Have you ever heard of the Via Egnatia?

Constructed in the 2nd century BC, it was a road that ran from Dyrrachium (now Durrës) in Albania to Istanbul, thus connecting the Eastern and Western parts of the Holy Roman Empire. It was the westward continuation of the Silk Road, and the eastward continuation of the Via Appia.

© Eric Gaba for Wikimedia Commons

Ever since 2020, the passionate Natural Greece team and their local partners have been going above and beyond to deliver the extraordinary travel experience, “Along the Via Egnatia”.

Following in the footsteps of famous rulers, traders and crusaders this small group tour of Northern Greece has a 10 day duration.

Traveler Paula Kirby on her Journey Along the Via Egnatia:

“My tour of northern Greece last October was so wonderful that it really should be impossible to pick out a favourite day. But it isn’t, simply because this one was right off the scale.

First, a boat trip on beautiful Lake Kerkini with its astonishing birdlife, including two species of pelican (Great White and the globally threatened Dalmatian) and flamingos in their thousands, all made all the more special by the early morning light (even if I did somehow manage to fail to get an in-focus photo of a single flamingo – quite an achievement, given how many of them there were).

This boat trip was so intensely beautiful, tranquil and atmospheric that I actually found it deeply emotional, and frequently found myself blinking back tears. It was genuinely one of the most special experiences of my life.

Then a visit to the vast and extraordinary Alistratis Cave, truly like being in an underground cathedral. Never had I seen such a mind-blowing array of stalactites, stalagmites, and other limestone formations. Stunningly beautiful and highly dramatic.

And then a visit to the remains of the ancient city of Philippi, where St Paul is believed to have given his first sermon in Europe, so hugely important in western history and culture. The site is really quite extensive, and there is enough there to give you a real sense of how it must have been 2000 years ago. You could even see the wheel tracks worn into the ancient Roman Via Egnatia. It’s not often that ancient history comes alive as vividly as it does there.”

Paula Kirby was touring the Via Egnatia in October.