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The Mavrovo National Park is the largest of the three national parks in the Republic of Macedonia. It is located in the west, between the Mavrovo lake and the Albanian border. It is a place where one can experience unforgettable mountain adventures.

The Mavrovo National park is known for endemic species of plants and animals and as a habitat of medicinal herbs. It offers magnificent views of different colors, particularly in autumn, due to the presence of different species of trees.

It abounds in trails for hiking and mountain biking of different difficulty and length. Noteworthy among these are the Vrben trail with a view of the Mavrovo valley and the artificial lake, the round trail above the Leunovo village in a forest belt suitable for hiking, running and mountain biking, the Nikiforovo trail, the trail to Galichnik offering the wonderful panorama of the village of Galichnik, Gorna reka trail and many other.

In addition to the artificial lake, the Mavrovo National Park abounds in springs and glacial lakes. The banks of the Radika river are wonderful places for fishing and are particularly rich in trout.

The climate of the Mavrovo national park ranges from continental to Alpine.

In addition to hiking and biking, the Mavrovo National Park offers the enjoyment of winter sports. Mavrovo is known as one of the most beautiful ski centers in Macedonia. The ski centre is located on the slopes of the Bistra mountain and offers excellent opportunities for winter vacations. The ski season starts on November 15th ,with a peak from December 25th to January 31st . There are several night clubs and restaurants within the ski center for those who want to have fun during the night hours.

As to the cultural heritage, the entire national park bears witness of the co-habitation of different cultures with the existence of Christian and Islamic Structures. Noteworthy are the St. Bigorski monastery with its wonderful iconostasis and fresco paintings, the church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the Tresonche village, etc. As to profane structures, compacted and semi-compacted rural settlements are representative of the region with beautiful examples of traditional construction.

• Shoes: Hiking footwear (adequate ankle support);
• Socks: Dri-FIT or woolen socks + an extra pair in your backpack;
• Trousers: long/shorts (recommendation: Dri-FIT trousers, waterproof trousers);
• T-Shirts/Blouses: Dri-FIT or woolen T-Shirt or blouse + extra two in your backpack;
• Insulation: Sweater or micro fleece vest;
• Jacket: Waterproof, windproof and breathable hooded jacket (for ex. Gore-tex fabric);
• Backpack: Comfortable and ergonomic backpack (30-45L);
• Gloves: We recommend wearing first layer gloves for insulation;
• Other: Sunglasses, sun hat, sun cream, lip balm, headlamp, first-aid kit, personal medications, bottle of water (1.5 L – 2L) , energy boosting food (rich in carbohydrates and sugar) such as nuts and fruits, passport, money (cash), trip voucher;
• Optional: Trekking pole, binoculars, camera, GPS, compass, travel insurance;

Pelagonija is a geographical plain between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia, the Macedonian part incorporating the cities of Bitola, Prilep, Krushevo and the picturesque village of Mariovo.

Prilep is the place where one can find the finest marble in the world, and it represents a famous world center for production of quality tobacco. It is famous for the Tobacco Museum that owns exhibits that are partly purchased from institutions and individuals across Europe, Asia and Africa and the other part are excavated from sites and thus, represent unique objects. Prilep is a town of rich monumental heritage, the most representative monument complexes being: Bedem, Gradishte, Bezisten and the remains of the ancient cities Stibera, Alkomena, Keramija and Kolobansa. There are also churches and monasteries that date back to the Middle Age as well as the most famous towers called “Marko’s Towers”. If you happen to be in Prilep during the months of June and July, do not miss the “Vojdan Chernodrinski” theatre festival and the Prilep Summer of Culture event, which offers cultural achievements in all domains of art.

Bitola is the second largest city in the Republic of Macedonia that still bears the nickname “the city of consuls” as it was a seat of consuls in the 19th century. It is famous for the Clock Tower and the long pedestrian street called Sirok Sokak that abounds in neo-classical buildings, stores, coffee bars and restaurants. It is also a home of the renowned International Cinematographers’ Film Festival “Manaki Brothers”. The National Park Pelister is not very far from the city. The five-needle pine tree known as “molika”, which is considered to be a Tertiary Relic Plant, forms the greatest part of its vegetation, making the National Park a unique picturesque and attractive place to visit. When visiting Bitola, one must also not miss the ancient city of Heraklea that dates back to the Hellenistic period.

Mariovo is a region in the southern part of Macedonia where the largest canyon is found. The region is divided by the Crna river into two sub-regions: Small and Old (Big) Mariovo. It is noteworthy that due to its specific position, this part of the country has a distinct local climate that differs from the other parts of the country. The small number of inhabitants in the villages, and the absence of industry and factories place this area among the cleanest eco regions in Europe.

