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Highlights
Experience the spectacular nature in North Macedonia on this guided hiking tour
Indulge in North Macedonian cuisine, wine, and rakija, a potent brandy distilled from fermented fruit.
Reach some of the highest peaks in Galichica National Park, up to 2,255 m / 7,398 ft. Earn those views!
Hike along a ridge trail with panoramic views of Lake Ohrid to the west and Lake Prespa to the east.
Learn about North Macedonia’s independence and historical significance with your local guide.
North Macedonia is a treasure waiting to be discovered. It has some unexpectedly impressive hiking trails for our adventurers who like to explore on foot. This 8-day guided tour offers a new trail each day to explore the various terrain in this young country.
Starting in the capital, Skopje, you’ll meet your guide and be immediately whisked away to Ohrid, a UNESCO-protected town next to Lake Ohrid, within the boundaries of Galichica National Park. Spend the next few days getting acquainted with this area. Walk along ridgelines, reach altitudes of up to 2,255 m / 7,398 ft, and spend each night either in a mountain hut or cozy guesthouse completely removed from bustling city life. If you want to be one with nature, this is a great tour to consider.
For the second half of the tour, you will explore Pelister National Park, a dazzling area with mountainous terrain dotted with lakes from the Ice Age. In the winter, this is an excellent snow sports recreation area, and in the summer, it blossoms into a hiker’s paradise. You’ll hike through several small villages that each provide another piece of the puzzle that comprises North Macedonia.
This 8-day hiking tour in North Macedonia is an investment in your well-being. Explore the various terrain, and engage with locals to learn about this fascinating place in the Balkans.
North Macedonia is a treasure waiting to be discovered. It has some unexpectedly impressive hiking trails for our adventurers who like to explore on foot. This 8-day guided tour offers a new trail each day to explore the various terrain in this young country.
Starting in the capital, Skopje, you’ll meet your guide and be immediately whisked away to Ohrid, a UNESCO-protected town next to Lake Ohrid, within the boundaries of Galichica National Park. Spend the next few days getting acquainted with this area. Walk along ridgelines, reach altitudes of up to 2,255 m / 7,398 ft, and spend each night either in a mountain hut or cozy guesthouse completely removed from bustling city life. If you want to be one with nature, this is a great tour to consider.
For the second half of the tour, you will explore Pelister National Park, a dazzling area with mountainous terrain dotted with lakes from the Ice Age. In the winter, this is an excellent snow sports recreation area, and in the summer, it blossoms into a hiker’s paradise. You’ll hike through several small villages that each provide another piece of the puzzle that comprises North Macedonia.
This 8-day hiking tour in North Macedonia is an investment in your well-being. Explore the various terrain, and engage with locals to learn about this fascinating place in the Balkans.
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Galichica and Pelister National Parks Hiking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Skopje
Welcome to Skopje, Macedonia! Once you land and get through customs, your friendly guide will meet you at the arrivals gate and take you to the lakeside town of Ohrid. In the afternoon, you’ll learn about the week ahead and receive some helpful maps and a SIM card. Once you’re settled into the hotel, meet your group for a short city walk and learn about this fascinating town and recently independent country. Bask in the views of the surrounding Galichica National Park, and take a stroll next to the gorgeous lake. After dinner, head back to the hotel for a good night’s rest to prepare for the days ahead.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ohrid
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Sightseeing in Ohrid and Galichica National Park
Wake up early for a hearty meal and then head out for an informative sightseeing tour of Ohrid, guided by a local. Once the tour is over, you’ll be transferred to Velestovo, the starting point of today’s hike through Galichica National Park. You will spend your day exploring the mountainous terrain covered in dry grass and moss with rocks peeking through. And you’ll be afforded stunning views of Lake Ohrid—a sight to behold. In spring and early summer, you’ll see colourful blooms among the terrain. Wind down after the hike with traditional food and a cozy night in a guesthouse in the village of Elsani.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Elsani
Distance: 4-5 hours, 8km, 200m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Hike Lacosignoj Peak
Epic views await on today’s trail—you’ll be able to see neighbouring Albania on a clear day. After breakfast, you’ll head into the woods where the trail begins, eventually climbing above the treeline. Once you’re out in the open, you can look back at the forest and look ahead to the panoramic views of Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, and the vast mountainous landscapes reaching the horizon. Feeling the wind on the ridge, you head to the top of Lacosignoj Peak at 1998 m / 6,555 ft. You begin the descent to the foot of Magaro Peak (tomorrow’s task) and settle into a cozy mountain hut for the night. Revel in this opportunity to be sleeping in the mountains, under the stars, away from city lights and noise. Nature at its finest.
