HIGH TRAILS OF MACEDONIA

Transcription

1 Mountain biking highlights holiday in Macedonia, the `Pearl of the Balkans` Off-road biking above the lakes of the Galicica National Park Wine tasting in the region of Demir Kapija Sightseeing in the UNESCO Heritage city of Ohrid Makes a circuit of all the best mountain bike sites in Macedonia HOLIDAY CODE MAMB Macedonia, Cycling, 8 Days 7 nights hotel, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners, max group size: 12, 6 days biking, 268 kms, 80% off-road - no vehicle support, ke biking leader, max altitude 2050 metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

2 PAGE 2 Introduction Landlocked and sandwiched between Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece, Macedonia is a mountainous country with extensive wilderness areas that make it a paradise for mountain bikers. Our bespoke itinerary takes us on a tour of the best riding, transferring between locations, staying in family-run hotels and with time for sightseeing in Tetova, Ohrid (UNESCO Heritage Site) and Bitola, as well as a spot of wine-tasting. Predominantly off-road riding on tracks and trails, our explorations take us to the Shar Planina Mountains, the stunning Mavrovo and Galicica national parks, Golemo Ezero (Big Lake), Mariovo and into the Vodno Mountains above Skopje. With a selection of excellent day-rides, far-reaching views and a wealth of ancient ruins and cultural interest, this Macedonian adventure has something for everyone. Is this holiday for you? MOUNTAIN BIKING. Six days of mountain biking, averaging 45 kilometres each day, with approximately 1000 metres of ascent and descent, largely on rough mountain roads and forest tracks, with some sections of nontechnical singletrack, this is a holiday for regular weekend bikers with a reasonable level of fitness. We will be riding for between 4 and 6 hours on each day. Baggage is transferred between hotels each day and there are several short transfers, but no vehicle support during the day-rides. BIKE HIRE AVAILABLE LOCALLY. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Skopje. A single transfer from Skopje Airport is provided. We will meet at the group accommodation in Popova Shapka. KE Land Only package services begin with a single timed group transfer from Skopje Airport to the group hotel. This transfer is usually mid afternoon. There will be a group briefing over dinner with the guide. MEALS D Day 2: A superb day of off-road cycling in the Shar Pannina Mountains. Drive to Bistra. Today's great introductory ride takes us into the mountains of Shar Planina. Following non-technical off-road tracks and close to the border with Kosovo, we cycle into the untamed Leshnica Valley. Here, we discover a hidden paradise and have astonishing views of one of Europe s secret mountain regions. On our way back to the road, we ride by way of Ceripashina and the Ski Centre, then continue to the city of Tetovo, where we will visit one of the most beautiful mosques in the Balkans. In Tetovo, we will also take a break for Turkish coffee, before driving to our hotel in Bistra. DESCENT 1000M ASCENT 1000M DISTANCE 35KM MEALS BLD Day 3: Cycle high grassy trails and gravel roads through the Mavrovo National Park. Return to Bistra. After our introduction to Macedonian mountain biking yesterday we are now in good shape to take on a few further challenges today. Today we cycle the first of two days through the Mavrovo National Park. Riding an ever changing combination of tar and compact gravel roads leads us through a fairytale scene of grassy meadows and

