Northern Macedonia

Day 1: Arrival in Skopje
Day 2: Mavrovo - Galichnik, 7 mi. (11.3 km)
Day 3: Galichnik - Mavrovo | Drive to Ohrid | Optional Boating tour & dinner,  7 mi. (11 km)
Day 4: Peak Magaro in Galichica National Park
Day 5: Ohrid
Day 6: Optional Activities
Day 7: Drive from Ohrid to Bitola, hike Crveni Steni Pelister National Park,  7 mi. (11 km)

Day 1: Arrival in Skopje
You will be met at Skopje International Airport by our local representative. upon arrival.  Macedonian customs and the trip details will be reviewed and you will receive the printed materials for your holiday in Macedonia. You will also be assisted with the car rental logistics. If you would like to spend some time in Skopje before driving to your first overnight at Mavrovo National Park, we can arrange for extra day car rental or you can return to the airport to pick up the rental car when you are ready to officially begin your tour.

Once you have your car you will drive from the airport to Mavrovo National Park (126 km/1 hr 50 min).

Overnight: Mavrova 
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Mavrova National Park
Transfer: 23 km / 30 min

Day 2: Mavrovo - Galichnik, 7 mi. (11.3 km)
You take the hiking trail from the village to the horse farm located 2 kilometers away from Galichnik Village. From there, it is an easy walk on the asphalt road to reach the village. Galichnik, located at 1,450 meters on the slopes of Bistra Mountain, is renowned for several things - its unique mountain houses made of stone, the best sheep cheese in Macedonia, and the famous traditional Galichnik wedding that takes place every year.

The village is only inhabited during the summer, while in winter, there is only one couple who operate a small restaurant called "At Grandma's and Grandpa's," serving traditional breakfast or lunch, paired with a shot of rakija, a local brandy.

Galichnik offers many walking paths within the village and its surroundings, but visitors can also explore the mountain slopes around Galichnik on the back of a Balkan Mountain Horse. These village horses are tamed, small but particularly strong, and safe for mountain terrains. Non-riders are also welcome, as the guide provides basic training before the ride.

Overnight: Galichnik
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Galichnik
Hiking elevation: +663m / -444m

Day 3: Galichnik - Mavrovo | Drive to Ohrid | Optional Boating tour & dinner,  7 mi. (11 km)
This hike connects the village of Galichnik with Mavrovo village. It is an easy to moderate route and takes on the high pastures and ski slopes of Mavrovo ski resort.
You then drive from Mavrovo to Ohrid (111 km / 1 hr 55 min). Upon arrival you can participate in an optional boat cruise on Ohrid Lake. 

You begin with a tour of Ohrid Old Town, where you will cruise close to the shore with a stunning view of several attractions. These include the Saint Sophia Cathedral, which dates back to the 9th century, the fishermen's settlement of Kaneo, the Church of Saint John at Kaneo, located on a cliff overlooking the lake, the virgin beach of Labino, and the two 'Caves of Love'. On the return journey, the boat will cruise further from the shore, allowing you to enjoy a unique panoramic view of the entire Old Town, including the Church of Saint Clement Pantelejmon at Plaoshnik and the landmark of Ohrid - Tzar Samuel fortress.

The tour concludes as the boat arrives at the fisherman's home, where you can indulge in a delightful dinner on the terrace by the lake.

Overnight: Ohrid
Accommodation: Boutique hotel in old town Ohrid
Hiking elevation: +411m / -630m
Driving: 111 km / 1 hr 55 min

Day 4: Peak Magaro in Galichica National Park
Galichica Mountain's highest peak, Peak Magaro, is situated within the Galichica National Park's highly protected zone. The hike commences from Galichica mountain's 'saddle' and involves an ascent through a pleasant forest, grassy meadows, and limestone rocks in the higher sections. Once you pass above the tree line, the ascent becomes steeper, leading to the ridge of Galichica and ultimately to the peak.

This trail provides some of the most breathtaking views of Ohrid Lake and the surrounding mountains, with some points providing a glimpse of both Ohrid and Prespa Lakes, the two largest lakes in Macedonia. Once you reach Peak Magaro, you can walk back about 100m before continuing on the trail downhill to Galicica pass.

