NORTH MACEDONIA & ALBANIA

M U L T I S P O R T T H R O U G H T H E B A L K A N S B Y B I K E , F O O T & K A Y A K 8 - D A Y S

BikeHike’s & Albania: Multi-sport through the Balkans offers an itinerary filled with cultural encounters, active pursuits and the culinary influences of the Mediterranean and Middle East. We visit medieval monasteries, timeworn bazaars and ancient fortresses. We kayak on crystal clear waters; bike around Lake into Albania; and hike through Mavrovo National Park, a UNESCO heritage site. At night, we refuel over exquisite traditional meals, often paired with local wines and artisan cheeses. For those early adopters who crave the path less trodden, North Macedonia awaits. Day 1 Day 2 SKOPJE - MAVROVO NATIONAL PARK AR RIVAL HI KING

Upon arrival into the Skopje International This morning, we will transfer two hours to Airport, make your way to your hotel in the the small town of Galicnik. From there, we’ll city. After a brief break to get settled, your spend the day hiking in Mavrovo National guide will meet you at the hotel to venture Park. The hike starts at 1400 m / out on a short evening walking tour of 4600 ft and at Mount Medenica we will Skopje’s most famous sites including the reach our highest point, 2160 m / 7100 ft. Stone Bridge, Mother Teresa memorial From there, we will descend on foot house, the Old Bazaar and the Skopje to Galicnik where we’ll have a special lunch Fortress. In the evening, we’ll be treated to served by a local family in their small family a Macedonian welcome dinner at a restaurant. After lunch, we’ll transfer to the traditional restaurant. The local dishes village of Janche where we’ll dine and served are specifically typical to Skopje. overnight. En route, we’ll stop briefly at the monastery of St. John the Baptist Bigorski, Accommodation: Hotel one of the region’s most famous Meals: Dinner monasteries, famous for the wooden carved iconostasis created by local woodcarvers in the 19th century. The monastery is a must-see for any visitor to Macedonia. Overnight at comfortable hotel.

Hiking Distance: 13 km / 8 mi Hiking Duration: 5 - 6 hours Ascent: + 600 m (1969 ft) Accommodation: Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

BikeHike Adventures For more details call BikeHike Adventures at 1-888-805-0061 or 1-604-731-2442 email [email protected] or surf us at www.bikehike.com Day 3 MAVROVO NATIONAL PARK - OHRID BI KING

Today, we’ll switch gears and get on our bikes for the day, riding 42 km / 26 mi through Mavrovo National Park’s mountainous and alpine terrain. We will first have a one hour drive to Carevec, our starting point located at 1600 m / 5200 ft. From there, we’ll cycle on dirt roads that wind through pastures and meadows, passing several flocks of sheep along the Day 4 way. We’ll eventually enter deep into a forest, the road gradually leading to the NORTH MACEDONIA - OHRID LAKE village of Leunovo. At the village, our ride KAYAKING will return to paved roads as we cycle toward Bunec, a national park known for This morning after breakfast we'll depart to the its deer. Along the way, we’ll have time for coastal village of Peshtani, which is the starting a short stop to explore an educational point for our kayak adventure. We'll paddle 12 trail to learn about the national park’s km/7 mi along the east coast of , wildlife. We will then continue biking from Peshtani to the village of Trpejca, where around the lake on the lookout for a we'll enjoy a fish lunch at a local restaurant. The perfect, picturesque picnic lunch rest of the afternoon is free to relax on the spot. After lunch, we’ll meet our driver beach of Trpejca, or head back to Ohrid for a and transfer to Ohrid, a UNESCO World walking tour of the old town (Church of St. Sofia Heritage site. This evening, we’ll be / the Theatre / Tzar Samuil’s Fortress). arriving in Ohrid in time for dinner. Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7 mi Biking Distance: 42 km / 26 mi Hiking Duration: 3 - 4 hrs Biking Duration: 3-4 hours Accommodation: Hotel Ascent: + 300 m (984 ft) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Descent: - 750 m (2460 ft) Accommodation: Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

BikeHike Adventures For more details call BikeHike Adventures at 1-888-805-0061 or 1-604-731-2442 email [email protected] or surf us at www.bikehike.com Day 5 Day 6 MACEDONIA & ALBANIA - OHRID LAKE PRILEP - KING MARKO'S TOWERS BI KING HI KING