3 PAGE 3 snowy peaks. Our route today follows the Radika River and depending on conditions the finishing point today will decided on the day. Finishing the day with the short transfer back to our charming Bistra hotel, we refuel with traditional Macedonian cuisine. DESCENT 1300M ASCENT 950M DISTANCE 50KM MEALS BLD Day 4: Ride alongside Mavrovo Lake and onto forest trails. Finish with transfer to Ohrid. Biking into the Bistra Mountains takes us alongside the emerald green Mavrovo Lake, with visits to the villages of Nikiforovo and Leunovo. We continue off-road to Galicnik, whilst riding through green pastures dotted with ancient sheepfolds. Galicnik is one of the most beautiful mountain villages in Macedonia, with houses built in an old traditional Macedonian style. A long downhill through forest then leads to the roadhead village of Tresonche, where the way of life has changed remarkably little since the 19th century. Here, we are picked up and transfer to our hotel accommodation in Ohrid. DESCENT 1650M ASCENT 1000M DISTANCE 70KM MEALS BLD Day 5: Challenging ascent across slopes of Mt Jablanica. Descend to Lake Ohrid. Afternoon at leisure. After breakfast we take a short transfer to the lower slopes of Mt Jablanica. Straddling the border with Albania, Jablanica is one of the few places that where the Balkan Lynx can be spotted. Starting with a dirt road climb our route today takes us close to the Albanian border and through traditional Macedonian mountain life. From our highpoint, we follow the Albanian on a superb 14km descent directly to Lake Ohrid. Continuing to cycle around Lake Ohrid we stop by a local fish restaurant for a traditional lunch. On return to Ohrid town, the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the historic streets and sights of this UNESCO town. DESCENT 1100M ASCENT 700M DISTANCE 45KM MEALS BLD Day 6: Cycle the rugged mountains trails of Galicica National Park. Transfer to Skopje. Described as an open air botanical gardens, the Galicica National Park is our objective today. Riding from Velestovo (on the outskirts of Ohrid), we ascend gradually into a scenic mountain region with panoramic views of the Ohrid and Prespa lakes. There will be lots of opportunities for photo stops. Then, as we begin our descent, we will enjoy a mix of off-road and backroad biking with some singletrack. From Eleshec, we drive to the picturesque fishing village of Trpejca for lunch, then transfer to Skopje. DESCENT 1250M ASCENT 850M DISTANCE 40KM MEALS BLD Day 7: A day of singletrack riding on Vodno Mountain followed by afternoon sightseeing in Skopje. We have a final morning of riding in the Skopje area and this includes the option of some cable-car assisted singletrack biking on Vodno Mountain. There is then a short ride on a quiet road to Matka Canyon, one of the most

4 PAGE 4 famous outdoor destinations in the Skopje region this is a magnificent canyon with a man-made lake, with the option of a boat trip to a cave. Here, too, we visit the 14th century monastery of St Andreja (built by the son of the famous medieval king, Volkashin). We take lunch, before heading back to Skopje, where we do some sightseeing in the old bazaar, at Skopje Fortress and at the Stone Bridge. We also see some monuments from the Skopje 2014 Project. We spend our final night at our Skopje hotel. DESCENT 1000M ASCENT 800M DISTANCE 40KM MEALS BLD Day 8: Departure day. A single transfer to Skopje Airport is provided. KE Land Only package services end with a very early group transfer from the hotel to Skopje Airport. Should you wish to extend your time in Macedonia, our team of adventure travel consultants would be happy to discuss options with you. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included English-speaking local guide Airport transfers as described All accommodation as described All Meals All land transport required by the itinerary National park entrance fees All excursions and sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary What's Not Included Travel insurance Visas Airport taxes Airport transfers other than those described Extra activities and excursions Tips for local staff Miscellaneous personal expenditure Bike hire and/or bike carriage Meal Plan All meals from breakfast on day 2 to dinner on Day 7. The transfer on Day 8 will be too early for breakfast. Food With a mix of Balkan, Turkish and European influences, Macedonian food can be brilliant. In the hotels breakfast are continental style, with cereals, bread and jam, tea, coffee and sometimes eggs. You may also have the chance

5 PAGE 5 to try a more traditional Macedonian breakfast of eggs, tomato and feta. At the guesthouses, breakfasts are also simple. Packed lunches are provided and will consist of bread and a variety of meats, cheeses, tomatoes and cucumber. There will also be plenty of fruit, biscuits and cake. Evening meals include traditional soups, fantastic locally-grown vegetables, local dairy produce and meat dishes. Water is provided, but very often this is from local wells or mountain streams and is not chlorinated. If you are concerned about drinking untreated water, we suggest you bring a supply of water treatment tablets. Joining Arrangements & Transfers Clients should join this trip at Skopje Airport. A single timed group transfer to first night's hotel in Popova Shapka is provided on Day 1 of the trip itinerary. This transfer will depart from Skopje Airport mid afternoon. At the end of the trip itinerary (Day 8) there will be a single, very early transfer back to Skopje Airport. Clients arriving/departing on flights that do not coincide with the times for these transfers should make their own transfer arrangement. Contact details and an emergency number will be provided. Hotel contact details together with an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Accommodation During this holiday there will be 7 nights in simple and comfortable hotel and lodge accommodation in several different towns. All accommodation is based on twin sharing, or occasionally triple sharing. If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired with another solo traveller of the same sex. Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be accompanied throughout by a professional English-speaking local tour leader. Altitude This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip. Spending Money Approximately 150 should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses including your bar bills and reasonable tips to the support crew. If you intend to buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly (credit cards can be useful in this respect). Macedonia's unit of currency is the denar. By far the easiest way to obtain your travel cash is from ATM s using a credit card or a debit card linked to the International Plus or Cirrus system - remember you will need your PIN number to do this. ATM s are available at the Skopje Airport and in Popova Shapka and in Ohrid. Credit cards can be used to purchase goods and services in some shops, hotels and restaurants in Macedonia. Guidance On Tipping Tips do not form part of the wages of local staff but they are very much appreciated. It is important to remember that tipping is voluntary and should be dependent on good service. It is best if the tip is given at the end of the trip by the group as a whole. We recommend that each group member contributes around 25 and that tips are then distributed between the guide, driver and any other support staff as the group feels is appropriate. Your Bike

6 PAGE 6 If you are taking your own mountain bike, it should be either a hardtail with front suspension or a lightweight full suspension bike. It should have a good range of gears and should be fitted with moderately knobbly cross-country tyres which work well on the range of surfaces typically found on our Mountain Biking holidays. Since you are depending on your bike to transport you throughout your holiday, across at times demanding terrain, it s important to ensure it is in good working order. If you are not mechanically minded, get your local bicycle dealer to service it for you. Please contact us if you are unsure about the suitability of your bike. Bike Hire It is possible to hire bikes for this holiday. Our local agent has access to Specialized and Corratec hardtail mountain bikes in all sizes. These have Shimano components, mm suspension forks and disc brakes. The bikes are equipped with flat pedals. If you prefer to use spd or clip-in pedals, you will need to bring these with you, along with your regular cycling shoes and cleats. Another item which you might choose to take with you on the holiday is your saddle. The hire bikes have standard saddles and anyone requiring more comfort, or a women-specific saddle, should consider taking their own. Helmets are included in the hire cost, although you might choose to take your own. The cost of bike hire for the duration of the holiday is 160 euros (March 2017 subject to change). You will make this payment directly to the local group leader in euros when the bike is delivered to you. This payment does not cover you if you lose the bike or damage it beyond 'fair wear and tear'. You will need to provide a photocopy of your passport information pages and your credit card details, as security against loss of or damage to the bike. If you want to hire a bike, please contact the KE office and we can reserve one on your behalf. We must stress that your hire contract will be with the local hire company and that KE cannot be held responsible for any issues arising from bike hire. Travelling With Your Bike Airlines require that you pack your bike properly for travel and for this holiday we recommend that you use a purpose-made soft bike bag. These can be relatively inexpensive. They are also light in weight, easy to handle and, most importantly, can be packed into a small space to allow easy transportation in the support vehicle. You will need to partially dismantle your bike to pack it in your bag. PLEASE DO NOT USE a purpose-made rigid bike box for this holiday. We do not have the space in the support vehicle to transport these bulky items. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding travelling with your bike. Vehicle Support This biking holiday is not vehicle supported during the day. All baggage is transported between hotels. A single airport transfer is provided at the start and end of the holiday and there will also be a number of short transfers within the itinerary. During the day you need to have a day pack that is big enough to carry spares, extra clothing and a packed lunch. Check our equipment list for details. Free KE Gift We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking.

