North Macedonia and Serbia Photography Tour

Itinerary

Friday, September 8

Arrive at Skopje Airport (SKP). Transfer will be provided to the Park Hotel & Spa.

Today, we’ll explore Skopje’s Old (Turkish) Bazaar. Walk across the Stone Bridge, an important city landmark, which spans the Vardar River to connect Macedonia Square with the Old Bazaar. Marvel at Skopje’s abundance of aesthetically pleasing statues, including the monument and fountain of Alexander the Great in the center of the city. A highlight today will be a visit to the Memorial House of Mother Teresa. The renowned Catholic saint and Nobel Peace Prize laureate was born in Skopje in 1910. Tonight we gather for a group welcome dinner.

Saturday, September 9

This morning we’ll eat breakfast at the hotel and have some time to photograph in Skopje before we begin our journey westward.

Our first stop is in the city of Tetovo to visit and photograph the Šarena Džamija, or ‘Decorated/Painted Mosque.’ This unique Ottoman-era structure was originally built in 1438 and restored in 1833 after it was damaged by earthquakes and fire. We are sure to be impressed with Šarena Džamija’s intricate and colorful paintings, decorations, and ornaments, as well as its fascinating history.

Further down the road, we’ll enter Mavrovo National Park, a scenic mountainous region with stunning canyons, pristine streams and waterfalls, glacial lakes, alpine meadows, and densely wooded forests. We’ll stop at the medieval Saint John Bigorski Monastery, an important Macedonian pilgrimage site, nested on the slope of Bistra Mountain.

At the end of the day, we’ll settle close to the Park in the village of Mavrovo. Overnight at Mia’s Favorite Hotel

Sunday, September 10

A morning of photography in Lazaropole before we continue on to our next destination, Lake Ohrid.

Behold the captivating scenery as we ride. We’ll stop for photographs and visit a mountain village or two, perhaps Gari or Vevčani, where we can have lunch and take a little break.

In the afternoon, we’ll arrive in the city of Ohrid on Lake Ohrid and get settled into our hotel. Ohrid has been called “The Jerusalem of the Balkans” due to the plethora of churches in the city. Both the city and the lake are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We’ll take a guided walk to fully explore the quaint atmosphere and charming houses and monuments of Old Town. We hope for a magical sunset tonight. We’ll have amazing views from St. John Kaneo, a grand Orthodox church perched atop rugged cliffs overlooking Lake Ohrid.

Overnight at Unique Resort & Spa

Monday, September 11

Relax this morning. Midday, we’ll make a short drive to Kuratica, a small mountain village where time has seemingly stopped. Kuratica transports us to a life Macedonians might have lived centuries ago. Cute, social donkeys are commonplace. Many families keep them in their yards, using them for light work and companionship. We’ll indulge in the pleasure of a homemade lunch in Kuratica and also meet up with a local folklore group who will perform traditional dances in their decorative costumes.

Back in Ohrid, the evening is free to spend at your leisure. Overnight Unique Resort & Spa

Tuesday, September 12

After breakfast, we’ll bid farewell to Ohrid and head south through Galičica National Park toward Lake Prespa. There are several viewpoints to stop and photograph along the way.

Golem Grad, also known as Snake Island, is a small island in Lake Prespa. The island is officially located in North Macedonia, but neighbors Greece and Albania are just a few kilometers away. If weather permits, we’ll take a boat trip to this walker-friendly island. Once a king’s summer playground, Golem Grad now showcases a remnant settlement built long ago. Ancient ruins, including churches and monasteries, date as early as the 2nd century. These days, flora and fauna are Golem Grad’s only inhabitants. Wild tortoises, many bird species, including Dalmatian pelicans and great cormorants, snakes (as you may have guessed), and other small creatures can be found here.

We’ll spend the next two nights at Hotel Treff in Bitola, one of the most historically significant cities in North Macedonia.

