Full Itinerary and Tour details for

8-day Walking Tour Western Macedonia Level 4

Prices starting from. Trip Duration. Max Passengers. 1086 € 8 days 14

Start and Finish. Activity Level. to Dihovo 4

Experience. Tour Code. Walking Tours Europe #B1/2391 8-day Walking Tour Western Macedonia Level 4

Tour Details and Description

Macedonia remains one of Europe’s last undiscovered areas. Being centrally located in the , this country is a crossroad between the East and West, Christianity and Islam, melting pot of civilizations, which reflects in its culture and overall way of life even today. During this adventurous journey you will experience firsthand Macedonia’s beautiful nature with walks in the areas of Skopje and the national parks of Mavrovo and Galicica. The tour also includes a day of exploration in the area of Ohrid - Macedonian UNESCO world cultural and natural heritage site. During the journey you will taste local cuisine typical for each area visited prepared by friendly locals, and combine the delicacies with premium Macedonian wines and spirits.

Included in the Walking Tour:

• Transportation throughout the journey (English speaking driver, fuel, pay tolls, parking incl.) • Experienced tour leader • Accommodation at hotels and family homes (as per program) • All meals (as per program; beverages excluded) at hotels/local restaurants/family homes/outdoor locations

• Entrance fees in national parks / archaeological sites • 24/7 assistance Not Included in the tour: • Transfers to Macedonia • Optional meals and activities (boat trips, lunches) • Travel insurance • Tips • Personal expenses

Minimum 4 people (ask us for price for 2 or 3 people)

Departure dates on request - minimum 4 people

Check Availability Book Online Now Send an Enquiry 2/6 8-day Walking Tour Western Macedonia Level 4

Day 2

Walking in the Skopje area (Mt. - Nerezi) / Checkout after breakfast. The guests will walk on the ridge of Mt. Vodno, Skopje's most popular recreational area. We get transferred to the bottom of the Vodno mountain, where we will start our walk. From the peak of Vodno there is beautiful panorama over Skopje, and from there we begin our walk to the village of Nerezi (Monastery of St. Pantelejmon is located in this village, it’s one of the most remarkable amenities in the region because of it’s Byzantine style fresco decoration originating from the ). From the village of Nerezi we are transferred to the Matka canyon (cca 11km trail, 3.5-4 hours). Once we reach the canyon, we will do short sightseeing (Monastery of St. Andreja, 14th cent.). Optional lunch can be arranged at a family home in the village of Dolna Matka, or in a village restaurant in Shishevo. After lunch, we continue to the second stop

of our journey – the Mavrovo national park. Enroute stop will be made in the city of Tetovo, where we will Itinerary visit the unique Painted Mosque (XV cent.), famous for it’s facade ornaments. Arrival at the village of Leunovo (studios/apartments with ensuite facilities). Dinner is cooked by our host family. Overnight in Day 1 Mavrovo. Start - middle station of Vodno - 557m, hike to Vodno peak - 1066m and decent to Nerezi 771m. Arrival / Sightseeing of Skopje Arrival and welcome in 10km, 4-6 hours. Meals: B (hotel), L (local the Skopje airport, followed by group transfer to restaurant), D (villa) Skopje. Your trip leader will meet you outside the customs and immigration area at the airport. He will Day 3 brief you on the immediate arrangements and escort you to the hotel. After a short break, you will be given Walking in Mavrovo national park - Mt.Sandaktash a short walking tour of Skopje’s most famous (Leunovo - Sandaktash - Nikiforovo) After breakfast, amenities (the , Mother Teresa memorial we will start our walk from the village of Leunovo. The house, the Old Bazaar and the ). In trail begins from the centre of the village of Leunovo the evening guests will be taken for a welcome dinner and heads to Mt.Sandaktash (1981 m asl). The first to a restaurant with traditional setting, where they will part of the trail is in the forest, and the second part, try dishes typical for Skopje. Meals: D (local from the spring to Sandaktash passes through restaurant) pastures and meadows, from where guests enjoy great panoramas over the Mavrovo lake and other