7 PAGE 7 * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance Apart from your bike in its bag (if you are taking your own bike), you should travel with one main item of luggage, such as a KE Trek Bag or similar holdall, as well as a small day pack or mountain bike-specific hydration pack. The day pack can be used to carry valuable items such as cameras and GPS devices whilst travelling and will also carry your day-ride essentials during the rides. Your baggage allowance on the flights will depend on your airline. When choosing your flights, whether booking them directly or through KE, you will need to consider the cost of carrying your bike. These costs are your responsibility. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Europe UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa. Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro. Currency The unit of currency in Macedonia is the Macedonian Denar. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:

8 PAGE 8 Preparing For Your Holiday The better conditioned you are the more you will enjoy your trip. We suggest that you adopt a sensible weekly exercise regime and fit in a number of long cycle rides in hilly country to ensure you are physically capable of taking part in this trip - this will also provide you with an opportunity to make sure all your riding kit is tried and tested before you travel. Cycling is obviously the best activity to prepare for this trip, however, running, squash and swimming are also good for developing aerobic fitness and stamina. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Climate Daytime temperatures in the lower valleys will vary between 20 and 30 degrees centigrade at the times of year we operate this trip. The weather in summer is generally excellent - with hot days, clear skies and little rain. Note that temperatures do drop in the evenings by several degrees. High up, we may encounter cooler conditions and stormy weather cannot be ruled out at any time of year in this mountainous region. Books Macedonia. Bradt Guide Ottoman Empire. Diamuird New Europe. Michael Palin A Companion to Ancient Macedonia. Roisman Ruler of Ancient Europe. Boshnakov Maps Macedonia Map - Freytag & Berndt Macedonia at 1:200,000 scale on a large map in Freytag & Berndt`s 'Top 10 Tips' series with the index booklet also providing multilingual descriptions of the country`s 10 most interesting locations, plus a street plan of central Skopje. Names of towns and villages are in both Latin and Cyrillic alphabets.

9 PAGE 9 Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Land Only Notes We sell this holiday on a Land Only basis and recommend that you book your flights to Skopje Airport. A group transfer is provided to the first night's accommodation in Popova Shapka. Please refer to Joining Arrangements and Transfers for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. If flying from the UK there are a number of airlines offering flights to Skopje. These include the low-cost airline Wizz Air who have flights from London Luton. If you would prefer to book a 'Flight Inclusive Package' using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 34 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, muleherders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or , or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE.

10 PAGE 10 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of

11 PAGE 11 the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

12 PAGE 12 Equipment List For this holiday you will need your usual cycling clothing, including shoes, cycling gloves and helmet (which must be worn at all times when cycling). Whether you are hiring a bike or taking your own, we recommend that you take the usual day-ride essentials of: mobile phone, multi-tool, mini-pump, tyre levers, spare tubes and puncture repair kit. Bike Wear Cycling helmet Cycling shoes Daypack or mountain bike-specific hydration pack (e.g. Camelbak) Water bladder - min. 2 litres water capacity Padded (baggy) cycling shorts Long leg cycling trousers or leg warmers Base-layer short sleeve cycling tops Mid-layer - long sleeved cycling tops Fleece jacket or jumper Lightweight windproof top Lightweight waterproof jacket Regular biking gloves Long-fingered biking gloved Warm hat that fits under your helmet Buff Sunglasses Sun cream (inc. total bloc for lips/nose) Camera Other Stuff Travel and off-the-bike clothing and footwear Wash bag, towel, toiletries, including anti-bacterial handwash Headtorch and spare batteries Swimwear Basic First Aid kit and personal medication Chamois cream (e.g. Assos/Ozone) Spares If you are hiring a bike you do not need to bring any spares. The hire bikes are provided in good condition and a supply of spares is carried. You may be asked to pay directly for any spares used, especially in the case of crash damage or damage by mis-use. If you are taking your own bike, you should consider taking a minimum of spares, including a couple of spare spokes (for each wheel if they are different), spare brake blocks (or brake disc pads),

13 PAGE 13 chain links/chain connector, rear derailleur hanger and any non-standard parts specific to your bike. Repairs Whilst not essential, it is a good idea that you familiarise yourself with how to carry out at least some basic repairs to your bike e.g. changing an inner tube and fixing a puncture. Your bike guide will be happy to help with repairs and general maintenance, but being able to carry out a simple repair yourself could save the inconvenience of having to wait for assistance. Hydration And Energy Snacks You should take suitable water bottle(s) or a hydration pack and you should also consider taking a small supply of the gels, power bars or sports drink mix that you would normally use on a ride at home. Please contact us if you have any questions about your equipment. Please note: This document was downloaded on 9 May 2018, and the trip is subject to change.