A weekend for some of the best cultural and historical sites in North Macedonia. Start from Bitola, the city with more than 1600 years of urban tradition; cycle through the bird habitat by Lake Prespa and in national park Galicica; swim in the oldest and deepest lake in Europe; walk in the old town of Ohrid – a true time travel through the many layers of history of this UNESCO World Heritage city. End this long weekend in a laid-back village style: get to know the locals of Vevcani, taste their excellent home-made food and take a walk in the nature around Vevchani springs
DAY:1
As you leave urban Bitola, you enter the old local road that used to connect Bitola with Prespa Lake in the times of Yugoslavia. Today it is rarely used, as it hasn’t been maintained since the opening of the new motorway from Bitola to Prespa, and it is still covered with cobblestone in parts. One part of this road is on the ancient route of the Roman road Via Egnatia, built over old Candavian Road some 2.200 years ago.
You will know that you are close to Lake Prespa when you notice the apple orchards around you. It is the region that supplies all of the Balkans with apples.
DAY:2
A beautiful and challenging cycling route over Mount Galicica, with wonderfull views over the two biggest lakes in North Macedonia. Once you leave Prespa Lake behind, you will enter Galicica national park. Here you start a 14km long uphill (860m to 1590m) on a curvy narrow road leading to Mount Galicica pass. (if you think that this is too challenging for you, please ask our agents to arrange a transfer up to the mountain pass, so you can enjoy riding only the downhill to the lake, and by the lake coast).
Don’t rush to your destination, take some time to stop and visit Trpejca fishing village, with a lovely beach hidden between the rocks by Ohrid Lake. There are also couple of fish restaurants on the shore where you can enjoy fresh trout for lunch. Also, we recommend to make one more stop on your way to visit the archaeological site on water – the Bay of Bones.
Cycling: 5h (55 km, ascent 1.298 m, descent 1.328 m)
Optional: transfer to Galicica pass where you can continue riding down to Ohrid Lake.
DAY:3
A day to relax and explore Ohrid. Ohrid lake is considered the oldest lake in Europe, whilst the historic heart of the town is one of the oldest settlements in Europe, with archaeological sites from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Hellenistic periods. Take a stroll through the cobblestoned alleys of Ohrid old town, see Tzar Samoil’s fortress, shop for Ohrid pearls and visit the unique workshop for hand-made paper and the open food market, where locals meet each day and sell fresh fish, delicious tomatoes, red paprika, and watermelons. Take a boating tour and dine at the fisherman’s house, visit the ancient Bay of Bones on a kayak and enjoy swimming on a hidden beach. Learn about the Cyrillic script at its birthplace, at St Naum monastery.
Cycling: No Cycling
DAY:4
You will be riding on the scenic local road along the lake coast all the way from Ohrid to the villages before the border with Albania. A nice stop on the route is the colorful Struga open market, with great choice of fresh fruit and veggies, along with all housewares and souvenirs. Your last stop before the border is Kalishta monastery with the icon of the Holly Mother painted black. Next to the church, you will find the entrance that leads you up the stairs to an old cave church and to few monk cells dug into the rocks centuries ago. Here would be also the place for your last swim in Ohrid Lake before you head to Jablanica Mountain, and to Vevchani village at its foothills, which is your destination. Treat yourself with tasty homemade dinner in one of the guesthouses in Vevchani.
Cycling: 5h (52 km, ascent 614 m, descent 440 m)
