Explore Mavrovo National Park on horseback!
The park occupies northwestern North Macedonia, where the borders of Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia meet. It is one of Europe's oldest national parks and is well-known for its vast beech forests, alpine meadows, and pristine rivers and streams. In short, the perfect setting for a riding expedition.
We ride uphill along the valleys of Bistra Mountain and Mavrovo Lake. You will enjoy dramatic views of countless mountain peaks. You will get closer to the shepherd’s life, visiting sheep farms to experience the traditional way of cheese-making. This ride gives you the opportunity to learn the traditions and history of the oldest North Macedonian tribe, the Miyaks.
Meeting Point
Skopje
Date and Rates based on double occupancy
Miyak Tribe Trail with Galichnick Wedding Ceremony
5 Jul 2026 - 13 Jul 2026
8 nights
€2,029
Price Includes
- Riding and English-speaking guide; accommodation; all meals; other activities such as goat milking and cheese preparation; entrance fee to Mavrovo National Park; drinks at the ranch and while camping; all transfers; camping equipment.
- SINGLE SUPPLEMENT There is no charge for a single tent on the camping nights. Single rooms in the hotels are possible on most nights but it may not be possible to guarantee single accommodation throughout. Single rooms should be requested in advance and where available in the hotels are an extra €20 per night, payable locally. If you are willing to share, then no supplement is charged.
- PAYABLE LOCALLY Alcoholic beverages and all soft drinks at the hotels and guesthouse; tips (optional).
- NEAREST AIRPORT Skopje
- TRANSFERS are included from Skopje airport.
- GETTING THERE
- Return transfers are included from Skopje airport or from a hotel in Skopje (City Park Hotel recommended).
- Guests arriving in the mid-morning, or who are already in Skopje, will be taken for a short sightseeing tour of the Old Bazaar in Skopje and the city centre and after lunch transferred to the start of the ride. Guests arriving in the afternoon will be transferred directly to the start of the ride. The journey from Skopje to your first night accommodation is about 2 hours.
- The last night is at a hotel near to Skopje airport and so your flight can depart at any time.
Price Excludes
- International and domestic flights
- alcoholic beverages in restaurants and hotels
- individual travel insurance
- tips
You will enjoy dramatic views of countless mountain peaks. You will get closer to the shepherd’s life, visiting sheep farms to experience the traditional way of cheese-making. This ride gives you the opportunity to learn the traditions and history of the oldest North Macedonian tribe, the Miyaks. You must be riding and physically fit, confident and in control at walk, trot and canter in the open. The pace is dictated by the terrain and you will be required to dismount and lead your horse on foot at times. When leading your horse, the terrain can be rocky and uneven. It is essential that you have suitable walking/riding boots
The horses are mainly Balkan mountain horses, with some purebred Arabs and Arab crosses. They are ridden in Western tack, but the riding style is English with a loose rein. The horses are trained to have a very forward going walk and rarely trot. There will be fast canters and gallops in places. On some of these fast sections riders are encouraged to spread out, take their own line and overtake when space allows. It is essential for your own safety that you are in control of your horse and keep your distance. Your horse is prepared and untacked for you by the support team.
- level: advanced: a frequent and regular rider. Very fit and in control on a forward going horse at all paces in the open over rough and variable ground.
- Riding time : between five to nine hours, covering a distance of 15 to 44 km each day so on the week long itinerary you ride over 202 km in total.
- Accomodation : a range of accommodations from comfortable hotels to simple dome tents. Overall, there are five nights in hotels and two nights of camping. While camping, the team will set up tents, start the campfire and prepare all the meals. Chairs and tables are provided for meals and there are toilet tents. There is only cold water for showering on the camping nights.
- Type of terrain: mountains,, river crossings, bog, high plateau, forests
- Group : 10 riders max / 3 guides
Day 1 Arrival and overnight Hotel Neda Galichnik
Upon arrival at the Skopje Airport, transportation is provided by our operator who will pick you up and take you to a coffee break at the Old Bazaar in Skopje city (20 min drive). You will have an opportunity for I short stop at the Old Bazaar and the city center, and a chance to taste the delightful Macedonian cuisine at the traditional restaurant DUKAT in Skopje.
After the lunch, you will be transferred to the SHERPA HORSE RIDING RANCH in the village of Galichnik, situated in the western mountain region of Macedonia (1h 45 min drive). Lodging is at Hotel Neda in the village of Galichnik, and in between, you will meet the horses and the Sherpa team at the ranch, which is 1 km from the hotel. Safety-briefing and operation procedures session will be hosted at Hotel Neda before the dinner. Overnight stay is at Hotel NEDA – Galichnik. .
Details:
Arrival at Skopje airport, transport to the city of Skopje, coffee break, short sightseeing tour, lunch in the traditional restaurant DUKAT.
16.30 – Departure to SHERPA HORSE RIDING RANCH and Hotel NEDA – Galichnik
18.15 – Arrival at the Ranch, meeting the Horses and the Sherpa team, and a warm welcome with refreshments
19.00 – Safety equipment handout, safety, and procedures briefing.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Neda – Galichnik.
* Guests arriving after 16.30 will be directly transferred to SHERPA HORSE RIDING RANCH with snack lunch provided in the van.
* For the guests who cannot attend the Safety and Procedure briefing session at 19.00, the briefing will be provided at the time of their arrival in Galicnik.
Day 2 Setting out and overnight Hotel Kalin
The following is the proposed itinerary but please note that changes are possible due to weather, local conditions and the group’s experience. After breakfast at the hotel, you will be collected at 08:30 and transferred to the ranch where you meet the team over welcome drinks. On the way you visit the monument of Gjorgjia Pulevski, a famous Miyak author and revolutionary.
After being allocated your horse, you may have fun with some ranch workshops, such as milking goats whilst the horses are being prepared for the trail.
