| Duration: | 3 Day(s) - 2 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Bicycle Tours |
- Hotel to hotel
- 2 Nights
- Max 50km per day
- Choice of moderate to challenging routes
- 2 days cycling
- May to October
Overview
A weekend for some of the best cultural and historical sites in North Macedonia. Start from Bitola, the city with more than 1600 years of urban tradition; cycle through the bird habitat by Lake Prespa and in national park Galicica; swim in the oldest and deepest lake in Europe; end the weekend with a walk in the old town of Ohrid – a true time travel through the many layers of history of this UNESCO World Heritage city.
ITINERARY:
Day 1: Bitola – Oteshevo (Prespa Lake)
Day 2: Oteshevo, Galichica, Ohrid
Day 3: Relaxing day in Ohrid
Highlights:
Bitola is the former city of consulates and embassies, today one of the most beautiful cities in Macedonia which managed to maintain its 18th and 19th century neoclassical architecture and monuments. While in Bitola, don’t miss:
- Shirok Sokak
- The Old Bazaar
- Heraclea Lyncestis
- Museum of Bitola
The Ethno Museum in the village of Podmochani, with an impressive collection of over 2000 exhibits.
Birdwatching in Prespa Lake
Galicica National Park: with 130 different types of trees and shrubs, many of which are relict.
Ohrid Lake. The deepest and oldest lake in Europe, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Bay of Bones. An authentic reconstruction of a part of the pile-dwelling settlement dating back to 1200 BC.
Ohrid: The pearl of the Balkans, also known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans, for its amazing historical, religious, and cultural heritage. The major attractions of Ohrid are located within a walkable area, among and above the narrow cobblestoned streets of the old town, lined with restaurants, cafés, and souvenir shops. Some must-see sites in Ohrid:
- St Sofia church: The treasure of medieval architecture and painting with frescoes are best-preserved examples of Byzantine monumental activities from the period between the 10th and 13th centuries.
- Ancient Theatre: Renewed piece of history in the heart of Ohrid. It was first dedicated to Dionysus and the muses of poetry and theater games, and later it served as a gladiatorial arena for battles. Today, it is a host to world artists such as Jose Carreras, Tina Gorina, and the conductor David Himenez.
- Tsar Samuil Fortress: The shield of Ohrid has protected the city from the tribes’ invasion since the 5th century.
- The handmade papermaker. If you like the history of books and writings, this workshop is a must-visit, with one of the two remaining (and operating!) Gutenberg press machines in the World.
Difficulty Grading:
MODERATE
up to 75km / 46mi
hilly terrain with moderate uphills
Regular cyclists, who are used to longer rides and are happy to take an uphill, or two along the way
NOTE: One long uphill on day 4. Transfer can be arranged to the mountain pass. Please contact the agency for more details.
Itinerary:
DAY 1: Bitola
As you leave urban Bitola, you enter the old local road that used to connect Bitola with Prespa Lake in the times of Yugoslavia. Today it is rarely used, as it hasn’t been maintained since the opening of the new motorway from Bitola to Prespa, and it is still covered with cobblestone in parts. One part of this road is on the ancient route of the Roman road Via Egnatia, built over the old Candavian Road some 2.200 years ago.
You will know that you are close to Lake Prespa when you notice the apple orchards around you. It is the region that supplies all of the Balkans with apples. Unlike Ohrid Lake, Prespa Lake has only a few commercial beaches (one of them by Hotel Lakeview), as most of the coast is covered with reed – this lake is the refuge for many rare bird species.
Some of them are threatened with extinction worldwide, such as the Dalmatian Pelican and the Pygmy Cormorant. They still breed here in large numbers and benefit from the extraordinary wealth of fish in the lake.
Cycling: 6h (50 km, ascent 752 m, descent 503 m)
DAY 2: Galicica National Park
A beautiful and challenging cycling route over Mount Galicica, with wonderful views over the two biggest lakes in North Macedonia. Once you leave Prespa Lake behind, you will enter Galicica National Park.
Here you start a 14km long uphill (860m to 1590m) on a curvy narrow road leading to Mount Galicica pass. (if you think that this is too challenging for you, please ask our agents to arrange a transfer up to the mountain pass, so you can enjoy riding only the downhill to the lake, and by the lake coast).
Don’t rush to your destination, take some time to stop and visit Trpejca fishing village, with a lovely beach hidden between the rocks by Ohrid Lake. There are also a couple of fish restaurants on the shore where you can enjoy fresh trout for lunch. Also, we recommend making one more stop on your way to visit the archaeological site on the water – the Bay of Bones.
Cycling: 5h (55 km, ascent 1.298 m, descent 1.328 m)
Optional: transfer to Galicica Pass where you can continue riding down to Ohrid Lake.
DAY 3: Ohrid
A day to relax and explore Ohrid. Ohrid Lake is considered the oldest lake in Europe, whilst the historic heart of the town is one of the oldest settlements in Europe, with archaeological sites from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Hellenistic periods.
Take a stroll through the cobblestoned alleys of the Ohrid old town, see Tzar Samoil’s fortress, shop for Ohrid pearls, and visit the unique workshop for hand-made paper and the open food market, where locals meet each day and sell fresh fish, delicious tomatoes, red paprika, and watermelons.
Take a boating tour and dine at the fisherman’s house, visit the ancient Bay of Bones on a kayak, and enjoy swimming on a hidden beach. Learn about the Cyrillic script at its birthplace, at St Naum monastery.
Cycling: No Cycling
When To Go:
Possible: 01 May – 31 May and 15 October to 01 November
Recommended: 01 June– 14 October
Not available: All other dates
Price:
Available on request
INCLUDED IN PRICE:
Accommodation based on 2 participants sharing a double room
Luggage transfers
Detailed cycling route descriptions and maps
Local safety information and contacts
Stand-by support (cell phone and contact person)
Organization and logistics by Macedonia Travel
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:
Airplane tickets to/from Skopje
Personal medical and travel insurance (mandatory)
Any extra expenses not mentioned under ‘included in the price’
Options & Supplements:
Supplement for single room accommodation
Vegetarian and vegan meals available on request
Private arrival/departure transfers available upon request
Rent of bike: on request
Rent of Global Positioning System (GPS) console.
Bike Information:
Available on request.
