The Best of Macedonia

ITINERARY

• DAY 1

  Skopje

  Welcome to Macedonia!! Upon arrival, meet with your English-speaking guide and transfer to your accommodating hotel. Spend the day at leisure to relax and rest.

  What's included?

  • Accommodation
  • Transfer
• DAY 2

  Skopje: Guided walking tour

  After breakfast, start the guided walking tour of Skopje: Kale Fortress, located in the old town. Тhe Mosque Mustafa Pasha, the church St. Spas- St. Savior or Ascension with the incredible iconostasis high six meters and long ten meters, made entirely by carving by brothers Filipovski between 1819-1824. Visit the ancient Bazaar. Stroll through the Old Bazaar and the Stone Bridge which has acquired this status of symbol not only for its historical value but also because it connects two very different parts of the city. Visit the archaeological museum. Having the unique experience to meet Deko who will tell you the story of the Macedonian Rubin, you will feel his passionate dedication to what he is doing, he is one of our nowadays heroes. Visit the Memorial Center dedicated to Mother Teresa as well as her birthplace, and then the old train station of the city. In the afternoon, stroll through the modern part of the city and visit St. Clément's Cathedral of Ohrid painted by Slavco Brezovski. It is dedicated to August 1990. Free time for shopping in Skopje. Welcome dinner with traditional music in the local restaurant with a special menu.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 3

  Skopje - Vodno - St. Pantelejmon - Matka - Skopje

  Departure to Vodno, whereby cable car you reach the top of the mountain to the Millennium Cross, a 215 ft. (66-meter) tall cross. It was constructed to serve as a memorial for 2,000 years of Christianity in Macedonia and to honor biblical passages citing the evangelization activities of St. Paul within the region. From there directly to the Monastery of St. Pantelejmon, and visit the 12th-century Byzantine church located in a monastery complex. Continuing to Canyon Matka, a beautiful piece of untouched nature, rich in rare animal species and endemic plants known also for the caves. From about ten caves in the speleological park, Vrelo is the only one that currently functions as a tourist attraction. In the cave itself, there are many cave decorations, among which the huge stalagmite in the form of a cone dominates, which has accumulated for 2,700 years. The sounds that are constantly heard inside the cave come from its inhabitants - the bats.
  
  The road back to the city of Skopje. Dinner and overnight.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 4

  Skopje - Tetovo - St. John Bigorski - Kalista - Struga - Ohrid

  Today, we will depart to Tetovo. The city is famous for the Painted Mosque (XVII century) also known as the Mosque Aladzha. Considered a masterpiece of Ottoman Art, it was built thanks to the donation of two Muslim ladies - Hurshida and Mensure, whose tomb lies in the garden of the mosque. The building is fully decorated both inside and outside with floral and geometric motifs. We will travel to one of the most beautiful natural regions of Macedonia to visit the most important Macedonian monastery of St. John Bigorski. Lunch in a fantastic traditional restaurant. On the road to Struga, we will visit the Kalishta Monastery and its beautiful church in a cave. Depart for Struga, we will have another personal touch with meeting local people. Struga is famous for the Struga poetry nights festival, poets from all over the world come to Struga. The only person that can present the history of this event and the story of this lovely city is Dusko Gjorgon he was the official photographer of the event for 50 years, we will visit his gallery that is part of his family house. He will welcome you with his wife.
  
  Arrival in Ohrid. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Cruise/Boat
• DAY 5

  Ohrid - St. Naum

  Start the day by visiting of the old town of Ohrid. The most beautiful city of Macedonia and one of the most fascinating of the Balkan Peninsula was declared world heritage by UNESCO. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid, it is known for its pretty white houses, winding streets, and the prestige of art treasures and its 365 churches, one for each day. Visit of the church St. Bogorodica Perivlepta (dedicated to the Virgin Mary) which dates from 1259 and is characterized by its Byzantine forms and patterns. Visit the Cathedral of St. Sophia, built-in 1037-1056 with interesting frescoes of the 14th century. Visit the church of St. Kaneo (one of the symbols of Ohrid) St. Jovan (St. John) Church on the rock of Kaneo. During our visit to the old town of Ohrid, we will have the opportunity to discover the history of the Ohrid pearls, famous all over the world and handmade by the Filevi family and also the Gutenberg printing house.
  
  We will have a boat trip to visit the monastery of St. Naum, south of the lake and built on a rocky ridge overlooking the lake, a unique experience you will never forget. A short stop to take pictures at the Museum Bay of Bones. Dinner in a local restaurant with folklore show.
  
  * Recommended Tour- Boat trip on the translucent waters of the Drim River that flows into the Adriatic Sea and whose mountainous surroundings have a flora and fauna of great diversity.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Cruise/Boat
• DAY 6

  Ohrid - Resen, Podmocani - Heraclea - Bitola - Kavadarci - Demir Kapija

  Morning departure for Resen where we will visit a private ethnos museum in the village of Podmochani and you will discover the traditional Macedonian costumes. Departure to visit the ancient city of Heraclea, founded by Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, towards the middle of the fourth century BC. Among the most interesting ruins of the site you can see the hot springs, the colonnade, the amphitheater, the remains of two churches, both with wonderful and colorful mosaics (V century) depicting geometric figures, trees, birds, flowers, and animals. Visit of Bitola – conquered by the Turks in 1382, the city took the new name of Monastir. Of the many mosques built by the Turks during their occupation, there are about a dozen left. The most beautiful among them is the Isak Dzamija, so-called because it was built at the expense of a wealthy merchant named Isaac. Visit of St. Dimitrija Church. Stroll along the main pedestrian street "Consulates". Visit a family home in Bitola and enjoy a lunch prepared by the local family. You will have the chance to experience typical Macedonian hospitality, enjoy locally produced food, and taste homemade rakija. Departure to Demir Kapija - a region of Macedonian wines. Tour organized around the winery with accommodation and education of Macedonian wine in the Popova Kula wine cellar.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 7

  Demir Kapija - Kapija - Kavadarci - Stobi - Skopje

  We will leave Demir Kapija and spend half a day dedicated to Macedonian wine. Departure to Kavadarci where we will visit the private wood carving workshop in a local family where you will learn more about the technique of carving sculpture and especially wood. Beautiful and incredible masterpieces. Another Macedonian story to better know the local and traditional customs, the Macedonian spirit, and the heroes of today that enrich our country with their added value. Departure to Skopje. On the way, stop to visit the important archeological site Stobi. It is known that the main roads, connecting the areas of the front Danube with the Mediterranean countries, have passed there since the prehistoric period. Continuing to Skopje then overnight.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 8

  Skopje

  Today is the departure day. After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, transfer to the Skopje International Airport for your home flight.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Transfer