Through the Balkan canyon

Tabanovce – Skopje – Mavrovo – St. Jovan Bigorski – Vevcani – Struga – Ohrid – St. Naum – Prespa – Bitola – Kavadarci – Strumica – Smolari – Dojran – Tabanovce

For the ancient Macedonians, the word Makedon meant ‘big forest man’ and indeed Macedonia is a land of forests and woodlands. According to old beliefs, the lakes were ‘the eyes of nature’. Mother Nature has been looking through their eyes since almost five million years and enchants each and every visitor!

Experience and enjoy nature in the heart of Mavrovo National Park! Simply relax or take the time for a hike, a swim or ride a mountain bike around the lake.

We will cross the canyon at Radika River – the longest canyon which is navigable by jeep. During the trip we will visit the thousand year-old St.Jovan Bigorski Monastery which harbours unique relics of bygone times. These include a wonderful, over thousand year-old icon of St. Jovan Krstitel and priceless wood carvings.

The route leads us further on to Debar, around the Spilje and Globocica lakes and through the canyon at the Drim River. View the ‘Bridge of Poetry’ and the bazaar in Struga and marvel at the historical buildings and flourishing nature in and around the UNESCO city of Ohrid.

The tour also includes the lovely town of St. Naum and a breathtaking view from Mount Galicica across the Ohrid and Prespa lakes. The town of Bitola enchants visitors with its romantic reminders of bygone times and you can enjoy a glass of good wine and local schnapps at Tikyes winery. Before returning to Tabanovce, we’ll visit the imposing Smolari waterfall.