Northern Macedonia

Macedonia Hiking + Walking Tours

A hike in southeast Europe on the Balkan peninsula

Offering incredible opportunities for hiking, Macedonia is an intriguing land off the typical tourist radar. This hike will take in some of the best of the mountain scenery in the Shar and Pelister ranges in Macedonia. These ranges are magical landscapes of snow-capped peaks, alpine meadows, glacial lakes, medieval villages, and mature forests. This journey weaves together visits to compelling cultural sites as well such as the remote 13th-century Treskavac Monastery and Ohrid and Ohrid Lake, one of only thirty-five UNESCO areas in the world protected for both cultural and national heritage.
Highlights:
- Skopje and Čaršija (the Ottoman old town)
- Omorani Village, an authentic small town with unique accommodations
- Treskavec Mountain and monastery
- Pelister National Park, rich in wildlife
- Ohrid and Ohrid Lake
- Galichica National Park
- Jablanica Mountain
- Challenging but rewarding hikes
Take a look at our other walking and hiking tours!
Twin/double: $ 1705 £ 856 $ 1,493 € 958 $ 1764 kr 10692 $ 1,062 Single supplement: $ 297 £ 149 $ 260 € 167 $ 308 kr 1864 $ 185
extra options
GPS device: $ 80 £ 40 $ 70 € 45 $ 83 kr 502 $ 50 Extra night in Skopje, from: $ 53 £ 27 $ 47 € 30 $ 55 kr 335 $ 33 Extra night in Ohrid, from: $ 60 £ 30 $ 53 € 34 $ 63 kr 379 $ 38
please note
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
A non-refundable admin fee of 20 Euros per person is included in the deposit amount.
Information to read before you book.
We recommend purchasing bike trip insurance.
† Currency exchange rate set 90 days before travel.
Please see our FAQ.
Travel
Fly to Skopje International Airport (SKP). Skopje Airport is also known as Skopje ‘Alexander the Great’ Airport. Previously known as Petrovec Airport, Skopje Airport is the largest airport in the Republic of Macedonia.
Local Travel
Arrival and departure transfers are included in tour price. Do note that transfers are group transfers. If you are arriving apart from your group, at a different time, a supplement will apply.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. A good website to use to research local weather including average high/low temperature, average rainfall, and more is weatherbase.com.
DOCUMENTS:
Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.

Skill Level

The majority of this trekking adventure is rated moderate. You will traverse a hilly, and at times, rugged terrain, but the daily distances are very manageable. In each day’s details below, you will find specifics regarding elevation gain, distance, and approximate time spent hiking. This tour is best enjoyed by those who hike regularly, are in good shape, and who do not mind the occasional challenge.

Where You’ll Stay

Accommodation during your tour will be in 3 * hotels, small family-run hotels, and guesthouses. The night in Golemo Ezero will be spent in an authentic, simple mountain hut located at 2.500 m height. The hut has only dormitory-type rooms but will be a highlight of your tour. Located by a glacial lake with an amazing view, the beauty of your surroundings surpasses the simplicity of your accommodations. If you would rather skip this accommodation, it is possible to return on the same trail back to the city and continue to the hotel by Prespa Lake.

What’s Included

Accommodation for 9 nights
9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 3 dinners
Airport transfers and other transfers as indicated in itinerary
Luggage transfer as indicated in itinerary
Route navigation materials: map and route book one set for every 1 - 3 participants
Mobile app with GPS tracks, locator, and waypoints
Emergency support

What’s Not Included

Private transfers if arriving apart from group
Train ticket from Pilep to Bitola (can be purchased in Prilep only)
Travel Insurance (mandatory)

Tour	Hike + Walk
Type	Self Guided
Skill	Moderate
Length	10 days
From	€958 Rates
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Tour Dates

This tour is available daily from June 1 to October 15, 2020

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Skopje
Day 2: Hike to the Millennium Cross - transfer to Omorani Village, 6 mi. (8.6 km)
Day 3: Hike to Babuna Springs, 10 mi. (16 km)
Day 4: Prilep to the Treskavec Monastery, 8 mi. (13.3 km)
Day 5: The "Eye" of Pelister National Park, 4 mi. (6.3 km)
Day 6: Prespa Lake, 8 mi. (13 km)
Day 7: Galichica National Park, 4 mi. (7 km)
Day 8: Ohrid
Day 9: Jablanica Mountain, 5 + 2 mi. (7.5 + 3.8 km)
Day 10: Departure

Day 1: Arrival in Skopje
You will be welcomed at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Skopje. Overnight in a centrally located hotel in Skopje.

Overnight: Skopje
Accommodation: Hotel City 5 or similar
Transfer: 23 km / 30 min

Day 2: Hike to the Millennium Cross - transfer to Omorani Village, 6 mi. (8.6 km)
Skopje is a microcosmos and a multi-cultural city showcased by the mixture of Socialistic architecture and Old Town Ottoman heritage. Today you will see the "big picture" from above. Your hike to Vodno Mountain starts from the central area of Skopje on a trail through oak and pine forests offering shade all the way to the top. Having reached the 66 m high Millennium Cross, you will have a wonderful view of the city below. The old from the new in terms of urbanization is easily recognizable. An afternoon transfer will take you away from the city rush to a charming house in the country.

Take a stroll around the village, meet the locals, immerse in their rural lifestyle, and enjoy a homemade dinner prepared from local organic ingredients.

