High Scardus Trail – New Segment of Via Dinarica

Today is the day for your arrival in Skopje – the capital of Macedonia or well known as the city of solidarity. Later we will go on a city tour with a visit of Old Town, Skopje Fortress, Holocaust Museum, Stone Bridge, Mother Teresa Memorial House and old Railway Station.

This day will begin with breakfast and preparation for our hiking trip. From the hotel we will drive to the middle Vodno, a mountain that with its greenery, beautiful panoramas and the freshness it gives, attracts all those who want to enjoy all its splendor. From the middle Vodno with gondola we will climb to the top and after a short break we will head to Matka canyon. When we arrive at the foot of the Otmarova Rock by boat we will head to Vrelo Cave, which is one of the deepest caves on the Balkan Peninsula and from there we will drive to Mavrovo National Park. Mavrovo National Park is the biggest and most beautiful National Park in our country. Together with the highest peak and Alpine terrain, its unique flora and fauna, history, traditions will make this experience unforgettable. This night we will be accommodate in nice Guest House, with nice healthy food, perfect involvement and even great hosts.

First day in the N.P.! We are awakened by the freshness of the beech forest along with the sun rising from the east. Breakfast will be prepared and served on the terrace where we will fully enjoy it, and after a short preparation for today’s hiking we will drive to the starting point. We climb up to the top of Medenica peak and then head down to the village of Galichnik where we will have rest and lunch prepared by grandfather Paul’s, family. With the help of grandfather Paul, we will learn about all process of making cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt. During our walk to the village Janice we will speak about the village of Galicnik and its historical value. In Jance we stay for one night in nice Hotel with friendly staff, nice ambient and great traditional food.

Today we starts in the Miyak region and the beautiful Korab massif, which is also a natural border with neighboring Albania. We have a short transfer to the start of today’s hiking. We start from village of Skudrinje and from there we climb to the foot of peak Krchin. This day we will enjoy the beautiful shadows of the beech forest, the beautiful views and of course the alpine areas where we will enjoy the peace and here the trot of sheep bell. We sleep in a camp that will be set up before our arrival by our staff/logistic from the village of Bituse. These people will take care for comfort at altitude of 2100m, prepare us dinner and take care for our fire place.

We will start this morning with an early breakfast and preparation for our walking. When we take care for our camp, we start climbing up the ridge leading us to a beautiful view from peak Velivar on both countries: Albania and Macedonia This part of N. Park Mavrovo is one of the most significant and strictly protected, controlled parts in Mavrovo National Park, where two or three years ago, a project for protection of Balkan lynx was launched. More about this project we hear on 8th day from people who work in the info point – Mavrovo. This night we will be accommodate in nice small mountain hut, built from yang man from this village who believe in this idea that High Scardus Trail will help him and entire village. So from first hand we can here this real live story.

Today we start same like previous days, first with breakfast and then with preparation for our walking. Later, with help of our host we go for short walk in the village to meet and speak with some locals, to here something more about the history of this village and there traditions and after all of this we start climbing towards peak Suplja stena. From there we descend in village Tanuse. Today we will enjoy in this spectacular views on Mount Korab – highest peak in both countries: Albania and Macedonia, so this will be just short meeting with the peak, so we have all day to prepare our self for next day, one of hardest walks on our walking holiday. We will spend one night in village Ribnica in guest house.

Today we will prepare our self for two day walking till we get to highest peak in both countries, Korab. After breakfast and preparation for this two day of walking and loading the horses we slowly start moving towards well now Korab Waterfall where we place our camp. Together with the horse man, our guide we will set our camp so we will be ready for our second night in 1000 star hotel 🙂 We will prepare nice diner on fire and later we have short entertainment, singing and dancing and later we go to take some rest for next day.

Today we start with early preparation for our breakfast, dissembling our camp and loading horses. Later we start walking towards highest peak Korab. Its nice day filled with perfect combination of steep hills, flat grassy meadows and spectacular views. After short rest we will start descending towards the meeting point with our transportation vehicle, from where we go to Tetovo and guest house under the peak of Ljuboten. In Tetovo we are going to visit colourful Mosque and from there we go to village Staro Selo. This is meeting point for our last transfer with jeeps till we get to the mountain hut. In this place we stay for one night on altitude of 1600m.

Today is our lat day walking on Macedonian part of High Scardust trail or new segment of Via Dinarica. After short preparation and breakfast we start walking towards Ljuboten peak. When we clime the peak we will be on natural border with Kosovo and from there we can enjoy nice views on Polog region on east side and Sharr Mountains National Park west side. On north we see entire border with Kosovo and on south we see all peaks we climb together on this active holiday. When we get down to the mountain hut we prepare our bags, we have transfer to the village of Staro Selo with jeeps and from there we go to Skoje in Hotel where we stay for one night. After short rest we go for dinner in the city centre, near the river of Vardar

Day10. Skopje departure

Today is day for relaxing, free time, shopping and later we have transfer to Skopje Airport