Southwestern Region – Ohrid – Struga – Kichevo – Vevchani

From the moment you set your foot in Ohrid you understand why Ohrid is the tourism capital of N. Macedonia. Location of the city, old city architecture, cultural-historical monuments and natural beauties make Ohrid a must see place. In 1980, the city of Ohrid and the Ohrid Lake were declared world’s cultural and natural heritage under protection of UNESCO. With its unique flora and fauna dating back to the tertiary period (2-4 million years ago),Ohrid Lake is one of Europe’s great biological reserves.

Ohrid, one of the oldest towns in Europe was the centre of great prehistoric and ancient civilization. In the middle ages it is here at Plaoshnik where the first Slavic university in Europe was founded. It isthe town of St. Clement and St. Naum, the centre of entire orthodox culture and literacy! There are millions reasons to visit Ohrid of which 365 are the churches and monasteries for each day of the year, the rest of them you will discover yourself.

Virtual tour of Ohrid

Use the opportunity to experience the old traditional trades and enjoy the masterpieces of local craftsmen visiting workshops for hand-made paper, art filigree, wood carving, pearl making. During Ohrid Summer festival, 12th July – 20th August, the city of Ohrid is a center of extraordinary rich and attractive cultural events.

The town of Struga is the second pearl of Ohrid Lake. On the Drim river bridge each august the poets of the world gather for the Struga Poetry Evening Festival. Another curiosity near Struga, on the cot of the lake in the villages Kalishta and Radozda there are churches within natural caves high in the rocks, hidden from the eyes of tourists. In the small restaurants here you can try best fish specialties.

Across the Lake, next to the border with Albania in a beautiful natural setting Galichica NP by the springs of river Drim is St.Naum Monastery. The monastery complex and church of St. Naum built in the Xc. by the Saint himself before he passed away and was buried in the church. The legend says that if you lay your ear over St. Naum’s tomb you will hear his heartbeat still pounding.

Along the coastline towards Ohrid, Gallichchica Mountain and NP with is breathtaking views and magnificent landscapes lures adventure lovers to go hiking, mount biking, quad biking, paragliding…

Major Sights

The churches in Ohrid old town
Plaoshnik – basilicas, churches and sanctuaries from different period
Samuel Fortress at Ohrid
Ancient theater in Ohrid
House of Robevci family – museum of Ohrid
Ohrid pearls
NP Galicica villages of Elshani, Konjskoand Velestovo
Bay of Bones – prehistoric settlement
Naum Monastery
Struga bridge of poetry on the river Drim
Kalista & Radozda cave churches
The Vevchani Carneval 13th-14th January

Cultural Tours

Ohrid – The Balkan Jerusalem

The say there are 365 churches in the region of Ohrid and only locals have visited them all. For a long time Ohrid Archiepiscopate ecclesiastical authority covered the majority of the Balkan Peninsula, territories up to the river Danube to the north, the Albanian coast to the west, and the Bay of Thessalonica to the southeast. We suggest for you a tour of the 5 most valuable medieval churches in Ohrid old town.

Plaoshnik – The early Christian basilicas Vc.
Plaoshnik– St. Clement Church IXc.-XXIc.
The church of St. Sofia – XI Century
St.John at Kaneo XIII c.
Bogorodica (Blessed Virgin) Perivleptos – XIII c.

The Kurtica village – Donkey Ride Tour

5-6 hour tour visiting old natural washing location at Rechica & visit with locals in Kuratica village. 2 hours hike or donkey ride in the region.

Lake Boat Cruise Ohrid – St. Naum

2 to 2 1/2 hour boat cruise to St. Naum. On route see the Ohrid Tito Villa, St. Stefan monastery, fishermen’s village Peshtani, The Bay of Bones, The Zaum monastery and St. Naum Monastery.

Adventure tours

Scuba – Discovery Diving in Ohrid Lake

Explore the depths of the oldest lake in Europe. Go swimming with the endemic Belvica and Ohrid trout or explore the ruins of bronze age, prehistoric settlement

Tandem Paragliding from Galichica NP

Safe air adventure offering a unique feeling of freedom, space and peace since experienced instructors are behind you, just enjoy the wonderful sites.

GalichicaNP- Hiking Magaro Peak

Distance: 7.8 km/ Elevation: 1557-2252-1557m / Difficulty: Difficult

GalichicaNP–Tour of the villages – Velestovo- Konjsko- Elsani- Pestani

Distance: 13 km/ Elevation:1072-1171-695m

Biking NP Galichica- AsanGjura trail

Distance: 35 / km Elevation: 1490-1555-695m / Difficulty: Moderate

Jeep off road – Botun-Leshani-Kuratica-Ohrid

Distance: 85 km / Elevation: 750-1265-730m / Difficulty: Moderate

Traditional food

Endemic Ohrid trout

The Ohrid trout is indigenous to the Ohrid Lake famous and known for its red spots on the scales. There are several waysof preparing, still the traditional way is by openingthe fish in two and barbequing it onlow open fire.

Gjomleze

A local Ohrid specialty of orient origin, known in different places around Macedonia with different names like flija, kashanikect. It is a corn and wheat flour based dish, where layers of pie crusts are piled one on top of each other, and cooked under vrshink(a pot with a lid covered with ember).

Garlic spread – makalo

White garlic paste served as a starter or a add spread for any local fishmeal. Garlic makalo is prepared with lots of garlic cloves crushed and minced with olive oil and salt.

Ohrid fish stew

Stew cooked with several types of local fish, onions, sorrel, oil and white wine, bunch of bay leaves and lemon juice. It is dish boiled in special old led cauldron.

Struga Eel cooked in ash

A local dish made by skinning the fresh eel and living it to marinade in wine, salt and spices. After 20 minutes, the eel is put t in a parchment paper bag and screw it with a metal screw. Put the bag into the ash and cover the fish all sides to cook for 2-3 hours.