Macedonian Rhapsody
April 18, 2019
Bike tour
April 18, 2019
Hiking tour
Day1
Arrival in Skopje-transfer to Ohrid-diner in a sheep farm (180 km) (D)
Arrival at the Skopje Airport and transfer to Ohrid. Orientation walk in the center of Ohrid, a UNESCO site, and a 10-minute transfer to the mountain village of Velestovo with breathtaking view on Lake Ohrid. Accommodation in a farmhouse and dinner prepared by the hosts.
Day2
Viewpoints – traditional Macedonian mountain villages – cooking classes (9,8km, 736m+, 330m-, 4h) (B, L, D)
We prepare for a mountain hiking to the village of Elshani. On the way to this mountain village, we first stop at the village of Gorno Koynsko, a place that will get you back a 100 years ago, abandoned old ruined houses with furniture and old tools still standing inside. The only people we might see here, are some elderly villagers. We finally get to Elshani village, where we spend the rest of the day in the kitchen together with the family hosts. They will share traditional recipes with us. Lunch, free time, overnight in the host family house in Elshani.
Day3
Campfire in NP Galichica (10km, 120m+, 800m-, 2h and 30min to 3h) (B, D)
Today we have a steep path to reach the high peaks of the National park and mountain of Galichica. Hiking from Elshani to the mountain house in Galichica. As an option for those who want to avoid climbing the high mountain, we can hire an SUV to the beautiful and wild scenery of Galichica. Exploring this mountain with its extremely rich flora and fauna and spending the night in a mountain house, barbecue together with the hosts.
Day4
Boat ride – Pelican/snake island of Lake Prespa – Braychino (11km, 300m+, 300m, 3h 30min) (B, D)
From the peak of the mountain, we walk down to the lowland of the Prespa region, famous for its apple fields. We reach the village of Koynsko, and from here, local people will take us on small boats to the uninhabited island Golem Grad (the Big Town) or the Snake Island on the Lake Prespa. Today the last point of our interest is the village of Braychino. We can spend the rest of the day on the sandy beach of Lake Prespa and get some bronze ten from Macedonia. Accommodation and homemade dinner at a host family in Braychino.
Day5
Churches – traditional natural laundry machines – Macedonian night in Ohrid (5km, 310m+, 100m-, 1h to 1h30min) (B, D)
In the morning we start walking to Slivnitca village, than to Kurbinovo village, to admire the frescoes of one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Macedonia, St. George of Kurbinovo. We can visit one of the local sandy beaches for some swimming in Lake Prespa, and finally, we get back to Ohrid where we overnight. Tonight in the evening we have a traditional Macedonian night in a national restaurant with folklore group dancing traditional Macedonian dances.
Day6
Jewish cemetery in Bitola – ancient cities – wine region – Skopje (240 km) (B, L)
Today we visit the city of consuls, Bitola, and the ruins of the ancient city of Heraclea Lynkestis, founded by Phillip the Second of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. Later we move further to the biggest Macedonian archaeological site Stobi and the wine region of Tikvesh, where we visit the winery with the same name, Stobi, tasting Macedonian varieties of wine followed by lunch. Our last destination for this day is the capital Skopje. Free evening and overnight.
Day7
Skopje Airport (30 km) (B)
After breakfast, transfer to Skopje Airport.
Services for the tour
- Professional local tour guide
- All transfers with our vehicle
- Accommodation in hotels on BB basis
- Meals in restaurants according the program
- All entrance fees for museums and churches
- Rates depend on the number of travelers