DestinationsMacedonia
Tour MeetsSkopje
Fly in toSkopje Alexander the Great Airport (SKP)
Group Size4-14 ridersThis is a challenging mountain biking tour and is for those who want to test their climbing stamina. We ride a total of 227 km and ascend 4200 m in just 6 cycling days! We ride primarily on dirt and gravel roads, as well as some single-track trails and a few sections of paved roads.
Though the daily distances aren't long, the terrain and altitude will provide the challenge. We will be riding at 2,000 m at times, making sure your lungs get a full work out.
On this trip, we will be soaking up the natural highlights of North Macedonia's mountains and lakes, which means we'll be riding in remote areas where vehicles can't always follow.
Suitability: This trip is for those who are fit and have the stamina and endurance for sustained climbing. On some days, we'll have the option to shorten the riding distance and ascent if the terrain proves to be too much. The guide will offer this option during the tour.
Biking Conditions: This tour follows a mixture of dirt roads, single-track trails, and gravel paths, as well as sections of tarmac. Off-road riding experience is required, though there will be no tricky technical sections. As in any mountainous region, the weather can also be unpredictable, so please be prepared for quickly changing conditions. A support vehicle will not be following us on all our rides. Some days we will meet up at points during the day, other days we will only see the support vehicle at the beginning and end of the day.
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTipsBecause some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section.
If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension in good mechanical order.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
No vaccinations are required to enter North Macedonia. The CDC recommends every international traveller is up to date on MMR: see the CDC's North Macedonia page. Travel insurance is essential and has to cover cycling and medical evacuation. Hospitals in Skopje are modern and well equipped. In the mountain regions and around the lakes, facilities are limited and getting to a well-equipped hospital takes time. North Macedonia has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the EU or the UK, so an EHIC or GHIC won't get you treated here and your insurance is the whole of your cover.
We ride North Macedonia in April, May, August, September and October. The country is high, and Lake Ohrid sits around 700 metres, so it runs cooler than the coast at the same latitude. Spring and autumn bring daytime highs of roughly 16 to 24°C (61 to 75°F), with clear air and long views from the ridges. August is hot in the valleys and around Skopje, frequently above 32°C (90°F), though the national parks stay noticeably cooler. Weather at altitude turns quickly in any month, and a pass can be ten degrees colder than the lake below it.
Macedonian cooking is Balkan with a Mediterranean edge, heavy on peppers, beans and grilled meat. Tavče gravče is the national dish, beans baked in an earthenware pot. Ajvar is a roast red pepper and aubergine relish, made in bulk every autumn and eaten with everything. Pastrmajlija is a boat of bread dough topped with cured meat and egg. Grilled kebapi, sheep's milk cheeses and thick yoghurt are on every menu, and around Lake Ohrid the trout is the local speciality. Meals arrive to share rather than plated per person, with bread and salad on the table throughout. We cater for dietary requirements when you tell us at the time of booking.
Coffee runs the social day here, Turkish-style in the older places and espresso everywhere else, and nobody drinks it standing up. Tap water is treated in the cities and generally fine, though bottled is easier in villages. North Macedonia has been making wine for a very long time and the reds are the reason to pay attention: Vranec is the grape to order, dark and firm, with Kratošija alongside it. Rakija is the fruit brandy poured at the start or the end of a meal, often homemade and stronger than it looks. Alcohol isn't included in the tour price.
SpiceRoads welcomes solo adventurers and does not charge a mandatory single supplement. We arrange for you to share a room with another traveller of the same gender. If no match is available, you receive a single room at no additional cost. If you prefer to guarantee your own private room for the duration of the trip, a single supplement is available at the rate listed in the tour pricing.
North Macedonia is among the cheapest countries in Europe to travel in. Budget cash for meals and drinks outside the itinerary, entry to monasteries, churches and museums, and anything you pick up along the way. Riders tend to buy copperware and filigree from the old bazaars, honey, mountain tea, and the ceramics and icons sold around Ohrid.
Tipping is a courtesy rather than an expectation. In restaurants, rounding up or leaving around 10% is normal, and you should check whether a service charge has already been added before you do. Taxi fares get rounded up. Hotel porters and housekeeping are usually given a small note. In village cafés and family-run places, nothing is expected.
