Bound by many seas, the Balkan Peninsula accommodates a yet-to-be-discovered country, Macedonia. However, an in-country tour company, Macedonia Experience, is bringing the country to the attention of active travelers through a potpourri of touring programs.
“Today’s adventure traveler is seeking the next horizon, undiscovered destinations and cultures that have been hidden behind political curtains,” explains Jane Josifovski, product manager and co-owner. “Macedonia is the perfect place to explore and fulfill your exotic travel fantasies.”
In addition to daily sightseeing tours, Macedonia Experience (http://www.macedoniaexperience.com/) organizes multiple-day programs introducing visitors to the culture and history of this ancient land. For example, a 15-day multi-activity tour begins with transfers from Skopje Airport and incorporates such classic experiences as; souvenir shopping at a Skopje bazaar, rock climbing on 1,000-meter-high cliffs in the Matka Canyon, hiking, cycling and horseback riding, a city tour of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ohrid, bouldering near an ancient city founded by the father of Alexander the Great, paragliding in Krushevo, wine tasting in Demir Kapija and more.
This tour for up to 14 people, available from April through October, includes 14 nights accommodations, all meals, activities and equipment, guide services and in-country transportation and taxes. The per person rate is 1700€ for a group of four.
“We believe that Macedonia’s cultural and natural heritage is one of our most precious resources, and that the best way to sustain it is to share it and honor it and realize its value. Through responsible tourism we can ensure that these treasures have a future for generations to come,” notes Josifovski.
Simultaneously ancient and brand new, she said this country is struggling to find its place in the post-communist world. Black-clad Orthodox monks are just as much a part of this renewal as the hordes of teenagers, bedecked in the latest Italian fashions, sipping coffee in the stylish bars of the capital.
Typical Macedonian food resembles the food of the southern Balkans: skara, grilled meat; shopska salata, a mixed salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and grated sirenje, a white cheese similar to feta. Another local specialty is ajvar, a red paste made from roasted peppers and tomatoes, used as an appetizer or side dish. Another typical local dish is tarator which is comparable to the Greek tzatziki. It is made of yogurt, cucumbers, and garlic and it is served as a cold soup.
Macedonia is dotted with beautiful Orthodox churches, monasteries and Ottoman mosques. The territory of the Republic of Macedonia has a proud history. Being under the Ottomans for 500 years caused legendary Macedonian revolutionaries to lead uprisings to free Macedonia. Macedonia has been part of many countries, but until its incorporation into Yugoslavia by Tito in 1945 it was never acknowledged as an administrative "state." Macedonia prospered under Tito's rule, especially when the capital Skopje was rebuilt after a severe earthquake in 1963 and the Yugoslav government invested heavily in the subsequent infrastructure rebuilding.
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/macedonia#ixzz2YaRnAQhm
