Mountain Biking Guided Tour

9 nights

Max 53 km per day mountain biking

7 days mountain biking

Average 73% off-road

June to October

Overview

North Macedonia is heaven for mountain bikers: a country with over 70% mountains and lakes, with never-ending trails and barely traveled roads set in breathtaking nature. On this 10-day tour, you will bike on trails from 30 km to 50 km long, with ascents of 550 m to 1,200 m per day.

You will see ancient Macedonian and Roman sites along the way and ride on parts of the Via Egnatia Roman road. You will experience the true culture and charm of the country while biking off the beaten tourist track and meeting locals where things haven’t changed much in the last century.

Highlights:

Start in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia

Reach the Millennium Cross by cable car and ride downhill to Canyon Matka for a refreshing boat trip to the caves (optional kayaking available)

Explore the pastures and mountain villages of Mavrovo National Park

Visit Ohrid and Lake Ohrid — both on the UNESCO World Heritage list

Ride past the trenches from World War I in Pelister National Park

Ride in the mountains around Krushevo — the highest town in the Balkans (famous for its excellent sausage, melted cheese, and lokum)

Taste the premium wines of Stobi Winery

Difficulty Grading:

MODERATE
Up to 50 km / 30 mi
Hilly terrain with moderate climbs
Suitable for mountain bikers comfortable riding most terrain types in different conditions: singletrack, double track, muddy, dry, loose, or rocky surfaces.

Itinerary:

DAY 1: MILLENNIUM CROSS & CANYON MATKA

Meet the Macedonia Travel guide at Skopje Airport and shuttle to Mount Vodno. We take the cable car from here to the Millennium Cross (a 66 m high steel cross at the mountain top). The summit of Mount Vodno offers an unforgettable 360-degree panorama of the Skopje Valley and the mountain ranges surrounding it — to the east, west, and central parts of Macedonia.

From here we ride downhill following singletracks and along the foothills of Mount Vodno to Canyon Matka, a nature reserve famous for its butterflies, 13th-century Orthodox monasteries, and Cave Vrelo — the deepest underwater cave in Europe. End the day in Skopje with dinner in the old town. Overnight in Skopje.

Ride: 29 km / 550 m D+ / 50% off-road
Total drive: 35 km / 30 min

DAY 2: SINGLETRACKS IN MAVROVO NATIONAL PARK

After a 1.5-hour transfer from Skopje, we arrive at our lodge in Mavrovo National Park, the largest national park in North Macedonia. It is home to some of the rarest animals in the country: lynx, bears, eagles, wild goats, and chamois. Wild horses roam vast green hills, giving this place an idyllic, almost mythical scenery.

Today we ride a loop on Mount Bistra, passing sheep farms and large flocks grazing in pastures up to 1,700 m above sea level.

We will climb on jeep trails and descend on singletracks back to our lodge. Overnight in Mavrovo National Park.

Ride: 35 km / 800 m D+ / 70% off-road
Total drive: 98 km / 1h 35 min

DAY 3: MOUNTAIN VILLAGE EXPERIENCE

A short transfer brings us to the saddle of Mount Bistra, where we get on the bikes and continue across the vast Mavrovo plateau to the village of Galichnik at 1,500 m altitude — inhabited mainly in summer when the snow melts. Galichnik is famous for its old stone houses, rich traditions, and the best sheep cheese in the country.

From here we ride down through the forest and climb again on a rocky trail to the village of Lazaropole at 1,350 m altitude.

The final ride today takes us to the old bridge “Elen Skok” (Deer Jump), from where we continue by bus to Vevchani, a small picturesque village at the foothills of the Jablanica Mountains. Finish the day with a homemade village dinner in one of the guesthouses in Vevchani. Overnight in Vevchani.

Ride: 53 km / 950 m D+ / 70% off-road
Total drive: 66 km / 1h 20 min

DAY 4: JABLANICA MASSIF TO OHRID

Today, we ride up a steep side road from Vevchani into the Jablanica mountain range on the border with Albania. Soon we will have open views of Lake Ohrid and the mountains surrounding its deep blue water.

Our ride takes us past cave churches built by monks centuries ago in the rock walls overlooking the lake. In the afternoon, we cycle along the lakeshore on a bike path to the town of Ohrid.

Ohrid and Lake Ohrid are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ohrid for its cultural heritage and the lake as one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe, with remarkable biodiversity. We will stay in Ohrid for the next three nights.

Ride: 47 km / 1,140 m D+ / 70% off-road
Total drive: 0 km

DAY 5: OHRID

Our layover day in Ohrid begins with a guided tour of the old town. You will see the most photographed church in the Balkans, walk along Tsar Samoil’s city walls, and visit the ancient theatre built more than 2,200 years ago — still used today for outdoor performances.

