Ancient Mediterranean: Greece, Croatia & Albania - Orion
Sail between Greece, Albania, and Croatia, delving into ancient empires and their archaeological treasures & savoring the local flavors, from Delphi to Dubrovnik.
SPECIAL OFFER
9.2*
ECO SCORE
102
PASSENGERS
8
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Europe: Drink It In
Welcome Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
The experts at Food & Wine magazine and Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic 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. 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 more than 40 of the region’s best wines, each personally selected by Food & Wine magazine’s Executive Wine Editor, Ray Isle.
- • Indulge in gourmet menus guided by the rhythms of the season, featuring sustainable ingredients primarily sourced from the Mediterranean.
• 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.
• Receive exclusive guidance from both a National Geographic Photography Expert and Destination Expert on each departure.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
Trip Sustainability Awards
Food
Sources all food and seafood sustainably and locally
Waste
100% free of single-use plastics!
Carbon
Offsets 100% of operations and is carbon neutral
Itinerary
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: 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: 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 paddle board in the beautiful sea.
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, & dinner
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: 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: 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: Komiža / Vis
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: Split / Disembark Ship
Arrive in Split this morning. Enjoy a farewell breakfast on board before disembarking and transferring to the airport for your flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
National Geographic Orion
Built in Germany by the Cassens shipyard, the 102-guest National Geographic Orion was created with a high-ice class to be able to venture safely into polar regions. A ship of her size is seldom built with such ice-cutting ability, which makes her a rarity. She is yacht-scale, yet rugged enough to venture far afield, making her a perfect addition to the Lindblad fleet, which she joined in 2013. Her size and nimbleness offer the perfect combination of safety and liberty to voyage untrammeled locations. In fact, Orion currently holds the distinction of having sailed further south than any other of this operator's vessels.
Orion is gracious and intimate, with a rewarding, almost clubby feeling. Of her many amenities and features, the most appealing is her outside deck space which beckons in the balmy reaches of the Pacific and offers a range of panoramic viewing options for up-close marine life encounters.
ACHIEVEMENTS
2023 ”Best Cruise Ships in the World" Conde Nast Traveler Gold List
2023 "Best Expedition Ships" Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards
2022 "World's Best Cruise Line" World Cruise Awards
2022 "GOLD: Best Expedition Line" Reader's Choice Awards, Recommend Magazine
"The Orion is a lovely expedition ship with huge cabins and hotel-quality soft furnishings and amenities. She is operated by a world class expedition team and joined by highly credentialed experts in many disciplines to offer you an adventure that seems right out of National Geographic Magazine. Her public areas are spacious and attractive and her expedition equipment like an underwater viewing device and splash camera will bring the undersea world to life while you enjoy the comfort of the ship."
Wild Nectar
Life On Board
Deck Plan
Click to enlarge
Questions?
Rates
Glory in the turquoise waters and rich histories of this region as you visit these bucket list destinations with a Food & Wine Magazine focus. World class guiding and this operator’s powerful sustainability efforts set the tone for this unique voyage. Extend with another expedition or a fantastic land program.
Joy Martinello, Founder
Questions?
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Excursions, hotels, and airport transfers, as indicated in itinerary; Kayaks, Zodiac cruises, stand-up paddle boards, full complement of snorkeling gear, glass-bottom boat rides, where relevant; Guidance and expertise of expedition staff; All meals as indicated in itinerary; Beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and snacks; Cocktails and spirits on select ships; Park and site entrance fees, special access permits, and port taxes; 24-hour access to shared spaces, such as the lounges and fitness centers; Complimentary WiFi
NOT INCLUDED
Airfare (except flights when indicated as included), expedition extensions, additional hotel nights, and private transfers; Travel protection plan, passport, visa, and immigration fees; Laundry, spa treatments, scuba diving and phone services (except when indicated as included)
