Escorted Tour 8 Days/7 Nights

FEATURES & INCLUSIONS
7 nights in 4 stars hotels

• Arrival and departure transfers
• Professional Tour Director throughout
• Luggage handling
• Sightseeing Tours Included: St.Naum, Struga, Galicica national park, Prespa lake, Bitola, Pelister, St Jovan Bigorski, Mavrovo.

Day 01, arrive Ohrid or Skopje
We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure. Welcome dinner and overnight.

Day 02, in Ohrid
 Half day of sightseeing will present St.Sophia church 11th century - Cathedral of Ohrid archbishops. Fourth basilica built on this same spot (the oldest one being a roman basilica (courthouse). Ohrid traditional architecture. Ancient theatre – The theatre is the only visible monument from ancient times. It is the only Hellenistic theatre in Macedonia. Kaneo settlement - Start the walk to Kaneo from St.Sophia church. You can reach it from Plaoshnik but you would miss out on the great views and the quiet streets of Ohrid. Kaneo settlement was the quarter of the poor fishermen. This the most scenic spot of Ohrid, standing below the rock on which St.Jovan Kaneo church is situated. There is a small beach overcrowded in summer and couple of restaurants. Icon gallery – In the courtyard of St.Bogorodica Perivlepta church is the Ohrid icon collection with some of the best examples of the iconographic art in Macedonia. It is considered to be the second most important and valuable collection of icons in the world after the Moscow collection so check it out.
Back to hotel - free afternoon
Dinner and Dance

Day 03, to Struga
9:30AM Bus tour (AC) to Struga. (30 minutes)
Located on the coast of the magnificent and eternal Lake Ohrid and along the banks of the Black Drim river, which flows right out of the lake splitting the city in two halves, makes Struga a truly unique city in the whole of Balkans. A real pearl of the Balkan peninsula. A city of poetry, culture, history and a long tradition. Lunch at etnic hotel "Biser"
Return to Ohrid at 3:00PM
Diner with Mayor of Ohrid

Day 04
9:00 There is a walking tour of "Old Ohrid" this morning.
We will visit the Old bazaar - Since Ohrid was a big religious and cultural center, it never was an important trade center, which is evident by the size of its bazaar. It is a simple bazaar consisted of just one street. It starts with the food market (it used to be the animal market in the past). After the market the bazaar begins with a small square. On the square there is an 800 – 1000 years old plane tree (in the beginning of the 20th century there used to be a barber shop inside the crack of the trunk) and an ugly fountain. Above the square the clock tower of Ohrid stands….
Lunch at 'Old town"
2:00 PM back to hotel
3:00 pm –lunch in the hotel
4:00pm-Ohrid fortifications – The whole old town is circled with walls which are crowned with King Samoil fortress. The first fortifications were built in the 5th c BC, but the oldest remains preserved are from 3rd c. BC. The fortifications were reinforced many times through history and what we see today is from the 10th c. Great views over the lake and Ohrid from here.
7:30 Diner and Folk Dance

Day 05, to St. Naum
10:00AM Boat transfer (90 minutes)
This morning we are going to visit St.Naum one of the most beautiful monasteries in Macedonia and an important pilgrimage place. Breathtaking setting on a plateau over Ohrid Lake and Galicica mountain towering from behind. It was founded in the 910 by St.Naum, but the present day church was built in the 16th c. Of the original church just the side chapel with the grave of St.Naum still stands. The frescoes were painted in 1806. In the side chamber it is popular to get down on your knees and try to listen the heart of St.Naum. Around the church look for the peacocks including a rare albino one. Next to the monastery the river enters the lake, goes through it and it comes out in Struga. Around the monastery there is a pleasant sandy beach. A full day to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder.
Lunch 2:00PM
3:00PM return to Ohrid
Free evening diner at your own

Day 06
- Prespa Lake, lunch at Molika Restaurant, continuous to city of Bitola (60 Minutes)
City tour and return back to Ohrid at 5:30PM
Diner at 7:30

Day 07, tour with boat
East coast of Lake Ohrid: The east coast is the most beautiful part of Ohrid Lake. It is part of Galicica National Park and it is protected by UNESCO along with the lake for its natural values. The tour goes along the lake and is lined with hotels, tourist setelments and organized beaches. Lunch beside the lake.
Afternoon shopping in Ohrid
Ohrid is known for the so called "Ohrid Pearls", made of scales of the Plasica fish from the Ohrid Lake - a very nice souvenir. The water is drinkable. There are various public fountains dotted around the town that provide fresh, free, cool drinking water. Boza a traditional drink is a drink made of corn. It is available at the Carsija (main street) very nice on a hot day, and has many vitamins too! Simply the most delicious dinner in Ohrid is the famous Ohrid trout, but because it is illegal to fish for the trout, it will be very hard to get, though you should give it a try.

Day 08, Transfer to Skopje
9:00AM Bus ride to St. Jovan Bigorski and Mavrovo National park
St. Jovan Bigorski is a fully working monastery and one of the most visited in Macedonia. Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, Sveit Jovan Bigorski houses one of the most valuable wood-carved iconostasis in the orthodox religion. This beautiful iconostasis features over 200 human figures and 500 animals and attracts many visitors each year to the monastery.
Lunch at 2:00
3:30 PM arriving to capital of Macedonia. Holyday Inn centrally located.
Rest until 6:30 PM and night city tour w/ dinner and Bit Pazar.
Dinner at 8:00 PM
Day 08 back to USA