This small Balkan country is full of splendid highlights and discovering this cultural land by bike is an invigorating and enriching experience. Macedonia is simultaneously ancient and modern – stately Orthodox monks in their black robes amble alongside the fashionable elite in the stylish bars of Skopje.
DestinationsMacedonia
Tour MeetsSkopje
Fly in toSkopje Alexander the Great Airport (SKP)
Group Size2-12 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
This is a challenging mountain biking tour and is for those who want to test their climbing stamina. We ride a total of 285 km and ascend 5700 m in just 6 cycling days! We ride primarily on dirt and gravel roads, as well as some single-track trails and a few sections of paved roads.
Though the daily distances aren't long, the terrain and altitude will provide the challenge. We will be riding at 2,000 m on two days, making sure your lungs get a full work out.
On this trip, we will be soaking up the natural highlights of Macedonia's mountains and lakes, which means we'll be riding in remote areas where vehicles can't always follow.
Suitability: This trip is for those who are fit and have the stamina and endurance for sustained climbing. On some days, we'll have the option to shorten the riding distance and ascent if the terrain proves to be too much. The guide will offer this option during the tour.
Biking Conditions: This tour follows a mixture of dirt roads, single-track trails, and gravel paths, as well as sections of tarmac. Off-road riding experience is required, though there will be no tricky technical sections. As in any mountainous region, the weather can also be unpredictable, so please be prepared for quickly changing conditions. A support vehicle will not be following us on all our rides. Some days we will meet up at points during the day, other days we will only see the support vehicle at the beginning and end of the day.
After arrival at the Skopje airport, we transfer an hour to Popova Shapka, a ski resort in the Shar Mountains. We'll have a bike fitting in the afternoon, followed by a welcome dinner at a local traditional Macedonian restaurant.
Snow Patrol Lodge
DinnerToday's ride takes us into the mountains of Shar Planina, where we follow dirt roads close to the border with Kosovo. We cycle into wild Leshnica Valley and discover a hidden paradise with astonishing views of one of Europe’s secret mountain regions. Over 44 species of game are present on this mountain including lynx, bears, and wild boar. Eagles, falcons, and hawks are also common and riding on dirt trails at high altitude will bring us close to nature. On our way back to the road, we ride by way of Ceripashina and the ski centre, then continue to the city of Tetovo. We take a short break for Turkish coffee and fresh squeezed juice and visit the Painted Mosque, unique in the area for its beautiful façade, before driving to our hotel in Mavrovo.
Villa Lazareski LeunovoBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 34km
+1000mAfter yesterday’s ride, we're warmed up for a new challenge as we cycle through the stunning Mavrovo National Park, home to Macedonia's highest peak, Mt. Korab (2,764 m). An ever-changing combination of asphalt, compact gravel, and dirt roads leads us through this fairy tale scenery of grassy meadows, birch and pine forests, snow-capped peaks, and the gorgeous Radika River. After a traditional lunch, we return to our hotel to relax.
Villa Lazareski LeunovoBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 50km+950mBiking into the Bistra Mountains takes us alongside the emerald green Mavrovo Lake, with visits to the villages of Nikiforovo and Leunovo. We continue off-road riding through green pastures dotted with ancient sheepfolds. We stop in one of those sheepfolds to try fresh cheese and pavlaka. We take a break at Galicnik to admire the well-preserved traditional architecture, including an amphitheatre. A long downhill through a forest leads to the village of Tresonche, where the way of life has changed remarkably little since the 19th century. We continue along the Tresoncehka River to Debar Lake, where we are picked up and transferred to our hotel in Ohrid.
Villa MesokastroBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 70km+1000mWe take a well-earned day in the picturesque and relaxing setting of Ohrid. Notable for once having 365 churches, one for each day of the year, Ohrid is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed for both its cultural and natural attractions. In the morning, we tour the highlights of St. Sofia Church, Plaoshnik Complex, the Amphitheatre, and Tsar Samuel's Fortress. The afternoon is free to stroll through the alleys, swim in the lake, or just sit in a cafe and soak up the pure, unique delights of this rich, ancient town.
Villa MesokastroBreakfast, DinnerRefreshed from a day’s rest, we return with our bikes to the mountains. Tackling the grand Galicica Mountain, we cycle through beautiful pastures and the bright floral life native to these slopes, as we ride under the shadow of Magaro Peak (2255 m). We stop for photos as we will have stunning views of Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. Then, as we begin our descent, we will enjoy a mix of off-road and backroad biking with some sweet single tracks. From Peshtani, we drive to the picturesque fishing village of Trpejca for lunch and try the famous Ohrid trout. In the afternoon, transfer back to Skopje.
Hotel TeatarBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 50km+1100mA short transfer brings us to a cable car that will whisk us up to the top where we'll be at the base of the Millennium Cross, a 66-m high monument to 2,000 years of Christianity. We then hit single-track trails and a short ride on a quiet road to Matka Canyon, a popular outdoor destination for hikers and kayakers. The canyon is also home to several historic churches and monasteries. We stop for a visit to the 14th century monastery of St Andreja built by the son of the famous medieval King Volkashin. After lunch, we transfer back to Skopje and meet in the evening for a farewell dinner in Debar Maalo- the city's bohemian quarter.
Residence InnBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 40km+800mOur tour ends after breakfast. If time allows, you can explore the centre of Skopje before your onward journey.
BreakfastDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section.
If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension in good mechanical order.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
No vaccinations are needed.
Macedonia generally has sunny and warm weather during the spring and autumn, dry hot summers and cold and rainy winters. May-October is an excellent time to visit, as it's the warmest and driest part of the year. July and August have the most sun and are the best months to visit the lakes. Average temperature in the summer is 73 F/23 C, but a sweater may be needed in the evenings and at higher altitudes. Please also be aware that weather in the mountains is unpredictable and can change quickly.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Macedonian cuisine is noted for the freshness of salads and for its use of red capsicum and beans. Macedonian pastries are well-known and are extremely popular and eaten on a daily basis. We shall make sure you sample as much local cuisine as you wish. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. But you may also want to bring electrolyte in powder or tablet form. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Alcoholic drinks are available everywhere, but are NOT included in the price.
As Macedonia is an emerging tourist destination with limited hotel capacity there is a chance we may have to substitute listed hotels with ones of equal or higher rating. We will inform you of any changes in advance.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra euros/dollars for possible incidentals that might arise. It is always wise to have some paper currency in case of ATM absence or credit card problems. This will save you a lot of unnecessary worries. It is also customary to tip local tour guides and drivers; however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive. As a general guide we suggest that Euro 4-5 per person per day is appropriate.
Macedonia's currency is the denar (MKD) and is not convertible outside the country. Restaurants, hotels and some shops will accept payment in Euro (usually) and US dollars (sometimes). Small private exchange offices throughout central Skopje and Ohrid exchange cash as do the banks. ATMs can be found in all of the major towns and tourist centres but not in out-of-the-way places. Travellers cheques are a real hassle to change and we advise against relying on them, except as a form of emergency back-up money. Credit cards are widely accepted, but don’t take it for granted, even at a hotel or restaurant.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary
youtube.com/user/spiceroads
instagram.com/spiceroads