Your day starts on the shores of Lake Ohrid. After grabbing your bicycles you will cycle around Ohrid Lake discovering two countries on a joyful ride. Your first stop will be the bay of bones just few minutes from Peshtani village. A recreation of pile-dwelling settlement dating back to 1200 BC. After a visit of the museum, you will continue cycling towards St. Naum Monastery located near the border of Macedonia - Albania. Established in the 10th century, the frescoes of the small church will amaze you even today.
Next you will be having lunch in a restaurant located in the black drin river springs with an amazing environment of the nature surrounding the restaurant.
Continue cycling towards Albania with a short stop in Pogradec city, opposite of Ohrid town. After a short stop continue cycling around the lake until you arrive in back in Ohrid.
Organized departure from Skopje in the early morning hours. The tour starts with a visit of the only megalithic observatory on the Balkans, and one of the few in the world. The locality is often called the Macedonian Stonehenge – KOKINO. It was built on volcanic rock structures, on a hill 1.013 meters above sea level.
Although currently subjected to intensive research, its origin was estimated to date back from 1.815 B.C. People used it for tracking movements of the Sun and the Moon, as well as for observing other atmospheric phenomena.
On the way to Kokino we first arrive in the village of Mlado Nagoricane, where we shall visit the basalt slabs that witness the once-active volcanic activity in the area. Visit to the Kostoperska rock at the bottom of which remains of a Neolithic settlement have been found. Continue to Tatichev rock, where the ancient observatory is located, at an altitude of 1013 m. Ten minutes climb to the interior of the observatory – KOKINO. You will then descend to one of the most significant cultural monuments in Macedonia, located near Kumanovo, in the village of Staro Nagorichane. It is the church dedicated to St. George, which by its architectural and monumental Byzantine artistic uniqueness is considered as one of the pearls of Christian artifacts on this territory.
There is a legend related to the construction of this church about the hermit Prohor Pchinski and the Byzantine army leader Roman Diogen, which you will hear on-site. Lunch will be served in traditional national restaurant. Transfer back to Skopje in the late afternoon hours.
Your day starts with the meeting with the local guide and the transfer to St. Naum Monastery. The Monastery of Saint Naum is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the Republic of Macedonia, named after the medieval Saint Naum who founded it. The monastery was established in the Bulgarian Empire in 905 by St Naum of Ohrid himself. St Naum is also buried in the church. After the visit of the Monastery and the church, you will be transferred to Peshtani village for a visit of the Museum on Water. On the southern coast of Gradiste Peninsula in the Bay of Bones, a pile-dwelling settlement has been erected, which in the past was spreading at a total surface of 8.500 m2.
Bay of the Bones is an authentic reconstruction of a part of the pile-dwelling settlement, dating back between 1200 and 700 BC. A Roman military fortification (Gradiste) has been reconstructed on the hill above the Bay of Bones simultaneously with constructing the pile-dwelling settlement and the Water Museum. The walls of the fortification that once had protected the Roman Empire from its enemies are once again lifted up on the hill near Gradiste. The Roman fortress is connected with the settlement in order tourists and visitors to be given an extraordinary opportunity to experience time travel, from prehistoric to ancient times and vice versa.
Then we will be transfer to a small village in Ohrid when we will have a tasty lunch in one of the best restaurants in Ohrid, where we will be cooking with locals chefs, barbecue in the guest-house (Restaurant Ristos Guest House) and learn about traditional cooking meals. After this we will prepare your own lunch with the help of the local family in a traditional village on the shores of Ohrid Lake. The end of tour.
Gathering at and leaving from hotel upon time agreed, transport with a modern air-conditioned bus / van and a professional tourist guide. Visit the medieval Fortress Kale, the mosque of Mustafa Pasha (built in 1492), the Church Of St. Spas (sarcophagus of the greatest Macedonian revolutionary Goce Delchev) and the Historical-Ethnological Museum. The tour will continue with a walk through the Old Bazaar (XV – XX century) to Daut Pashin Amam (a Turkish bath) and over the Stone Bridge to the modern city square. Visit the house of Mother Teresa and the Old Railway Station.
