North Macedonia
MAC004 Grand Macedonia Tour Program (MAC004) 8 Days 7 Nights
- 8 days 7 nights
- Private van + driver
- Flexible route
This tour offers you the opportunity to explore key highlights across North Macedonia, starting from the capital city of Skopje in the north, continuing to Strumica in the southeast, and reaching Ohrid in the southwest. Spanning the essential regions of modern-day North Macedonia, travelers will experience breathtaking nature, unique culture, and enduring traditions.
Day by day
Day 1 Skopje International Airport - Skopje
Skopje International Airport - Travel to Skopje
Transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Day 2 Skopje
Breakfast at the hotel
Skopje city tour: Visit cultural and historical landmarks across Skopje, including Kale Fortress, the Museum of Macedonia, the Church of Saint Spas (dating back to 1348), a stroll through the Old Bazaar, the Stone Bridge, Daut Pasha’s Bath (dating from 1489/1497), Kurshumli Han (an ancient caravanserai from 1550), and the Memorial House of Mother Teresa.
Lunch
Free time for shopping
Travel to Mount Vodno: Visit Mount Vodno, a favorite recreation getaway for Skopje locals. Take the cable car up to the 1,066-meter summit.
Transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Day 3 Skopje - Stobi Archaeological Site - Winery Tour - Strumica
Breakfast
Check out from the hotel and depart for Strumica. En route, stop to visit the Stobi Archaeological Site, the largest ancient city in the Balkan Peninsula, which was destroyed by a major earthquake in the 6th century.
Visit a local winery, complete with a guided presentation of the winemaking process, wine tasting, and lunch.
Arrive in Strumica and check in to your hotel.
Visit Vodoca Monastery and downtown Strumica.
Vodoca is a village located 5 kilometers from Strumica. The monastery is dedicated to Saint Leontius and features both the new church and the ruins of the original complex, including 11th-century frescoes.
Vodoca was an important medieval religious and cultural center, as well as an archaeological site where more than 1,000 medieval graves, jewelry, and 14th-century ceramics have been uncovered.
Nestled against picturesque mountains that enhance its spiritual atmosphere, the monastery offers breathtaking scenery in every season. Portions of the complex were rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries and restored in the 20th century.
Vodoca Monastery remains open to visitors and also provides lodgings for monks and travelers.
Afterward, head to Kolesino Waterfall near Strumica.
This waterfall is captivating throughout every season: in summer, it offers a refreshing escape filled with crisp mountain air, while in winter, the ice-draped cascades create a breathtaking scene.
Situated on the Baba River at an elevation of 610 meters amidst maple trees and rugged stone cliffs, the waterfall cascades down from a height of 19 meters.
Transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Day 4 Strumica (STRUMICA) - Bitola (BITOLA) - Ohrid (OHRID)
Enjoy breakfast.
Check out of the hotel and depart for Ohrid (OHRID).
Stop to visit the town of Bitola (BITOLA) and the nearby archaeological site "Heraclea Lyncestis".
Stroll along Sirok Sokak (Broad Street), once home to consulates of European countries during the Ottoman Empire.
Visit the Gazi Haydar-Kadi Mosque, built in 1561, known for its perfect classical Islamic architectural proportions in Bitola.
Visit the Yeni Mosque, built in 1558, renowned for its exquisite decorations and stunning artwork.
Visit the Church of St. Demetrius, built in 1830, famed for its delicate wood carvings and religious furnishings.
Visit the Heraclea Lyncestis archaeological site. Founded by Philip 2 of Macedon, Heraclea Lyncestis is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the Balkan Peninsula. The city has a history of more than a thousand years, flourishing in both the Roman and Early Christian eras.
Highlights of the site include the Roman theater, the thermal baths, and the basilica with its beautiful mosaic floors.
Enjoy lunch.
Continue the journey to Ohrid (OHRID).
Transfer to the hotel and check in.
Day 5 Ohrid
Breakfast
Explore the Old Town of Ohrid. Stroll along the historic streets of Ohrid, discovering traditional architecture and historical monuments, with landmarks every hundred meters: Ohrid Fortress (Tsar Samuel's Fortress), the highest point of Ohrid; the Church of the Holy Mother of God (Sv. Bogorodica Perivlepta), built in 1295 and celebrated for its architecture and magnificent frescoes; the Icon Gallery, featuring works from the 11th to 19th centuries; and the Ancient Theater, the oldest theater in Macedonia.
Plaosnik – the cultural and spiritual heart of Ohrid, home to the Monastery of Saint Clement (St. Panteleimon).
Church of St. John at Kaneo – built in the 13th century on a cliff overlooking the lake, an iconic symbol of the city.
Church of St. Sophia – an important Ohrid church with remarkable architecture and priceless frescoes from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Robev Family House – an architectural gem built in 1863, housing archaeological artifacts from prehistoric and medieval times.
Stroll through the Ohrid Old Bazaar, admiring traditional crafts such as Ohrid pearls, filigree jewelry, and woodcarving.
