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8 Day itinerary in North Macedonia, Europe

Traditions in North Macedonia

Located between the West and the East, very close to the Mediterranean, on the remains of Antiquity of the first Christian kingdoms and the great Ottoman period, Macedonia represents a country where the cultural heritage is incredibly dense and complex. You will discover its ancient history through... Read More

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Alan

By Alan

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Average
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

Tour Guide

starting point

Skopje

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Cycling

Kayaking

Hiking

Rafting

Snorkeling/Diving

Skiing/Snowboarding

Adventure

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Boats trips to discover the Vrelo caves at Matka Canyon and to discover Golem Grad

2

The hike from Janche to Galichnik and on the Magaro Peak

3

Half-day of kayak on the Ohrid lake

4

Wine tasting at Popova Kula vineyard

Itinerary

Mid-Range Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place SKopje airport transfer

Arrival at Skopje airport meet your local guide and head to Skopje, the Northern Macedonian Capital. Start a sightseeing tour of an earthquake-ravaged city in 1963 that has completely rebuilt itself and offers a unique experience. You will enjoy a separate city between two cultures and two different lifestyles between Albanian Macedonian and Macedonian. Stroll through its new city centre to discover its famous fortress "Tvrdina Kale" and its stone bridge "Kameni Most" that separates the city into two parts with the old Ottoman bazaar "Čaršija". Dinner and overnight in Skopje.

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Appartment
Day 2

place Discover Matka Canyon

After breakfast, join the Matka Canyon, a must in Macedonia. Embark on a boat to discover the caves of Vrelo, which are considered among the deepest sea caves in the world. After breakfast leave for the Mavrovo National Park. On the way to Ohrid you will make a stop at Tetovo to discover its 15th century painted Mosque of Sarena Dzamija. Painted both indoors and outdoors, it is one of the most beautiful mosques in Macedonia. Arrival in the Mavrovo National Park and enjoy sumptuous landscapes through, the Mavroro Lake and the Radika Canyon. You will stop at the Monastery of Saint Jovan Bigorski, located on the heights of the canyon, which represents one of the most beautiful monasteries in Macedonia. You will then continue your journey to the small village of Janche, in which a resident of the village has invested in the construction of houses using the materials of the time. OPTION: Yoga lesson in the hieghts of the village with local people. (10 € / pers) Traditional dinner to discover Macedonian gastronomy. Overnight stay in Janche.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Appartment
Day 3

place Hiking day and transfer to Ohrid

After breakfast, start a hike through sumptuous mountain scenery. Travel a historically significant trail connecting the village of Janche and the ancient trading route of the Radika River to one of Macedon's most famous villages, the village of Galichnik (about 500 meters of cumulative vertical drop). Return to Janche in the afternoon and transfer to Ohrid. City listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sublime city located on the shore of Ohrid lake, the city represents for many, the culmination of the Macedonian experience, a Kingdom of light and water as well as a reference to the ancient ruins of traditional kingdom of Macedonia. Discover its historical heritage, well preserved as the church of Saint Jovan or its ancient theatre dating from the Roman Empire. You will join a charming guest room located on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid where you will enjoy a natural and relaxing environment. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Gest house
Day 4

place Day in the lake of Trpejca

After breakfast, join the small village of Trpejca for lunch and taste the carp from the lake. Free time to enjoy a swim or laze on the beach. Enjoy the lake carp for lunch. The afternoon will be free for sports activities or free time in Ohrid. Return to your guest room at the end of the day where you will begin a traditional Macedonian cooking class. Enjoy your preparation for dinner. Overnight in Ohrid. OPTION: Paragliding (70 €) - Jump 1400 meters or 1600 meters altitude. Go towards the place planned for the jump where you will equip yourself with your instructor for an unforgettable experience. OPTION: Scuba diving (60 €) - Meet your scuba diving instructor and set off to explore one of Europe's oldest and deepest lake, which contains around 200 different species. Discover the underwater flora and fauna of Lake Ohrid, also famous internationally for the discovery of remains dating from the Bronze Age.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Guest house
Day 5

