Highlights Of Macedonia Tour By Bike ( Self Guided )

- Hotel to hotel
- 7 Nights
- Max 60 km per day
- Moderate
- 5 days cycling
- April to October

Overview

Start cycling from the highest town in the Balkans, and down on the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia. See all layers of Balkan history on a bike: the remains from the Neolith, from Alexander the Great’s Empire, the Romans, Byzantines, the Ottomans, Nazis, Communists…

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

Visit Canyon Matka, the nature reserve – home to the Bald Eagle and over 130 different species of butterflies… Taste the unique mix of Mediterranean and Oriental cuisine in the Macedonian mouthwatering 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, Galichica, 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 Lyncstis - Ancient ruins

Lake Prespa - The Pelicans’ and cormorants’ Lake

Ohrid and Ohrid Lake - Both of them are under UNESCO World Heritage protection

Cave Churches - In the rocks above Radozhda

Village Vevchani - The village of springs, unique architecture, and true village hospitality.

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: Skopje

Transfer from Skopje International Airport to Skopje, where you will meet the Macedonia Travel agent upon your arrival. Here you can discuss with her any questions you may have regarding the trip logistics, the Macedonian traditions and customs, and you will receive the documents for your holiday. Overnight in a 4* hotel in the city center.

DAY 2: Cycling to Canyon Matka

Get on the bike this morning and cycle to Canyon Matka. Home to bald eagles, endemic plant life, and over 130 different types of butterflies, this scenic landscape plays host to a few stunningly located 13th-century Orthodox monasteries, as well as one of the deepest caves in Europe.

Each photograph of Matka Canyon represents a story by itself – a historical monument, a wildlife splendor, a place for spiritual awakening, and a getaway destination from the noisy and chaotic streets of Skopje. And each photo calls you out to explore the richness of this natural treasure – you can do it all here: hiking, kayaking, swimming, cave exploring, rock climbing, fine dining.

Arrive back in 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 revolution against Ottoman suppression, but also for its traditional architecture, local traditional art crafts, and delicious cuisine. Enjoy your first Macedonian meal in one of the best places to taste traditional cuisine and Macedonian local beer. 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. You can stop in the village of Obrshani to climb the bell tower for the best view over the tobacco fields of the region and continue to Stibera's archaeological ruins of one of the biggest ancient cities that is still being excavated.

It is always possible to have a local village-style lunch in the villages on the way, supplied by a socialist time local store on the road. Afternoon continue riding on the old road to Bitola and Heraclea Lyncestis – an ancient city built by the father of Alexander the Great, Philip II.

Arrive in Bitola in the afternoon. Bitola is the former city of consulates and embassies, today still one of the most beautiful cities in Macedonia which managed to maintain its 18th and 19th-century neoclassical architecture and monuments. Overnight in the family hotel in Bitola.

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

DAY 4: Prespa Lake - Gjavato Pass

Start riding from your hotel in Bitola in the morning on the old road to Prespa Lake, to join for a part the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia, built over old Candavian Road some 2.200 years ago.

Next, ride up to Gjavato Pass and then make a descent to Lake Prespa, where you can visit a small village with a lovely ethnic museum. From here, ride by the Bird Habitat Ezerani and get to the other side of the lake where you can stop for a swim and overnight in a 2* hotel by the lake.

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

DAY 5: Galicica National Park

Ride up Galicica mountain in the morning, on a local asphalt road through the dense forests of Galicica National Park. Today's ride will start at the altitude of 860m, and up over Galicica pass at 1.590m where you can stop to enjoy an amazing view over Ohrid Lake and surrounding mountains stretching in Albania.

Then cycle down on a windy road to Ohrid Lake, and follow the road by the lake to the village Lagadin on the lake shore. Accommodation in a family guesthouse in Lagadin.

Cycling: 4h (45 km, ascent 980 m, descent 1.159 m)

Optional: transport to Galicica Pass where you can continue riding down to Ohrid Lake.

DAY 6: Ohrid

A day to explore Ohrid, a city of UNESCO with 365 Orthodox churches, an antique theatre, and the medieval city walls of Tsar Samoil. It takes less than 10km to get to Ohrid on the road by the lake Accommodation in the same guesthouse in Lagadin.

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

DAY 7: Struga

Ride on the old local road along the lake to Struga, the town of poetry, and a nice old colorful bazaar in the center, where river Drim flows out from Ohrid Lake. From here continue riding towards the Albanian border to Radozhda village with stops along the route to visit several cave churches from the 14th century. In Radozhda see again the remnants of Via Egnatia road and taste some fish in a restaurant by the lake.

Afternoon ride to a village at the foothills of Jablanica mountain, only 16km from the lake at Struga. Overnight in a guesthouse in Vevchani village.

DAY 8: Skopje - Departure

After a tasty village breakfast, transfer to Skopje for your flight back home.

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:

Arrival airport transfer from Skopje International Airport to Skopje

Transfer from Skopje to Krushevo

Departure airport transfer from Vevchani to Skopje (all single transfers per group)

Accommodation based on 2 participants sharing a double room

7 breakfasts

Luggage transfers

English route descriptions

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 THE 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: Please contact us for the price per person

Private arrival/departure transfers available upon request

Extra night in Skopje before or after the tour from: Please contact us for the price per person sharing a double room; Single supplement - Please contact us for the price per person.

Optional transfer for the longer uphill on Galichica mountain (Day 4): Please contact us for the price per car

Rent of bike: Please contact us for the price per day

Bike Information

If you prefer to bring your bike, we will be happy to take care of your bike box while you enjoy your holiday around the country. If it is easier for you to rent it, we can offer Hardtail mountain bicycles. They are great for casual mountain biking, cross-country, or touring around the country.

Each bike comes with a helmet, lights, locks, and a spare tube, and each group gets: a pump, tire levers, patches, and a multi-tool. Please view our bikes’ specifications below.

Brand Specialised
Wheels 27.5''
Brakes hydraulic discs
Gears 3 x 9
Derailer Shimano Deore
Shock 80-100mm

We can also install a luggage rack to the bicycle, and provide you with bike bags at an extra cost (Please contact us for the price per person per day)

Note: A deposit (Please contact us for the price) in cash is required for every rented bicycle. The deposit will be returned to you upon the safe return of the bicycle.