Wine Tour of North Macedonia

Fly to Skopje, transfer to the Alexander Square Hotel, or similar in Skopje and check in for 2 nights.

• Hotel Description

This morning enjoy a short walking tour through the new part of Skopje, including the main square with the grand fountain of Alexander the Great. See Mother Theresa's memorial house (she was born in Skopje in 1910), as well as Skopje City Museum housed in the old railway station which was completed in 1940/41. At that time it was the most beautiful railway station on the Balkans, connecting Skopje with Thessaloniki but it was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1963.
Visit the old part of Skopje including the Old Bazaar, Mustafa Pasha Mosque (built in 1495) and the church of the Holy Saviour (from the 19th century) known for its extraordinary wooden iconostas. Continue to Kale Fortress located on the highest point of the city overlooking the River Vardar. Visit Kartal winery—a family owned winery near Skopje. Take a walking tour of the vineyards and meet their enologist for a short presentation of the wines produced in the region of Skopje. They make a delicious Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and a local Vranec, enjoy wine-tasting including some tasty snacks. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

This morning take the cable car to Mount Vodno to see the iconic Millennium Cross standing 66 metres tall. At night it lights up like a beacon commemorating 2,000 years of Christianity in North Macedonia. Continue to Matka Canyon and visit the 14th century monastery of St. Andrew. Popular with visitors and locals alike for its rock climbing, hiking, boating, caving, and kayaking opportunities Matka Canyon also offers more leisurely pursuits as you can enjoy the canyon’s stunning natural beauty from the paved walking paths hewn into its steep walls. Enjoy lunch in one of the restaurants/cafes that line the pathway. In the afternoon continue to Ohrid and check in to the  or similar in Ohrid for 2 nights.  (B,L)

• Hotel Description

This morning embark on a walking tour of Ohrid, including the City Museum, Robevci House and St Sophia Cathedral; built in 1037 and named after the great church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. See the church of St Bogorodica Perivleptos with its outstanding frescos, before walking to the Upper Gate and Samuil's fortress. Also visit St. Clement – Plaoshnik church and St. John the Theologian. Stop off at Vila mal Sveti Kliment for a spot of wine tasting and local nibbles. In the afternoon drive to Struga, famous for its wall of water, where the Black Drim river flows out of Lake Ohrid on its way to the Adriatic. The town has many wooden framed houses characteristic of 18th and 19th century North Macedonian architecture. Continue to the “Republic of Vevcani” - a village with a sense of humour as it proclaimed itself a republic after a referendum of the 2,500 inhabitants during the break up of the former Yugoslavia. The village has even created its own coat of arms - two harlequins dancing over a magic cauldron. It also issues red Vevcani passports and prints its own currency, the licnik, to hand out as a souvenir. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

This morning depart for Bitola, a town known as the 'city of consuls'. In 1851 the Austrian-Hungarian Empire opened the first consulate in Bitola, followed by the British and the French and then many other leading empires of the day. Bitola was indeed the city of consuls for almost nine decades until World War II. After lunch drive to the wine growing region of Demir Kapija. Spend 2 nights at the Popova Kula Winery. Located on the south slopes of Veliko Brdo, (the Grand Hill) west of the town Demir Kapija, Popova Kula Winery is certainly one of the success stories of North Macedonian viticulture and here it is sometimes possible to taste wine varieties such as Temjanika, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zilavka, Stanushina and Vranac from the fermentation tanks. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast, visit the archaeological site of Stobi. The ancient city of Stobi lies at the confluence of the Crna and Vardar Rivers and was an important urban, military, administrative, trade, and religious centre of the Roman and early Byzantine empires. The main site contains 26 exposed buildings including; a theatre, synagogue, palaces, houses, basilicas and baths. Enjoy lunch and wine tasting at Queen Maria Winery before returning to Popova Kula for a free afternoon where you may like to go walking in the surrounding hills. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast, depart for the Kavadarci region to visit Tikves Winery for lunch and to sample their wares. The Tikveš winery is one of the oldest wineries in the Republic of North Macedonia and is the largest and most awarded winery in south-eastern Europe. Kavadarci's most famous export is its wine and it employs the majority of the towns 38,000 inhabitants. Vineyards in the region cover a total area of 120 square kilometres (46 square miles), producing up to 85,000 tonnes of grapes annually. After lunch, continue to the town of Veles. After WWII the city was known as Titov Veles after Yugoslavian president Tito but it was dropped after the break up of Yugoslavia. Return to Skopje and check in to the hotel for overnight. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Free day before transfer to Skopje Airport for flight back to the UK. (B)