We start from Popova Shapka, from our hotel at an altitude of 1,700 m (5,577 ft), before

climbing up to 2,100 m (6,890 ft) and proceeding along a dirt road.

On our way we will enjoy spectacular views of Kobilica peak, Piribeg and even Ljuboten peak,

the start of the mountain. We hike up to the saddle leading to the Upper Leshnica valley at

2,200 m (7,218 ft), taking in views to the middle Leshnica rocks and Tito’s peak, the highest

peak of the Shar Mountains and the second highest in the country.

We will descend from Upper to Lower Leshnica, at 1,300 m (4,265 ft), a place where two

mountain rivers join, and take a short hike through a deep forest to a waterfall coming down in a

cave. One of the most scenic areas in the whole mountain. We’ll have a barbecue picnic in this

natural setting and will return to Popova Shapka using all-terrain vehicles.

On return to Popova Sapka we will have a late checkout and drive for approx. 2 hours to our

next destination, Mavrovo National Park.

Our hotel for the night is the unique Hotel Tutto, a clay made hotel with an amazing host. The

owner is an amazing character, dedicated builder and restorer of old houses as well as a

master chef.

We will enjoy the traditional Mavrovo cuisine, including specialities from lamb and beef, local

cheese and the amazing porcini mushrooms.

Galičnik is a mountain village in North Macedonia and along with Lazaropole is one of the two

biggest and oldest Mijak villages in the region. Galičnik has well-preserved traditional

architecture, including an amphitheater in the village square, and is famous for its surrounding

countryside and nature reserve. People from Galičnik and northwestern North Macedonia

appreciate the local yellow cheese kaškaval (Kashkaval) that is produced in the region as well

as the local salt brine white cheese "belo sirenje" which is a homemade speciality for this

region.

After breakfast we will start hiking from the hotel. We hike the old trading trail, connecting our

village to the village of Galicnik, the architectural wonder of Macedonian mountains. The village

was once even considered to be a city, and it was in the center for the wool business in the

Balkans. Now only the big stone houses are representing the once glorious past. We will arrive

at the small B&B in the village for a short tea, and continue our hike to Medenica peak, the

highest peak in Bistra mountain (2165m).

The peak gives us an amazing view to Shar mountain we just visited a day before, and to

Korab, the highest mountain in both Macedonia and Albania.

We will descend via another path, and get a pick up from our van. On the drive back to Hotel

Tutto, we will stop and visit St. John the Baptist monastery, which just celebrated 1000 years of

existence. We can have an early dinner in the monastery restaurant , chosen to be the best

restaurant in the country. We drive back (10min) to hotel Tutto and relax for one more night

Hike length. 16km
Positive altitude gain. 1150 meters

Breakfast and checkout. In 25 minutes driving we are at the base of Deshat mountain and the beautiful peak Krchin (2360. The trails start wiggling through beautiful mountain springs and rich beech forest. It comes to an amazing alpine terrain, opening a view toward Bistra mountain, and our previous hiking challenge. The ridge line we exit on is the border with Albania, and the peak itself has the remains of a church having the entrance on the Albanian side and althar from Macedonian side of the peak.

On our way to Ohrid will make brake in the famous village of Vevcani with visit of the water springs and lunch in a family restaurant.

We descend to our van, and drive towards the amazing UNESCO protected city of Ohrid.
We will settle in our hotel, by Ohrid lake, the oldest lake in Europe, and have a short walk out to dinner.

Hike length. 15km
Positive altitude gain: 1100 meters

Ohrid is a city in the southwestern part of Macedonia, on the northeast coast of Ohrid Lake.

Ohrid and Lake Ohrid are one of the main tourist destinations in Macedonia. This city is located

in the southwestern part of Macedonia, on the north-eastern coast of the Ohrid Lake. In terms of

traffic it is linked to roads leading to Skopje, Bitola, Debar and the Republic of Albania. The old

road Via Egnatia, linking the Adriatic and the White Sea, also passed in its vicinity, which was

an important circumstance for the development of Ohrid in the past. Traffic on the waters of the

Ohrid Lake is of little importance. It is used in the function of fishing and for tourist purposes.

Breakfast and departure to the Airport