We’re back on our bikes today, riding After breakfast, we will depart for the city of around Ohrid Lake and into Albania. Prilep. From there, we will start our hike Today’s route is entirely on paved roads. from King Marko’s towers onward to the Once we’ve passed the border crossing, Treskavec Monastery, established in the we’ll ride along the Albanian coast of Lake 12th century and located at an elevation of Ohrid, stopping for coffee in the small 1250 m / 4100 ft. The hike entails a little bit coastal town of Pogradec. We then continue of scrambling with some sections secured back to Macedonia on a leisurely ride back with a steel cable. Upon arrival, we will be to Ohrid, along the lake’s east coast. This rewarded with extraordinary views from section has a few steep but short climbs. this ancient monastery’s exquisite location We’ll stop for lunch in a quaint lakeside overlooking Prilep. The area’s last village where there is a small beach for a remaining monk, Brother Kalist, runs the refreshing swim. Once back in Ohrid, we’ll monastery. Once here, there is a good explore the city by foot, visiting the Church chance we will have the rare opportunity to of St. Sofia, the Amphitheatre and the Tzar meet him and learn more about him and of Samuil’s Fortress. For dinner, we’ll be the monastery. We will then drive 1.5 hours transferred from the hotel to the nearby to the Tikvesh wine region for an overnight village of , where we’ll have a very stay at a winery estate. If time allows on the special home-cooked dinner. way, we’ll stop to explore the Roman archaeological site of Stobi. This site is Biking Distance: 45 km / 28 mi famous for its remains of the Roman city Biking Duration: 4-5 hours Stobensium, once an important trade and Ascent: + 320 m (1050 ft) cultural centre. Tonight, we’ll have a wine Descent: - 560m (1837 ft) tasting during dinner, arranged at our Accommodation: Hotel hotel-winery. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Hiking Distance: 9 km / 5.5 mi Hiking Duration: 4 - 5 hrs Ascent: + 650 m (2133 ft) Descent: - 100m (328 ft) Accommodation: Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

BikeHike Adventures For more details call BikeHike Adventures at 1-888-805-0061 or 1-604-731-2442 email [email protected] or surf us at www.bikehike.com Day 7 Day 8 TIKVESH - SKOPJE SKOPJE BI KING DE PARTURE

Today, we will be biking in the picturesque Today is the conclusion of the Tikvesh wine region. Tikvesh is the largest Macedonia and Albania Multi-sport wine region in the Balkans. After breakfast, through the Balkans Adventure. we’ll take a short drive to our starting point. Depending on your flight time, you may We’ll cycle on peaceful country roads, have time to explore this lovely city a bit through an endless panorama of vineyards, more before arranging your transfer to tobacco fields and centuries-old village the airport for your international flight houses. After a stop in Barovo, we will cycle back home or onward within Europe. to a small family boutique winery in the village of Krnjevo. There, we will have a full Meals: Breakfast wine tasting accompanied by an epic farewell lunch filled with dishes typical for the Tikvesh region. Our bellies filled, we’ll be transferred to Skopje in the late NOTE about Ascent/Descent numbers: afternoon hours. Tonight, our last Macedonian dinner will be enjoyed in The ascent/descent numbers are usually Debar Maalo, Skopje’s bohemian quarters. generated using Ride with GPS. The numbers are TOTAL ascent/descent for the Biking Distance: 25 km / 16 mi day and these numbers do not suggest Biking Duration: 3-4 hours altitude. There are usually multiple small Ascent: + 350 m (1148ft) ascents and descents added up throughout Descent: - 200 m (656 ft) the day to reach this total ascent/descent Accommodation: Hotel for the day. (While our numbers are Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner generally consistent with Ride with GPS, depending on the mapping technology used, numbers may vary).

TRIP INCLUSIONS Trip Includes All accommodation in 3-4 star hotels (twin shared), meals as indicated, land transportation, Specialized/Scott/RAM bikes, sit-on-top kayaks and English speaking guides.

Not Included International airfare, airport departure taxes, airport transfers*, gratuities, meals not indicated and items of a personal nature. *We can add transfers upon request as an additional service booking.

BikeHike Adventures For more details call BikeHike Adventures at 1-888-805-0061 or 1-604-731-2442 email [email protected] or surf us at www.bikehike.com