Northern & Central Greece: 10-Day Self-Drive Tour

About this experience

The ultimate self-drive journey through Northern and Central Greece, 10 days and 9 nights that connect the magnificent archaeological sites of Macedonia, the pristine national parks of Epirus, the UNESCO monasteries of Meteora, the timeless stone villages of Pelion, and the mythical foothills of Mount Olympus. Begin in Thessaloniki before driving west to Alexander the Great's birthplace at Pella and the UNESCO-listed Royal Tombs at Vergina. Edessa's waterfalls offer a refreshing interlude. The route continues to picturesque Nymfaio (one of UNESCO's ten most beautiful European villages), the Arcturos bear sanctuary, and the Prespes Lakes, a breathtaking national park shared by Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia, where you cross a floating bridge to the island of Agios Achillios for Byzantine ruins and rare birdlife. Kastoria, a fur-trading city of old mansions reflected in its lake, leads to the Zagorochoria stone villages and the Vikos Gorge, one of the world's deepest canyons. Ioannina and its lake island, the grey stone village of Metsovo, and the rock monasteries of Meteora follow in quick succession. Pelion, the mountain peninsula of centaurs and traditional villages, offers trekking paths and breathtaking views. The journey concludes at Volos (Jason's starting point for the Argonauts) and Litochoro, at the foot of Mount Olympus.