CENTRAL MOUNTAIN MASSIF FROM SKOPJE

Skopje – mountain hut Karadzica (1.455m)
A short transfer by few villages at the foothill of Mt Karadzica will take you to Preslap saddle (970m asl) where you start hiking mostly through beech-wood forests and meadows on well-established jeep-roads and hiking trails. As you walk up, a beautiful panorama opens-up of the northern slopes of the massif particularly toward Mount Karadzica and Mount Kitka, and also in the far north Mount Vodno and the capital city of Skopje are visible. This hike should take around 3 hours, if we don’t count the stops for wild strawberries and blackberries along the trail, or rosehips, depending on the season. Once in the mountain hut, don’t miss the open terrace on the edge of the hill – this hut is well known for the best mountain views in the country. Overnight in Karadzica mountain hut.
Hike: 7 km / 727m D+, 282m D-
Total drive: 1hour / 25km

Solunska Glava Peak
Today is the big challenge and the most exciting trail on this tour: after the first 2 hours walk on a jeep road you will enter the hiking path in a beech-wood forest which later extends into low cypress shrubbery up to the saddle at 2.050m, where a beautiful panorama of a glacial flatland opens up. Begovo pole is one of the most notable landmarks in this part of the massif - a circular-shaped pasture beneath Solunska Glava summit filled with thousands of sheep and little ground squirrels that live only here. If you speak louder you will notice their little curious heads coming out from the holes in the ground. From here starts the climb on a curvy single-track to the rocky peak Solunska Glava. Descend down on the other side of the mountain carefully, as the trail follows the edge of a huge rocky amphitheater until you reach the woods. It will take you around 3 hours walk from Solunska Glava to the mountain hut on the other side. Overnight in Cheples mountain hut.
Hike: 22,2 km / 1.358m D+, 1.260m D-

River Babuna springs and waterfall
As you walk from Cheples to Nezhilovo village, on half-way down there is a special spot where magnificent Solunska Glava peak appears again and its mighty Nezilovi Spili rock face, looming above your head reflecting golden sunshine. And finally deep into the forest, following a narrow well-marked trail, Babuna river roam can be heard but with a surprise: there is a small but picturesque waterfall few hundred meters before the springs - stealing the glory of the locale. Refresh yourself, fill all your bottles with water and get ready for a walk down by a jeep road to Nezhilovo village where you can finish the day in the local fish restaurant by Babuna river.
Hike: 13,6km / 698m D+, 1.418m D-