The Via Egnatia

Tracing the Roman road from Albania to Constantinople

The Via Egnatia was the continuation of the Via Appia on the Eastern side of the Adriatic, passing through Ancient Illyria, Macedonia and Thracia to Constantinople. With a total distance of 696 miles, it was constructed by the Romans in the second century BC as a route through harsh territory inhabited by unruly peoples to reach the Eastern Mediterranean and circumvent a journey that otherwise took several weeks by sea.

In antiquity, it became known for the road along which St Paul travelled on his journey from Philippi to Thessaloniki, Mark Antony and Octavian pursued the armies of Cassius and Brutus along it to the decisive battle of Philippi (Horace, as a soldier in Brutus’ army also made the journey). In his exile from Rome, Cicero also travelled along the Via Egnatia through Illyria.

This tour begins in Albania (Tirana) and passes through North Macedonia, Northern Greece and North-Western Turkey to finish in Istanbul. And we are accompanied along the way by our expert: Cambridge historian Ian Colvin.

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Scheduled dates for Via Egnatia

2025
22nd Apr – 6th May 2025	£5195* Single person supplement: £590	Places available	Book this!

* price per person, based on 2 people sharing a room. Single supplement is applicable to single occupancy bookings. Prices do not include flights.

Tour Features

• Led by acclaimed Cambridge historian Ian Colvin.
• Small group travel: maximum group size is 12 guests.
• Guaranteed departure dates
• UNESCO World heritage sites
• Accompanied by a Tour manager throughout your journey
• Tour cost includes entrance fees to main sites/museums
• Private 17-seater minibus
• Tour cost includes all hotel city taxes

Tour highlights:

• Durres – the start of the Via Egnatia
• The Roman town of Apollonia
• Lake Ohrid
• Bitola
• Edessa
• Vergina & Pella
• Thessaloniki
• Philippi
• Edirne
• Constantinople

Accommodation:

• 3 nights in Tirana
• 2 nights in Ohrid
• 1 night in Bitola
• 1 night in Edessa
• 2 nights in Thessaloniki
• 1 night in Kavala
• 1 night in Edirne
• 3 nights in Istanbul

Included meals:

• all breakfasts, lunches and evening meals

Arrival and Departure:

• Arrival airport: Tirana
• Departure airport: Istanbul

Included transport:

• Transfers and pick-ups/drop-offs from/to the main airport of arrival on the day of arrival/departure of the tour are included

Activity level:

• This is a strenuous tour with several single nights in hotels and consequent movement of luggage. And there are also some long bus rides. In addition, some of the archaeological sites require extensive walking.

About our expert:

• Ian Colvin is a Cambridge-based historian and Byzantinist. He has directed the Anglo-Georgian archaeological excavations at Nokalakevi in Georgia, Ancient Archaeopolis, since 2001, in collaboration with the Georgian National Museum. He has worked at Oxford and Cambridge, and has been guide lecturing in the South Caucasus, the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean since 2012.

Full Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival and overnight in Tirana

We arrive during the day and convene in the evening for a welcome drink and an evening meal in Tirana

Overnight in Tirana.

Day 2

Full day in Tirana

We spend the whole day in Tirana, with visits to Skanderbeg Square, the Et’hem mosque and the Archaeological Museum.

Evening meal. Overnight in Tirana.

Day 3

Durres and Apollonia.

We set off in the morning for Durres, a port city and the historical start of the Via Egnatia. There is an opportunity to see the remains of what was once the largest Roman Amphitheatre in the Balkans.

In the late morning, we head off for Apollonia, another Roman city, that was an alternative starting point for the Via Egnatia. And in the late afternoon we return to Tirana.

Evening meal and overnight in Tirana.

Day 4

Arrival in North Macedonia and Lake Ohrid

We depart from Tirana to head East, following the line of the old Via Egnatia, to arrive at Elbasan – the ancient Scampis – where we visit a fine Ottoman mosque as well as the remains of an Ottoman fort.

After lunch we head East, with the road steadily climbing until we reach the border of North Macedonia. From there we get our first views of the beautiful Lake Ohrid – one of Europe’s deepest and oldest. Another hour’s journey brings us to the town of Ohrid itself, which will be our base for the next two nights.

Evening meal and overnight in Ohrid.

Day 5

Ohrid

We spend the whole day exploring the town of Ohrid – the beauty of which comes as a surprise to many. There are several stunning Orthodox churches to visit, including the picturesque St John Kaneo which stands on the side of the lake.

In the afternoon, we can enjoy some free time to wander through the charming streets of the town.

Evening meal and overnight in Ohrid.

Day 6

Monastery of St Naum on Lake Prespa

We depart Ohrid on our journey towards Lake Prespa, travelling around the circumference of Lake Ohrid. Our first stop is to the Bronze Age village of the Bay of Bones, now reconstructed, on the shores of the lake.

We then drive for another short distance until we arrive at the impressive Orthodox monastery of St Naum.

After lunch, we continue our journey to Bitola and there is time for a visit to the military museum, which is known for having been the military training academy attended by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Evening meal and overnight in Bitola.

Day 7

Heraclea Lyncestis, arrival into Greece & Edessa

This morning we depart the town of Bitola for the nearby archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis whose late Roman mosaics will astonish anyone who has seen similar in Italy or beyond.

We continue our journey to cross the border into Greece where we can enjoy a quick lunch before visiting the archaeological site of ancient Edessa.

In the late afternoon there is free time to enjoy the waterfalls of Edessa.

Evening meal and overnight in Edessa.

Day 8

Vergina & Pella

Although not strictly on the Via Egnatia, today we take a small detour to visit the archaeological sites of Vergina (and the tomb of Phillip II) and Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. In the late afternoon we transfer to Thessaloniki.

Evening meal in a local restaurant and overnight in Thessaloniki.

Day 9

Thessaloniki

Today, we can enjoy a full day in Thessaloniki. We begin the day in the upper city, which commands a spectacular view of the port. We then visit the Rotunda and the Arch of Galerius before going on to visit the Holy church of Saint Demetrius, who was a native of Thessaloniki.

We eat in a local restaurant and stay in Thessaloniki.

Day 10

Amphipolis & Philippi

We depart Thessaloniki for the ancient site of Amphipolis, which we can enjoy before lunch.

After lunch we pay a visit to Philippi – the city where St. Paul preached and was famously imprisoned.

On our way into Kavala, we have the chance to walk a small section of the original Via Egnatia.

Evening meal and overnight in Kavala.

Day 11

Arrival into Turkey and Edirne

We depart Kavala to journey to the Turkish border, which having crossed it, we find ourselves in Edirne, once the Ottoman capital before the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

We spend the afternoon admiring some of the stunning Ottoman architecture, including the fabulous Selimiye mosque built by Mimar Sinan and which is widely regarded as his masterpiece.

Evening meal and overnight in Edirne.

Day 12

Edirne and onward to Constantinople

We depart Edirne for Istanbul, having lunch along the way. On arrival in Istanbul, we visit the Golden Gate – the entrance of the Emperor’s into the city and what was considered the end of the Via Egnatia.

Day 13

Full day in Constantinople

In the morning we visit the church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus and after lunch there will be free time to perhaps visit the Haghia Sofia if you like.

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 14

Full day in Constantinople

In the morning we visit the Archaeology Museum before taking a cruise on the Bosphorous. There is free time in the afternoon to, perhaps do some shopping for spices or Turkish delight.

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 15

Departures

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