Day 1 Arrival Skopje

You will arrive at Skopje airport, pick up your rental car and drive towards the city in about 25 minutes. Skopje is an unusual city and is also known as the “city of statues. As you walk along the banks of the Vardar River and see the grand neoclassical-style buildings, you might think that this city is similar to Paris or Budapest or other major European cities located on a major river. A huge earthquake destroyed most of the city's historical monuments in 1963 (in fact, about 80 percent of the city was destroyed). Some 40 years later, the government launched a controversial project to “repopulate” the city with large old-fashioned government buildings and statues in an effort to encourage more tourists to visit Skopje and as a way to create a sense of patriotism among locals. It is impossible to miss Mount Vodno. Just 15 minutes outside the city, it dominates Skopje's skyline and begs to be climbed. Active travelers can follow well-marked trails across the slopes of Mount Vodno. The three-hour hike passes houses and monasteries to the top of the mountain. Alternatively, you can take a scenic cable car to the top, for Insta-worthy photos of the Millennium Cross (at 66 meters high, it is one of the largest Christian crosses in the world) and a panoramic view of Skopje.

Day 2 Skopje - Thessaloniki

About a 3-hour drive takes you to Thessaloniki where you have the rest of the day to see the city. Greece's second city is dotted with historical sites, but is also a city that has remained young at heart at the same time. High up on the citadel, you will have a view of the city to savour. Among the modern blocks are some impressive Roman and Byzantine remains, including the Roman Agora, the Arch of Galerius, the Rotonda, the Byzantine baths and the crypt of Agios Demetrios. To learn more about the history of the area, the Archaeological Museum is a must-see. The distinctive monument of Thessaloniki is the six-story cylindrical white tower that is often depicted on postcards and souvenirs. The harbor promenade breathes life and is great for walking or biking. Stop for a frappé at the street cafe, a cocktail on the waterfront, local fish specialties....and at night the city echoes with music and nightlife.

Day 3 Thessaloniki - Veria

You will drive 75 km west to the ancient city of Veria. It is a small town founded in the 5th century BC. The old Jewish quarter, Barbouta, is atmospheric, and the small lush Tripitamos River flowing through it is a picture. You will spend the night here in a beautiful 19th century mansion.

Day 4 Veria - Metsovo 

Today you will travel into the mountains to Metsovo. A village with ancient traditions, architecture, many museums and art galleries, as well as surrounded by vineyards and green hills. Metsovo is located at 1160 meters in the Pindos Mountains. You can explore the village as well as visit the nearby mountain lake Aoos, about a 40-minute drive from Metsovo. You can also rent bicycles and cycle to this lake. In addition, the village houses a unique cuisine, which you can discover in one of the many tavernas. Be sure to try not only the local cakes and tasty sausages, but also the local dishes prepared with the smoked metsovone cheese. Finally, the region is also home to the Katogi Averoff Winery - a place where you can taste Katogi wine, an aromatic red wine known throughout the country.

Day 5 Metsovo

Not many people know that Greece is more than 80% mountainous, and one of these stunningly beautiful mountain spots is Metsovo. It is no coincidence that it is called “the Switzerland of Greece”! The area around Metsovo offers several opportunities for fantastic hikes. Famous is the 40-kilometer Ursa Trail, well-marked, which you can walk sections of. A nice route starts from the village of Milia and ends in Flega. You start in Milia at 1200 meters altitude and follow the northwestern course until you reach the narrow passage between the peaks Kakoplevri and Tria Sinora at 2200 meters altitude. Then follow the western course and go up to Mavrovouni and finally reach the summit Flega at 2300 meters altitude. The length of the route is 14 km and those who do it in a good mood will reach their destination in 4 hours.

Day 6 Metsovo - Meteora

Today you will travel to one of the most beautiful sights in all of Greece; the spectacularly located monasteries of Meteora. In a rugged landscape full of rock formations, you will find several Greek Orthodox monasteries, all located on the tops of barely-accessible rocks. Inside the monasteries you will find serene tranquility and ancient frescoes. The monasteries are all located around the towns of Kalampaki and Kastraki. Here there is a large cliff with all the protruding rocks on which the monasteries were built over hundreds of years. Currently, you can visit 7 monasteries (note that not every monastery is open every day).

Day 7 Meteora - Kastoria

You will drive 2 hours north until you arrive at Prespa Lakes. These are of breathtaking beauty and rich in wildlife such as brown bears, wolves and wild boars. Megali Prespa and Mikri Prespa (Great Prespa and Little Prespa) are the highest tectonic lakes in the Balkans and, at one million years, are among the oldest in Europe. The Prespa region is characterized by many sunny days so the clear water will invite you to take a dip. You will then drive along a mountainous road to Kastoria, another alluring Greek town, located on a narrow peninsula and beautifully situated on Lake Orestiada. From a distance it looks like an impressionist painting; Beautiful mansions, Byzantine churches, the reflections of the trees glistening in the lake. Outside the town, the ancient Mavriotissa Monastery and the Dragon's Cave are waiting to be discovered.

