Highlights Of Macedonia Tour By Bike ( Self Guided )

Hotel-to-hotel

7 nights

Max 60 km per day

Moderate

5 days of cycling

April to October

Overview

Start cycling from the highest town in the Balkans and ride down along the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia. See all layers of Balkan history by bike: remains from the Neolithic era, from Alexander the Great’s empire, the Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, Nazis, and Communists.

Swim with the cormorants in Prespa Lake and in the oldest lake in Europe — Lake Ohrid. Walk in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Ohrid, where the Cyrillic script was developed.

Visit Canyon Matka, a nature reserve home to the bald eagle and over 130 different species of butterflies. Taste the unique mix of Mediterranean and Oriental influences in mouthwatering Macedonian dishes.

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrival in Skopje
Day 2: Skopje – Canyon Matka – Skopje
Day 3: Krushevo – Bitola
Day 4: Bitola – Prespa – Lake Oteshevo
Day 5: Oteshevo – Galicica – Ohrid
Day 6: Ohrid
Day 7: Struga – Radozhda – Vevchani
Day 8: Departure to Skopje Airport

Highlights:

Canyon Matka — Nature Reserve

Krushevo — The open-museum town

Bitola — A city with over 1,600 years of urban tradition

Heraclea Lyncestis — Ancient ruins

Lake Prespa — The pelicans’ and cormorants’ lake

Ohrid and Lake Ohrid — Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cave churches — In the rocks above Radozhda

Village Vevchani — The village of springs, unique architecture, and genuine hospitality

Difficulty Grading

MODERATE
Up to 75 km / 46 mi
Hilly terrain with moderate climbs

Suitable for regular cyclists who are used to longer rides and are comfortable tackling one or two climbs along the way.

NOTE: One long climb on Day 4. A transfer can be arranged to the mountain pass. Please contact the agency for details.

Itinerary:

DAY 1: Skopje

Transfer from Skopje International Airport to Skopje, where you will meet the Macedonia Travel representative upon arrival. Here you can discuss any questions regarding trip logistics, Macedonian traditions and customs, and receive your travel documents. Overnight in a 4★ hotel in the city center.

DAY 2: Cycling to Canyon Matka

Start cycling this morning toward Canyon Matka. Home to bald eagles, endemic plants, and more than 130 butterfly species, this scenic landscape hosts several stunning 13th-century Orthodox monasteries and one of the deepest caves in Europe.

Every view of Matka Canyon tells its own story — a historic monument, a wildlife sanctuary, a place for spiritual reflection, and a peaceful escape from the busy streets of Skopje. You can enjoy hiking, kayaking, swimming, cave exploration, rock climbing, or lakeside dining.

Return to Skopje in the afternoon and transfer to Krushevo, a picturesque mountain town in central Macedonia.

It is the highest town in the Balkans, famous for the first uprising against Ottoman rule, as well as for its traditional architecture, handicrafts, and cuisine. Enjoy your first Macedonian dinner in one of the town’s best traditional restaurants. Overnight in a boutique hotel in Krushevo.

DAY 3: Climbing Tour

Starting from the hotel, ride down Mount Busava to the villages at its foothills. Stop in the village of Obrshani to climb the bell tower for views over the tobacco fields and continue to the archaeological site of Stibera, one of the largest ancient cities in the region still under excavation.

You may stop for a local village-style lunch along the way. In the afternoon, continue riding on the old road to Bitola and Heraclea Lyncestis — an ancient city founded by Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.

Arrive in Bitola in the afternoon. Once known as the “city of consulates,” Bitola remains one of the most beautiful cities in Macedonia, preserving its 18th- and 19th-century neoclassical architecture. Overnight in a family-run hotel in Bitola.

Cycling: 5h (62 km, ascent 171 m, descent 813 m)

DAY 4: Prespa Lake – Gjavato Pass

Start riding from your hotel in Bitola along the old road toward Prespa Lake, joining part of the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia, built over the earlier Candavian Road some 2,200 years ago.

Ride up to Gjavato Pass and descend toward Lake Prespa, where you may visit a small village with a charming ethnographic museum. Continue past the Ezerani Bird Reserve and reach the opposite side of the lake, where you can stop for a swim and overnight in a lakeside 2★ hotel.

Cycling: 6h (50 km, ascent 752 m, descent 503 m)

DAY 5: Galicica National Park

Ride up Mount Galicica in the morning along a local asphalt road through the dense forests of Galicica National Park. Today’s ride begins at 860 m and climbs to Galicica Pass at 1,590 m, offering spectacular views of Lake Ohrid and the mountains stretching into Albania.

Then cycle down a winding road toward Lake Ohrid and follow the lakeside road to the village of Lagadin. Overnight in a family guesthouse in Lagadin.

Cycling: 4h (45 km, ascent 980 m, descent 1,159 m)

Optional: transfer to Galicica Pass, from where you can cycle downhill to Lake Ohrid.

DAY 6: Ohrid

A day to explore Ohrid, a UNESCO-listed city with 365 Orthodox churches, an ancient theatre, and the medieval walls of Tsar Samoil. It is less than 10 km to reach Ohrid along the lakeside road. Overnight in the same guesthouse in Lagadin.

Cycling: 1h (16 km, ascent 163 m, descent 163 m)

DAY 7: Struga

Ride along the old lakeside road to Struga, the town of poetry, known for its colorful bazaar where the River Drim flows out of Lake Ohrid. Continue toward the Albanian border to the village of Radozhda, stopping to visit several 14th-century cave churches.

In Radozhda, you can also see remnants of the Via Egnatia road and taste fresh lake fish in a restaurant by the water.

In the afternoon, ride to a village at the foothills of the Jablanica Mountains, about 16 km from Struga. Overnight in a guesthouse in Vevchani.

DAY 8: Skopje – Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Skopje for your return flight.

When To Go:

Possible: 1 May – 31 May and 15 October – 1 November
Recommended: 1 June – 14 October
Not available: all other dates

Price:
Available on request

INCLUDED IN PRICE:

Arrival airport transfer from Skopje International Airport

Transfer from Skopje to Krushevo

Departure transfer from Vevchani to Skopje

Accommodation based on two participants sharing a double room

7 breakfasts

Luggage transfers

English route descriptions

Detailed cycling maps and route notes

Local safety information and contacts

Standby support (mobile contact person)

Organization and logistics by Macedonia Travel

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:

Airplane tickets to/from Skopje

Personal medical and travel insurance (mandatory)

Any expenses not listed under “Included in the price.”

OPTIONS & SUPPLEMENTS:

Single room supplement — price on request

Private arrival/departure transfers available upon request

Extra night in Skopje before or after the tour — price on request

Optional transfer for the longer climb on Galicica Mountain — price per car on request

Bike rental — price per day on request

Bike Information

If you prefer to bring your own bike, we will store your bike box while you enjoy your holiday.

If you prefer to rent one, we offer hardtail mountain bikes suitable for casual mountain biking, cross-country, or touring.

Each bike comes with a helmet, lights, locks, and a spare tube. Each group also receives a pump, tire levers, patches, and a multi-tool.

Bike specifications:
Brand: Specialized
Wheels: 27.5″
Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
Gears: 3 × 9
Derailleur: Shimano Deore
Suspension: 80–100 mm

We can also install a luggage rack and provide bike bags at an additional daily cost (price on request).

Note: A cash deposit (amount on request) is required for each rented bicycle and will be returned upon safe return of the bike.