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A great Cycle and Hotel Holiday can be made in North Macedonia! This perfect destination offers wonderful lakes, forests and mountains. The pleasant climate, friendly people and a surprisingly tasty cuisine will certainly make you feel at home.
Enjoy many highlights such as the famous Lake Ohrid (perfect for a boat trip!), the stunning Mavrovo national reserve and the great monastery of Jovan Bigorski dedicated to St. John the Baptist. There are lovely villages like Vevchani and the fortified town of Ohrid that houses 365 churches, one for each day of the year! Skopje, the lively capital of Norh Macedonia, is very worthwhile and offers a big bazar, one of the oldest and largest marketplaces in the Balkans and also lots of lovely monasteries in and around the town centre.
Cycling on a mountainbike you find your way with map, route description or GPS. You’ll stay in small 3*** hotels on the base of bed and breakfast.
Day to Day Program Skopje to Ohrid
Day 1. Arrival at airport Ohrid/Skopje
A short transfer (30 min.) from airport Skopje will bring you to your hotel in the center of town. Skopje is the capital of Macedonia, the city was completely rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1963. In town you will find many museums, like the Mother Teresa Museum, and one of the biggest bazaars in the Balkans.
In case you arrive at the airport of Ohrid a short transfer (15 min.) will bring you to your hotel at Lake Ohrid.
You will receive your rental bike the next day.
Overnight in Skopje and Ohrid.
Day 2. Roundtrip Lake Mavrovo (cycling: ± 32 km, 250 am)
After breakfast transfer to Lake Mavrovo (both from Skopje and Ohrid appr. 1.5 hrs drive)
On the program is a bike ride around Lake Mavrovo, an easy ride on good running asphalt across a beautiful scenery. The lake is part of the National Park Mavrovo, an area with impressive mountain ranges. Along the way you will see the ‘drowned’ St Nicolas church (built in 1850) staking out of the water of the lake. Overnight in Mavrovo in a hotel.
Day 3. Mavrovo-Debar (cycling: ± 53 km, level)
Today it’s time for one of the longest stages, a beautiful ride through the Mavrovo National Park, the largest national park in Macedonia. The route leads only along paved roads and follows the course of the river Radika. From an altitude of 1300 meters you descent to 800 meters, ending your day in the town of Debar, located on a lake.
On the way you may visit one of the most beautiful monestaries of the Balkan, Jovan Bigorski, a place where 20 monks live and work. A short walk brings you to the waterfall of Rostusha. In the past Debar was famous for it’s guild of woodcutters, you can see some examples in Jovan Bogorski.
In the small restaurants along the lake in Debar you can try the local Skropska salat or a Balkan meat specialty.
Overnight in Debar.
Day 4. Debar-Vevčani (cycling: ± 48 km, 450 am or ± 55 km, 700 am)
You pass several lakes and the river Drim. The short route just follows well paved roads. The heavier variant makes a loop over dirt roads through mountainous terrain. Vevchani is a kind of city-state with its own currency and passport. The town is known for its beautiful sources and the exuberant celebration of carnival in Venetian style in January. The village and it’s cheerful inhabitants have an Italian appearance. A great place to visit one of the terraces at night. At the sources you find a restaurant where you can fill up your water glass at the well.
Overnight in Vevchani.
Day 5. Round trip Vevčani (cycling: ± 49 km)
Today’s cycling ride goes through a lower valley with its many villages and farm country roads.
The route is almost flat and follows asphalt roads. The only climb you will encounter is to your hotel in Vevčani! As a reward you may take a cool drink on the terrace!
A walk to the water sources of Vevčani is recommended.
Overnight in Vevčani.
Day 6. Vevčani-Ohrid (cycling: ± 36 km or ± 55 km, 150 hm)
Easy descending ride along good running asphalt. Through small villages and farmland to the town of Struga, located directly on Lake Ohrid. Moreover, the river Black Drim runs through town and on either side of the river you will find many sidewalk cafés. After Struga you follow the shore of Lake Ohrid. Many buildings in Ohrid are built in a Byzantine style. The city houses many churches and is even known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans.
Ohrid is a cultural and spiritual center with many monuments and churches with beautiful frescoes. Lake Ohrid is since 1980 under the protection of UNESCO and is partly located in Albania. This unique lake lies at an altitude of approximately 800 meters, squeezed between the mountain massifs of Petrino and Galicica.
Overnight in Ohrid in a hotel on the lake with a sandy private beach.
Day 7. Day off. Round trip Ohrid (cycling: ± 30 km, level)
Today the final cycle tour is on the program! You will cross hinterland of Ohrid, a mostly agricultural area with fruit trees and small scale wine yards. In the afternoon a boat trip on the “oldest lake of the world” belongs to the possibilities. During the trip you can visit the monestary of St Naum or the “Bay of Bones”.
Overnight in Ohrid.
Day 8. Departure to Ohrid Airport or Skopje Airport
Dates/Prices 2024
Prices per person
| Room | May – June 14 | June 15 – September 15 |
| Double/twin room |
€ 539,00 |
€ 599,00 |
| Single room |
€ 724,00 |
€ 784,00 |
Dates
Every day between May and September 16
Included:
Excluded:
