Travel to the Balkans

Cycle Macedonia

9 days/8 nights

2012 Tour Departure Dates:
June 9
September 1

This tour can also be arranged anytime. Contact us and let us know when you'd like to go.

Macedonia is one of Europe's last great undiscovered countries; a paradise of mountains, lakes and rivers, natural wonders, endemic flora and fauna, a chest filled with unique cultural treasures, legends and stories from thousands of years ago. In 2012, Kutrubes Travel offers for the first time a cycling tour of Macedonia. On two wheels, across meadows, along winding forest paths, quiet roads and paths, through villages and small towns, the bike riders will reach resting spots and lookouts with views of beautiful landscapes, age-old traditions, historical and cultural treasures, a pristine natural environment, and a place where hospitality always welcomes the visitors.

Day 1: Arrival
We'll arrange for your transfer from the airport (Skopje or Thessaloniki, Greece) to Krusevo. Plane to arrive at the airport before 4pm local time. We'll start out in the high mountain town of Krusevo (population: 5,000; elevation: 4,500 ft). Enjoy the views and decompress from your journey over traditional rakija (a type of homemade whiskey), salads, and local specialties. Sleep well to rest up for the cycling ahead! Overnight (double occupancy, shared bath).

Day 2: Krusevo - Babino - Slepce
We will start the morning with visit to the sites of Krusevo on our bikes. To ease you into the saddle, we'll blast downhill to the village of Demir Hisar and take a turn to the north to visit the village of Babino. There we'll enjoy the village library and a meal in a famous fish restaurant. Tour around the village a bit, then we'll continue back to Demir Hisar to end our day with a climb to the ancient monastery, St. Jovan Preteca, in Slepce. Sleep well here amid the peaceful quiet of this religious retreat. Dinner will be at the local restaurant, a short walk from the monastery. Overnight in monastery (rustic accommodations, dorm-style beds, shared bath).

Total cycling: 58.3 km / 36.2 mi
Krusevo - Babino 35.8 km / 22 mi (first half downhill, then mostly flat)
Babino - Slepce: 22.5 km / 14 mi (flat/moderate climbs, final steep push to monastery)

Day 3: Slepce - Bitola - Dihovo
We'll move on to Bitola, the famous City of Consuls, and visit the ancient archeological site Herraclea. Then we'll get back on our bikes to make the trip up to the village of Dihovo, situated at the base of Baba Mountain, the central peak in Pelister, Macedonia's first National Park. There we will enjoy lunch, giving you the afternoon free in Bitola to wander the Sirok Sakok (meaning "wide street") where coffee and people watching await you. You'll also have time to visit the Old Bazaar, styled from Ottoman times. Dinner will be at the restaurant of your choice. Overnight in village-style hostel (private rooms in a home, shared bath).

Total cycling: 41 km / 25.5 mi
Slepce - Herraclea: 30.5 km / 19 mi (flat/moderate climbs)
Herraclea - Dihovo 10.5 km / 6.5 mi (moderate, steady climb)

Day 4: Dihovo - Brajcino
Setting out from Dihovo, we'll skirt around the base of the Pelister mountains and climb to take a rest and a picnic lunch by a small church. Then we'll crest the mountain pass and coast down into the Prespa Lake valley, winding up in the peaceful village of Brajcino, where a traditional meal and a comfortable bed await you. Overnight in village-style hostel (private rooms in a home, shared bath).

Total Cycling: 53.3 km / 33.1 mi
Dihovo - Lunch: 23.3 km / 14.5 mi (moderate, steady climb)
Lunch - Brajcino: 30 km / 18.5 mi (long downhill ,flat, ends on moderate climb)

Day 5: Rest Day on Prespa Lake
Enjoy a day of rest, either relaxing in Brajcino and exploring the meandering hiking paths, or head down to Dupeni Beach and relax in the sand and water for the day. Come back and spend another restful night in Brajcino and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in village-style hostel (private rooms in a home, shared bath).

