Seven-day tour through the Macedonian National Parks and the Mariovo Region

Day 1

National Park Mavrovo – Arrival transfer to hotel (arroud 2-4 hours), dinner  and sleeping

Day 2

National Park Mavrovo – Bistra- hiking tour Medenica, 8-10 hours spending time on the mountain of  hiking throe sheepfold – watching how sheep cheese is making in traditional way.  Transfer to  Ohrid for sleeping. Medenica (2169) is the highest peak on the Bistra Mountain. Located in western part of Macedonia, Bistra is “heart” of the region known by the name “Mijacija”. Medenica is a term, which is derived from “Honey” something like sweetness.
This region in Macedonia is very well known for his historical part in Macedonian culture. A lot of folk heroes, artist, writers, and wood carvers…. have origins from this region. Characteristically thing is that nowadays because of the migration villages-to-big cities only few people are living in the villages located on Bistra mountain (Galicnik, Tresonce, Gari, Rosoki, Lazaropole..). From the summit Medenica there is a wonderful view of the region. On the west side there is excellent picture of Korab (2764) Korab-higest mountain in R.M., and on the Northern side Mavrovo Lake. Bistra is very pictorial mountain you could see: wild horses, snow in July, sheep, medical herbs, medical man…etc.

Day 3

Hiking at National Park Galicica, summit Magaro, 8-10 hours spend in hiking resting, observing on the mountain, sleeping Ohrid and opportunity of late afternoon visit of city Ohrid Galicica is a mountain situated across the border between the Republic of Macedonia and Albania. There is a National park on the Macedonian side of the mountain, situated between the two biggest lakes in the republic: Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. It stretches over an area of 227 square kilometres (88 mi²).
The floral life in the Galičica National Park represents over 1000 species, of which a large number of relicts and endems have the final frontier of its range exactly on the mountain Galičica. There is characteristically presence of up to now 11 discovered local endems to be found exclusively on the slopes of Galičica and nowhere else, this illustrates the specifically floristic composition of this mountain. At the moment, it is intensively worked on the flora of the National Park and there are indications that the number of endems will be even bigger. Beautiful views across the lakes and neighbouring mountains can be seen from the Galičica peaks. The highest is peak Magaro (2,254 m).)

Day 4

Transfer to Bitola – N.P.Pelister. (Kopanki – Jorgov kamen – Bor chesma – Lastojcin kamen), hiking tour of 4-6 hours in the most beautiful and endemic pine  three forest – Molika on altitude from 1300m.a.s.l to 1700 m.a.s.l. Opportunity of visiting city of Bitola at latter afternoon.
Pelister  is a National Park in the Municipality of Bitola, Republic of Macedonia. The park is located in the Baba Mountain massif and covers an area of 171.5 square kilometres (66.2 sq mi). The altitude of the park varies between 927 and 2,601 m (3,041 and 8,533 ft) above sea level and is filled with exquisite flora and fauna. Among flora elements, the presence is especially significant of the five-needle pine Molica, Pinus peuce – a unique species of Cenozoic age being present on only a few mountains in the Balkan Peninsula. The beauty of the landscape is enhanced by the diverse wildlife: bears, roe deer, wolves, chamois, deer, wild boars, rabbits, several species of eagles, partridges, red-billed choughs, and the endemic Macedonian Pelagonia trout. Pelister is the oldest and second largest national park in Republic of Macedonia after Mavrovo. It is one of the leading tourist areas in the country, since it is a well-known ski resort, along with Ohrid, Prespa, Dojran, Popova Šapka, and Kruševo. From Pelister one can see the Pelagonia valley, Lake Prespa, mountains Nidže -Kajmakcalan, Galičica, Jakupica,Mariovo region and the city of Bitola. Interestingly, Pelister is one of the most southern mountains in the Balkans that has an alpine character. Pelister is also known for its two mountain lakes, which are called Pelister’s Eyes. The Big lake is 2,218 metres (7,277 ft) above the sea level while the Small lake is 2,180 metres (7,150 ft) high. Here are the sources of many rivers. The climate in Pelister National Park is diverse.

Day 5

Transfer to village Nizo Pole 1300 m.a.s.l., hiking tour – River Sapuncica up to glacial lake Golemo Ezero (Big lake 2218m.a.s.l.) 4-6 hours one way-sleeping in the mountain hut. Opportunity to hike up to the other glacial lake -Small lake 40 min. one way or even to the highest  summit Pelister- 2601m, 2 hours one way, and going back to the mountain hut, 5-6 hours total.

Day 6

Prespa Lake – hiking to Brajcino, 4- 6 hours, lunch in village Ljubojno (fresh mountain river trout fish) opportunity to swim in Prespa lake. Transfer to hotel in Bitola.

Day 7

Mariovo – hiking in  Mariovo region. Hiking throe places  where practically peoples modern civilization haven’t still reach, depending of the condition of the group and individual person in it , we can do some adrenalin hour for them – like crossing big river with Alpine  Tyrolean  traverse or Zip Line for 50 meters. Visiting local village and eating traditional food characteristic for that region, opportunity to sleep there (if it is not a problem that they have one male, and female toilet and shower) or sleeping  in Bitola.

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