Geo trip! Endless experience of nature and wild landscapes. Macedonia is a small and mountainous country with some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the Balkans. In Macedonia there are more than 50 lakes and 16 peaks that carry an altitude of over 2000 m. The country welcomes guests, warm people, a variety of cultures, wonderful cuisine and fine wine. Comfortable and dry weather, a perfect place to walk in spring, summer and autumn. Our trekking route will take us the length of Macedonia, with several jumps, which include walking in the 3 largest parks in Macedonia, accommodation on Lake Ohrid and in the mountains, excellent hotels and excellent local food.
Day 1: Tel Aviv — Skopje — Matka Mall — Mavrovo Reserve
Arrival in Skopje by morning flight. After landing meeting with the crew and bouncing, a distance of about half an hour from the city center, to the Matka Canyon, one of the famous natural sites, near the capital. We will walk through the Matka Canyon, a river trapped between huge cliffs, two to three hours of calm and beautiful walking. The route is about 5 km long and involves a climb of about 300 meters, and a similar descent. At the end of the trip, we will have lunch in a nearby village. Later we will go to the Mabrobo Reserve. Dinner and accommodation in a beautiful hotel at the foot of a ski resort that operates there in winter.
Day 2: Mavrovo National Park — Mount Madanica
A. Morning in a hotel and embarking on a trek in the Mabrobo Reserve. The territory of the reserve encompasses most of the beautiful areas of West Macedonia and with an area of more than 730 square meters, it is the largest national park in Macedonia. The half-hour bounce will bring us to 1650 meters, where our day will begin. Climb through the wooded area to open grasslands beyond the forest line. At today's peak we will qualify for the highest point in the reserve, Mount Madanica, at an altitude of 2163 meters above sea level. We will cross the ridge to the sheep farm, for a cheese tasting and a coffee break and an encounter with the contemporary lifestyle of sheep farmers in the mountains of Macedonia. Lunch break at the farm and continue walking that will end at an altitude of 1450 m. In total, we will walk 10 km, climb 530 m and descend 720 m. Dinner with traditional food at a local restaurant in the village. At the end of the day, transfer to the village of Bitola, where we will sleep.
Day 3: Pallister National Park — Mount Pallister
Breakfast. The half-hour bounce to the starting point in Pallister National Park. Climb through dense forest, and then through a challenging paved path through which we will climb 2601 meters, the highest peak in Pallister National Park, one of the 3 largest parks in Macedonia. Today we will walk 17 km, climb 1180 m and descend 1270 m. At the end of the day we will go for dinner and accommodation at the hotel in Bitola.
DAY 4: EASY HIKE, ECO TOUR AND HONEY TASTING
After A. This morning we pop into a nearby village, above Lake Ohrid. We will take an interesting tour of the honey production process on site and taste different types of honey. Next, we will take a route of about 8 km walking. We will have lunch in a beautiful village, in an excellent fish restaurant. Depending on the weather, it will be possible to swim in Lake Ohrid next to the restaurant. In the afternoon we will go to the town of Ohrid, have dinner in a restaurant near the beautiful lake. Accommodation in Ohrid.
Day 5: Galicia Park, Jabalinka Mountain
BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL AND A BOUNCE TO THE STARTING POINT OF THE DAY, MOUNT JABLINKA, IN THE VILLAGE OF GORNA BELICA LOCATED AT 1400 M ABOVE SEA LEVEL. We will take a walk through the wooded part, the sheep farm to create cheeses, through a pair of small lakes and up to the summit at 2257 m. We will have a picnic lunch on the way and surf to the village of Vučani. We will end the day with a traditional dinner. In total, we will walk 13 km, climb 850 m and descend 1340 m. At the end, we will jump into Lake Ohrid.
Day 6: Magaro Peak, 2255 m
After breakfast, we will travel to the starting point of the day, at 1600 meters. TODAY OUR TREK WILL PASS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LAKE OHRID, IN GALICICA, QUALIFYING FOR THE HIGH POINT IN THE NATIONAL PARK, A PLACE THAT IS AN OPEN BOTANICAL GARDEN. From here it is possible to view the two lakes, Ohrid and Persefa. Lunch is eaten at a picnic. If the weather permits, we will walk about 12 kilometers, in which we will cross the border into Albania in one step. In total we climbed 800 meters and descended a similar height. Traveling to Skopje.
Day 7: Skopje — Vadno Mountain
After breakfast, in the first part of the day we will make a trip to the top of Mount Woodno. Lunch was eaten at a picnic on the way. At the end, we will go down the cable car and hop into the ancient center of Skopje for a tour of the city. Dinner at a Turkish restaurant in the city. Accommodation in Skopje.
Day 8: Skopje — Tel Aviv
Early bounce to the airport, morning flight to the country.