The afternoon is yours to explore the hidden alleys of the old town and the cozy restaurants and sunset bars along the lake. Overnight in Ohrid.

Ride: 0 km
Total drive: 0 km

DAY 6: GALICICA NATIONAL PARK

Today we ride on Mount Galicica, rising like a giant whale between the two most beautiful lakes in North Macedonia, offering unforgettable views of both. It forms part of Galicica National Park — a unique environment with more than 800 plant species, 11 of which are endemic.

Our ride takes us along mountain trails and singletracks across the wide plateau below the ridge.

We descend toward Lake Ohrid on a long off-road trail through small villages and orchards, then join the lakeside road back to Ohrid. Overnight in Ohrid.

Ride: 50 km / 580 m D+ / 80% off-road
Total drive: 5 km / 10 min

DAY 7: PELISTER NATIONAL PARK

Our morning shuttle from Ohrid brings us to Pelister National Park, the oldest national park in North Macedonia (established in 1948). A true natural treasure where peaks rising to 2,600 m are separated by deep valleys, springs, streams, and rivers.

Two glacial lakes known as “the Eyes of Pelister” dot this well-watered landscape. The mountain also has historical significance as a silent witness to the World War I frontlines — on our ride, we will see remains of trenches from that period.

We descend through villages to the foothills and continue on a local road to Bitola, the second-largest city in North Macedonia.

A city of romantic neoclassical buildings whose old town reflects its former glory, when nearly every major European country had a consulate here due to the volume of trade and commerce. Overnight in Bitola.

Ride: 37 km / 650 m D+ / 80% off-road
Total drive: 67 km / 1h 25 min

DAY 8: KRUSHEVO — THE BIRTHPLACE OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Today we ride from the highest town in the Balkans, Krushevo, idyllically nestled among green hills and forests of Mount Bushava. It is famous as the site of the 1903 uprising against Ottoman rule, when the first free republic was proclaimed here.

Although it lasted only 10 days, it remains a powerful symbol of the national struggle for freedom and democracy. Krushevo has also preserved its colorful traditional architecture, which gives the town a unique charm.

After a circular ride through the hills and historical sites around Krushevo, we enjoy a picnic lunch in nature and descend back to town. Overnight in Krushevo.

Ride: 27 km / 590 m D+ / 90% off-road
Total drive: 55 km / 1 hour

DAY 9: ANCIENT CITY OF STOBI & STOBI WINERY

Take a morning stroll along the colorful streets of this living museum town and visit the old barrel-maker’s workshop and the house of the renowned Macedonian painter Nikola Martinovski, featuring an impressive collection of his works and preserved interiors.

From Krushevo, we drive into the wine region of Macedonia. Along the way, we visit Stobi, a city founded in the 3rd century BC during the final centuries of the ancient Macedonian kingdom. It later became an important stop along the Roman road Via Egnatia, where traders were supplied with marble, iron, wine, and other goods.

At Stobi Winery, we enjoy a tasting of premium Macedonian wines with lunch before returning to Skopje. Overnight in Skopje.

Ride: 0 km
Total drive: 165 km / 2h 30 min

DAY 10: LAST DAY

Morning shuttle to Skopje Airport for your flight home.

When To Go:

Possible: 10 May – 31 May and 15 October – 1 November
Recommended: 1 June – 15 October
Not available: all other dates

Price:

Available on request.

INCLUDED IN PRICE:

• Accommodation based on two participants sharing a double room
• Meal plan: all breakfasts included; other meals on request (vegetarian, vegan, and special requests available)
• Support vehicle and all transfers during the trip
• Full escort by a professional mountain biking guide
• Cable car on Mount Vodno
• Kayaking/boating in Canyon Matka
• Cheese tasting in Galichnik
• Wine tasting at Stobi Winery
• Entrance fees for national parks and monuments are included in the program
• Organization and full logistics by Macedonia Travel

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:

• Airplane tickets to/from Skopje or Sofia
• Personal medical and travel insurance (mandatory)
• Any extra expenses not mentioned under “Included in the price.”

OPTIONS & SUPPLEMENTS:

• Private transfers from Skopje International Airport to Skopje and from Skopje to Skopje International Airport
• Extra night in Skopje before or after the tour — price on request
• Bike rental per day

Bike Information:

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

If it is easier for you to rent one, we can offer hardtail mountain bikes or e-bikes. 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.

We can also install a luggage rack on the bicycle and provide bike bags at an additional daily cost.