North Macedonia and Greece Cycling Tour

Your trip begins today with your arrival at the first hotel in Ohrid which will be your base for the next 2 adventure-filled days!

An arrival briefing will be held with a representative this morning, however, this brief meeting may also take place in the evening of day 1, depending on your arrival time.

You’ll receive your bicycle and adjust it to your needs before enjoying the remainder of the day at your leisure. Opt to set out on two wheels for a warm-up ride or enjoy the sights and sounds of Ohrid on foot.

You can visit the bazaar in the center which is within walking distance of your hotel or you can take a nice walk along several beautiful monasteries in the Oldtown. You can join a fantastic boat trip on one of the oldest lakes in the world: Lake Ohrid. Since 1980, Lake Ohrid has been listed with UNESCO and is partly located in Albania. This unique lake is at an altitude of approximately 700 meters, wedged between the mountains of Petrino and Galicica.

Today’s ride begins with cycling north through the valley which is known for its fertile soil and many orchards. Cherries, apricots, grapes, apples and a lot of plums along this stretch make for a fragrant ride! Narrow roads, countryside and sleepy farming villages characterize this beautiful section as you cycle along with an old volcano and continue along the east banks of the Ohrid Lake to the Bay of Bones: a reconstruction of an ancient village on the lake, dating to 6000 years ago.

Your accommodation for tonight is in an ancient monastery in Sveti Naum.

Set out on another beautiful route this morning as you pedal from Lake Ohrid to Lake Prespa through the Galicica National Park. Both lakes are separated by the Galicica mountain. Your journey starts with a long (14km) gradual climb to an altitude of 1,550m with lots and lots of stunning views along the way.

After a long descent, you’ll finish at Prespa Lake. Your hotel is located directly on the lake, which is known for its abundant birdlife. You will stay in the historic hotel Lakeview, built in the 1950s by political prisoners of the old socialistic system.

Wake up early in the morning to spot pelicans at the lake before heading off on your bike for today’s ride. You’ll set out along the lakefront and witness the landscape gradually shift into sprawling orchards as you cycle through small villages. Up next, a gradual climb on a partly cobblestone road will lead you to a pass at 1,200m. After the descent, you’ll pedal through the rural landscape scattered with ancient, sleepy villages.

Arrive in Bitola: a vibrant historical city with a long history and previously known as the trading center of the Balkans. The Ottoman domination of the past can still be seen in the streets: Ottoman architecture, the cobblestone streets and the bazaar of Bitola. Bitola is also situated at the foothills of the Pelister National Park that is characterized by an overwhelming flora and fauna.

Today your ride will have you crossing the border into Greece as you make your way to Florina. Florina is the capital of the Florina prefecture and is situated at an altitude of 700 meters along the river Sakoulevas, surrounded by forests and mountains.

Today you have a choice between two routes. The first 35 kilometres are the same for both routes and you cycle on the lower slopes of the mountains of the Pelister National Park. The easier option continues in a southern direction and after 8km you’ll reach Florina. The longer route is a 30km loop through unspoiled nature with a steep climb. You will reach the summit at an altitude of 1300 meters with a descent of 600 meters over 10km. After a beautiful descent through the valley, you reach Florina.

Today you will cycle north towards a cluster of lakes; the largest one being Vegoritas Lake. The lakes are interconnected with each other through a variety of channels and tunnels. The Vegoritas Lake is a haven for rare birds and is a protected area.

The first 25km are almost flat through a wide valley dotted with farmland and small villages. After that, the road gradually ascends to an altitude of 950 meters. During the final stretch, you’ll cycle along the lake to your final destination Agios Panteleimon. Once here, pay a visit to the winery Alpha Estates, one of the best wineries in all of Greece!

The route to Kastoria is one of the longest rides of this holiday, but the views and birdlife make it well worth the effort. Today, you’ll cycle along vineyards to the pretty village of Amindeo where you may have a break for a refreshing ice coffee before continuing along Chimaditida Lake, known to be a haven for an array of birdlife. An elevation gain of 500 meters over 10km is challenging, but once reaching the top you will be rewarded with stunning views over the valley with Lake Kastoria on the horizon. After a long and smooth descent, you will reach the ancient town of Kastoria. The hotel for the next 2 days is situated near the lake in a beautiful setting.

Kastoria is a nice old town with lots of things to see and do. It lies partly on a peninsula surrounded by a large lake which is surrounded by plane trees. During the bike trip across the peninsula, you will pass the caves of the "dragon". This 300-meter-deep cave with several lakes is an absolute sight to behold! Remnants of bears that lived here 10,000 years ago were found in this cave. Kastoria is characterized by many beautiful mansions and Byzantine monuments.

On the promenade along the water, you’ll find many terraces and restaurants—all you need for a perfect relaxing evening in historic Kastoria.

You’ll cycle south today and after about 20km, arrive at the ancient town of Argos Orestiko with its narrow streets, squares and neoclassical buildings. 25km further the landscape becomes hillier and the route continues through one of the most important natural habitats of Greece. In the higher mountains, wolves and brown bears have been observed. The route continues through an undulating landscape along streams and villages and several short climbs emerging rapidly on the horizon, before reaching the provincial town of Grevena.

Grevena is located on the banks of the river Doxaniti Greveniti. This lively city with numerous bistros and restaurants played an important strategic role during the ancient Byzantine period and was also known as the trade center in the region.

After leaving Grevena you are immediately riding through a vast natural landscape—a truly delightful ride. The views are stunning with circling birds of prey in the distance. After 10km the road gradually ascends for the next 15km. You will reach the highest point of today and then enjoy a long descent into the wide valley of the river Pinios. This ‘plain of Thessaly’ was once an inland sea, but now, you’ll see huge rock formations shaped by wind and water erosion, millions of years ago. On top of these huge granite pillars, monks built impressive monasteries, Megalo Meteoron being the most famous.

Your overnight location for the next two days is next to the rock formations, meaning each morning, you’ll wake up to a view like no other.

Enjoy your last bike ride with a beautiful tour along with these gigantic limestone rock formations with the impressive monasteries built on top. Monks began building these monasteries in the 11th-century, using ropes and ladders for lifting up the building materials! Nowadays, there are six monasteries that are all on display and are true works of art. The second part of this ride goes through the wide river valley with beautiful views of Meteora.

If you don’t fancy cycling today, you may prefer to choose one of the great walks in this area and walk on old, cobbled footpaths that once were the only way to reach the monasteries.

After breakfast this morning your trip concludes. Check out and depart for your onwards travels.