MAKEDONIA
5 days, 4 nights ( 2 x Skopje, 2 x Ohrid or Sv.Štefan )
Day 1: LJUBLJANA/POSTOJNA – TREVISO – SKOPJE
Departure from Ljubljana or Postojna at 10:00 AM. Drive via the motorway from Postojna to Treviso with an intermediate stop. Flight from Treviso at 15:15. Arrival in Skopje at 16:55. Short drive from the airport to the hotel in the capital city. In the evening, optionally, we will go for a traditional Macedonian dinner at a restaurant with live music. After the dinner, overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: SKOPJE AND TO OHRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Then, a tour of Skopje. Skopje has a rich history and is a blend of Roman, Turkish, and Balkan cultures. We will visit Kale – the walls of Skopje Fortress, the old bazaar (Čaršija), Mustafa Pasha Mosque, and the Jewish Quarter. We will cross the famous Old Stone Bridge over the Vardar River. The bridge is 214 meters long, has 13 pillars, is located in the city center, and connects the new and old parts of the city. We will stop at Macedonia Square – the center of the so-called new part of Skopje. Following this, we will have a guided tour of the Church of St. Spas, known for its intricate woodcarvings. Free time for coffee, lunch, and shopping.
In the afternoon, drive via the motorway to Tetovo for a brief bus tour – passing by the Painted Mosque, where you will hear stories about the city and the Šar Mountains, a border range between Macedonia and Kosovo. We continue to the town of Gostivar and then to the Mavrovo National Park. Stop at the artificial Mavrovo Lake and then drive via Kičevo to Ohrid. Accommodation at a hotel by Lake Ohrid. Overnight stay.
Day 3: OHRID AND LAKE OHRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Following this, a tour of Ohrid, which is considered one of the most beautiful tourist cities in Macedonia. The old town is an architectural gem. We will visit the famous Church of St. Sophia, the St. Clement Square of the Krusevo Republic, Samuel’s Fortress, and more. Free time for coffee, beer, and lunch.
In the afternoon, a bus drive along the shore of Lake Ohrid to a beautiful location where the Museum on Water is situated. Macedonians have created a replica of a prehistoric lakeside settlement and arranged the interior of the huts to represent life from 1200 to 700 BC. Besides the huts on stilts, which are driven into the lake bed, you can also see how people used to cook, sleep, weave, what they wore, and how they heated their wooden houses on the water.
Following this, an interesting boat trip on Lake Ohrid to the Monastery of St. Naum. The area where the Monastery of St. Naum is located is one of the most beautiful spots on Lake Ohrid. The monastery stands on a high cliff overlooking the lake. After the visit, a walk to the springs of the River Drin, then drive back to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4: BITOLA – HERACLEA – TOBAK – TIKVEŠ WINERY – KAVADARCI – SKOPJE
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive from Ohrid via Resen to Bitola, the second-largest city in the country. Sightseeing in Bitola, which has a rich and long history and is one of the oldest cities in Europe, as evidenced by the archaeological site of Heraclea. Heraclea is an ancient city in the southern part of Bitola, at the foot of Mount Baba. The site has remains of several sacred structures decorated with floor mosaics. We will take a walk through the city, visit the famous Shirok Sokak street, and see the square and the monument dedicated to Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. Time for coffee, burek, or a delicious dessert.
Next, we drive through the Prilep Plain in Pelagonia, known for its tobacco cultivation, to Kavadarci. From Prilep, we head to the Tikveš wine region. Here, we will have a stop for an excellent late lunch and a tour of the beautiful Tikveš Winery (formerly the largest in Yugoslavia) and a tasting of delicious Macedonian wines.
We will then drive from Kavadarci via Veles, through the Vardar River valley back to Skopje, where we will spend the night again. In the evening, the final entertainment and overnight stay.
Day 5: RETURN HOME
Breakfast at the hotel. Some free time for shopping in the Macedonian capital. Transfer to the airport. Flight departure at 12:30 PM. Arrival in Venice/Treviso at 14:05. Followed by transfer to Slovenia.
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
- Round-trip airfare from Venice/Treviso
- Transfer with a tourist bus to the airport in Venice
- Accommodations on a bed and breakfast basis in a 3* hotel (double rooms)
- Bus transfers with a tourist bus in Macedonia as per the itinerary
- 1x winery visit at Tikveš Winery
- Local guide according to the itinerary
- Excellent organization and CHAR tour leader
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
- Meals not included in the itinerary (lunches, dinners)
- Entrance fees and tips
- Cancellation insurance
For more information about the program, please contact us.