Drive to picturesque Matka canyon with a visit to the church of St. Andrea, built in the XIV century. Short tea or coffee break. Lunch break at the restaurant located in St.Pantelejmon’s Monastery gardens, Vodno mountain. Guided sightseeing of St. Pantalejmon Church (built in 1164 - Byzantine period).
Your tour starts with meeting the local hiking guide in Ohrid and with the transfer to Galicica National Park.
Galichica is a mountain that separates the two biggest Macedonian lakes, Ohrid and Prespa. From Goga, its highest peak, both lakes can be viewed simultaneously–a unique and extraordinary sight, especially at sunset. Containing more than 130 different
species of trees and bushes, Galichica is one of Europe’s richest national parks in terms of flora. It is easily accessible too; Ohrid town and the settlements round Prespa are about a fifteen minute drive from the park.
The hike goes up to 2100m with great views of Ohrid and Prespa Lakes on the other side. After picnic lunch you will continue descending to the parking area for your transfer back at Ohrid town.
Organised departure from Skopje in the morning hours. Traveling through Tetovo and Gostivar. Panoramic sightseeing of the mountainous region with basic historical/cultural/geographical/political information about Macedonia, provided by a professional guide during transportation.
Guided visit of the prominent St. Jovan Bigorski monastery complex, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. It offers exceptionally rich cultural and religious inheritance including one of the world’s most impressive wooden iconostasis hand-carved by the Miac’s masters.
Its location allows for breathtaking views of the beautiful valley of River Radika surrounded by the wild slopes and alpine summits of Bistra Mountain massive.
Proceed to Mavrovo National Park – the oldest national park and largest Ski Centre in the country. The magnificent mountainous landscape, lush forests and the Lake located close to the ski centre makes Mavrovo a popular holiday resort all year around.
After panoramic sightseeing and stops for nature appreciation/photography, lunch will be served in a luxury hotel at the centre of the resort.
Organized departure from Skopje (or Ohrid) in the early morning hours. Transport with a modern air-conditioned bus or van. Panoramic sightseeing of the hilly-mountainous region alongside highway E-75 with basic historical/cultural/geographical/political information about Macedonia provided by a professional tourist guide during transportation. Arrival to Stobi - archaeological remnants of an ancient city lying on a fertile valley just a few minutes off the central highway.
Its name was first mentioned and documented in the 4th century B.C. In the mid of the 3-rd century B.C. Stobi was one of the most important ancient towns in the region and thereafter the capital of the Roman Province-Macedonia Solutaris. Sightseeing the archeological site Stobi, the roman building structures, early-Christian buildings (Baptistery, Civil Basilica, Episcopal Basilica, Episcopal Residence), the Casino, Stobi Museum.
Lunch break at a national restaurant. Proceed to Heraklea Lyncestis. Sightseeing walk around Heraclea, the most beautiful and well preserved roman and early-Christian center in Macedonia.
Although the exact age and its founder are still argued, most of the historians agree that it was founded by the ancient ruler Philip II of Macedon in the middle of the 4th century B.C. It was an important strategic center of the ancient Kingdom of Macedon, and continued developing during the Roman and Byzantine period.
You will have the opportunity to witness the abundant archaeological heritage of the site, collected through earlier investigation and presented at the archaeology exhibition in the museum as well as the archaeology exhibition on the very site of Heraclea.
Departure back to Skopje (or Ohrid) in the late afternoon Hours.
Your tour starts with meeting your local guide in Ohrid, and with the transfer to Tikves Wine region. A large fertile plain of about 2,000 square kilometers makes up the Tikveš district (part of Povardarie region), located in central Macedonia and enclosed by mountain highlands on three sides. It consists of gentle undulating hills at an average of 300 meters above sea-level. Its climate is characterized by long, hot summers and mild and rainy sub-Mediterranean winters with an average of 460 mm of rainfall each year. Spring is shorter; some say fresher here and autumn is a bit longer and warmer.
