MACEDONIAN HIDDEN BEAUTY
Destination
MACEDONIAN HIDDEN BEAUTY
Difficulty
Moderate
Best period
Late May to early November
TEN DAYS HIKING TRIP IN MACEDONIA
Introducing with hidden, but most beautiful parts of Macedonia and Macedonian mountains. Excellent combination of leisure, adventure and discovering new areas, culture and people. Meeting with locals, testing famous sheep’s cheese and Macedonian wine.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival at Skopje airport and transfer to mountain hut Ljuboten
Day 2 - Shar Mountain - hiking to Ljuboten Peak 2499 m
Day 3 - Shar Mountain - hiking to Tito's Peak 2747 m
Day 4 - Shar Mountain - hiking to Sheremetnica Peak 2310 m
Day 5 - National Park Mavrovo - hiking to Medenica peak 2163 m
Day 6 - National Park Mavrovo - hiking to Peak Golem Korab 2764 m
Day 7 - Mount Deshat - hiking to Ploca Peak 2245 m
Day 8 - National Park Galichica - hiking to Magaro peak 2255 m and Ohrid city tour
Day 9 - National Park Pelister - hiking to Pelister Peak 2601 m and transfer to Skopje
Day 10 - Skopje city tour and fly back
Program
Description of the program
Day 1 – We will meet at Skopje airport. Meeting time depend of arrival flight to Skopje airport. Optional city tour in Skopje depended from flight schedule. After city tour we will have transfer to mountain hut Ljuboten on Shar Mountain situated at altitude of 1650 m. Welcome dinner will be served in a hut. Overnight in mountain hut Ljuboten.
Day 2 – After breakfast we will have hike up to Ljuboten Peak (2499 m), most dominant peak on north east part of Shar Mountain providing memorable landscapes and panoramas on mountains and valleys in Macedonia and Kosovo. For hike down we can choose between the north east ridge or make traverse through south west ridge and rock field below Ljuboten. We will have lunch at old mountain hut Ljuboten (1650 m), oldest mountain hut in Macedonia, where will have traditional lunch with testing local sheep’s cheese. After lunch we drive to mountain resort Popova Sapka. Overnight in hotel in Popova Sapka.
Difficulty of the tour:
Duration of the tour:
6 to 8 hours
Length of the tour:
14 km
Starting point:
1650 meters
Uphill climbing:
900 meters
Finish:
900 meters
Required fitness:
Panoramas and landscapes:
Biodiversity:
Day 3 – After breakfast we will start hike to Tito’s Peak (2747 m). We will climb it by the summer trail passing through areas with endemic flora and one of the best panoramas and landscapes in Macedonia. From Tito’s Peak we will hike to Popova Sapka resort. Late afternoon will be for free time in the hotel. Overnight in Popova Sapka.
Difficulty of the tour:
Duration of the tour:
7 to 9 hours
Length of the tour:
24 km
Starting point:
1700 meters
Uphill climbing:
1100 meters
Finish:
1450 meters
Required fitness:
Panoramas and landscapes:
Biodiversity:
Day 4 – Short morning transfer from Popova Sapka to village of Veshalla (1245 m), our starting point for the hike to Sheremetnica Peak (2310 m) and Karanikola Lake (2210 m). We will visit one of the most beautiful glacial lakes on Shar Mountain. Hiking down is by the trail on the other side of the mountain finishing again in the village of Veshalla (1245 m). At the end of hiking we will have tea at local tea house. Transfer to National Park Mavrovo. Dinner and overnight in Mavrovo.
Difficulty of the tour:
Duration of the tour:
6 to 8 hours
Length of the tour:
14 km
Starting point:
1325 meters
Uphill climbing:
1000 meters
Finish:
1245 meters
Required fitness:
Panoramas and landscapes:
Biodiversity:
Day 5 – Morning transfer to high plateau of Mount Bistra to the starting point of the hike to Medenica Peak (2163 m). We will climb the peak from east side. Once reaching the top we will hike down by the different trail on a south to the village of Galichnik (1450 m). We will have light lunch at the local villagers house. Walking tour in the village after lunch. Transfer back to Mavrovo. Traditional dinner with Mavrovo plate. Overnight in Mavrovo.
Difficulty of the tour:
Duration of the tour:
4 to 5 hours
Length of the tour:
12 km
Starting point:
1700 meters
Uphill climbing:
500 meters
Finish:
1400 meters
Required fitness:
Panoramas and landscapes:
Biodiversity:
Day 6 – We will start the day with morning transfer to the footstep of Mount Korab (1470 m) to reach the starting point of our hike. We will hike up to the top of Golem Korab (2754 m) through Alpine scenes passing by one sheepfold. Around noon we will reach the peak which lies on the border between Macedonia and Albania. After obligatory bier at the end of the hike we will have transfer back to Mavrovo (1260 m). Overnight in hotel in Mavrovo.
