When seasoned traveller Ginny joined us in North Macedonia this summer, she was looking to hike somewhere new, on a trip that would dig deeper than “Ohrid”.
Everyone who has heard of North Macedonia has heard of Lake Ohrid. Fair enough, it’s one of the oldest lakes on the planet, its water the colour of a gemstone, its old town is a UNESCO heritage site dotted with Byzantine churches. But Ohrid is the country’s front door, not its house. Behind it: the mountains, the smaller lakes nobody mentions, and the village where an entire community dissolves into a giant wedding once a year.
Repeat guest Ginny, who joined our inaugural North Macedonia Activity Holiday in July wanted “to visit somewhere new and to do some hiking, to see another part of the Balkans, having really liked other Balkan countries.”
She knew, roughly, what she was booking — “a mountainous country, with Lake Ohrid and lots of history” — but not much more than that, and she wasn’t at all nervous about it. Asked if she’d had any doubts beforehand, her answer was a flat “Not at all!”
From Mavrovo and Pelister to Lake Prespa, North Macedonia has plenty to offer beyond Lake Ohrid, particularly for travellers who enjoy hiking, wild swimming and getting into the mountains.
Mavrovo National Park: wildflowers, juniper and a man who makes gin
Ginny was surprised by how many mountains we visited: “I knew Macedonia had national parks but not as many as it has,” she said.
North Macedonia is right up there with Montenegro, topping the list of Europe’s most mountainous countries. Estimates put 80-85% of its landmass as limestone peaks and grassy highlands. A gentler landscape, perhaps, than the Accursed Mountains of Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. But every bit as stunning…
“One of the days I loved was at Mavrovo National Park, having a relaxed morning looking round the historic village and in the afternoon hiking up to the Medenica peak through meadows of wild flowers and surrounded by amazing mountain scenery.”
The day ended with “a surprise gin tasting on the way down”; a welcome surprise lined up by Vojo, our guide.
Macedonia reportedly exports around 60% of Europe’s juniper berries, most of it wild-harvested from this region. It’s only recently that one small-batch distiller on the mountain decided to distill gin locally than shipping it abroad for someone else’s gin. He offers tastings, the gin infused with local mountain tea brewed from elderflower, wild thyme and ironwort.
Our 7-day North Macedonia Activity Holiday includes hiking or horseriding around Mavrovo up through forest tracks where wild thyme and juniper crush underfoot and release their fragrances into the air.
Pelister National Park: wild swims and hiking
Another highlight for Ginny was hiking and wild swimming at Pelister National Park, Macedonia’s oldest protected area. “One of my two loveliest swims was the mountain lake up at Pelister.” It’s not often the chance presents to plunge into glacial lakes, and this one came surrounded by a rich tapestry of colourful wild flowers – as pleasing to the eye as the exhilarating thrill of cold water swimming two kilometres above sea level.
On our 7-day North Macedonia Activity Holiday we follow the ‘Pelister Eyes’ trail to Malo Ezero (2,180m), the smaller of Pelister’s twin glacial lakes, with the larger Golemo Ezero lake (2,218m) an hour beyond, stopping for wild swims at each.
Ginny’s thoughts on North Macedonia
“Our guide was brilliant,” said Ginny, “with so much knowledge of the mountains and trails, wildlife, food, culture and history.”
The hosts left as much of an impression as the landscape: “The owners of the places we stayed at provided welcoming settings where you got a sense of the place and definitely wanted to stay longer.”
Home-cooked dinner at a family-run guesthouse rounded off the experience — nettle pie one night, roasted pepper dishes another night. “I didn’t know much about the food in Macedonia beforehand,” she added, “and it was lovely.”
Ask Ginny what she’d say to someone who still thinks this is “the Lake Ohrid country,” and she doesn’t hesitate: “Lake Ohrid is beautiful, but there’s so much more to see and experience in Macedonia as well.” Her only real regret is a familiar one: “Stay longer! There’s so much more to see, a week is never enough.”
The trip: All of this — Matka Canyon, the Mavrovo mountains, Galičnik’s traditions, Lake Prespa’s wildlife — is woven into our 7-day North Macedonia Activity Holiday, which combines kayaking, hiking, wildlife-watching and time with local guides who know this side of the country properly. The Galičnik Wedding Festival itself falls on the weekend nearest 12 July each year, so time a summer trip around it if you can.
Related:
- The best things to do in North Macedonia
- The 7 best things to do in North Macedonia with kids
- Authentic Balkan Travel: 10 Cultural Experiences You Can Be Part Of
FAQs: travelling beyond Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia
What is there to do in North Macedonia besides Lake Ohrid?
A genuine amount. Matka Canyon for boat trips and Vrelo cave, national parks like Mavrovo and Galičica, for hiking and horse riding, the Galičnik Wedding Festival each July for culture vultures, and Lake Prespa for bird watching and a far quieter pace than Ohrid ever offers in summer.
Can you go horse riding in North Macedonia?
Yes — Mavrovo National Park is the best base for it, with routes through pine forest and high pasture up toward the Šar mountains. It’s a gentler, quieter way to see terrain that’s hard to properly experience by car.
Can you kayak in Matka Canyon?
Yes, and it’s one of the most popular outdoor activities near Skopje. Kayaks and boats run from the canyon entrance up to Vrelo Cave, whose flooded depths are among the deepest in Europe. The nearby monastery of Sveti Andrej is worth the stop, cut directly into the canyon wall.
Is Lake Prespa worth visiting?
Yes, if you’re a more seasoned traveller, and particularly if you’ve already visited Ohrid and want somewhere quieter. Prespa has one of Europe’s larger Dalmatian pelican colonies, apple orchards along its shore, and Snake Island a short boat ride offshore — all with a fraction of Ohrid’s visitor numbers. Swimmers should note that it’s much shallower than Lake Ohrid, especially in summer.
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