Itinerary

1. Day 1: Skopje Highlights, Vodno Summit, St. Panteleymon Monastery

   • We start the city tour at the fortress Kale, the oldest populated part of the Skopje basin. Here, we have a fantastic panoramic view of the new part of the city, the renovated national football stadium, the US Embassy, etc.
   • We continue to the old bazaar, once one of the largest in the Balkans. Next, we visit the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, the church of St. Spas (The Holy Salvation), Kapan, etc.
   • From here, we continue to the square “Karposevo Vostanie" (Karpos Uprising Square), where we can see the new monuments, the Archaeological Museum of the Republic of Macedonia, the Museum of the Holocaust, and the new Theater Building.
   • Going across the stone bridge, we continue to the central square and the monument of Alexander the Great.
   • Next, we will visit the memorial house of Mother Teresa, the world-famous humanist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
   • We finish the city tour at the former railway station, today's Museum of the City of Skopje. Free time.
   • In the afternoon, our tour continues to the highest point near Skopje, Vodno. We go to the "Sredno (Middle) Vodno" place with our transport. From there, we continue with the cable car to the top of the mountain, where the highest cross in Europe is situated.
   • In the late afternoon, we return to the hotel in Skopje. 

   Dinner and overnight.

2. Day 2: Matka Adventure, Monastic Treasures, Vevchani Village, Ohrid

   • After breakfast, we depart to a magical place - the canyon Matka (15km from the center of Skopje). The place is known as the natural habitat of many endemic species of butterflies, underwater caves, and churches from the XII-XIV century, and it is also a heaven for rock and mountain climbers.
   • Sailing with a boat through artificial accumulation to the deepest underwater cave in Europe is optional (Cave “Vrelo”).
   • From here, we continue to the western part of the country and drive along the most picturesque terrain in Macedonia, along the rivers “Radika” and “Crn (Black) Drim.
   • Our next stop is the second-most visited monastery in Macedonia, "Sv. Jovan Bigorski " (St. John the Baptist). We visited the church and had a small break in the coffee restaurant below the monastery.
   • We continue to the female monastery "Sv. Gorgi Pobedonosec" (St. George the Victorious) in the village Rajcica, on the shore of the Debar Lake. This monastery is a unique place where the famous mitras (decorated hats that the bishops wore during the liturgy) are made for the whole Christian world.
   • In the afternoon, we continue to Vevcani, the village known for the oldest carnival in these areas, the Vevcani springs, the masters of the mason craft, and excellent home-made, traditional Macedonian food.

   In the late afternoon, we head to Ohrid. Accommodation in a hotel in Ohrid. Dinner. Overnight.

   Driving time: Skopje - Matka 20 min .; Matka - St. Jovan Bigorski 1 hour and 45 min.; St. Jovan Bigorski - Rajcica 25 min .; Rajcica - Vevcani 50 min .; Vevcani - Ohrid 30 min.

3. Day 3: St. Naum Visit, Ohrid Exploration, Struga Stroll

   • After breakfast, we go to the most visited monastery complex in our country, the monastery of “St. Naum”, built at the end of the IX century, nearly to the border with Albania. We visit the church with an opportunity for optional cruising with a small boat in one of the most protected ecological areas, where the most powerful springs of Ohrid Lake and the river “Crn (Black) Drim” are located. Free time.
   • Around noon, we return to Ohrid and start with a walking tour of the old part of the city. The gallery of icons, the imposing Samuil's Fortress, the Antique Theater, the monastery St. Clement on Plaosnik, the cathedral church of St. Sofia (XI cent.), etc., are only part of the richness offered by the old part of Ohrid, which will be part of our agenda.
   • At the end of the half-day walking tour, we visit the craft workshop where the original Ohrid Pearls are on sale, and we will hear the story of how their work began. Free time at the centre for visiting the bazaar (shopping) or boat ride along the Ohrid Lake.
   • Today’s next stop is the city of Struga. The area where “Crn (Black) Drim” flows out of Ohrid Lake and continues with its course. The Park of Poetry, the Natural Science Museum, and the main walking street will be on our schedule list.

   In the late afternoon, we return to the hotel in Ohrid. Dinner. Overnight.

