Western Macedonia and Ionian Sea

You fly to Thessaloniki during the day. We will meet you at the airport and drive you to your centrally located hotel. If you arrive early, grab the chance and take a stroll to discover the Greek way of life! Enjoy two nights in a modern hotel in Thessaloniki, within walking distance to the seafront.

Today, we will visit Greece’s second-largest city. Thessaloniki is a modern port metropolis and a city that has remained young at heart at the same time. You will enjoy views that will make you fall in love with the city, high up on the citadel and walking all the way back down to the center along the old city wall. We will visit the Rotunda dating back to Roman times and then move on to an atmospheric ceremony in the Saint Demetrios Basilica (UNESCO World Heritage Site). After a visit to the Archaeological Museum, we will go to the White Tower. Tips for the free afternoon and evening: harbor promenade, frappé in the street cafés, local fish specialties, etc.

We will start our journey by driving further to the North. Close to the border with Skopje and Bulgaria, but not far from Thessaloniki, we will make our first stop to visit Fort Roupel. It is located in a truly strategic position and it is well known in connection to both World Wars, as it was a battlefield between Greeks and Germans. We can visit the fort’s gallery and museum. We will continue our way and stop at Kerkini. Kerkini Lake is one of the most important wetlands in Europe and a hotspot for bird watchers, but the 300 bird species spotted there are not the only feature that the lake has to offer. There are also a great number of buffalos in Greece, snail species, reptiles, a great variety of insects and fish living in this area. We can offer a range of outdoor activities, such as horse riding, canoeing, hiking, and 4×4 expeditions. In the evening, we will drive to Ano Poroia for its amazing taverns and charming accommodations.

We will spend our morning visiting some of the oldest mosaic floors in Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. After that, we will visit Veria, a beautiful historical town. Veria was the third most important Byzantine city from the 11th to the 14thcentury. We will go sightseeing in the city and visit the “Tribune of Apostle Paul”. We will have lunch at Elias Square, known as “the balcony of Veria”. After lunch, we will visit Aiges, the place where Alexander started his journey to conquer faraway lands. Aiges was the first capital of the Macedonian kingdom. We will visit the golden tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. We will spend the night at a charming boutique hotel.

Another day to explore West Macedonia takes us to Naousa.
Naousa is a stylish village on the shores of Plastira Bay, catching the eye of many visitors with its charming boutique hotels and high-class cafés and bars. In addition to those, there are plenty of places to visit. We will visit the School of Aristotle, the Theater of Mieza, Arapitsa, and Agios Nikolaos. Naousa is also well-known for its wine and jams. We will taste its delicious wine at a local vineyard. We will spend the evening relaxing at the terrace of our hotel while continuing to enjoy the area’s tasty wine.

Today, we will make a trip to the fairytale land of Nymfaio, one of the 10 most picturesque villages in Europe, charming with its stone houses and stone-paved paths, a beech forest, remarkable natural beauty, distinguished history, and traditional cafes. We will visit Nikios School, an architectural masterpiece that now operates as a conference hall of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as the Folklore Museum and Arktouros.

Nymfaio is an ideal place for outdoor adventures and we can visit the shelter for wild bears not far from the village.
We will have dinner at Lake Vegoritida, where we will taste some of the many local foods paired with Macedonian wine and tsipouro.

Let’s discover another unique natural gift of Greece. In the morning, we will drive to Lake Prespa. Lake Prespa’s magnificent beauty is shared among 3 countries. The whole area has a rich history and culture and the natural beauty of the area is fascinating. We will walk around and visit Agios Achileios, have our lunch, and drive the mountain road to Kastoria, another attractive Greek city, situated on a narrow peninsula. We will stroll through the narrow paths along the lake, getting more amazed every moment by the city’s beauty. The lake, surrounded by beech trees, is home to many different bird species. During your walk, we will visit some important sites of the city, such as the Cave of the Dragon, the Monastery of Mavriotissa, Dispilio, etc.

If you like mountains, colors, folklore, and great food, then Metsovo is undoubtedly the place for you. In addition to these, Metsovo is also known for its great traditions and architecture. We will visit the Averoff Art Gallery, a museum of modern Greek art with a permanent exhibition of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and engravings by the foremost Greek artists of the 19th and 20th century. Among the many things that we can find in Metsovo, the vineyards are particularly noteworthy. Local people managed to grow grapes of rare quality. Therefore, a visit to one of the vineyards is not to be missed. We’ll spend the tranquil evening at our charming hotel.

After a short drive, we will arrive in Ioannina.
The city of Ioannina spreads out around the beautiful Lake Pamvotida.
We will start by strolling through the historical part of the city: the citadel, the fort’s walls, and picturesque alleys; Minarets and oriental elements are reminiscent of the Ottoman past. We will then cross the Pamvotida Lake by boat and head to the island of Nissos. We will visit the Byzantine monasteries and churches and treat ourselves in a tavern with grilled trout, a local specialty.

Today, our aim is to arrive in one of the amazing cities by the cobalt sea, but we will make 3 wonderful stops on our way. Our first stop is the archeological site of Dodoni. Dodoni is located in the midst of a peaceful valley overlooked by Mt. Tomaros. We can visit the ruins of the imposing theater and sanctuary. The theater of Dodoni is the second largest after Delphi. We will continue to see the Acheron River with its outstanding natural beauty, famous worldwide for the mythological content associated with it. According to the myths, Acheron was the path and the gate to the underworld. If we wish to do so, we can walk inside the river and follow the myth, otherwise, we can sit in a nice café and enjoy a drink while the crystal water runs beneath our feet and the shade of the green trees protects us from above.
As promised, in the evening we will arrive at Parga, a fascinating, colorful city with a breathtaking view of the sea. We will fall in love with the turquoise waters and fabulous landscapes. Since this is a perfect base for discovering nearby islands, in the next two days we will make excursions to some beautiful Greek islands to enjoy the sun and go swimming.

Paxos is one of the truly beautiful islands of the Ionian Sea. Its sceneries, clear aquamarine sea, pebble beaches’ almost make it too good to be true. Life is pleasant and calm on this island. The people are very warm and welcoming and even just sitting in one of the cafes with a cold drink, watching the local people go about their day, can fill you with joy.

We will spend the whole day in Syvota, enjoying our last afternoon on some “wild” and beautiful Greek beaches, of which we can never get enough.

We leave picturesque Parga and head to Thessaloniki airport to take our flight back home. See you again Greece!