Magical Macedonia – Walking Round Trip Tour, small group
- Description of the Program :
This 14-day cultural walking tour will guide you through the captivating landscapes of Macedonia. You will explore the natural beauty of Mavrovo National Park and visit the picturesquePainted Mosque in Tetovo. The tour is full of exhilarating hikes and other activities, including a visit to the stunning Sarkova Dupka Cave. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage as you discover historic landmarks like theBigorski Monasteryand explore the charming city of Ohrid. Indulge in a cooking workshop at a private beach, have a relaxed afternoon at Prespa Lake and enjoy a wine tasting experience in Demir Kapija. Visit monasteries, waterfalls, and archaeological sites, and admire the unique stone formations of Kuklici and Kokino. Conclude your journey with a visit to the magnificent Matka Canyon and a city tour of Skopje. Throughout your adventure, enjoy group meetings, delicious meals, and comfortable overnight stays in carefully selected accommodations. This comprehensive itinerary ensures an unforgettable exploration of Macedonia’s diverse landscapes, history, gastronomy and culture.
Embark on a captivating cultural walking tour spanning the picturesque regions of Western and Eastern Macedonia, featuring highlights such as a visit to the enchanting Lake Ohrid and an array of immersive cultural experiences. This, 13-night, 14-day adventure offers a memorable journey, staying in double rooms at high-quality accommodations, guest houses and 2 nights in beautiful and clean private mountain hut. The price per person ensures exceptional value for this remarkable itinerary.
Day 1 – Arrival
- Transfer Skopje – Mavrovo, (On the way, depending of the arrival time of the group, visit of the Decorated Mosque in Tetovo). Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2
- Short transfer, hiking with a local mountain guide on altitude from 1500 – 2000 m above sea level and during hike we have time for lunch (picnic). after the hike visit of village Galicnik, cave visit, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3
- Transfer Mavrovo –monastery Bigorski, through the gorge of river Radika. Visit of the monastery, short transfer and a small walk to Waterfall Duf and back. Before we start driving to Ohrid, lunch time. Upon arrival in Ohrid we have city tour in old town, than check-in, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4
- Transfer Ohrid – Velestovo. Walking from Velestovo – Konjsko – Elzani – Pestani, private beach time with cooking lessons and lunch. Free evening , no organized dinner tonight. Overnight stay in the same place.
Day 5
- Transfer Ohrid –St. Naum. Boat ride, transfer to Livada, small walk for good photos. The transfer continues down to Prespa lake and our hotel. Before dinner we can visit the local monasteries of Kurbinovo and Slivnica, overnight stay.
Day 6
- Transfer Prespa – Hotel Molika. Hiking in the NP Pelister, than transfer to Krusevo. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7
- Short transfer to the point where we start the walk. Hiking around Krusevo with a picnic, finishing the walk with a tandem paragliding (optional) and nice town sightseeing. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8
- Transfer Krusevo – Prilep. Hiking from Prilep to the monastery Treskavec and back to the city. Transfer Prilep – Demir Kapija. Organized dinner with wine tasting, overnight stay.
Day 9
- Transfer Demir Kapija – Strumica, Visit of the two monasteries Vodoca and Veljusa, than transfer to Smolare village, walk to the Waterfall and back to the village,organized lunch, short drive to Koleshino village to see the next Waterfall. Transfer to Bansko – Strumica. Overnight stay, today no organized dinner.
Day 10
- Transfer Strumica -Dvoriste. Walking from Dvoriste – Berovo Lake, transfer to Berovo. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11
- Transfer Berovo – Vinica – Kocani – Lesnovo. Visit of the monastery and a walk around the village and the man made caves. Transfer to nearby town Kratovo for a lunch and city tour, than drive to Kokino megalithic observatory,short walk around the site before we continue driving to our accomodation in Skopje.Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12
Day 13
- Visit of Matka canyon, easy walk and a boat ride to the cave Vrelo. Visit of the cave. City tour Skopje. Organized last dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 14 – Departure
- Transfer to Skopje International airport
Included:
- all transfers with permanent air conditioned minibus and a driver (small group);
- Tour Leader and Guide for the whole trip;
- Accommodation in hotels, guest houses and forest hut all with Western standards but local architecture;
- All necessary excursions as mentioned in the program;
- Local guides;
- Rowing boat trip Black Drim;
- Lunch in Ohrid with cooking lessons day 4;
- Wine tasting incl. dinner day 8;
- Lunch in Strumica day 9;
- Lunch in Berovo in a sheep hold day 11;
- Closing dinner in restaurant day 13;
- Organization costs, administration costs and reservation costs.
