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Skopje – Bitola – Orhid – Skopje
One of the youngest countries in world, North Macedona got independence because of the breakup of formar Yugoslovia in 1991. Intially known as Macedona but this name was objected ny Greece as it has a province with same name. North Macedonia is not part of EU as Bulgeria objected to it. There were unrest and issues in past but now it is largely a peaceful country.
Day 1
Fly to Skopje from London
My flight was late in the evening from Skopje. Reached airport at early morning at about 3 AM. I already had a pre booked car to my hotel. Reached my apartment hotel at the break of dawn and relaxed.
Day 2
Skopje
Today was dedicated for hiking. I took a bus from my hotel and around 8 in morning and went to Middle Vondo about 3.5 mile. From there I started walking. First part of the walk is to reach to Millineum cross, it is 66 meter tall cross situated on top of Vondo mountain towering over the capital city of Skopje. There is a cable car to reach to top but also one can hike all the way way up there. I bought one way ticket up to the cross. Its a very nice view up there. Next part of the walk is hiking excursion from the Millennium Cross (1060 m.asl.) and following the ridgeline to the West to Canyon Matka in 3-4 hours’ time (11km). Canyon Matka is a significant landmark with several medieval byzantine monasteries and natural rarities – a compulsory visit when you are in Skopje. Each photograph of Canyon Matka represents a story by itself – a historical monument, a wildlife splendor, a place for spiritual awakening, a getaway destination from the noisy and chaotic streets of Skopje. And each photo calls you out to explore the richness of this natural treasure – you can do it all here: hiking, kayaking, swimming, cave exploring, rock climbing, fine dining.
During my hike an unforgettable 360 degree panorama overlooking Skopje opens up and then some more – Mount Skopska Crna Gora, Jakupica Mountain and the magnificent ridge-line of Sharr Mountain – with many peaks of 2500+ meters. The canyon thrives with natural richness. Matka is home to a wide variety of plants and animals – some 20% of the plant life there is endemic and only found here. The canyon is also home to 77 indigenous species of butterflies and the caves are full with large populations of bats. I reached on the other side of the river , there was also another guy who was hiking and waiting to go to the other side. We managed to draw attention of a boatman who gave us a ride to cross the river.
Due to the limestone geology of the area, there are several caves and pits at Matka Canyon, with the lengths ranging from 20 metres (65.6 feet) to 176 metres (577.4 feet). Matka is also home to the oldest artificial lake in the North Macedonia.
The first significant place in the canyon is St.Nikola Shishevski monastery from XIV century. It is built on a small plateau next to a rock face and it offers a unique view high above the canyon – Matka Lake and the other monasteries and churches: St.Nedela, St.Andrew, Monastery Holy Mother of God (all dated XIII-XIV century). In medieval times this was an important spiritual place evenly compared to Mount Athos peninsula in the Aegean Sea. I was super hungry after this hike . So there is no better way to relax on a platter of fish and a giant mug of beer.
After food I took a boat to visit Vrelo Cave. Located on the right bank of Treska River, Vrelo Cave is considered a natural wonder with its many stalactites and cave interior. There are also two lakes at the end of the cave, with one larger than the other. Though the exact depth of the cave is unknown, some speculate that it could be the deepest underwater cave in the world. The return journey was supposed to be very simple . There is direct bus back to Skopje. However the bus did not arrive for a long time, so I started walking , eventually I met a group of very young english backpackers. A taxi driver was offereing us a shared ride backi to Skopje, I convinced them to go for it . Total we were 8 , somehow we managed to fit in that tiny cab (on seating each others lap) and cam back to Skopje.
Day 3
Explore Skopje
Morning was dedicated to explore the Skopje city. Unlike many other Balkan capitals such as Belgrade, Sofia, and Zagreb, which only grew to importance during the 19th century, the capital of North Macedonia, Skopje, is an ancient city dating back several millennia. As such, the city has many fascinating and often contradicting cultural and historical layers detectable in everything, from the architecture to the food to the language. The name “Skopje” itself is steeped in antiquity, tracing back to the Roman city of Scupi in the second century AD. Long before Skopje’s current incarnation, the area came under Byzantine rule, witnessed conflicts between the Byzantines and the Bulgarian Empire, and eventually became part of the Serbian Empire in 1282. In 1392, the city fell to the Ottoman Turks, who named it Uskub and held control for over 500 years. This strategic location in the Ottoman Balkans made it a hub of commerce and administration. Over time, the city’s name evolved, with “Skopje” emerging as the Slavic rendition of Scupi during the Middle Ages. In 1912, the territory was annexed by the Kingdom of Serbia, during the Balkan Wars, and the city became known as “Skoplje” in many languages. Following World War II, as a part of Yugoslavia, it was officially named “Skopje” as standard Macedonian became the official language in the territory.
