Explore the Ancient Crossroads with Valerie
With our original style and intimate approach, we’ll open doors and windows to the people, cuisines and centuries-old traditions that you simply can’t experience on other Greece tours. Explore Albania’s Balkan traditions and learn about life during the Communist era, visit ancient monasteries in Greece, and see the cultural treasures of Macedonia
Our Distinctive Style
- Our expert Trip Leader reveals the cuisines and centuries-old traditions that endure in this lesser-visited corner of Europe.
- Tour the workshop where colorful Venetian Carnevale masks have long been made.
- Spend time with an Albanian family to learn what life was like during the Communist era.
- Explore the amazing monasteries of Meteora, built atop pinnacles of rock.
- An engaging local archaeologist will shed light on Heraclea Lyncestis, the ancient city founded by King Philip II of Macedon
Vacation Details:
- OCT 2 | Welcome to Tirana
On arrival, you’ll be escorted to the Hotel Plaza. Meet your fellow travelers and Trip Leader, Aleksander over cocktails and dinner. meals d - OCT 3 | Excursion to Shkodra
In Shkodra, tour the workshop where Venice’s colorful Carnevale masks have traditionally been made. Ascend to Rozafa Castle, built in 350 BC, and take in the views of this ancient city. Sit down to lunch at Mrizi i Zanave, famed for its farm-to-table cuisine, and then return to Tirana. meals b+l+d - OCT 4 | Kruja + Tirana
Learn about Sufism at a Dervish monastery, meet the curator of the Ethnographic Museum, and have lunch within the walls of Kruja Castle. Back in Tirana, your city tour includes the Block district, erstwhile enclave of the Communist elite. meals b+l+d - OCT 5 | Journey to Gjirokastra
See the Venetian, Byzantine and Roman landmarks of Durrës and meet with monks at Ardenica Monastery. Then tour the ruins of Apollonia, one of the greatest cities of the Greco-Roman world. Continue to the Hotel Kalemi in Gjirokastra. meals b+l+d - OCT 6 | Discover Gjirokastra
Enjoy a tour of Gjirokastra , perched on the slopes of the Drino Valley. Then spend time with the matriarch of a Balkan family for insight into Albania’s enduring traditions. Discover the town’s Ottoman architecture and enjoy a performance by Iso Polifonia, an acclaimed polyphonic choir. meals b+l+d - OCT 8 | Meteora Monasteries + Skopje
Continue your exploration of the Meteora Monasteries at St. Trinity. Tour Heraclea Lyncestis with an archaeologist and have dinner at a local winery. Continue to the Limak Hotel in Skopje. meals b+l+d - OCT 9 | To Ohrid, Macedonia
Visit Skopje Fortress and the 15th-century Stone Bridge. Meet a young artist to learn about the city’s modern spirit and browse in the old bazaar. Enjoy a free afternoon in the lakeside town of Ohrid and spend two nights at the Hotel Tino Sveti Stefan. meals b+l+d - OCT 10 | Ancient Ohrid
Discover Ohrid , one of Europe’s oldest cities and home to
cultural treasures of the Renaissance, Byzantine and Slavic eras. Meet a local artisan before a lake cruise and lunch. This afternoon, visit the St. Naum Monastery overlooking the lake. meals b+l+d - OCT 1 1 | Back to Tirana
On the return journey to Tirana, stop in the timeless
village of Labinot to experience a slice of rural Albanian life. Continue to Elbasan and dine within the old fortress walls before a tour of this 15th-century landmark. Continue to Tirana for another night at the hotel. meals b+l+d - OCT 12 | Depart Tirana
Transfer to the airport for your onward journey. meals b
Pricing:
- 8-pax and up = base $4599 per person Twin/ Double and $692 single supplement
- 6-pax to 7-pax = base $4758 per person Twin/ Double and $789 single supplement
- Subtract $100 Family+Friends and $300 for early booking promotion for a total savings of $400.
The deposit amount is $600 per person and then final payment will be at 90-days before travel.
Contact us today to book your cabin!
Contact Us
Reviews
See what our clients say
Anne, thank you so much for all the work you have done on our behalf! We are most appreciative of all your efforts. We’re sad we had to cancel due to COVID, but hopefully Tauck will have the same tour available next June as we are most anxious to do it with our grandsons. We would recommend you highly to anyone looking for travel assistance.
Penny & Don
Vero Beach, FL
Working one on one with Meredith Rothouse at Edgewood Travel always makes our travel stress free. Meredith knows our travel style and her recommendations are always spot on. During a family emergency that occurred during one of our trips, Meredith jumped in and got us a flight out first thing the next morning and made sure all of our arrangements were taken care of. She is the consummate professional with such a customer service driven ethic and we have often recommended her services to friends, family and colleagues!
During this latest pandemic crisis, we sadly had to cancel our yearly trip to Aruba. Even with the volume of cancellations, we knew Meredith would take care of everything efficiently and quickly and it was!
I still do not understand why anyone would ever travel without using a wonderful travel agent and agency like Meredith and Edgewood! They are the professionals you need!
Laura & Tyson
Newburgh, NY
Susan is always on top of things and so accommodating to our often changing plans. She has the latest information and gives several options to consider. She has been our travel agent of choice since 2013 and we hope she never retires!!
Edward & Camille
Savannah, GA
Alison has been wonderful through all the craziness of the past month. We had a trip to Scotland planned, leaving 4/1/20, and she was quick to assist when we had to change our travel dates. She managed to get us the best deals on the re-booking and was even able to carry our insurance over to the new flight and car rental.
Jeanine
Winter Springs, FL
We have been using Valerie Edgemon at Edgewood for many years. She has always been incredibly knowledgeable about the locations we have wanted to visit and had many ideas about the various ways we could do each trip. She has helped us plan trips for my husband and me and larger trips that included other members of our family.
She has come to understand our style of travel and accommodations and has been spot on in her recommendations. All of the staff at Edgewood are professional and always are there to meet our needs and answer any questions.
We highly recommend Edgewood Travel for any travel needs.
Jenny Johnson
Savannah, GA
Hi Rose,
Thank you so much for your follow up e-mail. This is why I like using a travel agent-because someone cares. 🙂
Patrick returned yesterday at 3 pm, as opposed to 7 am. The thunderstorms in the Atlanta and Chicago areas played havoc on flight schedules. The agents who rebooked him found it difficult at times because of two separate reservations and the inability to transfer him to different airlines. Patrick is such a trooper. He calculated that he spent 46 hours in West Virginia and 50 hours in travel-there and back. He had some good stories from his time on airplanes and in airports.
Greenbrier reservations worked fabulously. And Patrick says Thank You for the Golf Balls that were in his room upon arrival.
Thanks for all your help in getting us all the airline and hotel reservations with such late notice, Rose!
John Smith
Kodiak, AK
Meredith,
I can’t begin to tell you how my fellow SBF Board members and I appreciate the 24/7 sprint you and your associates put in last week. Truly, the 7th Festival would not have come off without your heroic efforts on our behalf. The authors were grateful, the thousands of guests were ecstatic and the Festival went on to applause and kudos.
Thank you for all that you did ahead, during and after cleanup to serve us. You are awesome travel partners!
Cyndee
Savannah, GA
Speak to our experts
Talk to our team regarding your next experience