
November 1
- Explore Ohrid
November 2
- Drive to Tetovo and visit Šarena Džamija
- Drive to Matka Canyon for hike and boat ride
- Drive to Skopje
- Check in to Alexandar II Hotel, Skopje
November 3
- Explore Skopje
My Own Private Personal Post-trip Extension: Naxos
Although the tour ends at this point, I’ve planned my own post-trip extension:
November 4
- Olympic Air flight from SKP to ATH
- Olympic Air flight from ATH to JNX
- Check in to Porta Home
I had a hell of a time finding any available tours of Naxos in November. It seems the island pretty much shuts down in October.
But I did find a five-hour eBike tour that has good reviews and is reasonably priced. So I booked that for November 6. I’m counting on good weather, but this at least gives me a cushion of one day to reschedule in case of rain.
November 8
- Olympic Air flight from JNX to ATH
- Turkish Airlines flight from ATH to IST
November 9
- Turkish Airlines flight from IST to MEX
- VivaAerobus flight from MEX to GDL
I really never had these countries on my bucket list. I had originally booked a different trip, to Romania and Bulgaria. But in January (after I had purchased my plane tickets), OAT sent me an email to tell me that they would no longer be offering trips to Romania and Bulgaria. Apparently their previous tours were getting some negative reviews, and they felt it best to eliminate that itinerary for the time being.
They gave me some financial incentive to switch to a different tour, and they gave me a credit to cover the cost of changing my flights. So this was the itinerary that seemed to fit best.
So I’m not hugely excited about this trip, but I am absolutely prepared to be wowed.
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