Its altitude varies between 110 and 650 meters. As a result of a harmonious climatic and geographic convergence, the Tikveš region is a perfect place for the cultivation of wine. The region has produced wine for over 2,500 years. Today, there are predominantly 20 different grape varieties grown in the Tikveš region. The local Smederevka, Vranec and Temjanika comprise 80% of the total grape production.
As wine consumers preferences change globally, the region keep paces with current trends and adjusts its vine varieties accordingly. Today we will visit Stobi Winery. It is one of the newest wineries in the region, but which is also one of the biggest producers of some of the finest wines in Macedonia and Balkans.
After the magnificent visit of the Winery, Wine tasting and lunch in the Restaurant, you will be transferred back in Ohrid.
Organised departure from Skopje in the early morning hours. Traveling through Tetovo, Gostivar and Kicevo. Panoramic sightseeing of the mountainous region with basic historical/cultural/geographical/political information about Macedonia provided by a professional guide during transportation.
Arrival in Ohrid (the city protected by UNESCO) before noon. Transfer to central Ohrid where you will have the chance to discover and explore one of the most beautiful, romantic and historically rich towns on the Balkans. Some like to call it the “Balkan’s Jerusalem”. It is a city protected by UNESCO, which through the history has many times been the center of Macedonian cultural and spiritual life. At present times it is the most popular tourist centre in the country.
The guided sightseeing tour begins at the old historic part of town, which leads to St. Sofia – large and well preserved cathedral temple with frescoes from the 11th century; St. Clement’s church in Plaoshnik – the first Slavic University and one of the most exhilarating Byzantine-style churches in Macedonia built over and surrounded by archeological excavations from an Early Christian sacral building from the 5th century. Visit the Roman Amphitheatre (3rd century B.C.).
Visit the Museum / House of Robevci and the gallery of icons. We will then tour the 3 km long Samuel’s Fortress imposingly dominating the old part of Ohrid. It was built by Tzar Samoil in the 10th century. Descend to St. Jovan Kaneo (13th century). The church is amongst the favorite symbols of Ohrid as it proudly stands on a steep lakeshore cliff offering magnificent views over the town and lake, whilst its small secluded beach is one of the most famous romantic getaways.
Traditional-cuisine lunch will be served in a lakefront restaurant at the center of Ohrid, which will be followed by some free time at your leisure.
Departure back to Skopje in the late afternoon hours.
Your day starts with the meeting with your local guide in the city center. Ohrid, the so called Jerusalem of the Balkans, is a city in the Republic of Macedonia located in the easter shores of Lake Ohrid. It has had a continuous inhabitation since its first settlements in 4th century BC from the Illyrian tribes of Enchelai and Dassaretae, mentioned as the city of Lychnidos. Since the first centuries of Christianity, here the faith set roots so much that once is has been noted that had 365 churches, one of each day of the year. The city and the area were colonized by the Slavs but the city continued its prosper under many Empires. Due to the many cultural in heritance from the centuries and being well preserved, Ohrid and the lake in 1978 were included in UNESCO World Heritage List. Today Ohrid is the jewel of Macedonia and the pearl of Lake Ohrid.
The visit today starts to the old quarter of Ohrid. The traditional houses, build close to each other have created some cobbled narrow streets like a labyrinth. They will lead you to the churches of Ohrid where the most important and the most special one is St. Sophia Church, coming from 9th and 10th century from Bulgarian Empire, housing important medieval art of paintings, icons and frescoes. Other special religious attractions are the churches of St. Jovan Kaneo from 13th century, St. Pantelejmon Plaosnik Monastery from 10th century, etc.
On the way up you will also see the Roman amphitheatre, a one of a kind in Macedonia coming since almost 2000 years ago. Up in the Saint Klement Pantelejmon Church, named after the saint patron of Ohrid, is one of the most beautiful mosaics of the Balkans, a Christian one, on the floor of the church.