Ioannina Castle — Ali Pasha's Assassination Plot
Uncover the deadly conspiracy that toppled Ali Pasha, the Lion of Ioannina. Decode clues across his fortress to expose the traitors who assassinated him in 1822 and reclaim his lost final testament.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the shadowed citadels of Ioannina Castle, Ali Pasha, the ruthless Lion of Ioannina, ruled with an iron fist during the early 19th century
Ioannina Castle — Ali Pasha's Assassination Plot
You are a secret emissary of Khourchid Pasha, tasked with infiltrating Ali Pasha's stronghold in Ioannina in early 1822.
Your mission: document the flaws in his
Delve into the final hours of the "Lion of Janina," Ali Pasha, entrenched in his Ioannina fortress against the Ottoman Empire.
The story that haunts this land
Your infiltration begins at Ioannina Castle (Its Kale), this Ottoman fortress built in the 16th century. It was here, in 1788, that Ali Pasha established the center of his power, transforming Ioannina into a virtually independent pashalik. The fortifications you walk along were the scene of a fierce 15-month siege by Ottoman troops between 1820 and 1822. Ali Pasha, cornered, took refuge in a fortified redoubt within the Kastro, whose remains reveal the despot's final defense strategies. This Ottoman heritage in Greece plunges you directly into the heart of the historical Epirus's political intrigues.
A short walk from the Kastro, the Aslan Pasha Mosque, erected between 1618 and 1622 by Aslan Pasha, stands with its 30-meter minaret. Its classic Ottoman architecture, dominated by a central dome, witnessed Ali Pasha's reign as he consolidated his control over Ioannina. As an emissary, you observe this place of worship which saw the pasha's rise and fall. The mosque's immediate proximity to Its Kale, accessible on foot in 1-2 minutes, highlights the compact organization of this fortified city, a strategic asset during the 1820-1822 siege.
Your journey then takes you to the Byzantine Museum of Ioannina, housed since 1995 in the former 16th-century seraglio arsenal, 300m from the castle. This Ottoman building, reused under Ali Pasha between 1788 and 1822, exhibits Byzantine and post-Byzantine artifacts from Epirus. The collection of over 7,000 objects, including icons and manuscripts from the 14th to 19th centuries, testifies to the region's cultural richness preceding Ali Pasha's reign. This site offers you a perspective on the history of Ioannina before the "Lion" imposed his hegemony.
As you head towards the Pamvotida Lake Quays, you pass by the School of Philanthropy, founded in 1774 by Bishop Nikiforos Theotokis. Located 800m from the castle, this first institution of higher education in Epirus operated actively under Ali Pasha's reign (1788-1822). Its 19th-century neoclassical building symbolizes cultural flourishing despite Ottoman despotism, and its influence on local elites was significant until 1821, just before Ali Pasha's decapitation. This monument of historical Epirus reveals the complexity of life in Ioannina under his rule.
Finally, you reach Lake Pamvotida and its quays, from where you observe Ali Pasha's island refuge. This natural lake, bordering Ioannina Castle, was the site of his isolation in 1821 and his execution on February 5, 1822. Ferries to the monks' island, notably the Monastery of Panteleimon (11th century), depart from these quays, developed in the 19th century. It was on this insular fortress that Ali Pasha, trapped, was treacherously decapitated. Your mission as a secret emissary concludes here, facing the site of the "Lion of Janina's" fall, after an immersive thematic circuit through the heritage of Ioannina.
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
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Practical info
Why this route?
The Enlightened Despot
Discover Ali Pasha's complex personality, tyrant and protector
Byron in Ioannina
Relive the English poet's fascination with the rebel pasha
The Bloody Island
Explore the theater of crimes and the Lion's death
The Lion who defied an Empire
Dive into the epic of the last independent pasha
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Ioannina Castle — Ali Pasha's Assassination Plot — is it a guided trail or a free-form hunt?
It's a semi-guided trail: GPS points you to the next stop, but you find the camera clue and solve the puzzle yourself. No app to install, everything runs in your browser.
Q02How far do you walk in Ioannina Castle, Greece?
Usually 2 to 4 km of total walking, within 1.5 km as the crow flies from the start point. The route is designed to be walkable at a relaxed pace, no public transport needed.
Q03Is Ioannina Castle — Ali Pasha's Assassination Plot suitable for a challenge-seeking teen?
Absolutely. The puzzles aren't obvious — a curious teen will sweat just enough to be proud of cracking them. Progressive hints prevent frustration: if stuck, unlock hint level 1, then 2, then 3.
Q04What's the best time to start?
Morning between 10 and 11, or early afternoon around 2 PM, is ideal. You still have daylight ahead, Ioannina Castle, Greece is less crowded, and the light is better for camera clues.
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Your turn to play
Delve into the final hours of the "Lion of Janina," Ali Pasha, entrenched in his Ioannina fortress against the Ottoman Empire.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
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