Macedonia & Bulgaria tour

In the morning we start a walking tour from the Old Turkish Bazaar, meeting different cultures and religions, old forgotten crafts. Next, we walk to the modern center of Skopje, across the Stone Bridge, the landmark of the city and visit the Archaeological Museum of Macedonia. In the very center, we admire the monument and fountain of Alexander the Great. The next stop will be the memorial house of Mother Teresa. She was born in Skopje in 1910. We continue our tour (transfer 13 km) to the cable car that will take us to the Millennium cross. Constructed to serve as a memorial for 2000 years of Christianity in Macedonia, the monument has become a symbol associated with Skopje. As a landmark, the cross has turned into a tourist destination with the best observation point to see the panorama of the capital city. In the afternoon we drive (27 km) to one of the most beautiful canyons in Europe, Matka, with its river Treska. We will have lunch on your own in the restaurant on the bank of the river, possibly river trout, and by small boats, we will ride 6 km upstream to visit the cave Vrelo, full of natural cave decorations. Free time in the canyon for individual activities.  Back to Skopje (15 km)and free evening with the possibility to enjoy some of the microbreweries in the city. Overnight in Skopje.

In the morning we are driving to the neighboring town Tetovo (45 km) to visit the 15th century built mosque, painted uniquely in the 19th century. Around noon we will reach today’s destination, Ohrid (135 km). After the accommodation in a hotel, we start a walking tour through the old city of Ohrid, a town of UNESCO, with traces of thousands of years of civilization. We will visit the famous medieval churches – St. Sophia cathedral, Holly Mother of God Perivleptos and St. Clement of Ohrid at Plaosnik, the ancient Macedonian-Roman theatre, explaining the history of one of the biggest open-air museum of the Byzantium. From the medieval church of St. John the Evangelist at Kaneo, by small boats, we get back to the city center. We make a stop at a pearl shop store, where we will have an explanation of how the famous Ohrid pearl is produced here. Free time in the city center. Overnight in a hotel in Ohrid.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will explore the lake and the coastal area of Lake Ohrid and a part of the National Park Galichitsa. We will start a trip to the unique prehistoric settlement on water from the Bronze Age, called Museum on water or Bay of bones (15 km). This local site is one of the most visited in the country. We can see and even feel how tribal communities used to live in this area a few millennia ago. We continue our drive (15 km) to the extraordinary monument of nature - lake springs and the monastery of St. Naum from the 9th century. One of the oldest tablets of Cyrillic and Glagolitic alphabet is found in this monastery and it’s still standing at the pillars there. Lunch will be served in the restaurant in the springs. Free time. Drive back to the town (30 km). Dinner on your own. The nightlife might include some of the costal bars with nice ambiance. Overnight in a hotel in Ohrid.

We leave Ohrid after breakfast, heading to the National park and mountain of Galitchitsa to admire nature from a few viewpoints on the mountain. Then we drive to Bitola (100 km) to explore the Ottoman market, Yeni Mosque, the Clock Tower, the wide alley and the military academy, a place where once Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, finished his military school. Bitola has always been an administrative, cultural, commercial, and educational center in the region. As many European countries had consulates in Bitola, this town is commonly known as the City of The Consuls for centuries. We will also visit the local site of Heraclea Lyncestis, an ancient Macedonian town founded by Fillip the Second, with an important strategic position during the Hellenic period. We continue to the small town of Demir Kapija (130 km) to accommodate in Popova kula winery and hotel, situated in the plane of Tikves, the most important wine region in Macedonia. Tonight, we enjoy dinner on your own with centuries-old Macedonian varieties of wine. Overnight in the winery.

We say goodbye to Macedonia and head back to Bulgaria. Today on our list of attractions is the spectacular monastery of Rila (220 km), placed high in Rila Mountain. Rila Monastery was founded in the 11th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex that played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. Destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th century), the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity. Our today’s journey finishes in the Bulgaria capital Sofia (130 km). Check-in to our hotel. It is a city of very long history, full of orthodox churches, Ottoman mosques, Roman ruins and old communistic monuments, museums, art galleries, cafes, and restaurants. Group orientation walk by night covering the central part of the city and free evening at Vitosha street, the most famous street with cafes, bars, clubs and restaurants. Free evening.

Today we start with a walking tour of Sofia. Our guide will take us downtown and we start our tour from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which was built to commemorate the 200.000 Russian soldiers who died fighting for Bulgarian independence. We walk down to the Archaeological Museum where there are Thracian, Roman and medieval artifacts on display in a former mosque dating from 1496. There is a possibility to visit the museum on your own. Close to the museum, we will visit the ancient ruins of Serdica (the ancient name of the city), representing a small section of eight streets, an early Christian church, and a Roman bathhouse. We continue to St. Nedela Church where we can admire the colorful murals and carved wooden iconostasis, that separates the nave from the sanctuary of the church, decorated with frescoes and icons. Free afternoon. The nightlife can continue in some of the many bars and clubs in the central area. 

Breakfast, free time before the departure, and about noon transfer to the Sofia Airport for your flight home.