After enjoying a delicious breakfast near the Matka canyon, we move on towards Veles. The city of Veles is focused on the production of porcelain, silk and lead. Veles made the news during the US elections in 2016. Teenagers in the small city in North Macedonia created sensationalist stories on fake news websites to earn money from the advertisements. Nowadays it has historical sites and natural attraction that are well-worth a visit. The city is also known for being the birthplace of Kocho Racin, the founder of North Macedonian modern literature. We will visit the clock tower, which sticks out from the other buildings and is the focal point of the city.

The Gemidzii monument and the Ilinden Rebels monument will also be visited during our tour through the city. Outside of the center, we will see the Saint Panteleimon church on the side of a hill in a beautiful white colour and stunning painted icons on the inside. The second destination for today is a famous winery, shaped as a castle, and the surrounding vineyards. Macedonians have a big affinity for wine that goes back centuries, proven by many archaeological findings. Even at the exact location of this winery, findings show connections to wine dating back to the 13th century. At this winery, we will have a chance to try some of North Macedonia’s finest wine. They use 11 different types of grapes from small vineyards in the region, besides the grapes they grow themselves. This place offers us the possibility to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and unwind from the daily stresses with a glass of wine in our hands.

We will continue our tour towards Krushevo, the highest city of North Macedonia and in the Balkans, 1350m above sea level. The small streets, restaurants and cafes all around the city create a unique atmosphere. We will visit the Meckin Kamen statue, honouring Pitu Guli, who fought against the Ottomans to protect the town, and the Ilinden monument, honouring a group of Macedonians that fought against the Ottoman beginning the movement that resulted in a free Macedonia. Even though the Saint Jovan church and Saint Nicola church got destroyed in 1903, the original architecture is still present here.

The last destination for today is the city of Bitola, the second largest city and also the oldest city of North Macedonia.

We will begin our day with a city tour of Bitola. The city combines the old with the new, Ottoman buildings next to modern office buildings. Our first visit is to the museum of Bitola that houses the region’s most valuable cultural and historical treasures. The building used to function as a high school before it became a military academy and eventually a museum. Our tour continues to the ruins of Heraclea Lyncestis. The site is the most authentic well-preserved city from the ancient Macedonian empire in the whole country. We will also walk through the pedestrian boulevard full of shops, cafes and restaurants.

As we move towards Ohrid, we will make a stop at the Prespa Lake. This lake is shared by North Macedonia, Greece and Albania. From here, we will have an amazing view of the other side of the lake. The last destination for today is Ohrid. Ohrid is one of the most seductive destinations in North Macedonia, indicated also as one of the oldest human settlements in all of Europe. Both the city and the lake are part of UNESCO World Heritage since 1980.

After a tasty breakfast, we will have a city tour of Ohrid. Ohrid Lake and its surroundings where inhabited by the Illyrian Tribe of Enkeleys and the lake was named by the Romans as “Lyhnidas” (the Light Lake). We will visit the church of St. John, the church of St. Nicolas and the mosque Halveti Hayati Tekke.

Ohrid became an important centre for the Orthodox believers during the Byzantine Empire and is famous for its 365 Orthodox churches, said to have one church for each day of the year. During the Ottoman Empire the city grew on the hills and surrounding areas by the lake. The houses were built with a very specific architecture that created narrowed streets, tunnels and tiny yards on the hilly terrain, making it possible for every house to have a good view of the lake. Today the city is famous for its architecture, the churches, the castle on the top of the city, the amphitheatre, the beautiful view of the lake surrounded by mountains and the pearls from the lake.

Our next destination is the Bay of Bones museum, which floats on the water. The name ‘’Bay of Bones’’ refers to the numerous animal remains that were found at the site. Part of the site is a recreation of the settlement dating back between 1200 and 70 B.C. This will give us an exclusive chance to learn more about life during the prehistory.

We will continue our tour to St Naum near the Albanian border and one of the most beautiful locations in Macedonia. On our way there, we will have to go through the Galichitsa National Park, located between the Albanian border, Ohrid Lake and Prespa Lake, with again stunning nature and impressive mountains. The monastery of St Naum is also known as Sveti Naum where stunning nature blends with religious heritage, creating a picturesque location. Your trip through Macedonia would not be complete without visiting this monastery.

Our first destination will be the picturesque village of Janche, located by the winding canyon of Radika in Mavrovo National Park. It is one of the oldest settlements in the Miyak region and it still keeps the authentic smell of untouched nature. The village is characterized by traditional architecture of North Macedonia, with houses arranged in a row, making up a complex unity. The region offers several local tourist attractions which we will try to discover during the day.

Our final destination for today will be Mavrovo, a natural and national wonder of green verdant countryside.

Mavrovo National Park, one of the most famous skiing destinations and the largest park in N. Macedonia. The park area is home to other interesting natural phenomena like: waterfalls, glacial lakes, alpine bogs and rare karst relief. Many travelers choose to stay in Mavrovo for both ski and summer seasons. During the summer season the park truly converts into a lush carpet of deep-green.

Our next destination is Tetovo. The city is located in the North Macedonian region where the largest ethnic group is Albanian, which explains the differences in appearance from the other cities that we have visited on this tour. The Pena River flows right through the city with on the sides some interesting landmarks, such as the Hamam of Tetovo, and the beginning of some boulevards.

We will also visit the “painted mosque’’, Sharena Dzamija, in the old part of the city. This mosque is covered with geometric and arabesque ornaments in a Middle Eastern style, unique for the Balkan region.

The Leshok monastery is another site in Tetovo worthy of a visit. The monastery has an excellent location to enjoy some fresh air and appreciate the surroundings. Inside of the monastery, you can find all sorts of frescos from different periods - the outside is just as impressive.

After finishing our breakfast in Tetovo, we will have a city tour of Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. The city has European, Ottoman and even Asian influences.

The Stone Bridge connects the new part to the old part of the city

Another bridge that stands out is the Art Bridge that leads to the Archaeological Museum. The bridge is lined with flamboyant street lanterns and statues of Macedonian artists and musicians.

We will wander through the Old Bazaar of Skopje, the biggest one in the Balkans, that combines the modern way of living with centuries of history.