A weekend for some of the best cultural and historical sites in North Macedonia. Start from Bitola, the city with more than 1600 years of urban tradition; cycle through the bird habitat by Lake Prespa and in national park Galicica; swim in the oldest and deepest lake in Europe; walk in the old town of Ohrid – a true time travel through the many layers of history of this UNESCO World Heritage city. End this long weekend in a laid-back village style: get to know the locals of Vevcani, taste their excellent home-made food and take a walk in the nature around Vevchani springs
DAY:1
As you leave urban Bitola, you enter the old local road that used to connect Bitola with Prespa Lake in the times of Yugoslavia. Today it is rarely used, as it hasn’t been maintained since the opening of the new motorway from Bitola to Prespa, and it is still covered with cobblestone in parts. One part of this road is on the ancient route of the Roman road Via Egnatia, built over old Candavian Road some 2.200 years ago.
You will know that you are close to Lake Prespa when you notice the apple orchards around you. It is the region that supplies all of the Balkans with apples.
DAY:2
A beautiful and challenging cycling route over Mount Galicica, with wonderfull views over the two biggest lakes in North Macedonia. Once you leave Prespa Lake behind, you will enter Galicica national park. Here you start a 14km long uphill (860m to 1590m) on a curvy narrow road leading to Mount Galicica pass. (if you think that this is too challenging for you, please ask our agents to arrange a transfer up to the mountain pass, so you can enjoy riding only the downhill to the lake, and by the lake coast).
Don’t rush to your destination, take some time to stop and visit Trpejca fishing village, with a lovely beach hidden between the rocks by Ohrid Lake. There are also couple of fish restaurants on the shore where you can enjoy fresh trout for lunch. Also, we recommend to make one more stop on your way to visit the archaeological site on water – the Bay of Bones.
Your destination is family guesthouse in a small settlement by the lake, some 9 km from Ohrid. Located between the lake and the mountain, it is a perfect place to go swimming, or, to relax in a hammock in their gardens.
Cycling: 4h (45 km, ascent 980 m, descent 1.159 m)
Optional: transfer to Galicica pass where you can continue riding down to Ohrid Lake.
DAY:3
It takes some 10km (30-40min easy ride) to get from Lagadin to Ohrid. You will be cycling on a local road along the lake coast, passing hotel resorts, villas and nice cafés on the beach. As you enter Ohrid, continue cycling by the lake to the main square, where the old town begins. You will probably decide to spend the day here, exploring the many layers of Ohrid history, as well as the restaurants and cafés along the cobblestoned alleys of the old town, or by the beach. If you would rather spend the day kayaking or sailing, paragliding or flying with a hot-air balloon above the lake please let us know, we will be happy to arrange it for you.
Cycling: 1h round trip (20 km, ascent 243 m, descent 243 m)
DAY:4
You will be riding on the scenic local road along the lake coast all the way from Ohrid to the villages before the border with Albania. A nice stop on the route is the colorful Struga open market, with great choice of fresh fruit and veggies, along with all housewares and souvenirs. Your last stop before the border is Kalishta monastery with the icon of the Holly Mother painted black. Next to the church, you will find the entrance that leads you up the stairs to an old cave church and to few monk cells dug into the rocks centuries ago. Here would be also the place for your last swim in Ohrid Lake before you head to Jablanica Mountain, and to Vevchani village at its foothills, which is your destination. Treat yourself with tasty homemade dinner in one of the guesthouses in Vevchani.
Cycling: 5h (52 km, ascent 614 m, descent 440 m)
