North Macedonia: Mountains, Lakes & Wine
Group Tour
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Overview
Straddling the ancient traditions of the Balkans and the Mediterranean, North Macedonia is home to a rich cultural pedigree that encompasses Hellenistic, Roman and Ottoman history. Landlocked and framed along its borders by towering mountain ranges, the country is perfect for exploring on foot, with an abundance of flora and fauna that provides a captivating backdrop to this spectacular cultural adventure.
Beginning with a tour of the atmospheric streets of Skopje, before heading ...
Straddling the ancient traditions of the Balkans and the Mediterranean, North Macedonia is home to a rich cultural pedigree that encompasses Hellenistic, Roman and Ottoman history. Landlocked and framed along its borders by towering mountain ranges, the country is perfect for exploring on foot, with an abundance of flora and fauna that provides a captivating backdrop to this spectacular cultural adventure.
Beginning with a tour of the atmospheric streets of Skopje, before heading to the famed painted mosque of Tetovo we then take in the breath-taking setting of the Mavrovo National Park. Here, amongst some of the highest peaks in the country we’ll visit Orthodox monasteries and enjoy typical Macedonian hospitality, before venturing on to explore the UNESCO treasures of Ohrid and its spectacular lake. Set at an altitude of 1,350m we will explore one of the highest towns in the Balkans and the oldest National Park, before heading across the vineyards of the country’s famous wine growing region, with a chance to sample some of the vintages on offer at the Queen Maria winery.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses and boats when not on foot.
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip. On this particular trip we will be in a combination of comfortable hotels and a winery hotel. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour Starts in Skopje
Day 1 Tour Starts in Skopje
After an early afternoon introductory briefing at our city centre hotel, we'll enjoy a walking tour of Skopje. Starting at the central square we will explore Mother Teresa's memorial house, the grand fountain of Alexander the Great, and enjoy some of Skopje's marble and bronze monuments, in which there are almost 300! Later on, we will enter the maze of cobblestone alleys in the old town which are lined with Ottoman baths turned into art galleries, antique shops and tea houses. After time for a quick refresh and change we will then head out to a local restaurant in the bohemian district for dinner.
Day 2 Skopje - Matka Canyon - Mavrovo National Park
Day 2 Skopje - Matka Canyon - Mavrovo National Park
This morning we will transfer to Matka Canyon, home to bald eagles, endemic plant life and over 130 different types of butterflies. This scenic landscape plays host to 13th century Orthodox monasteries, as well as one of the deepest caves in Europe. Here we will take a relaxing boat trip to explore the canyon further. We will then have lunch nearby enjoying some traditional Macedonian dishes, before carrying on to Mavrovo National Park. On the way we'll stop at Tetovo, a city built on the foothills of the Sar Mountains. Here we will visit the beautiful mosque of Šarena Džamija, otherwise known as the Painted Mosque. An exquisite example of Ottoman baroque architecture, the painting to look out for is the standout depiction of Mecca; a rare painting and perhaps the only example of this illustration in south east Europe. Our accommodation tonight will be in Jance, a small mountain village in Mavrovo National Park.
Day 3 Jance - Vevchani - Ohrid
Day 3 Jance - Vevchani - Ohrid
This morning we will start the day by visiting the Duf Waterfalls and will take a short 3km trail from Rotusha village through a beautiful beech forest to the falls. From here we will then visit Rajchica monastery one of the most important shrines in North Macedonia. Lunch will be enjoyed in a guesthouse in Vevchani village, which was a short-lived self proclaimed country from 1991 - 1993 they even had their own flag, coat of arms and passports. Later we’ll transfer to nearby Ohrid and its spectacular lake, both of which are inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage listing. Early this evening we will enjoy a wine tasting at our hotel with wines from the family-run vineyard, Winery Mal Sveti Kliment. You will then have the evening free to enjoy dinner independently.
Day 4 Ohrid
Day 4 Ohrid
Ohrid lake itself is considered the oldest in Europe, whilst the historic heart of the city is home to a staggering array of picturesque houses and ancient monuments that include St Sofia’s Cathedral, Tsar Samuel’s fortress and the Church of St John of Kaneo. After a morning walking tour this afternoon is free to explore Ohrid’s hidden valleys, artisan shops and traditional restaurants at your leisure. This evening we will take a short boat trip out on Lake Ohrid before enjoying dinner on a terrace by the lake at a local fisherman's home.
Day 5 Ohrid - Eastern Lake – Bitola
Day 5 Ohrid - Eastern Lake – Bitola
A short transfer takes us close to the Albanian border where we will explore the Bay of Bones museum, which is situated on the water and is a reconstruction of a lake settlement dating back to the period between 1200 - 600 BC. Continuing on we visit St Naum Monastery, often noted as one of the most attractively sited in all of North Macedonia. We will then take a quick dip in Lake Ohrid before enjoying lunch in a small restaurant by the lake. Making our way to charming Bitola, our route takes us over the Galicica Mountain pass to enjoy some spectacular views of the Ohrid and Prespa Lakes and the surrounding mountains. Later we’ll take an evening stroll through the old town to see some of its beautiful neoclassical buildings which date from the period when Bitola was the seat of all the major European countries’ consulates and embassies.
