ABSOLUTE ADVENTURE

Arrival in Skopje. Your tourleader will welcome you at the airport and accompany you to your hotel in Skopje. Follows a walking tour of Skopje, welcome drink in one of the little teahouses in the Old Bazaar, and transfer to Matka Canyon for dinner and overnight in a hotel built in the rocks above Lake Matka. (D)

A day in the canyon. You may take a sightseeing boat ride to one of the deepest caves in Europe – the Vrelo cave, or, you may take a kayak and take yourself there. Then, we'll guide you on a 45min hike to one of the monasteries placed in the rocks above lake Matka, which gives the best view over the canyon. Lunch with ethno music under the old maple in the monastery gardens. Aftrenoon hike down, and transfer to National Park Mavrovo. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Mavrovo. (B,L,D)

Take a horse riding tour along the valleys of Bistra mountain, and up to Medenica peak (2.163m) with fantastic view over the Korab massive (2.764m) and the surrounding mountain peaks.  This trip will get you closer to the sheppard's life, visiting few sheepfolds on your way and tasting some  traditional sheepcheese and yoghurt. Free afternoon to explore the picturesque Galichnik village, visit its ethno museum, the church St Peter and Pavle. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Mavrovo. (B, Shepperds's lunch, D)

Explore the caves in Reka region. The cave with biggest entrance in the Balkans: Peshna cave with the remains of medieval fortress inside. From here, we pass river Treska and enter into Gorna  Slatinska Cave to explore some 400 meters of this beautiful cave with two entrances. Lunch in a restaurant on the river. Afternoon transfer to Prilep, the city under the medieval walls of King Marko. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Prilep. (B,L,D)

Passing by the medieval walls of King Marko above the city, we take a 5 hours hike to a XIV century monastery Treskavec, hidden between the boulders of Gold Mountain. The church is worth visitting for its Byzantine architecture and its frescoes which represent the beginning of the renaissance art in Byzantine fresco paining. Optional for adrenaline addicts: bouldering to Zlatovrv above Treskavec.  Afternoon to explore a small picturesque town on height of 1350m – Krusevo. It is famous for its history and colorful unique architecture. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Krusevo.  (B,LUNCH PACK,D)

Krusevo is also famous as the center for paragliding in Macedonia – every summer there are thousands of paragliders coming from all parts of the world to fly here. Here you can rent a paraglider, or, if you are not professional, you can try tandem paragliding with our experienced instructors. The flight takes some 20-30min depending on weather and how long you wish to fly. Lunch in a restaurant in Krusevo. Afternoon transfer to Ohrid. Free evening to explore Ohrid and its restaurants. Overnight in hotel in Ohrid. (B,L)

Ohrid and Ohrid Lake are both UNESCO heritage sites; Ohrid for its cutural heritage and as a birthplace of Cyrlilic script, and Ohrid Lake for its great biodiversity as one of the oldest lakes in Europe. Today you'll bike by the lake and parts of the ancient Via Egnatia road, to the cave churches in Erazmo, Kalista and Radozda, close to the border with Albania. Rest of the day free for swimming in the crystal clear waters of Ohrid Lake. Overnight in hotel in Ohrid. (B,L)

Dive in the prehistory settlement underwater “Bay of bones”. Even if this is your first dive, our certified instructors will give you all instructions before you put the diving tanks on you and jump for this adventure. Going from prehistory into Byzantine times, from here we'll take you to the place where Cyrilic script was born – monastery of St Naum, and for lunch in a fishermen village by the lake. Transfer to Struga – the town of poetry on Ohrid Lake, and to Vevcani village for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

We start the day with good village breakfast and a walk around the Vevcani river springs. Close to the village we'll visit a sport-shooting range to test your reflex in clay-pigeon shooting. Lunch: hunter's stew (game prepared on wood in traditional way). Afternoon drive to Skopje with visit of some of the greatest Byzantine heritage sites on our way: St George church and St Jovan Bigorski church built deep in river Radika valley. Farewell dinner with party in restaurant in Skopje and overnight in hotel in Skopje. (B,L,D)

Transfer to Skopje airport for flight home. If your flight is in the afternoon we'll take the cable car on Mt Vodno to view the capital from the Millennium Cross. (B)

Continue from shooting range to Bitola, a city with urban tradition long 2600 years and beautiful neoclassical architecture buildings lined along the main pedestrian street “Sirok Sokak”. Spend the night in Bitola.

We’ll visit one of the most remote and cleanest regions of Macedonia by jeeps. It is the place where World War 1 greatest battles took place, thus the trenches and bunkers carved in the rocks that we will visit on our way. We’ll drive in remote villages, inhabited mainly by older people who decided to live far from civilization and industry. We’ll try their great organic food (it’s the only one they have to offer) and do some sport fishing in the crystal clear river and catch some river crabs.  Overnight in Bitola.

Morning drive into the wine area of Macedonia. Meet your rock-climbing guide in Demir Kapija for a rock climbing experience in the rocks of Iron Gate. You will be in the hands of highly competent guide with long CV in training: it includes head coach trainer of National rock-climbing team of Kazakhstan and of the Ekaterinburg Olympic reserve mountain school. Two times 1st place on USSR championship and six times 1st place on Russia championships. Afternoon start with your “Enjoy nature responsibly” training in your camp. Evening BBQ by the fire.

Continue with your Leave No Trace course in nature. You will learn the basics for responsible and safe travel in nature from our licensed guide: from packing and planning, to making your stay invisible and safe. In the afternoon visit the wine cellars of Popova Kula winery perched up a hill surrounded by endless vineyards. Dinner with winetasting and overnight in the winery chateau.

After breakfast drive to Skopje airport for flight home.