BIKING HOLIDAY IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Transfer from Skopje airport to Krushevo, a picturesque mountain town in Central Macedonia. It is the highest town in the Balkans, famous for the first uprising revolution against the Ottoman suppression, but also for their traditional architecture, local traditional art crafts and delicious cuisine. Enjoy your first Macedonian meal in one of the best places to taste traditional cuisine and Macedonian local beer. Overnight in guesthouse in Krushevo

Starting from the hotel, ride down Mount Busava to the villages at its foothills. You can stop in village Obrshani to climb the bell tower for the best view over the tobacco fields of the region and continue to Stibera archaeological ruins of one of the biggest ancient cities that is still being excavated. It is always possible to have a local village style lunch in the villages on the way, supplied by a socialist time local store on the road. Afternoon continue riding on the old road to Bitola, and to Heraclea Lyncestis – an ancient city built by the father of Alexander the Great, Philip II. Arrive in Bitola in the afternoon. Bitola is the former city of consulates and embassies, today still one of the most beautiful cities in Macedonia which managed to maintain its 18th and 19th century neoclassical architecture and monuments. Overnight in family hotel in Bitola.
Cycling: 5h (62km, ascent 171m, descent 813m)

Start riding from your hotel in Bitola in the morning on the old road to Prespa Lake, to join for a part the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia, built over old Candavian Road some 2.200 years ago. Next, ride up to Gjavato Pass and then make a descent to Lake Prespa, where you can visit a small village with lovely ethno museum. From here, ride by the Bird Habitat Ezerani and get to the other side of the lake where you can stop for a swim and for overnight in a 2* hotel by the lake.
Cycling: 6h (50 km, ascent 752 m, descent 503 m)

Ride up Galicica Mountain in the morning, on a local asphalt road through the dense forests of Galicica National Park. Today ride will start at the altitude of 860m, and up over Galicica pass at 1.590m where you can stop to enjoy amazing view over Ohrid Lake and surrounding mountains stretching all the way in Albania. Than cycle down on a windy road to Ohrid Lake, and following the road by the lake to the village Lagadin on the lake shore.
Accommodation in a family guesthouse in Lagadin.
Cycling: 4h (45 km, ascent 980 m, descent 1.159 m)
Optional: transport to Galicica pass where you can continue riding down to Ohrid Lake.

A day to explore Ohrid, the city of UNESCO with 365 Orthodox churches, an antique theatre and the medieval city walls of Tsar Samoil. It takes less than 10km to get to Ohrid on the road by the lake.
Accommodation in same guesthouse in Lagadin.
Cycling: 1h (16 km, ascent 163 m, descent 163 m)

Ride on the old local road along the lake to Struga, the town of poetry and a nice old colorful bazaar in the centre, where river Drim flows out from Ohrid Lake. From here continue riding towards the Albanian border to Radozhda village with stops along the route to visit a number of cave churches from 14th century. In Radozhda see again the remnants of Via Egnatia road and taste some fish in a restaurant by the lake. Afternoon ride to a village at the foothills of Jablanica Mountain, only 16km from the lake at Struga. Overnight in guesthouse in Vevchani village.
Cycling: 5h (52 km, ascent 527m, descent 364m)

After a tasty village breakfast, transfer to Skopje for your flight back home.