8-day wine tour through Macedonia – Discover the country of Alexander the Great
Most important features
- 8 DAYS – 7 NIGHTS
- Visited countries: Macedonia
Short introduction
During this 8-day wine tour to Macedonia you will discover one of the most fascinating and oldest wine countries in Europe with a wine history that dates back to Alexander the Great. You will discover and get guided tours in the best wineries of Macedonia, taste special wines and more. Some cultural and natural sights are also on the program, including a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Ohrid. A fascinating wine tour for every wine lover.
Highlights
- Glass of wine as a welcome drink at a rooftop bar in Skopje
- 5 wine tastings
- 1 night in a wine hotel
- Discover one of the oldest wine countries in Europe and in the world
- The old town and archaeological site of Stobi
- Visit UNESCO sites such as Ohrid
Program
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL SKOPJE – NORTH MACEDONIA – WINE TASTING – SKOPJE (D) (40 KM)
Today you arrive in the largest and capital city of North Macedonia, Skopje. Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel and have some free time for an initial introduction walk. Then you will be expected in one of the most beautiful rooftop bars in the city overlooking the centre for a welcome drink. After this, travel to a winery located near Skopje for a first wine tasting. Afterwards you are expected for the welcome dinner in the restaurant of the winery. Transfer back to the hotel In Skopje centre.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2 – SKOPJE – WINERY – SKOPJE (B, D) (80 KM)
After breakfast, embark on a beautiful historical walking tour of Skopje. First you visit the ancient Kale fortress, also known as the castle of Skopje. Then you continue to the Old Turkish Bazaar where different cultures, religions, and old forgotten crafts meet … An interesting mix! Then you will go to the “Museum of Macedonian National Struggle”, with the opportunity to visit the Macedonia Archeological Museum which has one of the largest ancient coin collections in the world, exclusively from Macedonian territory. Then walk across a historic stone bridge, the city’s landmark, stopping for the city’s largest monument and Alexander the Great’s fountain. The next stop is Mother Teresa’s memorial house. She was born in Skopje in 1910. In the afternoon you will visit the monastery “St. Panteleimon” and the Macedonian Ethno village. After this wonderful and in-depth introduction to the capital Skopje, you will visit one of the top 5 wineries of North Macedonia, one of the Macedonian chateaux. During this visit you will first be offered a wine tasting with wines from the Povardarie region. Afterwards you can enjoy the perfect kitchen in the restaurant during the wine dinner. You will also be offered a tour of the owner through the wine cellars and the winery. He will explain the different types of wine. You will then be transferred back to the hotel. This winery is located between the valleys and fertile highlands in the vicinity of Lake Veles.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 3 – SKOPJE – KRATOVO – TIKVES REGION – WINERY (B, L, D) (240 KM)
After breakfast, travel to Kratovo (95 km), a small medieval town founded in the middle of what was once a volcano crater. First you will take a guided walk through the city, crossing many medieval bridges and towers. Then you will see a unique small museum with all kinds of artifacts that have passed through the centuries. Afterwards, you will have the chance to taste slow cooked food, or slow food, made by the locals and a chance to taste the local homemade wine and rakija (Macedonian brandy). Afterwards, travel on to the central part of Macedonia in one of the most important wine regions of Europe called Tikvesh. Here you will visit one of the leading wineries and get a guided tour of the winery explaining the production process and the wine types. Afterwards you will be offered a dinner with various types of wine, cheese and meat.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4 – TIKVES REGION – STOBI, OLD TOWN – WINERY – DEMIR KAPIJA (B, L) (65 KM)
After breakfast, travel to the largest archaeological site in Macedonia called Stobi. This archaeological site contains the oldest synagogue in Europe built in the 1st century AD. After visiting this impressive landmark, continue to the next winery of your North Macedonia wine tour. Here you get a tour of the winery. After this you will be offered a wine tasting and lunch. Then you travel back to your hotel and the rest of the day is at your own discretion.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 5 – TIKVES REGION – WINERY – OHRID (B, L) (190 KM)
After breakfast, travel to the largest and oldest winery in Macedonia, and one of the largest in Europe. The winery professionals will guide you through the wine cellars, telling you about the winery’s history and the whole process. Then you will be offered a wine tasting in their own restaurant in a beautiful atmosphere with some specialties prepared especially for you by their chef. After this, travel on to the UNESCO city of Ohrid.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 6 – OHRID (B, D)
After breakfast you will be offered a city tour of Ohrid. One of the oldest cities in Europe. Full of history with traces of four thousand years of civilization. You will visit famous medieval churches, the fortress of Tsar Samuel with a beautiful panorama, the ancient Macedonian Roman theater, and you will take a sailing trip with small boats on the way back to the center. During the city tour you will get an explanation of history, the largest open-air museum of the Byzantheum. In the afternoon you take a boat trip on the nearby lake and visit various sights along the way. You will visit a unique prehistoric settlement from the Bronze Age, an extraordinary natural phenomenon and the monastery of “St. Naum” from the 9th century. The first Cyrillic and Glagolitic alphabet was founded in this monastery and they are still engraved on the sails. After some free time, you will cruise back to the city and have dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 7 – OHRID – TETOVO – SKOPJE (180 KM) (B, D)
After breakfast at the hotel, travel to the ethnically and religiously mixed city of Tetovo to visit a unique and colourful mosque, painted inside and out in different colours, with paintings of 19th century cities, a kind of Renaissance as it were in the Islamic world. Then you will visit, near the capital Skopje, one of the most beautiful canyons in Europe – Matka, with the river “Treska”. You will sail with small boats 6 km upstream to visit the Vrelo Cave, full of cave decorations, such as stalactites and stalagmites. Farewell dinner in a rural restaurant with mixed wines.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 8 – SKOPJE – SKOPJE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (B)
After breakfast, and depending on your flight times, you will get a transfer to the airport for your flight back home… or an extension of your trip to one of the other beautiful undiscovered Balkan wine countries like Serbia for a few days. You can also visit Bulgaria or Greece if you want to learn more about wine during ancient Greece and under Alexander the Great. A visit to the Greek wine region of Macedonia (not to be confused with the country of North Macedonia) is a nice extension and completes your trip. Ask us about the possibilities for a non-binding customized quote.
Included / Excluded
What’s included / not included in this wine tour ?
Included
- 5 wine tastings and 4 wine cellar visits
- International flights
- Transfer airport – hotel – airport
- 7 nights in a standard double room in good quality hotels
- Meals where indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
- Transport as described in the program
Excluded
- Specialized wine guide
- Single room surcharge
- Experienced English-speaking guide unless otherwise stated, other languages on request
- Personal expenses
- Entrance fees to the listed sights
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks unless explicitly stated
- Meals other than stated in the program (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
- Tips
- Cancellation and travel insurance (we can arrange this for you if desired)
- Taxes to be paid locally, such as the tourist tax
- Everything that is not reported under the heading including
Request a quote for this wine tour and we can work with you to determine what will and will not be included. The choice is yours.
All flights (international and domestic), hotels and rental car are always subject to availability until the time of final booking with the signing of the sales file. The booking is made and recorded after receipt of the deposit on our bank account.
Prices are always subject to change and are signed up to the sales file without prior notice and / or evidence. The reasons, which are not exhaustive, can be seasonality and availability.