Excluded:
- Dinners on day 2, day 4, day 9 and day 12;
- Lunch during the whole program except days (4, 9, 11 when we have lunch included);
- Boat tour on Matka Canyon;
- Tandem paragliding;
- All entrances and tickets for National Parks, museums etc.;
- Expenses of personal nature;
- Insurances;
- Drinks and Tips.
We are delighted to inform you that this year, there will be a special promotional price for our highly anticipated journey.
We encourage you to seize this exceptional offer with a promotional price and join us on this extraordinary excursion. Embrace the beauty of nature, conquer challenging paths, and immerse yourself in a truly transformative experience. Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2024 dates.
About the activities
- The routes we take during our walks primarily lead us along well-maintained paths and picturesque country lanes. Along the way, you may also encounter old cobblestone footpaths that are no longer in use. While the smaller mountain paths can be narrow, occasionally overgrown, and steep, they are not overly challenging. It’s worth noting that loose stones on the paths are not uncommon. Our walks are designed to provide a comfortable pace, allowing you enough time to capture photographs or simply take in the surroundings. On average, the walks last between 3 and 6 hours in terms of pure walking time, covering distances ranging from 6 to 16 kilometers. Some days may involve a full day of walking, while others will only include a morning or afternoon walk. Each day will feature varying elevation changes, typically ranging from 150 to 650 meters of ascent and/or descent. To fully enjoy the walks, it’s important to have a good level of fitness and wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes. We recommend using extendable walking sticks, especially on the sections with rocky and steep paths. Of course, if you prefer, you can also choose to stay at the hotel and explore the area at your own pace, perhaps by taking a leisurely walk. Remember, our program is flexible and not binding, allowing you to tailor your day according to your preferences.
What to pack for hiking
- Shoes: Hiking footwear (adequate ankle support);
- Socks: Dri-FIT or woolen socks + an extra pair in your backpack;
- Trousers: long/shorts (recommendation: Dri-FIT trousers, waterproof trousers);
- T-Shirts/Blouses: Dri-FIT or woolen T-Shirt or blouse + extra two in your backpack;
- Insulation: Sweater or micro fleece vest;
- Jacket: Waterproof, windproof and breathable hooded jacket (for ex. Gore-tex fabric);
- Backpack: Comfortable and ergonomic backpack (30-45L);
- Gloves: We recommend wearing first layer gloves for insulation;
- Other: Sunglasses, sun hat, sun cream, lip balm, headlamp, first-aid kit, personal medications, bottle of water (0.5 L – 1.5 L) , energy boosting food (rich in carbohydrates and sugar) such as nuts and fruits, but we can buy them in local markets too,, passport, money (cash), also ATM`s and Banks are in nearly every town, trip voucher;
- Optional: Trekking pole, binoculars, camera, GPS, compass,
Embark on a captivating cultural walking tour spanning the picturesque regions of Western and Eastern Macedonia, featuring highlights such as a visit to the enchanting Lake Ohrid and an array of immersive cultural experiences. This, 13-night, 14-day adventure offers a memorable journey, staying in double rooms at high-quality accommodations, guest houses and 2 nights in beautiful and clean private mountain hut. The price per person ensures exceptional value for this remarkable itinerary.
Day 1 – Arrival
- Transfer Skopje – Mavrovo, (On the way, depending of the arrival time of the group, visit of the Decorated Mosque in Tetovo). Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2
- Short transfer, hiking with a local mountain guide on altitude from 1500 – 2000 m above sea level and during hike we have time for lunch (picnic). after the hike visit of village Galicnik, cave visit, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3
- Transfer Mavrovo –monastery Bigorski, through the gorge of river Radika. Visit of the monastery, short transfer and a small walk to Waterfall Duf and back. Before we start driving to Ohrid, lunch time. Upon arrival in Ohrid we have city tour in old town, than check-in, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4
- Transfer Ohrid – Velestovo. Walking from Velestovo – Konjsko – Elzani – Pestani, private beach time with cooking lessons and lunch. Free evening , no organized dinner tonight. Overnight stay in the same place.
Day 5
- Transfer Ohrid –St. Naum. Boat ride, transfer to Livada, small walk for good photos. The transfer continues down to Prespa lake and our hotel. Before dinner we can visit the local monasteries of Kurbinovo and Slivnica, overnight stay.
Day 6
- Transfer Prespa – Hotel Molika. Hiking in the NP Pelister, than transfer to Krusevo. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7
- Short transfer to the point where we start the walk. Hiking around Krusevo with a picnic, finishing the walk with a tandem paragliding (optional) and nice town sightseeing. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8
- Transfer Krusevo – Prilep. Hiking from Prilep to the monastery Treskavec and back to the city. Transfer Prilep – Demir Kapija. Organized dinner with wine tasting, overnight stay.