The currency is the Macedonian denar (MKD). Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and shops in Skopje, Ohrid and the main towns. Outside those, the country runs on cash. Cash machines are in every town of any size and take international cards, usually with a withdrawal fee. Carry denars for village shops, markets, roadside cafés and small guesthouses, where a card terminal is the exception.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
DestinationsMacedoniaTour MeetsSkopjeFly in toSkopje Alexander the Great Airport (SKP)Group Size4-14 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinksInternational flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
This is a challenging mountain biking tour and is for those who want to test their climbing stamina. We ride a total of 227 km and ascend 4200 m in just 6 cycling days! We ride primarily on dirt and gravel roads, as well as some single-track trails and a few sections of paved roads.
Though the daily distances aren't long, the terrain and altitude will provide the challenge. We will be riding at 2,000 m at times, making sure your lungs get a full work out.
On this trip, we will be soaking up the natural highlights of North Macedonia's mountains and lakes, which means we'll be riding in remote areas where vehicles can't always follow.
Suitability: This trip is for those who are fit and have the stamina and endurance for sustained climbing. On some days, we'll have the option to shorten the riding distance and ascent if the terrain proves to be too much. The guide will offer this option during the tour.
Biking Conditions: This tour follows a mixture of dirt roads, single-track trails, and gravel paths, as well as sections of tarmac. Off-road riding experience is required, though there will be no tricky technical sections. As in any mountainous region, the weather can also be unpredictable, so please be prepared for quickly changing conditions. A support vehicle will not be following us on all our rides. Some days we will meet up at points during the day, other days we will only see the support vehicle at the beginning and end of the day.
Meet your guide at your hotel in Skopje and take a walking tour of the historic city centre, including the Old Bazaar and the Skopje Fortress. Returning to the hotel, we will have time to freshen up before meeting for dinner and a full tour briefing in a local restaurant here in the heart of the city.
Hotel Tim's or similar
DinnerWe’re ready for our first challenge, as we depart Skopkje by transfer and cycle through the stunning Mavrovo National Park, home to North Macedonia's highest peak, Mt. Korab (2,764 m). An ever-changing combination of asphalt, compact gravel, and dirt roads leads us through this fairy tale scenery of grassy meadows, birch and pine forests, snow-capped peaks, and the gorgeous Radika River. After a traditional lunch, we return to our hotel to relax.
Hotel Keta or similarBreakfast, Lunch
Ride 50km
+950mBiking into the Bistra Mountains takes us alongside the emerald green Mavrovo Lake, with visits to the villages of Nikiforovo and Leunovo. We continue off-road riding through green pastures dotted with ancient sheepfolds. We stop in one of those sheepfolds to try fresh cheese and pavlaka. We take a break at Galicnik to admire the well-preserved traditional architecture, including an amphitheatre. Today’s ride is a loop, and some extra cycling can be added if you like.. After circling back to our hotel, we can enjoy a little relaxation time, or head out on a walking tour of local historic sites before dinner.
Hotel Keta or similarBreakfast, Lunch
Ride 35-50km+650mThis morning, we check out of our hotel and take a short transfer to the village of Carevec. Passing across hilltops with great views across the landscape, enjoy a long descent through beech and oak forests to remote villages like Lazaropole and Tresonche, where the way of life has changed remarkably little since the 19th century. We continue along the Tresoncehka River to Debar Lake, where we are picked up and transferred to our hotel in Ohrid.
Vila Mal Sveti Kliment or similarBreakfast, Lunch
Ride 70km+1000mWe take a well-earned day in the picturesque and relaxing setting of Ohrid. Notable for once having 365 churches, one for each day of the year, Ohrid is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed for both its cultural and natural attractions. In the morning, we tour the highlights of St. Sofia Church, Plaoshnik Complex, the Amphitheatre, and Tsar Samuel's Fortress. The afternoon is free to stroll through the alleys, swim in the lake, or just sit in a cafe and soak up the pure, unique delights of this rich, ancient town.
Vila Mal Sveti Kliment or similarBreakfastRefreshed from a day’s rest, we return with our bikes to the mountains. Tackling the grand Galicica Mountain, we cycle through beautiful pastures and the bright floral life native to these slopes, as we ride under the shadow of Magaro Peak (2255 m). We stop for photos as we will have stunning views of Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. Then, as we begin our descent, we will enjoy a mix of off-road and backroad biking with some sweet single tracks. From Peshtani, we drive to the picturesque fishing village of Trpejca for lunch and try the famous Ohrid trout. In the afternoon, transfer back to Skopje.
