Hiking Moderate Tour

Overview

Discover the amazing diversity of North Macedonia, where each mountain has a different story to tell. You will be walking in the three national parks of Macedonia and a nature reserve surrounded by high dolomite rock faces, caves, and rare plant species.

You won’t walk the entire range, but we have selected the best parts and included medieval monasteries, mountain villages, and historic towns. The last hike will be to the mystical Treskavec monastery on a trail leading you between granite rocks and boulders in an outer-earthly landscape.

Highlights:

- Skopje historic sites, the Mother Teresa memorial house, ‘Charshija’ – the biggest Ottoman time market in Europe, the Millennium Cross on the top of Vodno Mountain

- Canyon Matka - famous for its butterflies, medieval Byzantine monasteries, and natural rarities (some 20% of the plant life there is endemic)

- Walk to the Duf waterfall and visit Rajchica monastery in Mavrovo National Park

- Explore Ohrid and Ohrid Lake – one of the oldest settlements, and the oldest lake in Europe, both of them on the UNESCO World Heritage list

- Pelister National Park – the silent witness of the WW1 frontlines

- Hike to Treskavec monastery where frescoes date back to the 15th century

Difficulty Grading:

EASY / MODERATE
Up to 18km / 11mi
3-6 hours
Terrain may be rugged, with some hills, but not too strenuous. Suitable for fit and active people, with some hiking experience

Itinerary

DAY 1-3: Skopje

You have arrived in Skopje, marveled at the mixture of ordered Socialistic brutal architecture and chaotic Old Town Ottoman heritage, and next you will hike to the big Millennium Cross on the top of Vodno Mountain to see the "Big picture" from above. You will also get on foot to the best viewpoint in Canyon Matka before descending to the boats (or kayaks) to explore further this unique nature reserve.

DAY 4-5: Mavrovo National Park

See the hidden gems of Mavrovo National Park on foot. Walk through the lush forest to the double-drop Duf waterfall, and visit one of the most important medieval shrines in the country which has the remains of the hand of St. George from the 4th century embedded in gold-plated silver.

Spend the night in a village guesthouse where you can dine on locally smoked meat, homegrown vegetables, and homemade wine. Next morning hike to the small church of the Holy Trinity, which provides some stunning views of Mount Jablanica, Ohrid Lake, a military road built by the French during World War I and the Albanian borderlands.

DAY 6-7: Explore Ohrid and Ohrid Lake

Explore Ohrid and Ohrid Lake: see the most photographed church of the Balkans and walk around the ancient Theater, built 2200 years ago and still used today for outside performances.

Visit the handmade papermaker, shop for world-famous Ohrid pearls, or find a hidden restaurant behind a cliff wall and sip a drink staring out at the serene lake. If you prefer to take it active, hike to Peak Magaro on Galichica Mountain, or get on a kayak and visit the Bay of Bones archeological settlement on water, snorkel for lake sponges, and swim on a hidden beach accessible only from the water.

DAY 8-10: Hike in Pelister

Hike in Pelister, the oldest national park in Macedonia, is famous for its ancient Molikapine trees, lynx, and bearded eagle. Later join the evening promenade in the old town of Bitola and see some of its beautiful neoclassical buildings which date from the period when Bitola was the seat of all the major European countries’ consulates and embassies.

The last hike on this tour will be to one of the most amazing places of Macedonia - the monastery “Treskavec”, laid as an eagle’s nest among vertical rocks and granite slabs. End your walking holiday with a winetasting of some excellent Macedonian wines in the Royal Winery.

When To Go:

Possible: 01 April – 31 October
Recommended: June and September
Not available: 01 November - 31 March

Price:

Available on request

INCLUDED IN PRICE:

Accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis in a double room: 09 nights in boutique traditional hotels

Meals: 9 Breakfasts

Private transfer from Skopje International Airport to Skopje

Rent-a-car

Orientation materials for the self-guided hiking: topographic map, detailed route descriptions with photographs of each waypoint, and a GPS track

Extensive manual with tips and recommendations

24/7 support by Macedonia Travel agents

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:

Transport to and from North Macedonia

Other meals

Petrol costs

Optional excursions and entrance tickets

Personal medical and travel insurance (mandatory)

Any extra expenses not mentioned under ‘included in the price’

OPTIONS & SUPPLEMENTS:

Extra night in Skopje: Please contact us for the price per person sharing a double room

Extra night in Ohrid: Please contact us for the price per person sharing a double room