Wednesday, September 13

Today will be an adventure. In the morning, we’ll load into 4×4 jeeps and leave the city to explore remote areas of the legendary Mariovo region. This region is dominated by breathtaking landscapes. The River Crna flows through the valley, creating Skochivirska Klisura, the largest and longest canyon in all of North Macedonia. The mountains and rolling hills are interspersed with small villages where we’ll discover historic architecture, centuries-old traditions, and unique cultures.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll make our way back to Bitola and meander the city’s bazaars, mosques, and any other interesting sights we spot along the way. We’ll end the evening with a stroll down the pedestrian-friendly Široki Sokak Street, the cosmopolitan hub of North Macedonia. Overnight Hotel Treff

Thursday, September 14

Some of the oldest winemaking regions exist in the Balkan countries, North Macedonia included! For that reason, we’ll leave the city this morning and set out for North Macedonia’s Tikves wine region. Tikves is the country’s most famous wine region; vineyards stretch far and wide throughout the region’s gently rolling hills.

En route, stop and photograph the Roman archeological site of Stobi. Well-preserved mosaics, remnants of temples and basilicas, and a theater are just a few highlights of this ancient city. Just down the road, we’ll make a visit to the Stobi Winery to tour its amazing wine cellar, followed by a wine tasting with snacks.

The day ends in the small town of Demir Kapija, the gateway to the fertile Tikves Valley. We’ll check into the hotel at Royal Winery Queen Maria, a Royal estate that sits in perfect harmony with its natural surroundings. Here we can enjoy the finesse and the texture of the wine within our luxury apartments and the wine bars, restaurant, and amphitheater, 

Friday, September 15

Rise and shine! A sunrise photo shoot above the vineyards is on the menu for this morning.

Eat breakfast, and then we’re on our way to Dojran Lake. Dojran’s fishermen are especially proud of an old, traditional fishing technique, and here we can photograph them in their fishing boats and huts that stand on stilts above the water’s surface.

Next, we arrive at Strumica, one of the larger cities in the country’s southeastern region. We won’t spend too much time in Strumica, but we will make one stop here to visit one of the oldest nunneries in the country.

In the afternoon, we’ll meet up with locals in a little village called Gabrovo. Our hosts will take us around and introduce us to the area, known for its pepper production. Along the way, we’ll pick up fruits and vegetables, which we can use for a special traditional meal we’ll prepare with our hosts.

On the return to Royal Winery Queen Maria, if time allows, we’ll stop for a photo shoot at Kolešino Falls on the Baba River. One last cozy evening at Royal Winery Queen Maria.

Saturday, September 16

As the end of our trip is near, we’ll make our way back to Skopje today.

Along the way, we’ll stop in Kratovo to explore a bit. The town of Kratovo lies on the western slopes of Mount Osogovo, right in the crater of an extinct volcano! This off-the-beaten-path location is known for its medieval towers and stone bridges. We’ll also stop in nearby Kuklica, which has around 120 naturally-formed, massive stone pillars. A few legends surround the formation of the strange pillars, thought to be 100,000 years old, and we may experience a mystical aura standing in their presence.

We hope for enough time to visit one last beautiful monastery, Saint Joachim of Osogovo, before we settle in Skopje for the evening. Overnight Park Hotel & Spa

Sunday, September 17

Last but certainly not least, we venture into Serbia to visit Donja Lokosnica, the self-proclaimed paprika capital of the world. It’s harvest time! The area is bustling as the majority of villagers harvest, string, and dry their red peppers. Millions of hot, yet sweet, red peppers surround us, and the waves of intense crimson provide us with ample photographic opportunities. This is the place to purchase paprika and a traditional Serbian condiment called ajvar which is made from their peppers and also contains garlic, chili pepper, and roasted aubergine.

We’ll have lunch with a local family to experience the warm hospitality of this part of the world.

With our senses revitalized, we’ll return to Skopje. Gather tonight to reminisce, bid our farewells, and of course, enjoy one last Macedonian dinner with wine. Overnight Park Hotel & Spa

Monday, September 18

Breakfast at the hotel this morning along with free time before departure. Transfer to the Skopje Airport for your flight home today.