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Peregrine Travel Centre

Ancient Mediterranean Odyssey: Exploring Greece, Croatia, and Albania

Ancient Mediterranean Odyssey: Exploring Greece, Croatia, and Albania

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Description

The experts at Food & Wine magazine and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions have come together to create this immersive exploration of the Dalmatian Coast’s sun-soaked beaches, charming port towns, rich maritime history, and eclectic cuisine. Sail between Greece, Albania, and Croatia, delving into ancient empires and their archaeological treasures and visiting fascinating UNESCO World Heritage sites, from Delphi to Dubrovnik. Soak in the Ionian Sea’s idyllic turquoise waters, and encounter the region’s lesser-known gems, including outlying Croatian isles and vestiges of antiquity in Albania. A top team of naturalists—including experts on history and culture—will illuminate all we see, and a wine expert will guide us through tastings of some of the region’s best wines, each personally selected by Food & Wine magazine’s Executive Wine Editor, Ray Isle.

Trip Name
Ancient Mediterranean Odyssey: Exploring Greece, Croatia, and Albania
Days
8
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition Length: 103 metres Passenger Capacity: 102 (in 53 cabins) Built: 2003 / Refurbished 2014 With just 53 cabins, National Geographic Orion offers an intimate and refined platform for exploring some of the world’s most remote and culturally rich regions—from the Pacific Islands and Asia to Antarctica and the Mediterranean. Purpose-built for expedition travel, she boasts an ice-class hull for navigating polar waters and exceptional manoeuvrability that enables access to secluded bays, narrow inlets and winding rivers—places far beyond the reach of larger cruise ships. Life aboard Orion is designed to immerse guests in the natural world, with panoramic deck spaces, a whirlpool hot tub, and ample opportunities for wildlife viewing. Her public areas include two relaxed dining venues, a lounge with bar, an observation library, fitness centre and spa, as well as the OM System Photo Gear Locker to support photography at all levels. Open-Bridge access allows guests to connect with the ship’s officers and learn about navigation first-hand. Whether sailing through polar pack ice or anchoring off a tropical atoll, Orion delivers a seamless blend of adventure and comfort.

Itinerary



Day 1 - DAY 1 Athens, Greece / Embark Ship
 Arrive in Athens and transfer to Lavrio, where we embark National Geographic Orion in the afternoon. Settle into your cabin and take in an Aegean sunset at sea.  Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2 - DAY 2 Corinth Canal / Delphi
 Enjoy breakfast on deck as we navigate the historic Corinth Canal, slipping between the 300-foot limestone walls that tower above both sides of our vessel. Built in the late 19th century, the canal is too small for most modern-day ships, but National Geographic Orion is perfectly sized for the transit to the Gulf of Corinth and Ionian Sea.   Later, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Delphi, the center of the ancient Greek world. The ruins here are home to the Temple of Apollo—Greece’s most important shrine—where the Oracle of Delphi delivered divine prophecies. Your onboard local guides will share the city’s storied past as we explore the temple and other important sites.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - DAY 3 Kefalonia or Zakynthos
 For our next stop, your Expedition Leader and local guides will choose one of the many picturesque beaches on the island of either Kefalonia or Zakynthos, bordered by the idyllic Ionian Sea. Soak in the vivid blue waters—a true photographer’s delight. Stroll along the shoreline, or swim, kayak, or paddleboard in the beautiful sea.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - DAY 4 Corfu / Butrint, Albania
 Sandwiched between two fortresses, Corfu’s World Heritage-listed Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage center, begs to be explored. Choose to wander the maze of Venetian lanes and shaded town squares, or enjoy a walking tour of the 6th-century Old Fortress of Corfu. This afternoon, we cross into Albania and arrive at Butrint National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was first settled by the Greeks in the 7th century BC and is known for its well-preserved Roman ruins. This mesmerizing tapestry of ancient ruins is a wonderful representation of Albania’s lush landscapes.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - DAY 5 Krujë / Divjakë-Karavasta National Park
 After docking in Durrës, drive to Albania’s ancient capital of Krujë, just north of its modern-day capital of Tirana. Wander the stalls of the medieval bazaar, visit the Ethnographic Museum, and tour the museum dedicated to Albania’s larger-than-life national hero, Skanderbeg—the warrior who led a 15th-century rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. Cap off the day with a stirring folkloric performance. Or, if you’re interested in birding, visit the lagoons of Divjakë-Karavasta National Park, home to over 200 avian species, including the greater flamingo, Kentish plover, and the extremely rare dalmatian pelican.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - DAY 6 Dubrovnik, Croatia
 Wake up anchored off the ancient walls of Dubrovnik’s Old City—a UNESCO World Heritage site that is considered one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world. Choose from several experiences to customize your day. Participate in a guided walk of the fortified walls, go oystering and enjoy a seafood lunch in the neighboring town of Ston, take part in an interactive cooking class in a quaint rural home, or learn about traditional silk embroidery at a local workshop. Cap off your day with a private folkdance performance.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - DAY 7 Komiža
 One of the outermost Croatian islands, Vis was ruled successively by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Austrians, and Italians. It became a central Yugoslav military base during World War II, and only opened to tourists in the 1990s, making it less developed and less populated than many of its neighbors. Spend the morning exploring one of the island’s sea caves and the fjord at Stivina Bay, and enjoy a swim in the crystalline waters (conditions permitting).     We arrive in Komiža after lunch and embark on your choice of several optional experiences, including a hike to the headquarters of Yugoslav resistance leader Josip Broz Tito, where he hid troops and weapons in extensive underground tunnels at the end of World War II and into the Cold War. Venture to hillside barracks and hidden bunkers, or spend the morning enjoying the charming downtown.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Day 8 Zadar / Disembark Ship
Enjoy a farewell breakfast on board before disembarking in Zadar and transferring to the Zadar airport for your flight home.Note: A transfer will be offered from Gaženica port in Zadar to the Split airport, arriving at Split airport at 10:30am.Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 9 - Please note:
Routing may vary and stops may be subject to modification and/or permitting.

Trip Dates

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Inclusions

    • Indulge in gourmet menus guided by the rhythms of the season, featuring sustainable ingredients primarily sourced from the Mediterranean
    • Navigate the iconic Corinth Canal, a spectacularly scenic cut that is inaccessible to larger ships
    • Immerse yourself in Delphi, the center of ancient Greek civilization, once home to the famed Oracle of Delphi
    • Explore Dubrovnik—the pearl of the Adriatic—while strolling atop its ancient walls, trying your hand at oystering, or participating in a cooking or silk embroidery class
    • Discover the mesmerizing tapestry of ancient ruins at Albania’s Butrint National Park, and go birding in Divjakë-Karavasta National Park, home to over 200 avian species
    • Wander through Corfu's enchanting Old Town and discover its maze of streets and shady town squares

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