Hotel Tim's or similarBreakfast, Lunch
Ride 50km+1100mA short transfer brings us to a cable car that will whisk us up to the top where we'll be at the base of the Millennium Cross, a 66-m high monument to 2,000 years of Christianity. We then hit single-track trails and a short ride on a quiet road to Matka Canyon, a popular outdoor destination for hikers and kayakers. The canyon is also home to several historic churches and monasteries. We stop for a visit to the 14th century monastery of St Andreja built by the son of the famous medieval King Volkashin. After lunch, we transfer back to Skopje and meet in the evening for a farewell dinner in Debar Maalo- the city's bohemian quarter.
Hotel Tim's or similarBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 40km+800mOur tour ends after breakfast. If time allows, you can explore the centre of Skopje before your onward journey.
BreakfastDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section.
If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension in good mechanical order.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
No vaccinations are required to enter North Macedonia. The CDC recommends every international traveller is up to date on MMR: see the CDC's North Macedonia page. Travel insurance is essential and has to cover cycling and medical evacuation. Hospitals in Skopje are modern and well equipped. In the mountain regions and around the lakes, facilities are limited and getting to a well-equipped hospital takes time. North Macedonia has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the EU or the UK, so an EHIC or GHIC won't get you treated here and your insurance is the whole of your cover.
We ride North Macedonia in April, May, August, September and October. The country is high, and Lake Ohrid sits around 700 metres, so it runs cooler than the coast at the same latitude. Spring and autumn bring daytime highs of roughly 16 to 24°C (61 to 75°F), with clear air and long views from the ridges. August is hot in the valleys and around Skopje, frequently above 32°C (90°F), though the national parks stay noticeably cooler. Weather at altitude turns quickly in any month, and a pass can be ten degrees colder than the lake below it.
Macedonian cooking is Balkan with a Mediterranean edge, heavy on peppers, beans and grilled meat. Tavče gravče is the national dish, beans baked in an earthenware pot. Ajvar is a roast red pepper and aubergine relish, made in bulk every autumn and eaten with everything. Pastrmajlija is a boat of bread dough topped with cured meat and egg. Grilled kebapi, sheep's milk cheeses and thick yoghurt are on every menu, and around Lake Ohrid the trout is the local speciality. Meals arrive to share rather than plated per person, with bread and salad on the table throughout. We cater for dietary requirements when you tell us at the time of booking.
Coffee runs the social day here, Turkish-style in the older places and espresso everywhere else, and nobody drinks it standing up. Tap water is treated in the cities and generally fine, though bottled is easier in villages. North Macedonia has been making wine for a very long time and the reds are the reason to pay attention: Vranec is the grape to order, dark and firm, with Kratošija alongside it. Rakija is the fruit brandy poured at the start or the end of a meal, often homemade and stronger than it looks. Alcohol isn't included in the tour price.
SpiceRoads welcomes solo adventurers and does not charge a mandatory single supplement. We arrange for you to share a room with another traveller of the same gender. If no match is available, you receive a single room at no additional cost. If you prefer to guarantee your own private room for the duration of the trip, a single supplement is available at the rate listed in the tour pricing.
North Macedonia is among the cheapest countries in Europe to travel in. Budget cash for meals and drinks outside the itinerary, entry to monasteries, churches and museums, and anything you pick up along the way. Riders tend to buy copperware and filigree from the old bazaars, honey, mountain tea, and the ceramics and icons sold around Ohrid.
Tipping is a courtesy rather than an expectation. In restaurants, rounding up or leaving around 10% is normal, and you should check whether a service charge has already been added before you do. Taxi fares get rounded up. Hotel porters and housekeeping are usually given a small note. In village cafés and family-run places, nothing is expected.
The currency is the Macedonian denar (MKD). Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and shops in Skopje, Ohrid and the main towns. Outside those, the country runs on cash. Cash machines are in every town of any size and take international cards, usually with a withdrawal fee. Carry denars for village shops, markets, roadside cafés and small guesthouses, where a card terminal is the exception.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
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