Sicily with Montenegro, Croatia, Albania & Greece

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA

Depart on your independent overnight flight.

Day 2: Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Arrive in Palermo this evening where you will be met and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Palermo / Trapani / Embark the Clipper Odyssey

After breakfast, tour Palermo, famous for its jumbled, picturesque streets punctuated with ornate Baroque churches, domed Arab mosques, and glittering Byzantine mosaics. Visit the impressive 12th-century Cathedral and the Palatine Chapel in the Norman castle; today the building serves as the seat of the Sicilian government. The Archaeological Museum showcases one of the richest collections of Punic and Greek art in Italy. Enjoy a typical Sicilian lunch in Monreale, situated in the hills above Palermo. Tour the fabled Cathedral, built in 1174—hailed as Italy’s most beautiful Norman church, the interior is covered with mosaics, gold leaf, and stone intarsia. Then, you will drive through scenic countryside to magical Segesta, a center of the ancient Elymian civilization and home to a magnificent Doric temple. Your drive continues to Erice, a charming medieval village perched high on a mountain-top with stunning views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Founded as Eryx by the Carthaginians, the town boasts a fertility temple and a mythical association with Hercules and Aeneas, along with its Norman castles and dramatic winding streets. Your tour ends in the thriving fishing town of Trapani where you embark the Clipper Odyssey.

Day 4: Mazara del Vallo / Selinunte / Marsala

After breakfast, disembark in Mazara and drive to the sprawling 7th-century B.C. site of Selinunte. Local guides lead you through these Greek ruins to the Sanctuary of Demetra Malophoros and the Acropolis. Return to the ship for lunch as you sail for Marsala. Situated on the westernmost tip of Sicily, Marsala was founded by the Carthaginians in 396 B.C. and was occupied by the Saracens who named it Marsa el Allah—Port of God. Visit the Regional Museum that houses the famous Carthaginian shipwreck found in the multi-hued Stagnone Lagoon. Your final stop is at Cantine Florio, one of Sicily’s ancient vineyards, where you enjoy local specialties accompanied by Marsala wines.

Day 5: Agrigento / Licata

Today, you tour the stunning World Heritage Site of Agrigento. Walk through the Valley of the Temples, where the exquisite architecture dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries B.C. and showcases the Temples of Juno, Concord, and Hercules, as well as the Temple of Zeus—the largest Doric temple from Greek antiquity. Drive to the Butero Winery and Villa for a lunch of delicious Sicilian fare accompanied by wines of the region. Continue on to Licata where you have free time to explore this charming fishing village before re-boarding the Clipper Odyssey.

Day 6: Syracuse / Ortygia

Founded by the Corinthians in the 8th century B.C., Syracuse was one of the most powerful Greek cities—defending its sovereignty against such rivals as Carthage, the Etruscans, and the Romans, who later overtook the city, followed by the Arabs. Begin at the Saint John Catacombs with their maze of underground passageways then drive to the Archaeological Park, a World Heritage Site. Highlights include the Roman Amphitheater of Augustus; the Ear of Dionysius, a grotto with an extraordinary echo; and the massive 15,000-seat Greek Theater. Return to the ship, at port in Ortygia, for lunch, before striking out on a walking tour of the old town. Highlights include the ruins of the 6th-century B.C. Apollo Temple—the oldest in Sicily and the Piazza Duomo, built around the ancient Temple of Minerva (Athena).

Day 7: At Sea

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as your lecturers recap the highlights of Sicilian adventures and prepare you for time in the Adriatic.

Day 8: Kotor, Montenegro / Dubrovnik, Croatia

Your first stop in the Adriatic is Kotor where you witness the same beautiful scenery that captivated kings for centuries. At this World Heritage Site, you explore luxurious palaces, towers, and Romanesque and Gothic churches. Enjoy free time to explore before re-boarding the Clipper Odyssey for lunch. The magnificent Dalmatian Coast unfolds in scenic splendor as you cruise toward Croatia this afternoon. Historically, Dalmatia lay at the crossroads of empires—invaded by waves of conquerors from Illyrians to Austrians. Dubrovnik has been a strategic seaport since the 13th century. Its Old Town—a medieval masterpiece surrounded by fortified walls—is a World Heritage Site. Arrive in Dubrovnik this evening and enjoy independent time to dine, stroll the labyrinthine streets, and participate in the lively evening scene.

Day 9: Dubrovnik

Today, you explore Dubrovnik further with a choice of two morning excursions. Your first option includes the main square; the lovely 14th-century Dominican Monastery; the Franciscan Monastery and its Romanesque cloister; and the Cathedral, completed in 1713. The second option includes visits to the two monasteries and Cathedral, the Maritime Museum, and a walk along the city’s southern walls with beautiful views of the fortress and old Dubrovnik’s terra cotta rooftops. After lunch, choose a drive through the surrounding countryside, highlighted by spectacular vistas of the city and the harbor dotted with yachts and sailboats from around the Mediterranean. Or spend the afternoon on your own, a perfect chance to get better acquainted with the city’s lovely medieval center. Wander the warren of streets that spill into fountain-splashed plazas lined with colorful cafés, lending a relaxed ambiance to the city that George Bernard Shaw called the “jewel of the Adriatic.”

Day 10: Durres, Albania / Tirana

You begin the fascinating discovery of Albania today, a land of splendid terrain and historical monuments. An inland drive brings you to Tirana, Albania’s capital city, to visit the museum and the city’s bustling quarters—an intriguing mix of Ottoman buildings, Christian cathedrals, and marketplaces. After lunch, visit Kruja Fortress, a fortified citadel with nine observation towers built during the 5th and 6th centuries. Perched high on a mountain spur, the fortress is famed for the resistance of the Albanians, led by national hero Skanderbeg, against the Ottomans in the mid-15th century. Time permitting, explore Albania’s largest Roman amphitheater near Durres’ seaport.

Day 11: Saranda / Butrint

This morning, visit the World Heritage Site of Butrint—a veritable chronological repository of its various inhabitants: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians. Among its archaeological highlights are the baptistery with its colorful floor mosaics, superb amphitheater, and medieval fortress. From the ruins you take in the splendid views of the surrounding mile-high mountains.

Day 12: Itea, Greece / Delphi

Embark on a full-day tour of Delphi, a World Heritage Site known in ancient times as the navel of the world. Pass by Castalia Spring, visit the archeological site with the Temple of Apollo, famous for its oracle, and tour the Museum of Delphi, with its spectacular finds, including the bronze Charioteer, the Naxian Sphinx, and the Statue of Antinoos. After Delphi, visit the picturesque mountain village of Arachova, built on the south slopes of Parnassus, well known for its attractive hand-woven carpets, rugs, and quilts, as well as for its excellent wine and cheese. Visit the Byzantine Monastery of Osios Louca before lunch at a local restaurant. Return to the ship with an afternoon at leisure to explore on your own or dine ashore.

Day 13: Corinth Canal / Athens

This morning, you transit the Corinth Canal, a narrow passage connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. Arrive in Athens after lunch and depart on a tour of the cityÂ’s highlights including the Acropolis, our final World Heritage Site. Enjoy a festive farewell dinner as the Clipper Odyssey overnights pier side.

Day 14: Athens / Disembark / USA

Disembark the Clipper Odyssey after breakfast and transfer to the airport for independent homeward flights.