Tour overview

This 22-day small-group journey runs from the Croatian coast through the Balkans to the Greek islands, crossing five countries. Groups have no more than 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a local leader throughout and local guides at key sites. You travel by private vehicle, public bus, train, metro and ferry, and stay mainly in hotels, with a hostel night in Dubrovnik and two nights in a guesthouse at the foot of Mount Olympus. Breakfast is included most days. The trip is land-only, starting in Dubrovnik and ending on Santorini.

From Dubrovnik's walled old town you drive along the coast to Kotor, a UNESCO-listed town on a fjord-like bay in Montenegro. Albania follows: lively Tirana, a day trip to the mountain town of Kruja with its fortress and Skanderbeg Museum, Rozafa Castle above Shkodër, and Berat, the town of a thousand windows, with a local guide. In North Macedonia you spend two nights on Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in the world, with a boat cruise, and two nights in Skopje, with a boat ride in Matka Canyon.

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A visit to a beekeeper's farm in Dihovo, with lunch, leads to Bitola and the ruins of Heraclea Lyncestis on the way into Greece. After a night in the lakeside town of Kastoria, you spend two nights in Litochoro at the foot of Mount Olympus, home of the Greek gods, with a hike to the Orlias waterfall. A train takes you to Athens for two nights, with time for the Acropolis and the city's neighbourhoods.

The final week is spent island hopping by ferry. On Syros you walk through the hilltop town of Ano Syros, visit a loukoumi workshop and have dinner in a remote village. Mykonos brings a half-day trip to Delos, the sacred island of Apollo, with a guided tour of its ruins. The journey ends on Santorini with a hike along the caldera rim to Oia.

The physical rating is medium, with walking, a mountain hike and a mix of public transport. This trip suits travellers who want a long, varied journey through the less-visited Balkans as well as the classic Greek islands.

Trip highlights

  • Dubrovnik and the Bay of Kotor (Days 1–2)
  • Kruja and Berat in Albania (Days 4–5)
  • Lake Ohrid and Matka Canyon in North Macedonia (Days 6–9)
  • A hike on Mount Olympus (Day 13)
  • Syros and the sacred island of Delos (Days 16–19)
  • The caldera rim hike to Oia on Santorini (Day 21)

Your route

18 stops from Dubrovnik to Santorini

22-day route: Dubrovnik – Kotor – Tirana – Berat – Ohrid – Skopje – Mount Olympus – Athens – Syros – Mykonos – Santorini
  1. Dubrovnik Day 1
  2. Kotor Day 2
  3. Shkoder Day 3
  4. Tirana Days 3–4
  5. Kruja Day 4
  6. Berat Day 5
  7. Ohrid Days 6–7
  8. Skopje Days 8–9
  9. Matka Canyon Day 9
  10. Bitola Day 10
  11. Heraclea Lyncestis Day 11
  12. Kastoria Day 11
  13. Litochoro Days 12–13
  14. Athens Days 14–15
  15. Syros Days 16–17
  16. Mykonos Days 18–19
  17. Delos Day 19
  18. Santorini Days 20–22

Why choose this tour

Combines the little-visited Balkans with Athens and three Greek islands in one journey. Local guides, a beekeeper's lunch, a loukoumi workshop and village dinners bring you close to local life.

Best suited to

  • Travellers who want to discover Albania and North Macedonia
  • Anyone keen to combine mountains, lakes and islands
  • Independent-minded travellers comfortable with public transport
  • History lovers, from Byzantine churches to ancient Delos
The church of Saint John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia

Day-by-day itinerary

22 days from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Santorini, Greece

  1. Day 1 · Dubrovnik Arrive in Dubrovnik

    Welcome to Croatia. Explore Dubrovnik's old town, ringed by white stone walls above the Adriatic, before meeting your leader and group in the evening.

    Hotel
    Hostel
  2. Day 2 · Kotor, Bay of Kotor Kotor

    Drive about three hours along the coast to Kotor in Montenegro, a UNESCO-listed walled town on a sheltered bay beneath towering peaks.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Rozafa Castle, Tirana Shkodër to Tirana

    Cross into Albania and visit Rozafa Castle above Shkodër, then continue to Tirana, a lively capital of colourful buildings, mosques and Ottoman bridges.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Kruja, Skanderbeg Museum Kruja

    Take a half-day trip to the mountain town of Kruja, the last stronghold of Albania's national hero Skanderbeg, to visit its fortress, museum and old bazaar.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Berat, Berat Castle Berat

    Travel by public bus to Berat, the town of a thousand windows, for a walking tour with a local guide through its Ottoman houses and up to the castle.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Ohrid Lake Ohrid

    Drive about three hours into North Macedonia to Ohrid, on the shore of one of the oldest lakes in Europe and a town of Byzantine churches.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Lake Ohrid Ohrid

    Cruise on Lake Ohrid, more than 300 m deep and shared with Albania, with the rest of the day free to explore the old town and its churches.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Skopje Skopje

    Take a public bus to Skopje, North Macedonia's capital, with its Byzantine domes, Turkish baths, old bazaar and grand new monuments.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Matka Canyon Matka Canyon