At the heart of Skopje lies Macedonia Square, a bustling hub and the city’s focal point, dominated by the colossal statue of Alexander the Great on horseback. Crossing the Vardar River, one will encounter the Stone Bridge, a symbol of Skopje’s enduring connection between its past and present. A stroll through the Old Bazaar, with its labyrinthine streets and centuries-old shops, is like stepping back in time. Here, you’ll find treasures and trinkets, spices and sweets, all imbued with the essence of Skopje’s history. And of course, no visit to Skopje is complete without ascending to Kale Castle, also known as Skopje Fortress. This ancient citadel overlooks the city and offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
The Mother Teresa Memorial House is another interesting place to visit located in memory of Mother Teresa , Noble peace prize winner . A large part of her life was dedicated to the under privilaged children of India (specially Kolkata).
Bitola
After mid day I checked out from my accomodation and left for Bitola. Bitola, southernmost city of North Macedonia. It lies on the Dragor River at an elevation of 2,019 feet (615 metres) at the western edge of the Bitola Plain, a few miles from the Greek. Bus from Skopje to Bitola takes around 4.5 hours . From Bus stop its about 30 mins walk to my hotel (Hotel Boulevard) where I was staying for the night.
Day 4
Explore Bitola ruins
I wolk up early today to visit Heraclea Lyncestis is an ancient Macedonian city located 2 km from Bitola. In the middle of the II-nd century B. C. the Romans conquered Macedonia, destroying its political power, making it a province, disintegrated it into four districts. Heraclea which belonged to the fourth district, prospered a lot during this time, mainly due to Via Egnatia road, on which this town was an important station. From the Roman period in Heraclea, today we can see several buildings such: Roman baths, the portico of a courtroom, Theatre, and parts of other buildings within the town walls.
I spent about 1.5 hours walking around the ruins and thyen returned back to my hotel.
Lake Orhid
My bus was at 11 AM from intercity bus station. It took about 1.5 hours to reach to Lake Orhid. I had a great lunch at retrurant Antico and then checked in to Villa Mesokastro where I would be staying for 2 days. Latter , after some rest I had another great dinner at Viva Ksantika Kaj Tanja.
Day 5
Lake Orhid
This is the oldest tectonic lake in Europe, and a must see, if you are in the area. Shared by states (Macedonia , Greece and Albania ) every side . There are few local companies who run the boat cruises in the lake. I took 10am boat . Starts at Ohrid, and stops in 3 stops, including Museum on Water and St. Naum. There is about half an hour for the museum, and 2.5 hours in St. Naum. We had time to visit St. Naum Monastery, swim at the beach and even enjoy a long lunch. The boat leaves St. Naum at 5:30pm and arrives at Ohrid at around 7pm. This is a standard stop on a boat trip to St Naum monastery. It is a replica of a bronze age village set on a platform in lake Ohrid, there is a museum with artifacts found on the site and of course the village has been reconstructed using materials only available at that time. Its a lovely photo opportunity, and a very interesting place to visit.
The Monastery of St. Naum is a magnificently massive complex, located 29 kilometers south of Ohrid, on a plateau close to the Albanian border. Visited by pilgrims and travelers alike, this eastern orthodox monastery is one of the few with locational and architectural splendor. Overlooking the Lake of Ohrid, the walls provide breathtaking panoramic views of the entire bay area. I walked aroud the surrounding jungle. After that little trek , I visited the monestry itself. St. Naum of Ohrid (Sveti Naum in Macedonian), was a medieval scholar and writer, who together with Saint Clement continued the task of spreading Christianity among the Slavic speaking people of the region. Building upon the work of the sainted brothers Cyril and Methodius, St. Naum is associated with the creation of the Glagolitic and Cyrillic scripts.
Finally had a great lunch at Resturant Ostovo before returning back the the same boat for the trip back to Orhid.
In the evening walked along the shore of the lake.
Day 6
Had a great walk in the early morning and then breakfast. After that packed my bags and left for Skopje. The bus took about 3 hrs. Had a great lunch and then left for airport. Reached london luton late evening.
