YPT Tours to North Macedonia

Our North Macedonia tours are unique and the gateway to many other interesting countries. Nestled in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, North Macedonia is a captivating destination that offers a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty. This Balkan gem, formerly known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), is a land where ancient traditions blend harmoniously with the modern world, making it an intriguing place to explore. From its diverse geography to its fascinating history, thriving economy, and unique blend of religions, North Macedonia is a destination that should be on every traveller’s radar.

North Macedonia is bordered by Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west, is a landlocked country that spans approximately 25,000 square kilometres. Its diverse geography includes lush valleys, picturesque lakes, and towering mountain ranges. Lake Ohrid, one of its most famous natural wonders, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe.

North Macedonia boasts a rich and complex history that spans thousands of years. The region has been inhabited since the Neolithic period and has seen the rise and fall of various empires, including the Roman and Ottoman Empires. It was here that Alexander the Great was born. In the modern era, the country was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until it gained independence in 1991.

You’ll see that the Balkans are rich with history, diversity, culture and beautiful scenery. It is more than a region haunted by Nazi occupation and concentration camps, with decaying and forgotten spomeniks (monuments) scattered around.

The end of the Second World War saw the former Yugoslavia develop and progress under the grip of Josip Broz Tito, renowned for his military tactics against the Axis occupation and his hard stance against Stalin. But peace didn’t last in the region, with the death of Tito followed by the economic failure shattering the framework that kept Yugoslavia united. It led to war, with many wishing to create their own nations. Fuelled by nationalism and ethnic tension, the collapse of Yugoslavia saw the deadliest war in Europe since WWII, with thousands of war crimes and crimes against humanity still under investigation.

North Macedonia is but one of seven countries of former Yugoslavia, each unique despite their shared history, where you’ll meet genuine people and learn and about their language, cultures, and political views. A mixture of ancient and modern history through times of peace and conflicts makes this a truly unique place to visit.

Group Tours to North Macedonia

YPT runs group tours to North Macedonia as part of our Ultimate Yugoslavia Tour, which offers several groups and variations to pick from. 

Ultimate Yugoslavia Tour: Tito’s Winter – November 22^nd-December 3^rd, 2024 – €795 – €1695

Ultimate Yugoslavia Tour – May 16^th-27^th, 2025 – €795 – €1695

Independent Tours to North Macedonia

YPT can arrange North Macedonia tours deep into the country, leveraging on its network of local partners, or link it with tours to other parts of the former Yugoslavia such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, or the Kosovo. Overland trips to Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Transnistria, and beyond are possible as well. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but YPT can arrange everything you need for a perfect independent North Macedonia tour.

Below is an example North Macedonia tour for a post-WWII and post-soviet city experience. This can be extended or combined with other activities to create independent tours. 

Example of a 4-day North Macedonia Post-WWII and Post-Soviet Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Skopje

• Arrive at your own leisure in Skopje and transfer to our centrally located hotel.
• Pre-Tour Meeting at 6pm before going for a first dinner in one of the cozy North Macedonian restaurants. 
• Overnight in Skopje.

Day 2 – Skopje

• Early morning start, we’ll have breakfast before we head out to discover Skopje – the largest city and the capital city of North Macedonia.
• We’ll explore the charming city which has a rich heritage of Greek, Roman and Ottoman influences. Skopje is unique as it’s a mixture of both Balkan and Mediterranean. The diversity gives the capital a fascinating and complex national identity which we’ll experience!
• On our walking tour, we’ll visit Mother Teresa Memorial House – adored yet a controversial figure to many. We’ll see the monument of Tito, followed by the epic centrepiece of Alexander the Great on horseback, which cost almost 7.5 million euros and reignited a diplomatic dispute with Greece!
• We’ll cross the ancient stone bridge into the Ottoman Old Town. We’ll continue to spend some time exploring the charming streets and shops where you can pick up souvenirs or simply enjoy some Turkish tea/coffee and sweets before we settle down for lunch.

Afternoon

• In the afternoon, we’ll have the opportunity to visit Skopje brutalist architectures, which has been described as some of the most striking in the former Republic. We’ll visit the Central Post Office, Academy of Sciences and Arts and Saint Cyril and Methodius University where we’ll get an epic group photo together.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll head to the impressive Skopje Fortress locally referred to as Kale, the Turkish word for fortress. We’ll spend some time exploring the fortress and the views of the city.
• No trip to this country would be complete without visiting the beautiful Matka Canyon. Here we’ll take a boat to Vrelo Cave, frequently described as the most beautiful cave in Europe.
• You’ll have some time to explore Matka at your own pace where you can visit the medieval monasteries and take the boat to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
• Overnight back in Skopje.