    Visit Matka Canyon, a deep ravine carved by the Treska River, with medieval monasteries and caves, and take a boat ride on the lake.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Dihovo, Bitola Dihovo to Bitola

    Travel to Bitola near Pelister National Park, stopping in the village of Dihovo to visit a beekeeper's farm and share lunch.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  11. Day 11 · Heraclea Lyncestis, Kastoria Heraclea to Kastoria

    Explore the ruins of Heraclea Lyncestis, founded by Philip II of Macedon, then cross into Greece to Kastoria, a medieval town on Lake Orestiada.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Kastoria, Litochoro To Litochoro

    A free morning in Kastoria, perhaps to see the reconstructed Neolithic lake village at Dispilio, then travel to Litochoro at the foot of Mount Olympus.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Mount Olympus National Park, Orlias Waterfall Mount Olympus

    Hike in Mount Olympus National Park, Greece's first national park and the mythical home of the gods, to the Orlias waterfall.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · Athens Train to Athens

    Take a train of about 5.5 hours to Athens and explore the capital, from the Plaka district to the slopes of the Acropolis.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Athens, Acropolis Free day in Athens

    A free day to visit the Acropolis and its museum, explore the markets or join an optional food tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Piraeus, Syros Ferry to Syros

    Take the metro to Piraeus and a ferry of about four hours to Syros, a Cycladic island with a lively capital and fewer visitors than its neighbours.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  17. Day 17 · Ano Syros Syros

    Walk through the hilltop town of Ano Syros, with views over the Aegean, and visit a workshop making loukoumi, the island's famous sweet. In the evening, enjoy dinner in a remote village.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  18. Day 18 · Mykonos Ferry to Mykonos

    Take a two-hour ferry to Mykonos, known for its whitewashed town, windmills and beaches, with free time to explore.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  19. Day 19 · Delos Delos

    Take a half-day trip to the island of Delos, the mythical birthplace of Apollo and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, with a guided tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  20. Day 20 · Santorini Ferry to Santorini

    Take the ferry to Santorini, famous for its whitewashed villages perched on cliffs above a flooded volcanic caldera.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  21. Day 21 · Fira, Oia Caldera hike to Oia

    Hike along the rim of the caldera, formed by a huge eruption around 1500 BC, from Fira towards Oia, with views across the sea-filled crater.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  22. Day 22 · Santorini Trip ends on Santorini

    The trip ends after breakfast. Extra nights on Santorini can be arranged when you book.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The peaks of Mount Olympus, Greece

Where you stay

  • Dubrovnik (1 night) Hostel
  • Kotor (1 night) Hotel
  • Tirana (2 nights) Hotel
  • Berat (1 night) Hotel
  • Ohrid (2 nights) Hotel
  • Skopje (2 nights) Hotel
  • Bitola (1 night) Hotel
  • Kastoria (1 night) Hotel
  • Litochoro (2 nights) Guesthouse
  • Athens (2 nights) Hotel
  • Syros (2 nights) Hotel
  • Mykonos (2 nights) Hotel
  • Santorini (2 nights) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 21 nights in hotels, a guesthouse and a hostel
  • Meals 19 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner
  • Transport private vehicle, public buses, a train to Athens and ferries between the islands
  • Balkans Rozafa Castle, Kruja and the Skanderbeg Museum, Berat with a local guide, a Lake Ohrid cruise, Matka Canyon and a beekeeper's farm lunch
  • Greece Heraclea Lyncestis, an Olympus waterfall hike, a loukoumi workshop and village dinner on Syros, Delos with a guide and the Santorini caldera hike
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights to Dubrovnik and from Santorini
  • Airport transfers
  • Meals not listed
  • Optional activities and entrance fees, such as the Acropolis
  • Single supplement, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Aerial view of Dubrovnik's walled Old Town on the Adriatic, Croatia

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want flights included — they are not
  • You want most meals included — mainly breakfasts
  • You want a private bathroom every night — the first night is in a hostel
  • You dislike ferries and buses — both are used often

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Albania · UK FCDO travel advice for Croatia · UK FCDO travel advice for Greece · UK FCDO travel advice for Montenegro · UK FCDO travel advice for North Macedonia
The windmills of Mykonos, Greece

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £4,670 per person, twin share, tour only. 25 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

How do we travel between countries and islands?

By private vehicle and public bus through the Balkans, by train to Athens and by public ferry between Piraeus, Syros, Mykonos and Santorini.

What is the accommodation like?

Mostly simple hotels on a twin-share basis, with a hostel night in Dubrovnik and a guesthouse in Litochoro. Some rooms may not have air-conditioning.

How active is the trip?

The physical rating is medium. Expect city walking, a hike on Mount Olympus and the caldera hike on Santorini.

Is the Acropolis included?

No. The free day in Athens gives you time to visit the Acropolis and its museum at your own pace.

What meals are included?

Breakfast on most days, a lunch at a beekeeper's farm in North Macedonia and a village dinner on Syros.

Do I need visas?

UK passport holders do not currently need visas for short stays in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia or Greece. Check the latest rules before travel.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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