Day by Day Itinerary

Serious Travelers who would like to take part in both Macedonian and Bulgarian adventures can fly to Sofia arriving June 6.

June 6 SOFIA
Monday
Your guide will meet you at the airport for welcome greetings and transportation to our hotel in the central part of Sofia. The evening is free to recover from jet lag.

Hotel Crystal Palace****

June 7 SOFIA - OHRID
Tuesday
Today we drive with our Bulgarian coach and driver to Ohrid, arriving around 4.30- 5.00 PM.

Guests from Albanian part will arrive earlier. They are met at Albanian side of the lake by the Macedonian guide and a car or minibus to be transported to Ohrid (about 30 minutes drive from Albanian border to the town of Ohrid).

This evening, we have a welcome meeting in the lobby of our hotel, followed by an easy walk to a selected restaurant in Old Ohrid for our welcome dinner in Macedonia.

Accommodation in hotel Tino or Millennium Palace, both situated at the Lake in walking distance to the Old Town of Ohrid. D

Hotel Tino***

June 8 OHRID
Wednesday
Sightseeing in Ohrid includes a walking tour through the cobbled streets, small churches of St. Bogorodica Bolnichki and St. Nikola Bolnichki; Cathedral of St. Sofia. Continue to the Icon Gallery; ancient theater; Ploeshnik archeological site; Church of St. Bogorodica Perivleptos; and Church of St. Jovan Kaneo. Return by small boat to the Old town’s center for independent lunch. Around 4 PM, we depart for the Monastery of St. Naum (about 30- 40 minutes drive). Boat trip to the springs of Crni Drim. Dinner is served near the monastery. Return to Ohrid for overnight. B-D

Hotel Tino***

June 9 OHRID - PRILEP
Thursday MONASTERY of TRESKAVETS
BITOLA
We make an excursion from Ohrid to the town of Prilep, set in the tobacco fields. On arrival, we transfer to jeeps for the off road trip to Treskavets Monastery. Visit here and have a picnic lunch provided by your local guide. Return to Prilep and our bus to drive back to Bitola where we visit the ancient city of Heraclea Lyncestis and the old city. Return to Ohrid via Lake Prespa and Galichica National Park. On the way back we have the opportunity to make a detour to the village of Kurbinovo in order to visit the Church of St. George. Upon return at Ohrid we have dinner at a selected restaurant. B-L-D

Hotel Tino***

June 10 OHRID - SKOPJE
Friday
Morning departure from Ohrid for a scenic drive to Skopje, passing along the mountain route by Debar Lake. Near the town of Struga is situated another treasure of Macedonian medieval history and art - the cave church of Virgin Mary, today part of the Kalishta Monastery complex. Following the Radika River Gorge we drive to the Monastery of St. John Bigorski. Our road passes Mavrovo National Park, where we have lunch at a road restaurant. After lunch we continue to Skopje. Our last detour that day will bring us to the town of Tetovo to see one of the most wonderfully decorated wooden mosques of the Balkans. The expected time of arrival in Skopje is around 5.00 p.m. Accommodations tonight are in the Stone Bridge Hotel in Skopje. Dinner is served at a private family owned restaurant tonight. B-L-D

Hotel Stone Bridge*****

June 11 SKOPJE
Saturday
A morning walking tour in Skopje includes the Old Turkish Bazaar; Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Old Turkish Trading Inns, and a stroll along the cobblestone streets lined with 19th century houses. We also visit the Church of St. Spas and the Kale. There is time for an Independent lunch in the old city. In the afternoon, we drive to the village of Narezi to visit the Church of St. Panteleimon; continue to the Matka Nature Reserve. Return to Skopje for dinner at a local restaurant. B-D

Hotel Stone Bridge*****

June 12 SKOPJE - SOFIA
Sunday
After checking out of the hotel, we go to explore Skopje National Museum, famous for its rich collection of 19th century traditional costumes and interesting archaeological artifacts excavated at the territory of FYROM. Continue on the road back to Sofia, via Kumanovo and Bulgarian Cherry Valley of the town of Kyustendil. Lunch en route definitely including cherry tasting. Upon arrival in Sofia, we drive directly to hotel Crystal Palace for accommodation and rest. Light dinner is served at the Architects club restaurant, situated nearby the hotel. There we can meet with the other guests are participating in the Seven Wonder of Bulgaria. B-L-D

Crystal Palace****

If not continuing on the Bulgaria tour...

June 13 DEPARTURE
Monday
For friends who will travel home after the Macedonia Mosaic combined with Albania or on Macedonia Mosaic only, we are providing accommodations at the Crystal Palace Hotel on June 12 and transfer to the airport in Sofia, June 13.