Day 9
- Transfer Demir Kapija – Strumica, Visit of the two monasteries Vodoca and Veljusa, than transfer to Smolare village, walk to the Waterfall and back to the village,organized lunch, short drive to Koleshino village to see the next Waterfall. Transfer to Bansko – Strumica. Overnight stay, today no organized dinner.
Day 10
- Transfer Strumica -Dvoriste. Walking from Dvoriste – Berovo Lake, transfer to Berovo. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11
- Transfer Berovo – Vinica – Kocani – Lesnovo. Visit of the monastery and a walk around the village and the man made caves. Transfer to nearby town Kratovo for a lunch and city tour, than drive to Kokino megalithic observatory,short walk around the site before we continue driving to our accomodation in Skopje.Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12
- Visit of Matka canyon, easy walk and a boat ride to the cave Vrelo. Visit of the cave. City tour Skopje. Organized last dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 13 – Departure/Tour End
- Transfer to Skopje International airport
Included:
- all transfers with permanent air conditioned minibus and a driver (small group);
- Tour Leader and Guide for the whole trip;
- Accommodation in hotels, guest houses and forest hut all with Western standards but local architecture;
- All necessary excursions as mentioned in the program;
- Local guides;
- Rowing boat trip Black Drim;
- Lunch in Ohrid with cooking lessons day 4;
- Wine tasting incl. dinner day 8;
- Lunch in Strumica day 9;
- Lunch in Berovo in a sheep hold day 11;
- Closing dinner in restaurant day 13;
- Organization costs, administration costs and reservation costs.
Excluded:
- Dinners on day 2, day 4, day 9 and day 12;
- Lunch during the whole program except days (4, 9, 11 when we have lunch included);
- Boat tour on Matka Canyon;
- Tandem paragliding;
- All entrances and tickets for National Parks, museums etc.;
- Expenses of personal nature;
- Insurances;
- Drinks and Tips.
We are delighted to inform you that this year, there will be a special promotional price for our highly anticipated journey.
We encourage you to seize this exceptional offer with a promotional price and join us on this extraordinary excursion. Embrace the beauty of nature, conquer challenging paths, and immerse yourself in a truly transformative experience. Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2024 dates.
About the activities
- The routes we take during our walks primarily lead us along well-maintained paths and picturesque country lanes. Along the way, you may also encounter old cobblestone footpaths that are no longer in use. While the smaller mountain paths can be narrow, occasionally overgrown, and steep, they are not overly challenging. It’s worth noting that loose stones on the paths are not uncommon. Our walks are designed to provide a comfortable pace, allowing you enough time to capture photographs or simply take in the surroundings. On average, the walks last between 3 and 6 hours in terms of pure walking time, covering distances ranging from 6 to 16 kilometers. Some days may involve a full day of walking, while others will only include a morning or afternoon walk. Each day will feature varying elevation changes, typically ranging from 150 to 650 meters of ascent and/or descent. To fully enjoy the walks, it’s important to have a good level of fitness and wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes. We recommend using extendable walking sticks, especially on the sections with rocky and steep paths. Of course, if you prefer, you can also choose to stay at the hotel and explore the area at your own pace, perhaps by taking a leisurely walk. Remember, our program is flexible and not binding, allowing you to tailor your day according to your preferences.
What to pack for hiking
- Shoes: Hiking footwear (adequate ankle support);
- Socks: Dri-FIT or woolen socks + an extra pair in your backpack;
- Trousers: long/shorts (recommendation: Dri-FIT trousers, waterproof trousers);
- T-Shirts/Blouses: Dri-FIT or woolen T-Shirt or blouse + extra two in your backpack;
- Insulation: Sweater or micro fleece vest;
- Jacket: Waterproof, windproof and breathable hooded jacket (for ex. Gore-tex fabric);
- Backpack: Comfortable and ergonomic backpack (30-45L);
- Gloves: We recommend wearing first layer gloves for insulation;
- Other: Sunglasses, sun hat, sun cream, lip balm, headlamp, first-aid kit, personal medications, bottle of water (0.5 L – 1.5 L) , energy boosting food (rich in carbohydrates and sugar) such as nuts and fruits, but we can buy them in local markets too,, passport, money (cash), also ATM`s and Banks are in nearly every town, trip voucher;
- Optional: Trekking pole, binoculars, camera, GPS, compass,
Photos
