The Highlights Tour

Overview

Experience the best of Macedonia in 14 days! Start in the capital city Skopje, with over 6 centuries history of existence; visit Mother Teresa’s birthplace on the pedestrian street Makedonija; take a boat in the magnificent canyon Matka to cave Vrelo; see the colorful Alaya mosque from the Ottoman period and visit Ohrid, the UNESCO city – a sacred place with 365 churches and the birthplace of Slavic literacy; walk by the ancient mosaics in the city of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great.

Taste the best of Macedonia: the warmest welcome, the intense, full-bodied wines grown under the 300 sunny days per year, and the mouthwatering Macedonian dishes.

Highlights:

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

- Take a boating tour to Cave Vrelo in Canyon Matka nature reserve

- Explore the mountain villages, medieval churches, and historical trails in Mavrovo and Pelister

- National parks

- Immerse yourself in the beauty of Ohrid and Ohrid Lake – they are both on the UNESCO World Heritage list

- See the famous mosaics of ancient Heraclea Lyncestis and the historical town Krushevo

- Shop for local ‘Bieno’ cheese at the open market in Prilep and sample fine Macedonian wines in the wine region

- Visit the Valley of the Stone Dolls and Kokino Megalithic Observatory

Difficulty Grading

Easy walks are designed for people who enjoy the outdoors and relaxed walks with ample time to enjoy the attractions along the route.

Itinerary

DAY 1-3: Skopje

Your journey starts in Skopje, the capital city of Macedonia. Explore this ancient city with its eclectic blend of Byzantine, Ottoman, and Roman treasures. Take the cable car to the Millennium Cross for the spectacular 360-degree panorama of the mountain chains surrounding Skopje Valley. See Canyon Matka, home to bald eagles, endemic plants, and over 130 butterflies.

DAY4-5: Mavrovo National Park

Explore Mavrovo National Park. With its clear springs and rivers with wild rapids and tumbling waterfalls, rare species of trees, and hilltops rich in wild herbs and teas, Mavrovo is an exquisite place for exploring. You will stay the first night in a small eco-lodge, and the second one in a village guesthouse where you can taste traditional homemade food spiced with locally picked herbs, and enjoy your morning coffee with an unforgettable view of the river canyon and green mountain slopes.

DAY6-8: Ohrid Lake

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…

DAY 9-11: Lake Prespa

Drive along the scenic road by Lake Prespa, home of the largest Dalmatian Pelican colony in the world; enjoy a walk on the WW1 trail in national park Pelister and taste some delicious organic honey at the local beekeeper. See the the 5th century mosaics in the ancient city of Heraclea Lyncestis, built by Philip II, the father of Alexander Great.

Walk along the lively pedestrian street of Bitola, the city with the longest urban tradition with beautiful 18th and 19th-century architecture that tells the story of the former glory of this town, when every major European country had a consulate here.. Visit Krushevo, the highest town in the Balkans, with colorful houses set along the narrow cobblestoned streets, and many monuments that tell the history of this town where the first uprising against the Ottoman domination took place.

DAY 12-14: Wine Region

Stay in the wine region and taste the local Stanushina, a full-bodied rosé, and Vranec, a dry red wine, along with the Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the fertile Macedonia soil under the Macedonian sun. Explore the East and, visit Kokino Megalithic Observatory, the 4th oldest observatory in the world.

Walk in the Valley of the Stone dolls, the eroded rock formations that over time have transformed into intriguing shapes that resemble humans, and learn about the local legend of Kuklitsa. In Kratovo, the town of medieval towers and bridges you will have the chance to taste the local spice ‘K’cana sol’ made of locally grown herbs.

When To Go:

Possible: Throughout the year
Recommended: 01 April – 31 October

Price:

Available on request

INCLUDED IN PRICE:

Accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis in a double room: 13 nights in boutique traditional hotels

Meals: 13 Breakfasts

Private transfer from Skopje International Airport to Skopje

Rent-a-car

Stand by support

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.