Day 3 – Sandanski- Melnik – Gotche Delchev – The Pirirn Ridge – Bansko
After breakfast we’ll continue southward to the smallest town in Bulgaria (500 residents) – Melnick, known for its wines, and visit the house of the Lord and his private winery and get to know the “Pyramids” – special landscape formations characteristic to this site.  We will continue our voyage through the Macedonian region of Bulgaria on a beautiful road that runs between the mountains and next to picturesque villages toward the Pirin ridge which reaches the height of nearly three thousand meters, we’ll ride and open cable car to the mountains and (whoever wants to) take a magical walk through an alpine landscape of mountain lakes. We’ll spend the night in a 200-years old family hotel which was restored and have a traditional linch to the sounds the restaurant’s musicians at the ski resort in the developing town of Bansko. 

Day 7 – Arbnasi/Veliko Tarnovo – the Troyan passage – Koprivshtitsa – Sofia
After breakfast we will visit the walled city of Czars, Tsarevets, from the medieval days in which Bulgaria was an empire headed by a Czar. Later, and before crossing the Balkan Ridge from north to south, we’ll stop on the outskirts of Troyan, and review the special pottery works for which it is known. We’ll cross the Balkan ridge through the Troyan passage (originally built by Emperor Trajan) and watch the monument built at the top of the mountain. We will continue to the village-museum “Koprivshtitsa” which is located on the Serdana Gura ridge, where he the revolt against the Turks which led to the independence of Bulgaria began. This village is known for its artists and unique houses. We will visit the picturesque village and enter at least one of its restored houses. We will continue on our way to Sofia, which we shall reach by late afternoon, get organized in our spa hotel at the town center, where we spent our first night. We will celebrate our last night with a group party at a local etnic restaurant and say goodbye to the “Shopska” salad and all the other delicacies.
 

Day 3 – Skopje – Tetovo- Mabrovo nature reserve – Strogovo ridge – Strogeh – Ochrid
After breakfast we will go on a hike through the Old City and the colorful market of the capital of Macedonia. We’ll see the monument of Mother Theresa, a stone bridge from the Turkish period, an Ottoman market street, a hammam which was converted into a museum and the new statues of Alexander the Great, King Samuil, Arch of Triumph and more. We will visit the Skopje Holocaust Museum. After the visit we will drive to the Jewel of Macedonia – Ochrid, through the town of Tetovo, the Mabrovo nature reserve known for its beautiful lakes and scenic landscapes, the Stopover ridge villages and the picturesque town of Struga, located on both sides of the Czerny Drin River (The “Black River”). We will reach Ohrid – “Jerusalem of the Balkans” and get organized at the Hotel, after dinner, anyone who will still have the strength for that can take a stroll through the beautiful pedestrian street of Ohrid.

Day 7 – Thessaloniki.
Thessaloniki is the second largest city of in Greece after Athens and it is totally different from it, much more cosmopolitan and richer. Its Jewish history is also fascinating and it spreads over centuries as we shall see on our tour in the city. After breakfast we will go for a walking tour through this special city named after the sister of Alexander the Great – Archaeological Museum, the beach and the round white tower, which is the symbol of the city, the remains of the tombs, the synagogue and the Jewish Museum (provided it is open), the Aristotle square and the Citadel above the city that offers a delightful view of the city. We’ll be given time to visit the markets of Modiano and Valali. Greek dinner at the tavern with the sounds of bouzouki and drinking ouzo. Overnight stay at our hotel.