If you prefer, you can explore the east coast of Ohrid lake by car. The 30km long narrow road from Ohrid to the Albanian border takes you along the eastern lakeshore. Along with a few tourist settlements and fishing villages, this road is dotted with numerous historical places to visit. These include the cave church at St. Stefan, built in the 9th century from a crack in the rocks above the lake, the Bay of Bones museum on water, which is a reconstruction of a lake-settlement dating back to the period between 1200-600 B.C., and the St. Naum Monastery, resting place of St. Naum from the 10th century, built on a cliff above a sandy beach. At St. Naum, you can take a boat ride to the beautiful lagoon at the springs of River Crni Drim, where it flows into Ohrid Lake.

Moreover, this road offers many beaches, restaurants, and cafes, as well as opportunities for kayaking, snorkeling, diving, hiking, or paragliding from Galichica Mountain, which borders the eastern shore of the lake.

Day 5: Ohrid

Hike Jablanica Mountain, 4 mi. (7 km): Embark on a memorable hiking journey by driving to Gorna Belica Village in the morning, which is around 30km or 50 minutes away. The hike starts from there and takes you up to the small church of the Holy Trinity, which is situated at an altitude of 2,039m. From there, you can take in the breathtaking views of Mount Jablanica, Ohrid Lake, a military road that was constructed by the French during World War I, and the borderlands of Albania. This is a circular hike and can be classified as moderately challenging.

Drive: You could opt for full-day driving tour along the enchanting west coast of Lake Ohrid and up Jablanica Mountain to experience the rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty of this region.

Your tour will begin with a visit to Struga, a charming town on the shore of Lake Ohrid, famous for its international poetry festival "Struga Poetry Evenings" held at the end of August each year. Here you can marvel at the River Crni Drim as it flows out from Lake Ohrid and enjoy a delightful lunch or coffee break at one of the river walkway's picturesque restaurants.

Next, you will explore the cave churches at Radozda and Kalista. The church at Kalista began as a cave in the 14th century and was later expanded into a monastery complex. It houses an important icon of the Holy Mother of God, painted with black face and clothing, holding the black Jesus in her hands. The cave church dedicated to the Leader of the Heavenly Forces, Archangel Michael, at Radozda was built in the 13th century on a cliff high above the west coast of Lake Ohrid. You can enter the church after a brief climb up a set of stairs, where you will see impressive frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries. During World War II, locals hid in the caves to escape bombing raids.

Finally, you will experience rural life in the village at the foothills of Jablanica Mountain. Vevchani, also known as the Independent Republic of Vevchani, was briefly a self-proclaimed country from 1991 to 1993, formed to protect their water springs from the ex-communist government's redirection. They even had their own flag, coat of arms, and passports! You can stretch your legs with a 30-minute walk in nature to visit the springs of Vevchani, explore the village's typical architecture, and enjoy some delicious homemade food at a local guesthouse.

Overnight: Ohrid
Accommodation: Boutique hotel in old town Ohrid
Hiking elevation: +661m / -527 m
Driving:

Day 6: Optional Activities
Guided Kayaking
Join a full-day kayaking adventure led by a professional guide who is also a member of the Ohrid rescue team. During the tour, you will discover hidden beaches, ancient temples, and waterfront restaurants that are only accessible by water. Indulge in a delicious lunch of Ohrid trout Belvica and enjoy activities like cliff jumping, snorkeling, and, if you have previous experience in rock climbing, your guide will take you to the rocks from the lake with ropes.

You will also make stops along the tour to visit the Bay of Bones archaeological settlement on water and the St. Bogorodica Zaumska church, which can only be accessed from the water.

The tour includes guiding services from a professional tourist and adventure guide, entrance fees to cultural sites, kayak rental, transfer from/to your hotel, and lunch in a beachside restaurant.

The optional tour price is 140 EUR per person, with a minimum of 2 participants.

Tandem paragliding
Experience an exciting tandem flight with our skilled instructors: following a 10-minute pre-flight briefing with your tandem pilot, you will be securely connected to the glider with your own comfortable harness. Within minutes, you'll be soaring through the air! The flight lasts approximately 20 minutes and if conditions permit, you may even get a chance to take the controls yourself! With some claiming that if you can jog a few meters, then you can fly, this is an adventure not to be missed!

Cruising in Ohrid Lake
We offer a range of scenic boat tours on Ohrid Lake that showcase the cultural and natural wonders of the area. Whether you want to explore the historic old town of Ohrid from a unique perspective or venture back in time to the prehistoric era with a cruise to the Bay of Bones, we have something for you. Choose from the following cruises based on your time and budget:

• 30-minute cruise of Ohrid Old Town: Enjoy a close-up view of the shore and landmarks such as the 9th century Saint Sophia Cathedral, the fishermen settlement Kaneo, the Church of Saint John at Kaneo perched on a cliff, the virgin beach Labino, and the two 'Caves of Love'. On the way back, take in a panoramic view of the entire Old Town including the Church of Saint Clement Pantelejmon at Plaoshnik and Tzar Samuel fortress.