Day 6: Brajcino - Galicica - Trpejca
View Prespa Lake from the north side as we journey up the mountain pass of Galicica. We'll enjoy a picnic lunch as we make this climb. We're rewarded at the top with beautiful views of Ohrid Lake. Then coast downhill to the Ohrid lakeside village of Trpejca and enjoy a delicious meal of lake trout and other local delicacies, followed by a guided wine tasting of some of the best Macedonian wines. Take your first swim in the clear waters of Ohrid, and then you'll sleep well tonight! Overnight in village-style hostel (private rooms, shared bath).

Total Cycling: 45.8 km / 28.5 mi
Kozjak - Galicica: 30.5 km / 19 mi (switchback climb)
Galicica - Trpejca: 15.3 km / 9.5 mi (windy downhill to Trpejca)

Day 7: Trpejca - St. Naum - Ohrid
First we'll take a morning boat ride to visit the monastery of St. Naum, close to the Albanian border. Take a rowboat ride through the natural mineral springs, and photograph the peacocks that roam around the grounds. Then we'll take the van along the winding lakeside road into the ancient city of Ohrid, supposedly home to 365 churches! (If the weather and other conditions allow we will replace the van with a nice enjoyable boat ride along the lakeshore). Take a tour of the city, visit Samoil's fortress, and relax by the beach with a coffee or a Skopsko, the official beer of Macedonia. Watch the sun set over the mountains in Albania, take a stroll down Ohrid's famous pedestrian street, and dance the night away at one of Ohrid's many discos. Overnight in a villa (private rooms, private bath).

Day 8: Ohrid - Cave Churches - Ohrid Either enjoy the day at the beach or join us for one final day of cycling to visit a couple cave churches built in the 14th and 15th centuries and enjoy lunch at a restaurant along the way. We'll go back to Ohrid for a last dinner together.

Total Cycling: 36 km / 22.3 mi
Ohrid - Kalista: 18 km / 11 mi (mostly flat, paved road)
Kalista - Ohrid (18 km / 11 mi)

Day 9: Departure from Ohrid
We'll send you on your way with transportation back to your airport of arrival, or we can help you make arrangements to extend your stay in Macedonia or visit the neighboring countries. Total trip 234.4 km/ 145.6 mi

TOUR PRICE:

Land Cost Per Person
(double occupancy)

6 travelers: $1750
4 travelers: $2204
2 travelers: $2818

Price Includes:

Bike rental
Helmet
Saddle bag
Water bottle
Cycle Macedonia T-shirt
Most meals and wine tasting
Most beverages (details below)
All overnight accommodations
Round trip transfer between airport (Skopje or Thessaloniki) and start/finish points on tour
Support vehicle
Tips for local guides
Refreshments and energy bars
Entry fees for tourist sites

Price Does Not Include:

Round-trip airfare between your city of origin and arrival airport
Some meals
Some beverages
Personal snacks
Additional souvenir purchases
Transfer between airport and start/finish points on tour if you arrive and/or leave on days other than the start and finish days.

Below please find a suggested packing list. We will have a sag vehicle that will follow us from place to place, so you don't have to worry about carrying all your stuff with you. That said, we ask that all riders pack as lightly as possible, to make sure there is room in the vehicle for everyone's luggage, plus other supplies.

Suggested Packing List:

Padded biking shorts (minimum of 2 pairs)
Cycling shirts or something comfy for biking days (minimum 2)
Cycling shoes and/or comfortable athletic shoes (you'll need these for walk-around days)
Sandals (Chaco/Teva-type) for warm walk-around days
Extra socks
Fleece/sweatshirt (for cool evenings)
Inclement weather gear (rain shell/pants)
Pants or jeans (1 pair)
Shorts (suitable for hiking/walking)
Swimsuit (if you want to swim in the lakes!)
3-4 shirts/tank tops for rest days/relaxing
1 pair warm sleep pants/long underwear (for monastery nights!)
Towel (for monastery nights)
Travel alarm
Adapter for outlets (220V European standard outlets, with circular prongs)
Flashlight/headlamp
Personal first aid kit (we will provide some supplies and have a medical technician on call)
Personal snacks (we received a generous donation of Clif and Luna bars, but if you prefer a different snack, bring it with you!)
Camera
Sleeping sack (all beds have sheets, but that said they are designed a little differently here which occasionally makes for mattress exposure)

Payment and Refund Policies

If you have any questions or you'd like to book this trip, please contact us.

Custom itineraries available to this or any of the destinations we travel to.

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