7 days guided ATV & Buggy tour

Macedonia. Timeless beauty.  One of the last hidden destinations in Europe. Visit it, before tourists do. Our offer blends adventure, culture, nature and gastronomy experiences in a 7-day fully escorted exciting ATV tour. Let us introduce you to the breathtaking panoramic ride within 3 National Parks – Galicica, Pelister, Mavrovo and 3 marvelous lakes- UNESCO site Ohrid Lake, Prespa Lake and Mavrovo Lake. 

We will lead you across mountain passes and peaks as high as 2600m.a.s.l., along beautiful crystal lakes and rivers and through forests with many natural values, endemic flora and fauna. Can you imagine that only on Galichica Mountain we have 1644 species of butterflies and moths. Along the tour we shall pass by numerous cultural and historical monument such as archeological sites, cave churches, early Christian and Byzantium churches and monasteries. We shall have our meals with local communities, and you will get a chance to try traditional specialties.

Each day will be filled with sense of exploring, joy and excitement.

Highlights

• The total length of the tour is 550 km in a loop
• 3 National Parks, Galicica, Pelister, Mavrovo and their biodiversity 
• 3 Lakes, Ohrid, Prespa and Mavrovo Lake
• The highest point of the tour is Pelister peak with an altitude of 2601 m.a.s.l.
• Ohrid Lake is the oldest lake in Europe and UNESCO heritage
• Via Egnatia road
• Traditional Macedonian dishes

ATV Adventure Tour includes the following:

• Transfer from/to Ohrid Airport
• Transfer from/to Skopje Airport for a group reservation
• 6 Nights 3* Hotel Accommodations (Double or Single Occupancy)
• ATV or Buggy with fuel for 6 days (Double or Single Occupancy) 
• Food for 7 days (3 meals a day)
• Unlimited water bottles/coffee/tea for 7 days
• Helmet
• English speaking guides x 2
• National Park fees
• Souvenir

ATV Adventure Tour does not include the following:

• Any form of insurance
• Alcoholic beverages
• Airport transfer from/to Skopje 
• Flying tickets to Macedonia
• Damage cover for the vehicles

SHORT ITINERARY

• DAY 1   Arrival in Ohrid – Short ride – Briefing
• DAY 2   Ohrid – National Park Galicica – Prespa lake – National Park Pelister
• DAY 3   National Park Pelister – Peak Pelister 2601 m.a.s.l. Strezevo Lake – Demir Hisar
• DAY 4   Demir Hisar – Mount Ilinska –  Mavrovo Municipality – Lazaropole Village
• DAY 5   Lazaropole – National Park Mavrovo – Mavrovo Lake – Galicnik Village
• DAY 6   Galicnik Village – Gari Village – Mount Stogovo – Mount Karaorman – Vrbjani 
• DAY 7   Mount Karaorman – Village of Leshani – Village Kuratica – Kosel Village – Ohrid – Check Out
• DAY 8   Additional rest day

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Welcome day 

Arrival at Ohrid, Skopje or different airport. We will pick you up and accommodate you in one of our favorite hotels or villas. After check in and short rest, we head out for an awesome short ride on ATV into the hills. We will provide you with training on how to use the vehicle so you become comfortable in driving it. We will also provide you with step by step briefing of the tour. In the evening, we will have a delicious dinner at our beach front at “Bonanza beach & Restaurant”.

DAY 2 – Balkan Lynx Day in National park Galicica (around 100 km)

We start our magnificent journey by the Ohrid Lake, with coffee and abundant breakfast at “Bonanza Beach & Restaurant”.  We will give short overview of daily trip itinerary, check the vehicle and answer all the questions you may have.  

This day is ride through the Mountain Range of Galicica National Park. Due to its exceptional natural beauty and high biodiversity, it has been recognized by UNESCO. Al the way you will witness spectacular panoramic views, as the Galicica Mountain is situated between two ancient lakes: Ohrid and Prespa. You will enjoy some of the most beautiful sceneries of the Balkans. We will pass through villages of Shipokno and Velestovo and drive on a rocky off road to the highlands of Asandjura and the Red Lakes, where we will stop for tasty picnic lunch. Than we continue downhill towards the beautiful Prespa Lake, until we reach the foothills of National Park Pelister. We will have our overnight in cozy hotel under the mountain Baba, with traditional meal in friendly atmosphere.