Your luggage is transported between your accommodation by truck throughout the journey.
Today is an opportunity to visit the old Miyak villages and learn more about the culture of the Miyaks, as well as ride through old forest trails which were originally used for transportation on horses. From the ranch you ride through the forest of Sushica (visiting Sushica, the oldest Miyak village, now mostly in ruins) and downhill to the Miyak villages of Selce and Tresonche, with panoramic views of the north side of Stogovo Mountain. After a picnic lunch you continue riding through the Miyak village of Tresonche
and learn more about the Miyak folklore and the old Miyak architecture. You finish today’s ride at Lazaropole (the second largest Miyak village) at around 17:30. Overnight Hotel Kalin. Hotel Kalin is a small mountain inn with a traditional
design.
Approximately 5 hour forest ride (27 km).
Day 3 Overnight at Motel TOPILA
Approximately 5 hour ride (35 km).
After breakfast at 08:00 you assist with tacking up the horses for today’s ride.. This is an adrenaline filled ride. You cross up to Stogovo Mountain from the Miyak village of Osoj, with an incredible view of the Korab Massive (2,764
m/9,068 ft).. You also have an opportunity to go to one of the highest peaks on Stogovo
Massive - Babin Srt (2,241 m/7,352 ft). Arrive at the sheep farm at Stogovo Mountain for lunch - a typical shepherd’s
lunch including lamb and cheese, fresh from the farm. Learn about the shepherd’s life, far away from the civilized world, and about
the old traditional farming techniques. You may be able to taste some of the milk products directly from the farm.
Continue riding down to the Miyak village of Gari for dinner and overnight in a
small guesthouse by the main Gari creek.
Approximately 5 hour ride (35 km).
Overnight Motel Topila. Motel Topila is a small, rustic hotel in the mountains.
Day 4 Solomunica Camp + Wine tasting
(approximately 9h ride; 44km) Gari – Kamp Solomunica
After a lovely dinner cooked with traditional spices, and a good night’s sleep, we are almost ready for the longest day of this journey. Getting ready for an amazing 44 km ahead of you.
On this day, we are going to cross to the east side of Bistra Mountain, riding across a very old forest Miak trail. This ride will take you above the forest of Bistra Mountain, with an incredible view at the Korab Massive (2,764 meters/ 9068 ft.). This route will get you closer to the shepherd’s life, visiting a few sheep farms and tasting traditional white cheese and yogurt.
After the long breathtaking experience, we will be lodging in our base camp deep in the mighty mountains far away from the civilized world. Setting up the sleeping tents, starting a campfire along with the dinner preparation, done in a traditional manner, we will be getting ready for a campfire party, followed by some good night’s sleep.
Day 5 Mavrovo Lake and hotel
Approximately 7 hour ride ( 35 km)
Wake up to fantastic views of the high mountain peaks. Prepare breakfast in the wild, enjoy the fresh mountain air and get ready for the next part of your journey.
Ride through more Miyak sheep farms and enjoy this varied mountain scenery. After lunch you continue to the Sandaktash Peak (2,011 m/6,597 ft) and then to Mavrovo Lake and the village of Mavrovo. You finish today’s trail with a ride along the lake shore. Overnight Mia's Favorite Hotel or similar. This hotel and restaurant in Mavrovo is situated
at the edge of Mavrovo Lake. There is a garden to enjoy, as well as a spa with hot tub and sauna.
Day 6 Karbula tented camp and gin tasting
Approximately 6 hour ride ( 30 km)
After a good night’s sleep you will have plenty of energy to climb high into the hills again today on your horse. Your guides will take you deep into the forest to the very old Miyak village of Kichinica. After lunch, you will be climbing again around the highest peak of Medenica to set up camp next to the Karbula Peak (2,100 m above sea level).
This is located at the west end of Bistra Mountain with an incredible view of Krchin Peak.
Enjoy the sunset over the unbroken horizon while preparing dinner next to the Enjoy the sunset over the unbroken horizon while preparing dinner next to the campfire. Dinner might be fresh lamb directly from the nearby sheep farms,
cooked in a very traditional way. Dinner around the campfire and overnight in tents.
Overnight Karbula Tented Camp. During the day the support crew move the
camp to Karbula.
Day 7 Sunrise ride and Galicnik Wedding
Approximately 3 h sunrise ride: 15 km and 4 hour ride , 25 km. Camp Govedarnik - Medenica- Sherpa Ranch
This morning will be something entirely different. Waking up before dawn, preparing the horses, riding to the highest peak of Medenica to watch the sunrise.
Enjoying the magnificent sunrise, along with a fruit dessert break at the ‘top of the world’.
There are no words to describe the majesty of this sight at daybreak.
We are going to walk entirely downhill and ride again to the base camp Govedarnik for breakfast.
After the breakfast, we are going to ride along the uplands of the scenic Bistra Mountain with the fantastic open landscapes. On this day, finally, you are going back to SHERPA HORSE RIDING RANCH after 202 km in total for these 6 days of riding. Welcome back to the ranch.
You will be transferred to your hotel in Galichnik. The Galichnik wedding ceremony starts at 18:30 and you will be seated in the lobby to watch the event. Following the ceremony you have dinner and later you have the option to attend the ranch party with traditional music. Overnight Hotel Neda.
Day 8 Galicnik Wedding Ceremony
The morning breakfast is between 08:00 and 09:00.
The ceremony starts again at 09:00 and you will be seated in the lobby to watch the entire event until
13:00. Afterward, lunch will follow (likely at the cocktail reception hosted by the President of North Macedonia).
Transfer back to City Park Hotel in Skopje.
Day 9 Departure
Breakfast and transfer to the airport (according to your flight you will be transferred right on time from your hotel)
