Lakes of Macedonia

Tour programme

1. From Skopje to Prespa lake rural life

   Pick up from any hotel or address within Skopje and drive towards Prespa lake. Stop and visit to Bitola.
   Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of Macedonia. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba, Nidže and Kajmakčalan mountain ranges. The city stands at an important junction connecting the south of the Adriatic Sea region with the Aegean Sea and Central Europe, and is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational center. It has been known since the Ottoman period as "The City of The Consuls", since many European countries had consulates in Bitola. The main pedestrian street called "Shirok sokak" its two squares, the Clock tower and Bitola old bazaar are must see locations.

   Prespa lake is located on the south part of the country and it is one of not many lakes in the world which are divided between 3 countries. The largest part of the lake belongs to Macedonia and other two smaller parts belongs to Greece and Albania. The lake is located in a valley between two Macedonian national parks - Galichica and Pelister. It is the highest tectonic lake in the Balkans, standing at an elevation of 853 meters.

   Prespa lake villages are founded on the slopes of Pelister National park and near Prespa lake coast line.
   Village Podmochani is located on the west part of Prespa lake, just 8 km from the nearest town Resen. In the village is founded an interesting museum – the richest private collection of folk costumes and items in Macedonia. Here you can see some of the oldest traditional folk costumes collected personally by the owner from all over Macedonia.
   Kurbinovo is a village in the Resen Municipality, northeast of Lake Prespa. The village is located nearly 13 kilometers south of the municipal center of Resen. The village is best known for being home to the 12th century church. It is dedicated to St. George and it is located 2 km away from the village of Kurbinovo. Excavations have shown that the building has once belonged to a settlement, which was abandoned at the end of the 18th century for the present-day village of Kurbinovo. According to the research made on the church's frescoes, it is supposed that the church was built in the year 1191 by the Byzantines. The church is a "monument of culture" in the Republic of Macedonia and protected by law.

   Afternoon drive across Galicica National park, spread between Prespa and Ohrid lakes and It stretches over an area of 227 square kilometers.
   Spectacular drive on the narrow road gives you panoramic views of both lakes. The floral life in the Galičica National Park represents over 1600 species, of which many relicts and endems have the final frontier of its range exactly on the mountain Galičica. There is characteristically presence of up to now 13 discovered local endems on Macedonian side to be found exclusively on the slopes of Galičica and nowhere else.

   The Monastery of St. Naum is a magnificently massive complex, located 29 kilometers south of Ohrid, on a plateau close to the Albanian border. It is, without any doubt, one of the most attractive Macedonian tourist destinations. With a wonderful surrounding area, the St. Naum Monastery is a popular day trip where you can enjoy both nature and religious heritage. Monastery which is founded by St. Naum at 9th Century is visited by pilgrims and travelers alike, this eastern orthodox monastery is one of the few with locational and architectural splendor. Overlooking Ohrid lake, the walls provide breathtaking panoramic views of the entire bay area. Near the monastery, you can enjoy a boat ride above the springs of the river Black Drim which flows into Ohrid lake (with supplement, to be paid on the spot)

   Overnight in Ohrid, 4* centrally located hotel

2. Ohrid and Ohrid lake - UNESCO sites

   Ohrid city tour with local guide.
   Because of its religious importance Ohrid is also known as "Jerusalem on the Balkans". Its old town and plenty of churches and other sites are just part of the private walking tour. Ohrid is known for once having 365 churches, one for each day of the year. The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. In 1979 and in 1980 respectively, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are Cultural as well as Natural sites.

   Lake Ohrid is a lake which straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern part of Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is the Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, with a unique aquatic ecosystem of worldwide importance, with more than 200 endemic species. Macedonia's side of Lake Ohrid was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, with the site being extended to also include the cultural and historic area of Ohrid in 1980. In 2010, NASA named one of Titan's lakes after it. In 2014, the Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Reserve between Albania and Macedonia was added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Albania’s side of Lake Ohrid was also designated UNESCO world heritage status in 2019. North Macedonia's portion was designated as a protected Ramsar site in 2021, passing all nine criteria for proclamation. In Albania, the coastal portion of the lake holds Managed Nature Reserve status. In Macedonia, a portion of the lakeside is part of the Galičica National Park.

   Remains of the Ancient theatre could be found in the heart of Ohrid old town. The Ancient theatre of Ohrid was built in 200 BC and is the only Hellenistic-type theatre in the country, as the other three in Scupi, Stobi and Heraklea Lynkestis are from Roman times. It is unclear how many people the original theater used to seat, as only the lower section still exists. The open theater has a perfect location: the two hills that surround it keep it protected from winds that could interfere with acoustics during performances.

   Ohrid fortress is known as "Samuilova tvrdina" or The fortress of Tsar Samuil. it is on the highest part of the hill where Ohrid is situated. According to recent excavations by Macedonian archaeologists, it was contended that this fortress was built on the place of an earlier fortification, dated to the 4th century BC, which was probably built by King Philip II of Macedonia.

   Situated on a small cliff right above the lake, this unique church is landmark of Ohrid. Saint John the Theologian, Kaneo or simply Saint John at Kaneo is a Macedonian Orthodox church overlooking Lake Ohrid. The church is dedicated to John of Patmos, the writer of Revelation, who has been by some considered to be the same person as John the Apostle. The construction date of the church remains unknown but documents detailing the church property suggest that it was built before the year 1447. Archaeologists believe that the church was constructed some time before the rise of the Ottoman Empire very likely in the 13th century.

   Time at leisure in the old town and drive back to Skopje in the afternoon.

   End of the program

What is included

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