Lunch at a local restaurant in the Old Town.
Enjoy free time to explore the town and go shopping at your leisure.
Return to the hotel to relax.
Transfer to the hotel and check in.
Day 6 Ohrid (OHRID) - Struga (STRUGA) - Vevcani (VEVCANI) - St. John Bigorski (ST.JOHN BIGORSKI ) - Ohrid (OHRID)
Breakfast
In the morning, depart for Struga. Enjoy the scenery around this town located on the shores of Lake Ohrid, full of picturesque bridges and beautiful architecture, with the Crn Drim River flowing through the town center after originating from St. Naum and flowing across Lake Ohrid.
Visit the Kalishta Monastery complex, where a small cave church is perched high on the cliff, with church frescoes dating back to the 14th–16th centuries.
Continue journey to Vevcani, a large village built on steep hillsides. The village features unique architecture with diverse styles of historic houses and the soothing sound of water flowing through the village from Vevcani Springs, with a flow rate of 400–4,000 liters per second.
See traditional watermills in operation.
Lunch at a local restaurant in Vevcani Village.
Visit Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery (St. John Bigorski) in Mavrovo National Park, one of the most popular attractions in Macedonia, rebuilt on the site of an ancient monastery dating back to 1020.
Return to the hotel in Ohrid.
Transfer to the hotel and check in.
Day 7 Ohrid (OHRID) - St. Naum (ST.NAUM) - Ohrid (OHRID)
Breakfast
Enjoy free time sipping morning coffee by the lake. Depart for St. Naum Monastery by bus or boat (1 hour).
Along the way, stop to visit the “Bay of the Bones” Museum on Water, featuring a reconstruction of a prehistoric village on wooden piles.
Visit St. Naum Monastery (built in the 9th century) founded by Saint Naum, a disciple of Saints Cyril and Methodius. It is one of the most significant monasteries in the Balkans, located on the Macedonian-Albanian border on the western slopes of Mount Galicica. Explore St. Naum Monastery.
Lunch at St. Naum (during lunch, you may opt for an optional 20-minute small boat tour around the springs near the restaurant).
Depart back to Ohrid. Arrive in Ohrid.
Transfer to the hotel and check in.
Day 8 Ohrid - Skopje - Skopje International Airport
Breakfast
Check out of the hotel and travel to Ohrid Airport.
Check in at the airport and depart.
Included
- Private van with driver (price includes the driver's fuel, tolls, hotel and meals)
- Group travel insurance as required by law, with coverage according to the policy terms and conditions
Not included
- Your hotel
- Parking fees, paid per occurrence according to the places you actually visit on your itinerary
- For coach services, the price does not include city permits, which are paid per occurrence according to your actual itinerary. If the vehicle needs to be taken on a ferry, the fee is paid on the spot at the actual cost.
- Driver's tip, optional and at your discretion. We recommend 40 EUR per day per group
- Anything not stated as included, such as lunch and dinner, luggage handling fees at your hotel, visa fees, international flight tickets, and sightseeing tickets, is paid by you on the spot at the actual cost. 7% VAT and 3% withholding tax are also not included.
- If you would like a tour leader, there is an additional charge of 16,500 THB per day. The price includes the tour leader's hotel and meals.
Payment
- Installment 1: Deposit of 5,350 THB (baht) per group, payable by credit card directly through the website system. We will then issue a confirmed tour booking voucher for you (if the trip is not confirmed, a 100% refund will be issued within 7 days). • Installment 2: 5,000 THB (baht) per person within 7 days after receiving confirmation. • Installment 3: 25,000 THB (baht) per person after visa approval and/or no less than 30 days before departure. • Installment 4: The remaining balance per person on Day 2 of the trip, after we pick you up (for your peace of mind).
Lowest one-way fare found by searchers each month; real prices change by date
Data and links by Aviasales (partner) · we may earn a small commission when you book, your price stays the same
Flights and extras you can book yourself
Flights are not included in the tour price. Compare fares here if you want to book them yourself, or mention it in your quote request and Rin will look for flights for you.
Thai language, pay in baht
Arrive before the tour starts or stay on a few days; pick a hotel near the station yourself
Sightseeing tickets, booked ahead, no queue
A delay of over 3 hours on a European flight can mean up to 600 euros per person
Photo: Dimo Dimov · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Popular with Thai travellers, Thai-language pages
Back the same evening, transport and guide included, pick your date
Partner links · we may earn a small commission when you book, your price stays the same
Similar programmes
7 days 6 nights
Private Tour: Charms of Balkan Lakes and Historic Towns 7 Days 6 Nights (Skopje, Bitola, Ohrid, Tetovo)
Photo: Pixabay / dimitrisvetsikas1969 8 days 7 nights
Private Tour: Charms of the Balkan Peninsula 8 Days 7 Nights (Skopje, Tirana, Kotor, Mostar, Sarajevo)
10 days 9 nights