• 3-hour cruise: This excursion includes Ohrid Old Town, cruising along the east coast with views of the Presidential residence of Marshall Tito, the cave church of Saint Stefan, and the village of Peshtani. You'll also stop at the Museum on water ‘Bay of bones’ for 30-45 minutes - an authentic reconstruction of an ancient settlement (4,000 BC) built on wooden foundations just above the lake surface.

• 6.5-hour cruise along the east coast of Ohrid Lake: This longer cruise covers 25 kilometers from Ohrid to St. Naum monastery with stops at Ohrid Old Town, the Presidential residence of Tito, Peshtani village, Museum on water ‘Bay of bones’ (30 minutes stop), Trpejca fishing village, the Church of Mother Mary at Zaum (30 minutes stop), and the Monastery of Saint Naum (2 hours and 30 minutes stop) built on a cliff overlooking the lake with crystal-clear springs of River Crni Drim. You can extend this excursion to a full day tour of up to 9 hours.

• 6.5-hour cruise along the west coast of Ohrid Lake: This excursion includes three stops: 1 hour in the city of Struga where River Crni Drim flows out of Ohrid Lake, 20 minutes at the Kalishta monastery complex with a 14th-century cave church and the monks' cells carved in the rocks by the shore, and a final stop in the village of Radozhda for the Cave Church of Saint Archangel Michael (200+ stairs up) in the mountain rocks overlooking Ohrid Lake. You can extend this excursion to a full day tour of up to 9 hours and enjoy the famous fish restaurants in Radozhda offering super fresh Ohrid Lake fish, trout, carp, etc.

Overnight: Ohrid
Accommodation: Boutique hotel in old town Ohrid

Day 7: Drive from Ohrid to Bitola, hike Crveni Steni Pelister National Park,  7 mi. (11 km)
Pelister National Park is situated on Baba Mountain, towering above the city of Bitola. This mountain holds historical significance as a silent witness to the frontlines of World War I and the tragic fates of the soldiers who fought there. One such reminder is the area known as Crveni Steni, or Red Rocks, named after the fierce battles fought a century ago that left many soldiers fatally wounded in the region. As a result, the local rocks, rivers, and fields bear "Red" in their names.

The hike begins on a well-established single-track trail nestled in the pine forest slopes. At one point, you'll cross a stone river-moraine that also has a mountain spring water source where you can refill your bottles. After hiking for nearly 6 kilometers, your destination, Crveni Steni, is revealed through the forest. It's located at an altitude of 1,830 meters and is considered the most alpine-like section of Mount Baba. Take your time to relish the spectacular views of other notable peaks and ridges of Mount Baba, as well as Pelagonija Valley and the city of Bitola.

Bitola, the second largest city in Macedonia with a rich urban history of 1600 years, is situated just 20km away from the Greek border. Immerse yourself in the city's unique blend of old and new as you explore its traditions and urban living, particularly on the main pedestrian street "Sirok Sokak" (wide alley). Here, you'll find a mix of traditional architecture, modern shops, and exclusive cafes. Bitola is also known as the City of Consuls due to the many consular representatives of various countries during the time when the Ottoman Empire was a prominent administrative, political, diplomatic, educational, scientific, and cultural center.

Optional Activity: Honey farm & lunch in a local villa
Experience the captivating world of honey bees with a visit to a local beekeeper in Pelister National Park. Your guide, a seasoned beekeeper, will lead you around the hives and share fascinating insights into the bees' behavior, beekeeping techniques, and the various bee products produced. For your safety, protective clothing will be provided.

Following the beekeeping tour, you'll indulge in a tasting of raw honey straight from the comb, savoring its unique and delicious flavor. Afterward, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a homemade meal in a traditional villa. All the ingredients used in the meal are organically grown and sourced from the family's private gardens, ensuring a fresh and delectable experience.

Overnight: Bitola
Accommodation: a boutique hotel in Bitola
Hike elevation: 

Day 8: Heraclea Lyncestis
For a taste of ancient history, visit the nearby archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis, founded by Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, in the mid-4th century. Located just 2.5km from Shirok Sokak, the site is renowned for its stunning mosaics in the basilica, which offer a glimpse into the world as it was understood at that time. To get there from Sirok Sokak, follow these driving directions: [driving directions link].