Day 3 – Krushevo – Bitola

• Breakfast in the hotel before ~3h transfer in our private bus to Krushevo
• Krushevo is a picturesque mountain town famous for its traditional architecture, it’s also home to the Meckin Kamen monument, commemorating the Ilinden Uprising. This monument in Kruševo honors the resistance fighters who participated in the Ilinden Uprising of 1903 against the Ottoman Empire, and also pays tribute to the Partisan fighters of the People’s Liberation Struggle during World War II.
• Traditional lunch in Krushevo
• Short transfer of 1h to Bitola
• Bitola is known as the “City of Consuls,” Bitola boasts well-preserved Ottoman architecture and the Heraclea Lyncestis archaeological site, an ancient Macedonian city from the 4^th century B.C. 
• We will focus on the Bitola National Museum. The museum used to be military high school (Idadie) in 1848 when the city of Bitola (Monastir) was the military, administrative, political and commercial center of European Turkey, its most famous cadete being Kemal Ataturk of course. It features all main stages of the countries history, also detailing out the Balkan Wars, First World War, and the Socialist period.
• Overnight in Bitola.

Day 4 – Lake Ohrid – Struga

• Late Breakfast in the hotel 
• Transfer to Ohrid, a charming lakeside town which is famous for its medieval churches, Byzantine frescoes, and the serene Lake Ohrid, perfect for swimming and boating. We will have a very relaxed time here, to counterbalance the cultural and historical experiences of the prior days.
• Leisurely Lunch at Ohrid
• Short drive to Struga, which is known for its poetry evenings and the Struga Poetry Evenings festival. Another charming lakeside town on Lake Ohrid, it provides the perfect setting to conclude the tour over some sundowners and conversations.
• Transfers from here can be arranged, but we also recommend staying another night to dwell in the lakeside atmosphere.

From here you can join us further into the former Yugoslavia, go on a tour to Albania or Bulgaria, or venture further on by yourself.

Bespoke tours to North Macedonia

As part of our travel packages within Central and Eastern Europe, we can offer bespoke and independent tours to North Macedonia. These can be done as full North Macedonia tours or be combined with other countries. 

For more information on the following programs, simply get in touch. 

Eco-Travel in North Macedonia

Young Pioneer Tours can arrange trips to the lesser seen places of North Macedonia, such as the rural areas that cater to eco-tourism within the country, especially in its extraordinary national parks like Mavrovo and the Matka canyon. the Miyak villages of Vevcani, Galicnik, Lazaropole, and the villages in the foothills of Mt. Pelister from both Prespa (Brajcino, Dolno Dupeni, Ljubojno and Kurbinovo) and Bitola side (Magarevo, Capari, Nizepole and Malovista), are excellent places for the countryside and alpine tourism.

North Macedonia to Albania Overland Tour

Starting with the exploration of Skopje and its surroundings we will then head via lake Ohrid to Tirana. After two nights in North Macedonia, we enter the country of Albania to learn about its role in WW2 and the communist era.

North Macedonia to Bulgaria Overland Tour

Starting with the exploration of Skopje and its surroundings we will then head to Sofia, Bulgaria’s exciting capital. We will learn about its role during the communist era and how it remained an independent state.

Outdoor Adventure Tour

Mavrovo National Park is like heaven for outdoor enthusiasts. Explore pristine nature in this national park, with opportunities for hiking, skiing, and wildlife viewing.

Underground North Macedonia Tours

Skopje, Kumanovo, Bitola, and the wider country have some amazing dark tourism, urbex and contemporary historical sites that few tourists get to see. Working with our local partners, YPT can arrange and underground and dark tourism tours to North Macedonia. Get in touch to have a bespoke itinerary planned for you. 

Wine Tasting Tour

North Macedonian wine has a long history and many popular wine regions in the country. The primary wine-growing regions here include Pcinja-Osogovo in the north, Pelagonija-Polog in the south, and Povardarie, which encompasses the central Vardar River valley and includes the major subregion of Tikves. You can go on a wine tasting tour of one of these regions, or you can visit one of North Macedonia´s many wineries run by local families. 

Filming in North Macedonia

Through our media arm Pioneer Media, we can make arrangements for productions, journalists, or others, to film within North Macedonia from big budget to guerrilla productions. We can also arrange meetings in country, as well as correct visas for journalist wishing to do projects within the country.

Frequently asked Questions about travel to North Macedonia

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