Explore Europe’s Last Hidden Gem

Six days on “The Hidden Gem Uncovered” and I’m still buzzing. We bonded over meze in Skopje, refreshed ourselves with the beautiful views at Miaksi before drifting across Ohrid’s glassy lake, stargazed in Vevcani after a boat ride to Sveti Naum, hiked to the roaring Duf Waterfalls, and capped it all with a sunset cruise through Matka Canyon and a cable-car dash up Mount Vodno. North Macedonia went from map pin to memory in a heartbeat.

Every meal, ticket and kilometre in the comfy mini-bus was already sorted, so the biggest decision was another shot of rakija or an early night. With just a few fellow travellers and our two tour guides, it felt like an old friends’ group!

Only four days off work and I still fit in mountain hikes, lakeside picnics and a relaxed stroll through Skopje’s Old Bazaar. The itinerary flows so smoothly that every hour feels used, yet I never felt rushed. Ideal little escape for busy people :)

We had an amazing 4-day experience in Skopje! Our local host and guide was fantastic — welcoming, knowledgeable, and truly passionate about sharing both the city and the surrounding nature with us.

One of the highlights was a beautiful hike in a nearby village called Mavrovo, where we visited a fascinating church that had been covered by a river. We also went for a hike in Matka Canyon, a huge lake-like reservoir surrounded by cliffs.

The food was incredible. We ate at several traditional Macedonian taverns and every meal was full of flavor and local character, including delicious grilled meats, fresh salads, homemade bread, and of course, plenty of rakija, the local fruit brandy.

Would definitely go back and highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Skopje.