Skopje

Enjoy the diversity of the Old Bazaar (Stara Carshija), which is one of the best preserved examples of the urban Ottoman architecture. Separated from the city by the Stone bridge and bordering the Kale Fortress, besides being full of restaurants, coffee bars, churches, mosques and museums, it is a real community of craftsmen creating with leather, copper and clay and selling jewelry and clothes. In addition, pay respect to the Noble Prize winner Mother Theresa by visiting her Memorial House where part of her relics are preserved, and enjoy the classical appearance of Skopje 2014 by sightseeing the classical government buildings and the monuments depicting historical characters.

Kokino/Kuklici

Near the village of Kokino, there is an ancient archaeological site known as Ancient Observatory Kokino that dates back to the Bronze Age. This site is said “to contain a megalithic observatory and a sacred site”. On the other hand, Kuklici (The Stone Dolls) represent a real wonder of nature, which was created by erosion, wind and other climate influences. There are 148 stone figures in total and they all resemble actual people. The legend says that many years ago, there was a young man from the nearby village who fell in love with two girls. The first one was one very rich but not so beautiful and the second one was beautiful but very poor. He was pretty unsure of whom of the two girls to marry, and he made arrangements for a wedding with both of them on the same day. When the day came, the beautiful and poor girl heard the drums and music from the wedding and wondered why they did not come to her house. When she came down the valley and saw her beloved with the rich girl she cursed everyone by saying: “Let God turn every one of you into stones, even myself”, and when the groom kissed the bride everyone turned into stone. Ever since, each Stone Doll has been called under a different title: bride, groom, best man, cousins, etc.

Berovo

Berovo is a town with the highest concentration of oxygen on the Balkans. The relief is predominantly mountainous, and the flat areas are situated around the riverbeds of the Bregalnica river that makes this town perfect for both summer and winter vacation. It is famous for the first church built in 1818 that later became a female monastery of St. Archangel Michael and the Berovo museum where the first national school was open. If you happen to be there on the 28th of August, you won’t miss the Ethno Square Festival, which is the most famous festival in the whole region. Not very far from Berovo is the wonderful Berovo lake surrounded with pine trees that rests ones eyes and leaves a feeling of peace.

Vodocha/ Veljusa

The monastery complex of Vodocha consists of 3 churches (East, West and Central) and therefore, reflects the rich spiritual and cultural life shown on this territory. Due to archaeological excavations, over 1000 graves with jewelry and ceramics dating back to XIV-XIX century have been discovered in the complex. On the other hand, the monastery church in Veljusa has kept its original and unique Byzantine architecture. It is famous for the fresco technique, mosaic and sculpture engraved in the shallow relief of the marble parts of the iconostas.

Koleshino/Smolare

Once you visit the Koleshino and Smolare Falls, you will want to come back again. These magic waterfalls surrounded by amazing living nature such as green vegetation and sound of different kinds of birds will definitely be an enjoyment and a recharge of your batteries.

Demir Kapija

This picturesque region is a true heaven for the mountaineers and the alpinists. The mystical natural beauty of the Kozuv mountain and the sound of the Vardar river make it a unique place to visit during any time of the year. The most significant place to visit in this area is the Bela Voda Cave (White Water Cave) that represents the longest horizontal speleological object with its stunning lake at the end. Paying a visit to the Popova Kula Winery is the best way to taste the wine produced in this area and enjoy the magnificent nature that surrounds it.

Veles

Veles is an industrial center and a city of poetry, culture, history and tradition at the same time. It is also known as the home of Koco Racin, an author considered as a founder of the modern Macedonian literature. People call Veles an open-air museum, as it is a place where you can find a lot of monuments and memorial houses. From the famous Clock Tower, the Boatmen’s monument and Kosturnica, an eternal home of hundreds of soldiers who died for their peoples’ freedom, right to the Mladost Lake which one of the most visited artificial lakes and popular tourist destinations.

Macedonia has always been an important place where different civilizations met. These have influenced its culture and customs. These civilizations have left their traces on this territory in a form of different cultural and historic monuments. Many of these were destroyed by wars and earthquakes, but many have been restored and witness the rich history of Macedonia. The cultural heritage of Macedonia includes archaeological sites, Byzantine churches, monasteries, old fortresses, old market places, mosques, etc. Each town in Macedonia has something specific to offer to a visitor to see.

With its characteristic relief represented by wide and deep ravines and its wide plateau at an altitude exceeding 2000 metres, the Macedonian part of Galichica mountain offers the visitor a gorgeous view of Ohrid and Prespa lakes.

The Galichica national park covers the municipalities of Ohrid and Prespa and abounds in natural beauties and extraordinary endemic flora and fauna that can be found exclusively in this area.

The numerous monuments of historic and artistic importance are the very strong reason for visiting this national park. These monuments are not only numerous, but diverse, including archaeological sites, churches, monasteries, cave churches, etc.