DAY 3 – Molika Pine Day in National Park Pelister (around 110 km)

The day starts with best breakfast an ATV rider could ask for!  Today our highlight is the highest point of our ATV tour – the peak of Baba mountain – Pelister with its 2601 m.a.s.l. Baba mountain is part of National Park Pelister , and is with alpine characteristics, set between the valleys of Pelagonija and Prespa, and its over 465 million years old. 

This park is favorite spot for both adventure seekers and nature lovers. In the spring and summer, the meadows are sunbathing covered with many flowers and healing plants. We may have luck and see the daily butterflies Scythris crupta nad Scythris similis, which are endemic. In the night we may see the endemic night butterfly Hadena clara Macedonica.

For archeology lovers, we will pass through the Iron age settlements and medieval villages. Have in mind that our ride is following the ancient path Via Egnatia so you will have a unique chance to walk the same road that the Macedonian Phalanx, the Roman Legions and the Byzantine emperors traveled.

We ride through the one of the oldest and most compact Balkan forest communities of the Molika pine – Pinus peuce which is the best known feature of National Park Pelister.  Once you get down from Pelister the trail goes along Strezevo artificial lake and afterwards keep entering deep in the woods. In the afternoon we arrive in the village Obednik and we follow the short asphalt road to city of Demir Hisar. Our day concludes with dinner and refreshing shower.

DAY 4 – Wild-berries day (around 120 km)

After breakfast we will pass through Demir Hisar – medieval city which name means (Iron Castle translated from ottomans).Today trail is a fun ride in the mountains passing by churches and historical places. It first goes to St. Peter and Paul orthodox monastery, then turn towards north on the path among centuries old oak trees. After climbing many serpentines, we arrive on the top of Ilinska Mountain and have short lunch break at Ilinska Crkva (Ilinska Church).  Ilinska mountain is known as home for many birds, also in one of the villages local organize artist residencies since 2004 for painters, poets and writers from all over the world. This area has various wild berries, medicine herbs and mushrooms which are collected by few elderly that remained here. The terrain then goes downhill to the village Golemo Ilino and the road is very easy and enjoyable. Next village is Izvor, at the gates of Mavrovo municipality, where again we gain altitude and like roller coaster we go down to Lazaropole village. Lazaropole is situated on the southwestern side of the splendid Mount Bistra, with an incomparable sight towards the valley of the Garska River and the Stogovo Mountains. This area has the highest rainfall in Macedonia – over 1,200 mm a year – which explains the abundance of forests. This make the air pure, fresh, and healing and has made Lazaropole popular for being the place with the cleanest air in the Balkans. After dinner in the centrally located hotel you will experience the best sleep you ever had, we guaranty.

DAY 5 – Milk, Sheep, and Cheese day in National park Mavrovo (around 90 km)

In the morning we will have home-visit to local family that produces traditional Macedonian sheep cheese – parmigiano like.Today is dedicated to Mavrovo National Park – is the gift the nature created back in the Mesozoic era, as a mountain karst system. Mavrovo is part of Dinaric Arc, which to this date remains unique in the world for its size and composition. Its pine forests, canyons, waterfalls, sheep calmly grazing in its hill-top pastures protected by the faithful shepherd dogs “Sharplanincec”, make it a must see for visitors in the Balkan region. The park is home to North Macedonia’s highest peak, Mt Korab (2764m) and is known as biggest country ski resort. Astonishing forest off-roads, and views along the road, can satisfy any adventurer, regardless of their experience and age.  The delicious lunch will be served at the restaurant in the ski center Mavrovo. Afterwards, we continue to the village of Galichink (founded in 10th century) for which it is said – “If Macedonia is a biblical country, then Galichnik is its last relic!” Galichnik is set on 1400m altitude, is famous of its authentic architecture, rich cultural heritage and admirable landscapes, green pastures, beautiful yellow cheese and white cheese. The building skill of the inhabitants from this region is also known in European metropolises, where the masters proved their craft. We will have our overnight in a friendly family hotel.

DAY 6 – Miyaks, The artists and alchemist day (around 70 km)

Perfect breakfast with homemade kacamak (kind of maize porridge made in the Balkans) and yogurt. From this point we easy start to go back to Ohrid across Stogovo and Karaorman mountains. You will feel like in a fairy tale passing through valleys and old villages. We will stop for a coffee in Gari village. It is place of the Miyak tribes – famous for skilled woodcarvers who created numerous Iconostasis, among which is the breathtaking St.John Bigorski Monastery.   Then we continue towards Stogovo Mountain located between River Black Drim to the west and the River Sateska to the east. The road is gravel, rocky and bumpy at times. Stogovo is a young fold mountain that formed during the Alpine orogeny. It has three glacial lakes. On this mountain, you will enjoy deciduous beech and oak forests, which are replaced by evergreen pine forests in the upper area, and the rocky peaks themselves are surrounded by high grass pastures known as “Alpine pastures”. We will be moving under Babin Srt peak and slowly passing in the Mount Karaorman region (Black forest Mountain). Karaorman stretches in the north-south direction, between valleys of “Crn Drim” river in the west and “Pesočanska” and “Sateska” rivers to the east. After long day of ride we overnight in the medieval village of Vrbjani in traditional atmosphere.

