Ski Level
Freeride Level
Touring Level
Physical Effort
Accommodation
Ski touring in south Macedonia
Pelister and Galicia national parks
season runs from 20.12 to 30.04
4 days – 5 nights
2 guides for a max. of 8 pers.
max. altitude 2610m
from 1 400chf p/p
Through the Pelister forest
Nice start to the day
Nice snow conditions
Nice terrain
Pelister national park
Where will I put my line
Mt Pelister
Touring with lake views
Galicia national park
On the way up in Pelister
Pelister ski touring
Magnificient views
Click on picture to navigate the gallery
Macedonian mountains are perfect for your adventure. Big mountains and various terrains to suit all levels of skier/rider are a great opportunity to have a great ski touring holiday.
In this trip you will explore two National parks and mountains situated between the two biggest lakes in Macedonia, Ohrid and Prespa lake. With skis, we climb peaks on different sides of the mountain and enjoy the wonderful views on the lakes and surrounding mountains in Albania, Greece, and almost all of Macedonia.
Learn about Macedonian culture, nature and tradition, taste traditional food and wine, enjoy 4 days of ski touring and ski the best slopes of the two National parks of Pelister and Galicica.
Day 1 – Arrival day
Arrival in Macedonia at Skopje . We will await you on a flight that arrives between 10am and 1pm. We will meet with you at your exit of the airport and transfer you to your hotel by taxi or private shuttle, lasts around 2h.
You settle into a small family hotel located under the foot of the Pelister National Park. This will be your base for the next few days. Dinner at the hotel this evening, enjoy the first taste of Macedonian cuisine at our welcome dinner meeting with the guides and briefing on the itinerary for the next few days.
Day 2
National park Pelister – Mt Musa peak 2350m.
We start the day with breakfast, we then have 15min. transfer to the small ski center in the village Nize pole at 1360m. From where you start ski touring. With 1.30h climb all the way to the ridge you then continue touring to the Skrkovo and Musa peaks at 2350m, which is the highest point for today. You then ski down to the starting point. Enjoy a drink in the ski center and the views of the surrounding mountains, transfer back to the hotel. Duration of the tour 4-5h. With 1000m vertical meters.
Day 3
National park Pelister – Pelister peak 2610m
Today your ski touring brings you to the highest peak Pelister at 2610m. From the hotel we have a 15min drive to the starting point, the info center of the national park at 1360m. We start hiking up through a dense pine forest of Molika trees, the 5-needled pine is typical from this national park. You exit high above the tree line with amazing views over the surrounding mountains. You ski down to Shiroka hut. Here you have an exquisite warm macedonian lunch. There is a couple of descent routes, to choose from, to ski back down we will decide depending on the weather and snow conditions. Ski ends to the parking at the info center where we transfer you back to the hotel.
Tour duration for today is a 6 to 7 hours, with 1240m vertical meters.
Day 4
Galicica National Park – Magaro peak 2255m.
Amazing scenery contrasting a snowy white mountain overlooking the surface of the blue color of Ohrid lake. Today we start with an early breakfast and we head to Ohrid city. We have a 1.40min drive from the hotel to the point where we will start ski touring. The tour starts at about 1650m, depending on snow conditions. After a 40min. hike you exit the forest, where usually in good weather conditions, we start having a nice view of Ohrid Lake. You still have another 1h30 of touring to the Magaro peak at 2255m, the highest peak of Galicica national park, with beautiful views of the Ohrid and Prespa lake. Skiing down will depend on weather and snow conditions. After skiing, we drive back to Ohrid city, for a short walk through the city and have some coffee. You will then head back to the hotel for the evening.
Day5
National park Pelister – Snowcat assisted ski touring
Today we start the tour with a Snowcat assistance all the way up to 2000m where the good snow is. Here we have a lot of choice for ski touring and for skiing different lines. You rest and lunch at the mountain hut.. Depending on snow conditions, we may ski all the way back to the parking at the info center. Back to the hotel for the evening.
Day 6 – Departure day
Breakfast and checkout, tranfer to Skopje airport. Farewell. End of the tour. Flight home.
Includes
- 5 nights at the hotel
- Full board breakfast, lunch & dinner
- 4 days ski touring
- All land transport
- Airport transfers to hotel and back
- One local guide
- One WSA guide
- One catski ascent
Does not include
- International flight to Skopje
- Alcohol, soft drinks and tour snacks.
- Insurances
- Ski / Snowboard touring gear
- Safety gear
- Anything that’s not in the includes section.
Accomodation – rating Superior
Except the best accommodation and exceptional food.
This small family-run hotel with a 4 star quality service is quietly situated at 900m above sea level in a forest, at the foot of Pelister National Park, one of the oldest parks in the Balkans.
The hotel is 4 km from the town Bitola and 25 km from the Greek border. The Pelister’s trademarks are clear spring water and rivers where you can see Pelister and Pelagonia trout, waterfalls and glacial mountain lakes. The fantastic mountain scenery and pure air here provide a picturesque backdrop for a relaxing holiday designed especially to suit your needs.
Our restaurant offers a pleasant ambiance with outstanding hospitality, combined with great food and a choice of drinks, which will inspire you. Here you find a warm atmosphere, enjoy your meal by a nice warm crackling fire.
Access
International flight to Skopje
We pick you up at the airport
Airport transfers, by taxi or private shuttle to your hotel, lasts around 3h.
Insurances
- leisure sports activities
- worldwide repatriation
- helicopter mountain rescue with no geographical or altitude limits
- accident
- Illness
- cancellations
- and whatever you feel necessary
Guides
One local ski touring guide and one WSA Swiss certified ski touring guide
Safety tips / Health
This is a Ski touring package, you need to be able to ski powder and unprepared snow comfortably.
A good physical health is needed, you will be active at high altitudesand you may be hiking up to altitudes as high as 3900 meters.
No need to worry about Altitude sickness, you have plenty of time to adapt and we will make sure to not move up to fast on your first riding day.
Please mention any health conditions, any allergies or serious medicationyou may be taking when you book with us.
Avalanche Risks and safety
Avalanche danger in mountains is always present.
WSA has years of experience at recognizing areas and snow conditions that are a high avalanche hazard, to avoid them.
We will make sure on the first day that everyone has the adequate gear and knows how to use it. We will provide you with a tutorial on this topic.
Thought you must accept all the risks that come with skiing remote and uncontrolled areas.
The correct mountain attitude is of essence.
Ski/Snowboard touring Gear
We advise you to use suitable gear :
- Skis : wide powder skis minimum 100mm width, mounted with touring bindings, adjustable poles, skins and ski crampons.
- Snowboard : split board with compatible bindings, telescopic poles, skins and adapted crampons or a normal board with snow shoes.
We can help you prepare your complete gear list, just contact WSA.
Mountain touring equipement
First aid box (with: Compeed plasters for rubbing, sports tape etc) safety blanket
Thin gloves and thicker gloves
Two hats
Thermo underwear and socks
Helmet and goggles
Sunglasses and high factor sunscreen
Thin fleece jacket
Thin down jacket for cold days and rest breaks on the summits
Shell pants and jacket (wind and waterproof)
Small thermos , a water bottle
Avalanche safety gear
- The compulsory trio : shovel, probe and transceiver
- ABS bag, not compulsory but advised
