Greece
Northern Greece: Off the Beaten Path from Macedonia to Epirus
Program No. 24848RJ
Take the path less traveled to Northern Greece, where you’ll discover the influences of the Ottoman Empire and Greek Orthodox life on a region filled with history and rich culture.
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12 days
11 nights
23 meals
10B 6L 7D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
2
Arrival, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Thessaloniki
3
Thessaloniki, Byzantine Museum
Thessaloniki
4
Thessaloniki & it's gastronomy
Thessaloniki
5
Full day excursion of Kavala region
Thessaloniki
7
Ioannina & island Nisaki
Ioannina
8
Zagoria villages
Ioannina
9
Metsovo to Meteora, Kalambaka
Kalambaka
10
Kalambaka and Meteora
Kalambaka
11
Kalambaka to Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
12
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
What do you see when you picture Greece? The iconic Acropolis or its stunning islands might immediately come to mind, but let us introduce you to a lesser-explored part of this fascinating country. Natural diversity, Ottoman influences and local cuisine all set Northern Greece apart, making it a unique place to learn. On this educational adventure, step into the storied past of Northern Greece and discover how its history shapes its modern culture. Visit Thessaloniki — the second-largest city in Greece — and explore its open markets and ancient ruins. Look into the past in historic stone villages nestled in the Zagori Mountains while experiencing the natural features and beautiful scenery of the area. Stops at the Byzantine Art Museum and Metzovo, a small town with a prevalent Ottoman history, will illustrate the development of modern Greek culture from its rich history.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking uphill and downhill, up to two miles per day, on uneven terrain, cobblestone and marble streets that may be slippery. Steep stairs without railings and standing for four hours per day with breaks at museum/historic sites.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Explore the rocks of Meteora, where centuries-old monasteries perched on top of cliffs make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Enjoy special food tastings and demonstrations in Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece and the “Capital of the North.”
- Go off the beaten path in the Zagori region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to historic stone villages.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Northern Greece: Off the Beaten Path from Macedonia to Epirus
Program Number: 24848
Corelli's Mandolin
This lyrical novel captures the humanity, quirks and loves of village life in the Greek islands. A satire of war, this charming and richly-colored novel is set on Cephalonia during the Italian occupation in the 1940s.
The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece
This pictorial survey of Greek antiquity, recording its culture and expansion, features dozens of full-color maps.
Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea, Why the Greeks Matter
Cahill brings to life ancient Greek society and civilization through the lives and words of politicians, playwrights, a poet, a philosopher and an artist in this eloquent and absorbing tribute.
Travels With Epicurus
Daniel Klein's witty meditation on the ancients, life in the Greek Islands, his favorite philosophers -- and growing old gracefully -- is also a delightful romp through the Aegean, primarily set on Hydra.
Greece, Land of Light
Brukoff's dramatic color photographs are paired with incisive commentary by award-winning author Nicholas Gage for this striking portrait of the people, land and history of Greece and the islands.
A Traveller's History of Greece
A nicely written survey from prehistory through the 1990s: wide-ranging, accessible and necessarily condensed.
The World of the Ancient Greeks
Featuring hundreds of illustrations and invitingly short chapters on topics from the first Greeks to the Heroic Age and classical Athens. With modern color photographs of great Greek cities from Athens and Delphi to Knossos, Ephesus, Pergamum and Priene.
The Greek Myths, Complete Edition
A new edition of Graves' classic collection with a cover by comic book artist Ross MacDonald. This expert retelling by Graves, a poet, memoirist and the author of I, Claudius (ITL429), still remains the seminal modern translation of the mythologies of Ancient Greece.
The Colossus of Maroussi
Miller captures the spirit and warmth of the resilient Greek people in this inspired tale of a wartime journey from Athens to Crete, Corfu and Delphi with his friend Lawrence Durrell.
Eyewitness Guide Greek Islands
Color photography, excellent local maps and an island-by-island synopsis of attractions make this book the one to carry with you. Includes a chapter on Athens.
Greek, A Language Map
This durable, foldout card gives easy phonetic pronunciation for several hundred of the most commonly needed words and phrases.
The Parthenon
A lively tale of the construction, significance and uses of the 2,500-year-old architectural marvel.
Greece Map
A colorful shaded map of Greece, the Greek Islands and the western coast of Turkey (including Istanbul) at a scale of 1:800,000.
Greece, A Traveler's Literary Companion
In this terrific anthology, 24 modern Greek writers offer a flavor of their nation, its culture and people, beautiful landscapes and rich history.
The Complete World of Greek Mythology
With hundreds of color illustrations, site plans, genealogies and maps, this handsome, encyclopedic reference illuminates the world of the Greek gods.
It's All Greek to Me
With timelines, a who's who, charts and maps, this handy little primer is a thoroughly entertaining introduction to everything Greek, from poetry and drama to philosophy, history and culture.
Homer the Classic
Harvard classics scholar Nagy considers how Homer’s poetry was greeted in its own day and in the centuries immediately following the great bard.
Ancient Greece: Art, Architecture, and History
This lively illustrated guide covers the architecture, painting and sculpture of Ancient Greece from the third millennium to the end of the Hellenistic period. With 282 color and 28 black-and-white illustrations.
The King Must Die
The first in Mary Renault's trilogy of well-researched page-turners features the tale of Theseus, slayer of the Minotaur and the king of Athens. Known for her exhaustive research, Renault is an acknowledged master of historical fiction.
The Most Beautiful Villages of Greece
Organized geographically, this handsome oversize picture book is an illustrated portrait of Greece with hundreds of color photographs accompanying lively essays.