DAY 7 – Via Egnatia – the road of Roman Legions (60 km)

Today is the last day of our guided tour. We will be heading back towards Ohrid – the starting point of this journey. After breakfast in village of Vrbjani, we will be proudly following the Via Egnatia – ancient roman road from 2000 years ago. Romans are known for building roads in most beautiful sceneries and this day you will experience it.  We will pass through the small but beautiful mediaeval villages Leshani, Kuratica and Kosel. Kosel is known among locals and especially kids stories for its extinct volcano Duvalo, which gives the village and its surroundings a permanent sulphuric scent. Finally we reach Ohrid – the Balkan Jerusalem, seat of Early Christianity and numerous famous personalities such as King Samuil, St.Kliment, St.Naum that were The Movers and Shakers within Bysantium Empire,and have chosen Ohrid as their base.  Ohrid Lake – oldest Lake in Europe. Lake Ohrid is Europe’s oldest lake, formed by tectonic rifting over two million years ago. Because the Lake Ohrid region existed in geographical isolation for millions of years, many unique flora and fauna have developed here, and continue to thrive: famous Ohrid trout, wide variety of mollusks and sponges and many more. Some of the European continent’s earliest settlements and heritage routes developed here. Through thousands of years, Illyrian, Greek, and Macedonian tribes found their home in Ohrid Region. Many of their centuries-old traditions are reflected in modern culture through the distinctive food, drink, art, music and literature that all have a unique Lake Ohrid flavor.

Like a thirsty lions we will jump in this ancient lake and toast to the 550km finished journey in the Macedonian highlands. Cheers to all brave man!

DAY 8 – Additional rest day or transfer to the Ohrid/Skopje airport.

On this additional day we can organize a relaxing boat tour on the Ohrid Lake visiting old city of Ohrid or St. Naum monastery, lunch on the springs of river Black Drim or dinner in one of the best restaurants by the Port. Get a discount in our beautiful hotels and Villas.

ATV Adventure 3 National Parks & 3 Lakes Tour Dates and Prices for 2022:

• May:              22.05. – 28.05.
• June:             29.05. – 04.06.      05.06 – 11.06.     12.06 – 18.06.     19.06. – 25.06.    26.06. – 02.07.
• July:               03.07 – 09.07     10.07 – 16.07      17.07 – 23.07     24.07 – 30.07
• August:         31.07 – 06.08      07.08 – 13.08       14.08 – 20.08     21.08 – 27.08
• September:  28.08 – 03.09      04.09 – 10.09        11.09 – 17.09     18.09 – 24.09

Full Cost for 6 nights:

• ATV single driver:         1700 Euro                
• Buggy single driver:     2200 Euro
• Additional passenger: 700 Euro        

Upgrades:

• Armor package: Protect yourself with full set of riding gear for 15 Euro per day
• Extra horsepower: Choose one of our premium ATV’s for 50 Euro per day
• Airport transfer: From Skopje to Ohrid and back for 150 Euro
• Insurance: 10 Euro per day
• Damage waivers: 20 Euro per day – covers damage costs up to 1000 Euro
• Extra Hotel accommodation: 40 Euro single room/ 60 Euro double room per day with breakfast

POLICIES

All drivers must be at least 18 years old with a valid Driver’s License. We do our best to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to experience our tours. All participants must sign a Liability release agreement. ATV Adventure Ohrid reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.

Riding ATV is considered an extreme sport and does require person to physically maintain and operate the ATV in a safe manner. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of other participants. Failure to operate the ATV in a safe manner may result in injury or death to yourself or other participants.

RESERVATIONS & PAYMENTS

Due to the limited capacities, advance reservations are highly recommended. 50% deposit payment is required if the booking is made in advance. Advance payments can be done by credit card or bank transfer. Bank commission is paid by the client. Payments on the spot can be made by cash or credit card. Free cancellation can be done 30 days prior to the reserved tour date