Day 6 Bitola - Pelister National Park - Heraclea Lyncestis - Bitola
Day 6 Bitola - Pelister National Park - Heraclea Lyncestis - Bitola
Starting our day in the oldest national park in North Macedonia famous for its ancient Molikapine trees, lynx and bearded eagles, we will enjoy a short 1 - 2 hour trail exploring the history and battles of WW1 that took place in the park. We will then visit a local honey farm, where we will meet with a local beekeeper and see first-hand the fascinating world of the honeybee whilst learning about beekeeping in the area. A home-cooked lunch will be provided by our hosts with all of the ingredients coming straight from the family's private gardens. Making our way back to Bitola this afternoon we will visit the ancient city of Heraclea Lyncestis, founded in the 4th century BC by Philip II as a major stop along the Via Egnatia and home to some of the best mosaics in the Balkans. Dinner this evening is at your own leisure.
Day 7 Bitola - Krushevo - Demir Kapija
Day 7 Bitola - Krushevo - Demir Kapija
A short transfer to Krushevo, reputedly the highest town in the Balkans, allows us to explore this open-air museum with colourful 19th-century houses set along narrow streets. We will visit the Mechkin Kamen and Makedonium monuments, the latter of which is often referred to as being one of the world's most distinctive and quirky architectural achievements, before exploring the steep cobblestone alleys of the town where we will see traditional crafts and manufacturers. Krushevo is famous for its excellent cuisine and some dishes can only be found here, local recommendations are the melted cheese clay pots or the famous Krushevo sausage. Continuing our journey east we will stop in Prilep, before finally heading deeper into the vineyards of Macedonia’s wine-growing region. We will spend the evening enjoying the hospitality of a charming winery hotel including a guided tour of the grounds of our unique accommodation.
Day 8 Demir Kapija - Skopje Airport
Day 8 Demir Kapija - Skopje Airport
This morning we will depart Demir Kapija and head to Skopje Airport, where the tour officially ends. For clients with flights departing later than the suggested group flights (see the GETTING THERE section below) or wanting to spend additional time in Skopje, we can arrange for a drop off in the city centre.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Alexander Square Boutique Hotel, Skopje
Alexander Square Boutique Hotel is a beautifully designed modern boutique hotel located in the heart of Skopje's commercial district and close to a number of sites of interest. Rooms are generous with both space and luxury amenities and some offer fantastic views of the surrounding city. The hotel's team are both welcoming and extremely attentive, and you can enjoy relaxing in the hotel bar and cafe as well as sampling local dishes in the hotel's restaurant.
Hotel Teatar, Bitola
Located in the centre of Bitola, the Hotel Teatar is a simple local hotel with traditional elements and family atmosphere. As the name might suggest, 'teatar' is translated as 'theatre', there is a theatre on site which offers an alternative insight into contemporary North Macedonia, whilst the overall traditional style of the hotel compliments the surrounding town architecture. Rooms are spacious and offer welcome amenities including wifi and TV, all with en suite bathrooms.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Giving Something Back
In conjunction with our local partners in Macedonia, we have helped sponsor reforestation tree-planting projects in the wine region of the country. In addition, in the same area we have been supporting local families by arranging for them to supply our groups with picnic lunches or more substantial meals in their gardens.
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
If travelling to/from the start/finish of the tour from another European country you might also want to consider reducing your carbon footprint by travelling there by train. We are unfortunately not (yet) in a position to help you with the actual booking of the train tickets but lots of good information can be found here - www.seat61.com
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| OS 458 | London Heathrow (LHR) 06:00 | Vienna (VIE) 09:15 |
| OS 775 | Vienna (VIE) 10:20 | Skopje Airport (SKP) 11:50 |
| OS 776 | Skopje Airport (SKP) 12:35 | Vienna (VIE) 14:10 |
| OS 455 | Vienna (VIE) 17:15 | London Heathrow (LHR) 18:40 |
Visas
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for North Macedonia.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to North Macedonia.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
North Macedonia has a relatively dry Mediterranean climate. In the height of summer, temperatures in Skopje can reach 40C whereas in winter the mountains offer plentiful skiing opportunities. Our walking departures have been scheduled to coincide with early summer and early autumn to avoid the extremities of both temperatures and crowds. You should expect many fine sunny days but given changes in global climate these days and given the fact that much of the trip is in the mountains, you should come prepared for all eventualities.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional. This is a trip for those who enjoy good food and the chance to discover a relatively unknown and unspoilt corner of Europe.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation, but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement, we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 2416 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.