place Hiking Galichitsa National Park and transfer to Ljubojno

After breakfast, go for a day of hiking in the splendid Galichitsa National Park. Reach the starting point of the hike and start an ascent to Magaro Peak, the highest point in Galichitsa, which rises to 2,255 meters above sea level. From 2,000 meters above sea level you can enjoy a superb view of the two lakes in southern North Macedonia, Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, also known as the "eyes of Galichitsa". After climbing the summit of Galichitsa, start a descent to the sources of the Black Drim River and its crystal-clear water. You will then reach the Saint Naum Monastery. Amidst lush greenery and built in the 10th century, the monastery is a haven of tranquillity on the border between Albania and Macedonia. Return to Ohrid then set off towards Lake Prespa, the second lake in southern Macedonia, which shares the borders between Macedonia, Albania and Greece. Reach Ljubojno, a village located on the heights of the lake. You will discover a charming building in the middle of nature with its fishponds and enjoy a traditional Macedonian dinner. Overnight in Ljubojno

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Guest house
Day 6

place Boat trip on lake Prespa and tranfer to Popova Kula

After breakfast, depart for Stenje and embark on a boat on Lake Prespa, the second lake in southern Macedonia, which shares the borders between Macedonia, Albania and Greece. You will discover Golem Grad, "Pelican Island" which has an important wildlife of turtles, great cormorants, snakes and pelicans. Ruins, birds, and otherworldly beauty make this a must-see place to explore. You will return to Stenje after the excursion and have lunch with locals for a traditional Macedonian meal including carp from Lake Prespa. After lunch depart for Bitola, the second largest city in Northern Macedonia. Sighseeing tour of the city of the consuls. You will discover a city with a Mediterranean feel with its churches, mosques, old Ottoman bazaar and beautiful neoclassical houses. Continue your drive to Demir Kapija, a town located a few kilometres from the vineyard popular for the incredible beauty of its "Iron Gate" canyon near the Vardar river. Join a house in the village and discuss the life of locals in the region. Dinner with an inhabitant of the village and overnight in Demir Kapija. At a local house

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Local house
Day 7

place Day in Popova Kula and transfer to Skopje

After breakfast, start a short hike with your host around the village to discover its many churches and its magnificent canyon. Continue your journey to reach the Popova Kula vineyard. You will discover the wine culture of a small Macedonian vineyard located on the heights of a hill and offering a magnificent panoramic view of the region. Enjoy a lunch in the vineyard accompanied by several local wines. Return to Skopje in the afternoon and drop off your luggage at your hotel. Free afternoon in Skopje for souvenir shopping in the old city bazaar and enjoy your last day in North Macedonia. Possibility of joining the fortress "Tvrdina Kale" offering a nice view of the capital of North Macedonia. Dinner and overnight in the old bazaar in Skopje.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel
Day 8

place transfer to Skopje airport

After breakfast, free time until your transfer to Skopje airport for your return flight.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Appartment
  • Gest house
  • Guest house
  • Local house
  • Hotel

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (7)
  • Lunch (6)

Transport expand_less

  • Airport - city - airport transfers
  • All transports mentioned in the program with driver

Activities expand_less

  • All activities mentioned in the program
  • Boat trip to discover the Vrelo caves at Matka Canyon
  • The hike on day 3 from Janche to Galichnik
  • The hike on day 4 on the Magaro Peak
  • Half-day of kayak on the Ohrid lake
  • Boat trip to discover Golem Grad and lunch in a local
  • Wine tasting at Popova Kula vineyard

Not Included expand_less

  • All additional expenses not mentioned in the program
  • Full board (dinners)
  • Optional activities
  • Tips
  • The return flights
  • Inssurance

About Alan

TEAM LEAD

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Travelling in the Balkans for the first time 7 years ago, I fall in love with this unkwown region. Studying tourism and travelling a lot in my life created in me the desire to show people hidden and beautiful places of the world.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$1,087.00 USD