Day 8 Kastoria

Kastoria gives the feeling of an island without the hassles and crowds of tourists. It is full of life, birds, greenery and relaxation. The town has no less than 80 historic churches and temples that were built between the 9th and 14th centuries, meaning some of them are more than 1,000 years old. As you wander through these temples, you will come across some fascinating religious drawings on their walls. Wander through the old town districts of Doltso and Apozari to admire beautiful mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries. Visit the museums - including the Byzantine Museum, the Museum of Folk Art and the Museum of Traditional Costumes - to get a good idea of what life was like in the past. Very close to the center, along the lake and just before the Mavriotissa Monastery is the Cave of the Dragon, a small but intriguing place. The entrance to the cave was discovered in 1954 and opened to the public in 2009. The cave has 7 underground lakes and 10 chambers, of which only 300 meters are accessible. According to tradition, many, many years ago the cave was a gold mine guarded by a dragon . The monster released flames and poisonous fumes from its mouth to anyone who dared to stand in front....

Day 9 Kastoria - Ohrid

It is a short drive to the border of northern Macedonia and the beautiful Lake Ohrid is your final destination. The city of Ohrid sits high on the shore of Lake Ohrid and it is one of the oldest European settlements. The historic city center is characterized by colorful architecture, centuries-old houses and monuments and numerous churches and monasteries, and it is not surprising that the city has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lake Ohrid to the southwest of the city is surrounded by green mountains and impressive cliffs. This sublime combination of historical heritage and fantastic natural scenery makes a visit to this region the highlight of a tour of northern Macedonia, according to many.

Day 10 Ohrid

Today you have the whole day to explore Ohrid and its surroundings. You can visit the Monastery of Saint Naum, set amid lush greenery and built in the 10th century A.D. It is an oasis of tranquility on the border between Albania and Macedonia. Also be sure to make a photo stop at the Bay of Bones Museum, a reconstruction of a prehistoric pole village that must have once been located here. Also worth visiting is the small village of Trpejca, an authentic fishing village by the water. Here you can take a refreshing dip in the lake and also have a delicious lunch. Optional: activists and water rats can take part in all kinds of exciting activities here, such as scuba diving, paragliding and kayaking. Check out our excursions for more information!

Day 11 Ohrid - Janche

On the edge of the Mavrovo National Park lies the village of Janche. Janche is one of the more picturesque and culturally significant villages in the Bistra Massif. In recent years, Janche is undergoing a tremendous revival in tourism as a result of the efforts of hard-working locals, including the restoration of old houses, sustainable micro-agriculture and the preservation of local culinary traditions. The gorges, pine forests, karst fields and waterfalls of Mavrovo National Park provide fresh, rarefied air for visitors traveling between Ohrid and Skopje. Magnificent vistas abound, and the park is home to Macedonia's highest peak, Mt Korab (2764 m). In summer, the area of the national park offers many opportunities for various adventures such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding. One of Macedonia's most important Orthodox monasteries, the Monastery of St. Jovan Bigorski, is located in Mavrovo National Park.

Day 12 Janche - Skopje via Tetovo and Matka
On the way to Skopje you can make a short stop in Tetovo. Here you should definitely not miss the 15th century mosque of Sarena Dzamija. The mosque is beautifully painted both inside and outside and it is one of the most beautiful mosques in Macedonia. Because the mosque was designed by two sisters it has a striking design with many floral patterns on the inside and outside of the walls. Skopje, which was hit by earthquakes, is the largest city in the country and borders Kosovo and the Vardar River. It consists of an old and a new part of the city and in between there is an old bridge that connects both parts: the Stone Bridge called Kameni Most. In the old, Islamic part you will find a cozy, old Ottoman bazaar called Baršija that is definitely worth a visit. In the new part of the city you will find the famous fortress Tvrdina Kale. Just a short drive from Skopje is the Matka Canyon, one of the most beautiful gorges in the area. The clear, blue-green water flows through the river and the impressive, high cliffs are alternately bare and densely overgrown. You can explore the canyon on foot or by boat. There is a hiking trail along the cliffs and from the trail you have a great view of the canyon and the crystal clear water. In our opinion, the best way to experience the canyon is by boat. A boat trip through the Matka Canyon also takes you to the Vrelo caves, which are considered the deepest caves in the world. Enthusiasts can also rent a canoe to paddle through the canyon. You can also swim at the beginning of the canyon.