Golem Grad isle is among the most important monuments in this park not only within the region, but also beyond. Noteworthy among the churches, monasteries and cave churches are the church of Virgin Mary Zahumska dating back to 1367 with fresco paintings in Byzantine style highly valued in Europe, then the church of St. Mary in the village of Velestovo dating back to the 15th century and many other churches from the later period as well as cave churches that are well preserved and available for visitors.

The population in the rural settlements of the mountainous part of this national park mainly deals with stockbreeding and agriculture, while the population in the littoral part is mainly occupied with fishing and tourism.

• Shoes: Hiking footwear (adequate ankle support);
• Socks: Dri-FIT or woolen socks + an extra pair in your backpack;
• Trousers: long/shorts (recommendation: Dri-FIT trousers, waterproof trousers);
• T-Shirts/Blouses: Dri-FIT or woolen T-Shirt or blouse + extra two in your backpack;
• Insulation: Sweater or micro fleece vest;
• Jacket: Waterproof, windproof and breathable hooded jacket (for ex. Gore-tex fabric);
• Backpack: Comfortable and ergonomic backpack (30-45L);
• Gloves: We recommend wearing first layer gloves for insulation;
• Other: Sunglasses, sun hat, sun cream, lip balm, headlamp, first-aid kit, personal medications, bottle of water (1.5 L – 2L) , energy boosting food (rich in carbohydrates and sugar) such as nuts and fruits, passport, money (cash), trip voucher;
• Optional: Trekking pole, binoculars, camera, GPS, compass, travel insurance;

Jablanica is a high mountain in the southwest part of Macedonia, between Ohrid – Struga and Debar valleys. Its ridge runs along the Macedonian – Albanian border.

The wonderful nature is one of the characteristics of Jablanica mountain and the village bearing the same name. As your sight reaches the vastness of the area, the landscape changes like in a movie tape, or as a well known poem of a Macedonian poet reads: “There, where Strizhak proudly rises to the lead colored sky, rare voices cut the silence….. There, where church bells announce the coming of another Ilinden holiday and the night smells of freshly cut fern, there is Jablanica…. Behold, behold that vastness… “

The hundred year old oak and beech forests form a ring around the village, while green is the dominant color of the year. The relief is cut by numerous brooks and small rivers. The uppermost karst parts are influenced by the maritime climate. Rich in animal and plant species and known for the medicinal herbs, Jablanica mountain is one of the most beautiful parts of Macedonia.

The houses of the Jablanica village are unique for their architecture, rational usage of space and adaptation to the natural conditions. They represent a unique synthesis of construction skills – masterpieces of Jablanica stonecutters. The old churches of St. Elias, St. Mary, Holy Friday and many other bear witness of the centuries long traditions and skills of the local builders.

Shar Planina belongs to the group of young mountain ranges in Macedonia and characterizes with a typical mountain climate of -1,5 °C (average temperature in winter) and 17 °C (average temperature in summer). It is situated in the northwest part of the Republic of Macedonia, and it extends to North-east, West and South-west in 80 km length with an area of 1600 km2. It originates from the Lepenec river (the peak of Ljuboten, 2499 meters above sea-level) and ends at the Vrutok village where the springs of the Vardar river are (the peak of Morava, 2147 meters above sea-level). The average height of this mountain range is 2200 meters above sea level, taking into consideration that there are more than 20 peaks that are higher than 2000 meters above sea level. Sar Mountain disposes of more than 200 endemic species of plants, over 44 species of animals, such as the lynx and the wild goat, eagles, hawks, and the well-known shepherd’s dog called Sar Planinec (Shar Planina dog). Besides the opulent flora and fauna, there are also 25 perennial mountain lakes, over 200 sources of drinking water and 25 rivers.

• Shoes: Hiking footwear (adequate ankle support);
• Socks: Dri-FIT or woolen socks + an extra pair in your backpack;
• Trousers: long/shorts (recommendation: Dri-FIT trousers, waterproof trousers);
• T-Shirts/Blouses: Dri-FIT or woolen T-Shirt or blouse + extra two in your backpack;
• Insulation: Sweater or micro fleece vest;
• Jacket: Waterproof, windproof and breathable hooded jacket (for ex. Gore-tex fabric);
• Backpack: Comfortable and ergonomic backpack (30-45L);
• Gloves: We recommend wearing first layer gloves for insulation;
• Other: Sunglasses, sun hat, sun cream, lip balm, headlamp, first-aid kit, personal medications, bottle of water (1.5 L – 2L) , energy boosting food (rich in carbohydrates and sugar) such as nuts and fruits, passport, money (cash), trip voucher;
• Optional: Trekking pole, binoculars, camera, GPS, compass, travel insurance;