Meet at the group hotel in Skopje, a single timed airport transfer is included. After checking in at the group hotel we'll take a walking tour of Skopje, passing the statues and monuments of old and new Skopje. The city is an eclectic mix of Ottoman and Byzantine architecture alongside colourful fountains and towering statues. From the city we'll be able to see Mount Vodno and the towering Millennium Cross where we walk tomorrow. Keep your eyes open for historical links to Mother Teresa who was born in Skopje and the city is home to the Memorial House of Mother Teresa. Other sights include the Tvrdina Kale Fortress plus a number of interesting town squares, museums, churches and mosques. We'll pass the Kameni Most (Stone Bridge), Alexander the Great's Fountain and the old Turkish quarter of Carsija before heading for dinner.

After breakfast we'll have a full briefing on the week ahead before we take a short transfer to the base of Mt Vodno, close to Skopje. We'll start our walk which takes us to the summit at 1066 metres from where there are spectacular views of Skopje and beyond. From the summit we'll hike to the Monastery of St Panteleimon from where we'll take a short transfer to the spectacular Matka Canyon. There are some beautiful and important cultural landmarks in the

canyon, including the 17th century Monastery of St Nikola Shishevski which sits in a spectacular location beside the waters of the canyon, as well as the Monastery of St. Andreja, built in the 14th century. We'll take a short boat journey in the canyon before transferring to the Mavrovo National Park area. Enroute we'll make a stop to visit the painted Mosque

of Tetovo which is famed for its remarkable and elaborately decorated facade. After a spectacular first day of walking we'll check into our in hotel accommodation in the Mavrovo National Park for a 2-night stay.

After breakfast we take a short vehicle transfer to the start of our walk in the national park. Initially the trail ascends across flowers and areas of grassland as we make our way towards Mount Medenica (2166 m). Next we reach terrain which is open and rocky with glorious views of Mt Korab (2764 m), the highest peak of North Macedonia situated on the border with Albania. As we reach the summit of Medenica we'll keep our fingers crossed for clear weather. After enjoying views as far as Lake Mavrovo and a picnic lunch we descend through flower meadows and pastures where local shepherds graze their cows in the summer. We walk down through the village of Galicnik before arriving in Jance. Tonight we take a short drive to a wonderful restaurant in a beautiful stone building below the Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery. The proud and colourful Mijak people preserve ancient traditions including intricate woodcarving and wonderful stone masonry. The Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery which we visit tomorrow is a Mijak masterpiece. In a lovely traditional setting we'll sample dishes from the Mavrovo region including tasty pies, rich cheeses and kachamak, a delicious combination of cornmeal and potato.

Today we start with a short drive to the village of Bitushe and the start of our walk. We begin in the village and ascend through rich woodland before the trail opens out into an alpine landscape. On reaching a small church we'll prepare for the final ascent to the summit of Mount Golem Krchin (2345m) which sits on the border between Albania and North Macedonia. The view from this dramatic peak is breath-taking, stretching as far as Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. After taking in the views we'll descend via a different route towards the village of Rostushe and enjoy lunch on the trail. Our footpath winds through meadows, alpine pastures and beech forest to where we meet our vehicle. After a lovely walk we transfer towards the town and lake of Ohrid via the incredible Macedonian orthodox monastery of Saint Jovan Bigorski. Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the monastery was originally constructed in the 11th century and is known worldwide for its incredible stone work and valuable wood carved icons. Towards the end of the day we reach the wonderful town of Ohrid where we spend the next three nights.

Overlooking an incredible mountain landscape and Ohrid Lake itself, this charming town is one of North Macedonia's finest. A jumble of terracotta roofs and century old churches (said to number 365), Ohrid is one of the oldest settlements in Europe and a wonderful spiritual centre. This morning we'll enjoy a walking tour to a number of cultural sites which include the Roman Amphitheatre and Tsar Samuel's Fortress. The rest of the day is free and Lake Ohrid has a number of public beaches where you can take a dip. Alternatively you could explore the old Slavic monastery of St Pantelejmon, where you can see some of the 800 Byzantine icons. The old cobbled streets of Cinar are perfect for ordering a traditional Macedonian coffee to watch the world go by. In the evening, the guide will recommend a local restaurant for dinner (not included).

This morning we start with a transfer (1 hour) from Ohrid to the village of Gorna Belica. Situated at the base of the Jablanica Mountains, this is where we start today's walk. This area is known as the Balkan Green Belt and is home to brown bear, Balkan chamois, common spadefoot toad, blue-throated keeled lizard and the Albanian lily. This spectacular mountainous area runs between North Macedonia and Albania and before the break-up of former Yugoslavia was part of a restricted border area. During those times the region was off-limits to visitors and even today it still feels very much off-the-beaten-track. The upper pastures of Jablanica have a wonderful Mediterranean climate and we'll come across small mountain lakes, plus wonderful views of Lake Ohrid. Described as one of the most beautiful areas of North Macedonia, today we walk in an area still very much undiscovered by tourists. After joining the trail in Gorna Belica (1316m) we'll slowly make our way up towards Mount Crn Vrv (2257m) which translates as 'black rock'. We will also visit the beautiful glacier lake of Vevcanska Lokva. From the summit we'll be treated to a stunning panorama which we can enjoy before heading down to the valley and transferring back to Orhid. This evening dinner will be arranged at a family home in the village of Kuratica. We'll be well looked after by our host Goran who'll arrange a home cooked dinner alongside his homemade rakija which is infused with local herbs.

A great way to end the week is by hiking to the summit of Mount Magaro (2255 m), the highest point in Galicica National Park. This morning we transfer between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa and take a forest trail which gradually ascends. As we slowly climb we'll be rewarded with wonderful views of the lake and the town of Ohrid below. The national park is known for its rich variety of flora and fauna and today our guide will help us identify some of the 1000 species found within the national park. Vertebrates number 170 different species, alongside 18 species of reptiles, 124 species of birds and 18 different mammals. The park is known for its rich variety of butterflies. On reaching the summit of Magaro we'll have a wonderful panorama of Albania and Lake Prespa to the east, whilst Lake Ohrid lies to the west. After enjoying our final mountain walk, we'll descend and transfer to Skopje. After checking in at the group hotel we head out for our final dinner. Skopje comes alive at night and tonight we eat in a restaurant that has had excellent reputation with the residents of Skopje since the times of the Former Yugoslavia and Marshal Tito.