There is a real gem in the middle of the Balkan Peninsula. In this city of contrasts, stony mountains, green valleys and fields, remote and forgotten villages and modern cities alternate. Here traditional and modern culture, oriental and western ...
INCLUDED SERVICES:
- Accommodation in good middle class hotels
- 3x overnight stays with half board in Skopje
- 4x overnight stay with half board in Ohrid
- Bus every day according to the program
- Continuous english-speaking tour guide according to the program from the first to the last day
- Boat trips on Lake Matka and Lake Ohrid
- Entrances to Heraclea Lincestis
- Admission to the monasteries according to the program
- Vodno cable car ride
PROGRAM SUGGESTION:
DAY 1: Arrival in Skopje
Flight to Skopje. The bus awaits you here for the transfer to the hotel.
DAY 2: Skopje
After breakfast we start our tour of the state capital. We see, among other things, the old town with the Kale fortress, the church of Sv. Spas and the big bazaar, as well as the new town with the Alexander-Brunnen and the Mutter-Theresa-Haus. In the afternoon we drive towards Lake Matka. This reservoir, which is the oldest man-made reservoir in Macedonia, is located west of Skopje. Matka is home to around 1000 different plant species, of which around 20 percent are endemic, i.e. only occur there. In addition, there are a large number of different butterflies, 77 species of which are also endemic. The caves are also home to numerous bats. After a boat tour to a cave, we make our way back to Skopje.
DAY 3: Skopje - Tetovo - Mavrovo - Ohrid
Today we will first visit the city of Tetovo and pay a visit to the “Colorful Mosque”. Then we go to the Mavrovo National Park, where unique nature awaits us as well as the monastery of Sv. Jovan Bigorski, which we will visit. Then we continue via Debar to the city of Ohrid, where we will also move into our hotel.
DAY 4: UNESCO - City of Ohrid
Today a visit to the UNESCO city of Ohrid is on the program. We start the day by ship in the port of Ohrid. Then we explore the city on foot and see, among other things, the fortress of King Samuel, the Church of Sv. Periblebtos or the ancient Roman theater. Free time in the afternoon for your own inquiries, in the evening return to our hotel.
DAY 5: Ohrid - Bitola - Stobi - Ohrid
Our excursion today takes us first to the city of Bitola, once the city of diplomacy in the Ottoman Empire. In the vicinity of Bitola are the excavations of Heraclea Lincestis, once founded by Filip II of Macedonia. Then we go to the Roman excavations of Stobi. We visit a winery near Stobi to taste the excellent Macedonian wines. Return to our hotel in Ohrid in the evening.
DAY 6: Ohrid - Sveti Naum - Ohrid
At the port of Ohrid we take a ship and go to the monastery of Sveti Naum. The remains of St. Naum also rest here. At the monastery there are also the springs of Lake Ohrid, which we explore by rowing boat. The ship takes us back to Ohrid in the afternoon and the bus takes us to the hotel.
DAY 7: Ohrid - Skopje
Today it's back to Skopje. Once here, we take the cable car to the local mountain Vodno at around 1,000 m above sea level. Move into the hotel. To say goodbye, a typical Macedonian dinner with music awaits us in a restaurant (optional) in Skopje.
DAY 8: Journey home
Transfer to Skopje Airport and departure.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOURNEY:
- UNESCO old town Ohrid
- Colorful mosque in Tetovo
- Heraclea Lincestis excavations
- Panoramic trip on Lake Ohrid
- Cable car to Vodno