Check Availability Book Online Now Send an Enquiry 3/6 8-day Walking Tour Western Macedonia Level 4

peaks of the national park. The trail finishes at the Church of St. Sofia, Tsar Samuel's Fortress and the village of Nikiforovo, from where the van picks us up Church of St. Jovan Kaneo. We have an afternoon at and returns us to Leunovo. Dinner is served at the leisure before meeting in the evening for dinner. villa. Overnight. Starting point: Leunovo. Finishing Dinner is arranged at a family home in a village in the point: Nikiforovo. 720m uphill climbing / distance: area of Debarca. Meals: B (hotel), L (local 16km / duration: 6-7 hours. Meals: B (hotel), L (local restaurant), D (family home). restaurant), D (villa) Day 6 Day 4 Walking in the Galicica national park - Velestovo - Walking in Mavrovo national park - Mt. Medenica Konjsko - Eleshec (Mt.Elen Vrv 1221m asl) Checkout (2166 m asl) - Galicnik For today's hike we will first after breakfast and departure to the Galicica national have to do 45 min transfer to the area of Galicnik park. Easy hike through the beautiful nature of the (with short photo stop at the viewpoint of Carevec, park. The walk starts from the village of Velestovo overlooking the Mavrovo lake). Day spent hiking in (6km away from the center of Ohrid), passes through Mavrovo offers a firsthand experience of the riches of the picturesque village of Konjsko, and finishes in the Mavrovo national park. We take the hiking trail Eleshec. The walk passes through spots with unique from here, and it includes 3-3:30 hours of ascent, and biodiversity, rich history, as well as great views over 2:30 hours of descent, total duration: 4-6 hours (with the Ohrid lake. From Eleshec guests are transferred breaks included). Lunch of typical dishes of Mavrovo to the beautiful village of Trpejca for optional lunch / (kachamak, white sheep cheese, bakrdan) is coffee break, before we head to the Pelister national arranged in a small family restaurant in Galicnik. park. In the afternoon we transfer to the Pelister From Galicnik we get transferred to Ohrid via Debar. national park via the mountain road in Galicica, our We will make short en-route stop at the monastery of last area to explore during this journey. St. John the Baptist Bigorski, one of most famous Accommodation is at a small mountain hotel. Dinner monasteries in the region, famous for it’s unique is arranged in the nearby village of Dihovo. Starting masterpiece - the wooden carved iconostasis created point: Velestovo (920m asl). Finishing point: Eleshec. by the local woodcarvers in the 19th century - a 300m uphill climbing / distance: 12 km / duration: 4-5 must-see for every visitor of Macedonia. Arrival in hours. Meals: B (hotel), L (local restaurant), D (family Ohrid in the evening hours. Dinner is served at hotel. home in Dihovo) Overnight. Start - Galicnik road - 1379 m, hike to Medenica - 2166, 12km,. 3.5-4 hrs Meals: B (hotel), L Day 7 (local restaurant), D (local restaurant). Walking in the Pelister national park (Dihovo) Day 5 Breakfast and checkout. Walking in the Pelister national park, in the vicinity of the village of Dihovo. Exploring Ohrid - leisure day A well-earned rest and After the walk in Dihovo, we get transferred to the the sightseeing day in the fairy tale town of Ohrid. We Pelister national park info center, where we walk have a walking guided tour of the UNESCO Heritage along an interesting trail which follows the former listed city of many medieval churches and numerous frontlines of the during the 1st amenities from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine World War, the most famous battleground where ages. Sites included are the Amphitheater, the heavy fighting took place between the Allied and Axis

Check Availability Book Online Now Send an Enquiry 4/6 8-day Walking Tour Western Macedonia Level 4

powers. We will come across authentic object which are remnants from the war times, while enjoying the tranquil beauty of the Pelister national park. If time allows, on the way to Skopje we can pay a visit to the archaeological site of Stobi (well preserved remains of the Roman city Stobensium, important trade and cultural center of the Roman province Macedonia Secunda). Arrival in Skopje in the evening hours. Farewell dinner is served at a restaurant near the hotel. Overnight. Dihovo / walking in the surrounding area / duration: 2 hours. Pelister national park info point (920m asl). Finishing point: Bolnici. uphill climbing: 300m / distance: 6 km / duration: 2-3 hours. Meals: B (family home), L (local restaurant), D (local restaurant)

Day 8

Departure Checkout from hotel and departure to airport. End of program.

Check Availability Book Online Now Send an Enquiry 5/6 WHY SLOW TOURS EUROPE?

Slow Tours offers a selection of tours in Europe for unique experiences, active or relaxed, so you return home feeling relaxed, refreshed & re-energised.

Connect with the locals, take time to genuinely experience another culture, relax with the easy flow of life, enjoy fresh air and freedom from crowds. Savour the experience of our hand-picked tours of Europe!

3 BIG BENEFITS OF BOOKING WITH US

Don't take our word for it Visit our Reviews page to learn why a Slow Tour is the Best Tour!

slowtours.com/blog/reviews

Have some questions? Find the answers on our Q&A page.

slowtours.com/questions-and-answers