Overnight Location: Mountain Hut in Galichica National Park
Distance: 7-8 hours, 12km, 1,225m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Summit Magaro Peak
Wake up in the mountains and enjoy breakfast and a hot coffee or tea among the peaceful mountain landscapes. Then get ready to climb: today, you’re going to summit the highest peak in Galichica National Park, reaching 2,255 m / 7,398 ft. Your guide will explain the history and significance of this peak along the way, including its role in World War I. About 2–3 hours of climbing will bring you to the summit where you’ll see an incredible panorama of lakes and peaks as far as your eyes can see. The descent will take roughly half the time; then, you’ll be transferred to the next village, Dihovo, once you reach the base of Magaro Peak. Dihovo sits at the entrance to Pelister National Park. You’ll spend the night in a guesthouse here to prepare to explore the park tomorrow.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Dihovo
Distance: 4-5 hours, 705 m of ascent, 705 m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Explore Pelister National Park
After breakfast, you’ll head out for the day to find Pelister’s Eyes: two glacial lakes that sit in the middle of the park, created in the Ice Age, and maintained by the winter’s snow and rain. Hike through beautiful coniferous forests and rivers parting through plant-covered boulders to reach the lakes. The trail will loop through more woods, passing over viewpoints that open to the Pelagonia Valley with glimpses of nearby Bitola, eventually leading back to Dihovo for one more night in the guesthouse.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Dihovo
Distance: 7-9 hours, 21km, 1,450m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Hike through Local Villages
Have a quick rest for your legs after breakfast in a short transfer to Malovishte village, a historically significant hamlet from the 19th century when Albanians fled to North Macedonia due to attacks and plundering in their homes. Your guide will inform you about the local history during the ride. This small village is quite picturesque. You’ll start today’s hike from Malovishte and begin the ascent towards Kota, a hill offering panoramic views. Then descend towards Slivnica on the shore of Lake Prespa to wander through its monastery complex. End the day with a visit to two lovely villages—Ljubojno and Brajchino—where you’ll engage with locals for some traditional food and spend the night in a guesthouse.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Brajchino
Distance: 4 hours, 13.6 km, 1,095m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Short Hike & Evening Cooking Class
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Kuratica, a small village at the base of the Plakjenska Mountains. Take a quick tour of the town with a local guide then begin exploring the area on foot. The surrounding slopes are dense with forests that offer shade from the summer heat or protection from the rain. Upon finishing the hike, you’ll enter a local’s home for a cooking lesson. And you will receive an English cookbook with local recipes so that you can take the tastes of North Macedonia home with you. Spend the last night chatting with your group and your hosts as the homemade wine flows freely. Get a good night’s sleep in your hotel in Ohrid.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ohrid
Distance: 2-3 hours, 6 km, 250m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Farewell
Enjoy your final breakfast with your hiking group, then say farewell to North Macedonia! You’ll receive transportation to the airport in Skopje when you’re ready to go.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Galichica and Pelister National Parks Hiking Tour Price and Dates
This tour in North Macedonia is always run as a custom tour for your group only and the price always depends on the number of people in your group and whether you chose to travel with a guide or without.The prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room.
Private Self-guided Galichica and Pelister National Parks Hiking Tour
- Self-guided Groups of 4: EUR710* per person
Private Guided Galichica and Pelister National Parks Hiking Tour
- Guided Groups of 4: EUR1140* per person
Accommodation on Hiking National Parks in North Macedonia
The hotels on this trip are 3- and 4-star. You will stay in some guesthouses and spend one night in a mountain hut. Rooms are double occupancy, and single travelers will pay a supplement.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel while traveling with your group. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
What’s included in the Hiking National Parks in Kosovo and Macedonia Tour?
Meals
All 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches (5 packed lunches and 1 self-prepared), and 7 dinners are included.
Accommodations
All 7 nights are included in the tour.
Transportation during the Tour
Transport for you and your luggage is included throughout the tour, including the airport transfers.
Also Included
- English-speaking guide services (for guided tour mode)
- Map of North Macedonia, Ohrid, and Skopje
Not included
- Flights
- Insurance
- All entrance fees at sites (average €2 per site)
- Visas and vaccinations
- Anything not mentioned as “Included”
- Personal expenses
Optional Extras
- Extra night in Skopje
- Optional activities
- How hard is the Galichica and Pelister National Parks Hiking Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to North Macedonia?
- Are meals included on Galichica and Pelister National Parks Hiking Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Skopje to start this tour?
- Is the Galichica and Pelister National Parks Hiking Tour in English?
- Where does Galichica and Pelister National Parks Hiking Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to North Macedonia?
- Are there any travel restrictions for North Macedonia?
- When is the best time to travel to Balkans for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. You should be comfortable with hiking long distances daily, with significant ascents. The guided tour can be modified if you would like a less strenuous program.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can reach Skopje by plane from most major cities in Europe. You will be picked up from Skopje Airport.
Yes, the tour guide is English-speaking.
The tour ends in Skopje, with a drop-off at the Skopje Airport.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to travel to North Macedonia for hiking is from mid-April to September.
Customer Ratings
At Experience Balkan, it’s all about providing exceptional service. Based in Ohrid, Macedonia, Experience Balkan are committed to providing travel services of the highest quality, and have earned the highest possible licensing as a result.
Experience Balkan was established in 2017 and has since fostered impressive diversity both within their team and in their offerings. They aim to narrow the gap between different people and promote harmony and collectivity through travel.
Experience Balkan offers hiking, trekking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and ski touring adventures in the Balkan countries. Their greatest joy is providing new experiences to happy clients.
