Macedonia holiday, self guided walking

Arrive in Skopje. You will meet our guide and transfer by car from the airport to your first hotel. Drive around Skopje and head out along the valley to the city of Tetova. Ascend 1300m to your hotel in Popova Shapka deep in the Sar Mountain range. Transfer time 1 hour 10 minutes.

Today, you have a choice of walking: Either, take a straightforward walk interspersed with periods of challenging climbs, stunning scenery and a wilderness hard to beat. Ascend Titov Vrv, the highest peak completely within the borders of Macedonia at 2748m. Ascent 1247m. Descent 1243m. 14 miles – 8 hours. (This is an out-and-back walk, so it can be shortened to suit your ability.) Or, take a less challenging, but longer, walk to the enchanting wooded valley of Leshnica along an easy track. See the glorious mountains and forests of the Sar Mountain massif. Walk through forests of pine trees and picnic at Leshnica before commencing your return walk. Ascent 685m. Descent 685m. 18 miles – 7 hours. (This is an out-and-back walk, so it can be shortened to suit your ability.)

An easy, short, circular walk above Papova Shapka. Ascent 218m. Descent 243m. 3½ miles – 2 hours. Transfer by car to your next hotel in Mavrovo. On arrival, you will have time to explore this beautiful lakeside village with its sunken church just visible.

Walk an exciting mountain trek from the lakeside town of Mavrovo to the picturesque hillside village of Galicnic. Initially ascending steeply, the route takes you across a mountain wilderness along a drovers’ road before finally dropping down into Galicnic. Ascent 575m. Descent 337m. 9½ miles – 6 hours.

After an initial ascent on departure from Galicnic, descend slowly to the mountain village of Lazeropole. Walk through wild remote countryside regularly walked by Macedonians. Ascent 722m. Descent 1004m. 10½ miles – 6 hours.

Transfer by car to your hotel near Ohrid. You have a choice today. Ask to be dropped in the small city of Ohrid set on the beautiful Lake Ohrid. Explore this remarkable historic city with its extensive Roman remains, including an impressive amphitheatre in the centre of the town. Ohrid has an ancient centre with many historic buildings with both Turkish and Slavic influences. The city has been listed as a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage site. Take a 10 minute taxi ride to your hotel. Alternatively, you can walk instead. You will be taken by car up high into the nearby Galicica Mountains. Take a walk across rugged mountain terrain affording you panoramic views of both Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, and also nearby Albania. Car transfer to your Ohrid hotel. Ascent 639m. Descent 642m. 6½ miles – 4 hours.

Today with the guide you will make a circular walk direct from your hotel taking in the Cave Church and Monastery of St Stefan, and then on to the picturesque village of Konjsko, where you have a close-up view of Macedonian rural life. You can shorten by 5 miles by not undertaking an out and back section to a view point. Return via more remote villages plus a detour to take in panoramic views over Lake Ohrid. Ascent 782m. Descent 745m. 14 miles – 8 hours.

If you have a late flight, you may wish to take the 10 minute taxi ride into Ohrid to explore the city. You will be collected from there for the return trip to Skopje airport (2½ hours).