It is easy to see why North Macedonia was selected by the New York Times as one of the top travel destinations of 2015 and by Lonely Planet in 2020. Home to some of Europe’s oldest cities, offering stunning natural beauty, great wine and a fabulous farm to table scene North Macedonia is a travelers dream. For anyone seeking an off the beaten track adventure travel experience, now is the time to visit. Tourism is still developing so you won’t find over the top luxury. What you will find is a unique and ancient culture, friendly locals, stunning views and amazing cuisine.
Skopje
June 4-11
September 3-10
Macedonia Bike Tour $3295.00 per person
Bike Rentals: hybrid bike included
Lodging Extras: Single Supplement: $500
Guides will meet you at the Skopje airport. For those who arrive early, we will arrange a city tour featuring; the old bazar, the Skopje fortress, Mother Theresa memorial house (she was born in Skopje). We will all gather for a welcome dinner at a traditional restaurant where typical dishes of the Skopje area will are served.
We start cycling from the hotel to Mt. Vodno, then take the chairlift to the highest point of the mountain (1076m asl). From there we cycle to the famous Matka canyon in the vicinity of Skopje, with a stop at the Monastery of St. Pantelejmon in the village of Gorno Nerezi, dating from the 12th century, with magnificent Byzantine architecture and fresco-painting. Lunch takes place in the canyon of Matka, one of Macedonia’s most popular outdoor destinations, home to endemic floral and animal species, as well as distinct geological formations, caves. You will enjoy a scenic boat ride to the world’s deepest underwater cave. In the afternoon, we shuttle to the Mavrovo National Park. We will visit the village of Galicnik. Galičnik (Macedonian: Галичник) is a mountain village in the Republic of Macedonia and along with Lazaropole is one of the two biggest and oldest Mijak communities in the region. Galičnik has well preserved traditional architecture, including an amphitheater in the village square, and is famous for its surrounding countryside and nature reserve. People from Galičnik and northwestern Macedonia appreciate the local yellow cheese kaškaval(Kashkaval) produced in the region as well as the local salt brine white cheese “belo sirenje” which is a specialty of this region. Dinner and overnight.
Today you bike to Bitola, Macedonia’s second-largest city, and biggest economic and cultural center of the Pelagonia plain. We will start cycling from our hotel in Krusevo, via Demir Hisar, and stop for coffee in the village of Kukurechani, and finish at the Heraclea Lyncestis archaeological site. Along the ride, you will find beautiful scenery and the opportunity to visit several small villages.
Our final destination today is Heraclea Lyncestis, an ancient Macedonian town found by Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander) in the middle of the 4th century BC. Most of the uncovered remains that can be seen in Heraclea Lyncestis today are from the Roman and the early Christian period.
Today you will cycle from Bitola to the village of Brajcino, located near the eastern coast of the Prespa lake. We will stop in the village of Podmocani, to visit the ethnographic museum, before continuing by bike to a family-owned apple farm in the village of Carev Dvor.
We stop for lunch in Brajcino, a pristine and picturesque village, sitting on the edge of Pelister National Park. Its idyllic location is away from the hustle and bustle of city life and offers excellent views of Lake Prespa.
We take the day to explore the town of Ohrid, known as the “Pearl of the Balkans.” The day begins with a walking tour of the city where you can enjoy architecture from the neolithic, Hellenistic, Roman, and medieval ages. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon before we gather in the evening for a tasting of Macedonian wines.
Today we cycle along the shores of Lake Ohrid to the Monastery of St. Naum, located close to the Albanian border. We trade or bikes for a boat and enjoy a scenic ride to spring of St Naum. A short shuttle takes us to the village of Trpejca, where we enjoy lunch featuring local trout. Tonight dinner is at a family-owned restaurant on the shore of the Lake Ohrid.
The day starts with a 30-minute shuttle to the village of Botun, our starting point for the last cycling day. Enjoy an easy ride through several small villages. After lunch, we transfer back to Skopje for a farewell dinner in the bohemian district.
Cycling: 39 m