Overnight: Omorani Village
Accommodation: Guesthouse Rancho & Vancho na Kata
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hike: 3.5 hrs
Elevation: 316 m – 1066 m – 316 m
Transfer: 83 km / 1h 30 min

Day 3: Hike to Babuna Springs, 10 mi. (16 km)
An early transfer transports to the village of Nezhilovo where your hike starts on a narrow dirt road that winds up into dense beech forest. Once you exit the road on a narrow forest trail you will hear the roaring of Babuna River, with a lovely surprise: there is a small picturesque waterfall a few hundred meters before the spring. Refresh yourself, fill all your bottles with water and get ready for a walk down back to the fishpond at Nezhilovo. Overnight in the same house in Omorani.

Overnight: Omorani Village
Accommodation: Guesthouse Rancho & Vancho na Kata
Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch
Hike: 6 hrs
Elevation From an elevation of 690 m up to 1.304 m elevation
Transfer: 50 km / 1 h 20 min

Day 4: Prilep to the Treskavec Monastery, 8 mi. (13.3 km)
Transfer to the foothills of Treskavec Mountain. Starting from the city of Prilep, this hike takes on a well–established single track in an otherworldly landscape. It will take you 3 hours to reach the monastery, nestled as an eagle's nest between vertical rocks and granite slabs. From the monastery, you can walk back to Prilep to get on the train to Bitola, the second-largest city in Macedonia set between the mountains of Pelister National Park, 16 km from the border with Greece. Take a stroll in the evening along the lively Shirok Sokak pedestrian street lined with colorful, romantic, neo-classical buildings and lively cafes.

Overnight: Bitola
Accommodation: Hotel Teatar or similar
Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch
Elevation: From an elevation of 688 m to 1.259 m
Hike: 5.5 hr
Transfer: 66 km / 1h 30 min
Train: Prilep – Bitola: 45 min

Day 5: The "Eye" of Pelister National Park, 4 mi. (6.3 km)
A 15 min transfer takes you to the villages in the park where you will start the hike to the big glacial lake on Mount Baba. This mountain dominates the Pelagonija Valley like a rooftop and it is home to the oldest National park in North Macedonia, Pelister, known for its rich wildlife, particularly mountain swallows, mountain goats, deer, wolves, and brown bears. The trail leads along the ridgeline of the mountain, which a hundred years ago was one of the most important frontlines in WW1. You will overnight in an authentic mountain hut by the lake. It is quite basic, but offers lovely seclusion and a beautiful sunrise.

Overnight: Golemo Ezero
Accommodation: Mountain Hut Golemo Ezero
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hike: 4 hours
Elevation: From an elevation of 1.120 m up to 2.228 m
Transfer: 10 km / 15 min

IMPORTANT: No baggage transfer to Golemo Ezero. Please make sure you pack what you will need in your backpack for one evening and the next day's hike.

If you prefer not to overnight in this dormitory-like setting, it is possible to return on the same trail back to the city and continue to Hotel Lakeview on Prespa Lake.

Day 6: Prespa Lake, 8 mi. (13 km)
Descend down to the villages by Lake Prespa on a trail following the WW1 military roads. You will pass by several glacial "stone rivers" or moraines and by the ruins of military objects – silent reminders of the horrors that were in this part of the frontline. Gradually, the path follows Brajcinska Creek serpentines into lush deciduous forests, passing by an old sawmill and a small church St.Nikola. Afternoon transfer to a small hotel by Prespa lake. Overnight in Oteshevo.

Overnight: Oteshevo
Accommodation: Hotel Lakeview
Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch
Hike: 4,5 hours
Elevation: From 1220m down to 1000 m
Transfer: 40km / 45min

Day 7: Galichica National Park, 4 mi. (7 km)
Head onwards to the pass of Galicica Mountain, rising like a big whale between Prespa and Ohrid Lakes. From the pass of Galicica hike to the highest peak in the range, Magaro (2.255m), located in the highly protected zone of Galicica National park. The hike goes through a pleasant forest, grassy meadows and limestone ridge in the higher sections. This trail gives some of the greatest views of Ohrid Lake and the surrounding mountains, and at some points of both Ohrid and Prespa Lakes, the two largest lakes in Macedonia. Overnight in Ohrid.

Overnight: Ohrid
Accommodation: Hotel St. Sofia or similar
Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch
Hike: 5 hours
Elevation: From 1.572 m up to 2.255 m
Transfer: 52,5 km / 1h 15 min

Day 8: Ohrid
Today is a "layover" day in Ohrid. Ohrid and Ohrid Lake are one of the thirty-five UNESCO areas in the world protected for both cultural and national heritage. As the oldest lake in Europe, Ohrid Lake has the biggest concentration of endemic species living in its waters for over 1.5 million years. The old town of Ohrid is one of the oldest settlements in Europe, (mentioned by the classical historian Livy in the 3rd century BC), with archaeological sites dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age, and with 365 churches, most of them from the Byzantine era. (it’s also known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans).

Overnight: Ohrid
Accommodation: Hotel St. Sofia or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Jablanica Mountain, 5 + 2 mi. (7.5 + 3.8 km)
A scenic drive takes you by Ohrid Lake, and on the narrow road to village Gorna Belica, set amidst the woods of Jablanica Mountain. From here start a circle hike to the Holi Trinity church at 2.040m which gives amazing views of Mount Jablanica, Ohrid Lake and the Albanian borderlands. Once back in Gorna Belica, continue on a path connecting this village with village Vevchani on an easy descending trail. Spend the night in a local guesthouse in Vevchani where you will taste some excellent homemade food for dinner. Overnight in Vevchani. (B, D)

Overnight: Vevchani
Accommodation: Kutmichevica Guesthouse or similar
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hike: 5 + 2 hours
Elevation: From 1.400 m up to 2.040 m and From 1.400 m down to 865 m
Transfer: 34 km / 50 min

Day 10: Departure
After breakfast transfer to Skopje airport for your flight home.

Email or Call 800-951-4384 +1 570-965-2064