Difficulty of the tour:
Duration of the tour:
7 to 9 hours
Length of the tour:
22 km
Starting point:
1470 meters
Uphill climbing:
1400 meters
Finish:
1470 meters
Required fitness:
Panoramas and landscapes:
Biodiversity:
Day 7 – Eearly morning transfer to village of Zirovnica (1000 m), starting point for our hike to Ploca Peak (2245 m) on Mount Deshat. We will climb the peak through the valley of Tairovska River and pastures area call Mala Planina (Small Mountain). From the top we can enjoy one the most beautiful landscapes in National Park. Lunch at local villager’s mountain house with food preparing on a traditional way specific only for this mountain village. After the lunch we continue our tour with driving through Canyon of Radika River to visit the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, where we will see one of the largest iconostasis in Europe and talk with monks. Transfer to Ohrid and accommodation in the hotel. After accommodation we will have city tour in old part of Ohrid with dinner in a fish restauraunt. Overnight in Ohrid.
Difficulty of the tour:
Duration of the tour:
5 to 7 hours
Length of the tour:
16 km
Starting point:
1000 meters
Uphill climbing:
1240 meters
Finish:
1000 meters
Required fitness:
Panoramas and landscapes:
Biodiversity:
Day 8 – In the morning we will have forty minutes driving to the starting point of the hike – Lipova Meadow situated at altitude of 1600 meters on Mount Galichica pass. During the hiking we will enjoy unforgettable views over the two largest lakes in Macedonia – the Ohrid Lake on the west and Prespa Lake to the east. The tour to the peak Magaro (2255 m) and back is on a circular trail that passes through the strictly protected zone of the national park where local endemics can be seen. After downloading to the starting point we will go to other side of the mountain on the coast of Prespa Lake where lunch in village of Konjsko will wait for us. After lunch we will have transfer to city of Bitola for a coffe on a famous street Sirok Sokak. After coffee and short city tour in Bitola we will have transfer to National Park Pelister. Accommodation and dinner in hotel. Overnight in Pelister.
Difficulty of the tour:
Duration of the tour:
4 to 5 hours
Length of the tour:
12 km
Starting point:
1600 meters
Uphill climbing:
700 meters
Finish:
1600 meters
Required fitness:
Panoramas and landscapes:
Biodiversity:
Day 9 – After breakfast we will start the hike to highest peak on Pelister – Anteni 2601 m. First part of the hike is through very density Molika pine forest, which is local endemic. During the hike it is very usual to see the wild life, foxes, rabbits, bears or their traces. We will be at the top around noon, enjoying unforgettable landscape and panoramas over Prespa Lake. Last part of the hike down will be on a historical trail with monuments from First World War. Transfer to Skopje, accommodation in the hotel and dinner in national restaurant. Overnight in Skopje.
Difficulty of the tour:
Duration of the tour:
8 to 9 hours
Length of the tour:
24 km
Starting point:
1350 meters
Uphill climbing:
1300 meters
Finish:
1300 meters
Required fitness:
Panoramas and landscapes:
Biodiversity:
Day 10 – Transfer to Skopje airport and fly back. Depend of the departure time additional activities can be added.
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Highlights
- Hiking in three national parks
- Climbing unknown peaks in the highest mountain range in Macedonia
- Visit several strictly protected areas
- Climbing the highest peak in Macedonia - Golem Korab
- Enjoying traditional food and local wines at homes of local villagers
- City tour in Ohrid, city of UNESCO
- City tour in Skopje, capital of Macedonia
- Visit most famous Orthodox and Islamic temples in Macedonia
Have Any Question?
Just contact us if you need more information about the tour.
- + 389 75 212 602
- guides.mk@gmail.com
Equipment
Everybody has to know that the right clothing and equipment is essential for a successful mountain trip. There will be some items and travel clothes which you will want to pack for the journey which will not be required on the tour in the mountains, so these may be left at your hotel and collected at the end, a light fold away small bag is useful for these items.
The following list is a combination of suggestion, advice and our experience of what you will need. For additional information’s do not hesitate to contact us.
This is what we think essential for safety and basic comfort.
Navigation
- Compass
- Map
Sun protection
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Sunglasses
Clothing – warm weather
- Wicking T – shirt (synthetic or wool)
- Wicking underwear
- Quick – drying pants or shorts
- Long – sleeve shirt (protecting from sun, bugs)
- Rainwear (jackets, pants – waterproof and breathable)
- Sun – shielding hat
- Bandana or Buff
Clothing cool weather
- Wicking long – sleeve T – shirt
- Wicking long underwear
- Hat, cap, skullcap, balaclava or headband
- Gloves or mittens
- Rainwear (jackets, pants – waterproof and breathable)
- Fleece jacket or vest, and pants
Footwear
- Hiking Boots suited to terrain and conditions
- Trekking socks (synthetic or wool) plus spares
- Gaiters (for snow conditions)
Other
- Backpack 30 – 45 liters
- Trekking poles
- Energy food and beverages
- Water bottle or camelback
- Nylon cord (5 meters)
- First aid kit
- Knife or multi – tool, duct tape strips
- Headlamp with extra batteries
- Camera
- Wet wipes and toilet rolls
- Small Ziploc plastic boxes
- Notebook & Pencil
- Money belt