   Driving time: Ohrid - St. Naum 30 min .; Ohrid - Kalista 35 min .; Struga - Ohrid 20 min.

4. Day 4: Galicica Park, Prespa Lake, Heraclea Lyncectis

   • Our first stop on this day will be the water museum "Bay of Bones, " a complex where a replica of the houses built on platforms over the lake between the XII and VII centuries BC is on display.
   • Around 10:00 AM, we continue to Prespa Lake through the National Park Galicica.
   • In the village of Podmocani, we will have the opportunity to visit a private museum of folk costumes, which has over 300 men's and primarily women's folk costumes from all over the country.
   • Only a few kilometres from Podmocani is the village of Kurbinovo, where we will visit the church of “St. Gorgi” (St. George, XII century) in which the first signs of the Renaissance and the famous fresco "The Angel of Kurbinovo" were found. Free time for a coffee break on the shores of Prespa Lake.
   • In the afternoon, we arrive in Bitola. We visit the archaeological site Heraclea Lyncestis, just 2km from today's center of Bitola, a city built during the time of Philip II, which had the most significant rise in the period of the Roman Empire.

   Accommodation in a hotel in the center of Bitola. Dinner. Overnight.

   Driving time Ohrid - Prespa Lake 1 hour; Prespa Lake - Heraclea 40 min

5. Day 5: Bitola Walk, Krushevo Tour, Prilep Visit

   • We start with a walking tour of Bitola, the city with the richest history and culture in the Republic of Macedonia, also known as the “City of Consuls. "
   • After the visit to the City Museum (in XIX cent place where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk(the father of modern Turkey) graduated from the high military school), we continue along the most famous pedestrian zone, the street “Sirok Sokak”, to the symbol of Bitola - Clock Tower (XIX century).
   • Two mosques from the 16th century, the old bazaar, and the city open market will be only part of what we will see and visit. Free time for coffee/shopping.
   • Around noon, we continue to Krushevo, a city located at 1250m above sea level.
   • The first destination is the monument “Makedonium”, located in the highest part of the city, where the eternal resting place of the president of the first Republic of the Balkans - Dame Gruev, is located.
   • The next stop on our tour will be the memorial house of our great artist, singer, and, above all, a humanist, the unique and unforgettable Tose Proeski. In the center, we will visit The city bazaar, the church of “St. Nikola” and several workshops.
   • After lunch, we continue to Prilep. Here, we visit the tobacco museum, which contains incredible stories and objects related to "yellow gold" in this part of Europe.

   A walk in the city centre and accommodation in a hotel in Prilep. Dinner. Overnight.

   Driving time: Bitola - Krusevo 1 hour; Krushevo - Prilep 45 min

6. Day 6: Prilep Market, Wine Region, Waterfalls, Strumica

   • We start our city walking tour by visiting the rich Prilep market in the center of the old bazaar. The open market is rich in products of organic origin and different smells and is usually very busy on bazaar days.
   • From here, we continue to the central part of Macedonia, where the best quality wine from the Balkans is produced. We visit a wine cellar where we listen to the story of the way and the wine-making tradition and taste different products.
   • Around 11:00 AM, we head to the country's far southeast to visit one of its most potent and highest waterfalls, the Kolesino and Smolare.

   Later in the afternoon, we will continue to Strumica, where we will be accommodated in a hotel. A short walk around Strumica. Dinner. Overnight in Strumica.

   Driving time: Prilep - wine region 50 min .; Wine region - Waterfalls 1 hour and 45 minutes; Waterfalls - Strumica 30 min.

7. Day 7: Vodoca & Veljusa Monasteries, Stip Visit, Osogovo Monastery

   • Day 7 is reserved for visiting the two monasteries near Strumica, the monasteries in Vodoca and Veljusa villages, a few kilometres from Strumica.
   • Around noon, we will continue to the eastern part of Macedonia. First, we stop in Stip, the city under the Isar. Free time for city sightseeing and an opportunity to taste the famous local speciality, “Pastrmajlija,” from Stip.
   • In the afternoon, we visit the Osogovo Monastery near Kriva Palanka. Built-in the 12th century, the monastery dedicated to Joakim Osogovski represents one of the largest and most impressive in this part of our country.
   • In the late afternoon, we return to Skopje.