TRESKAVEC & PELISTER

Our hike to Treskavec monastery begins at the city of Prilep and Markovi Kuli, or Marko's Towers - the medieval towers of King Marko on the rocks above Prilep. It travels by a well-established single track in a landscape of granite slabs and boulders which golden-crimson colors reflect the sun rays and unveils an impression of another planet. The monastery is always hidden from your sight as you walk towards it, but the landscape up north is dominated by a mountain peak looming a hundred meters above it – called Zlatovrv (Golden peak 1422m asl.). As you pass over the last ascent you will see Treskavec - laid as an eagle’s nest among vertical rocks and granite slabs. Religious pieties have been held here in Roman era, as well as early-Christian basilica remnants have been used in building the current byzantine style church Sveta Bogorodica (St. Holy Mother of God) that is found in the heart of the monastery (XIV cent.) and has preserved frescoes from the 15th century. Return back from Treskavec monastery on the same path, or, if you prefer, we can arrange a transfer to bring you back to Prilep in 25 min drive, where you can take the train or bus from Prilep to Bitola in the afternoon. Once in Bitola, you can explore it with a stroll along Shirok Sokak Street - a pedestrian-only walkway lined with colorful, romantic, neo-classical buildings and lively cafes. Bitola is the second largest city in Macedonia, and has managed to maintain its 18th and 19th century architecture in the center of town. These buildings tell of the former glory of the town, when every major European country had a consulate here. Overnight in Bitola. 
Hike: 13,3 km / 831m D+, 831m D-

Rising above the city of Bitola, Baba Mountain dominates the Pelagonija valley like a rooftop. It is home of the oldest National park - “Pelister”, the first officially protected natural reserve in N. Macedonia since 1948. This area is full with wildlife, particularly mountain swallows, mountain goats, deer, wolves and brown bears for which the park is famous for. The flora is represented by a unique ancient five-needle “molika” pine trees, which are species of tertiary age, found only in few mountains in the Balkans. The first significant landmark on our route is Crveni Steni (red rocks) at the altitude of 1500-2000m asl – its name is a reminder of the frontline and battles that took part here in WW1. After 4km hike we come to another landmark: The Rock. It is the most usual place where hikers take a break and enjoy the beautiful vistas of the surrounding ridgelines and peaks. From here we continue over the ridgeline directly to the big glacial lake ‘Golemo Ezero’. Enjoy the tranquility and the “isolation” of this wonderful place in the afternoon. Overnight in the mountain hut ‘Golemo Ezero’.  
Hike: 6,3 km / 1.108m D+

Golemo Ezero is the larger of the two glacial lakes in Pelister National Park called “The eyes of Pelister”. It is situated in a cirque at altitude of 2.218m asl – with an average dimension of 220m by 190m and depth of 15m it marks it as one of the largest glacial lakes in North Macedonia. If you prefer to walk down to Nizepole on the same route you came up, you will have enough time this morning to explore and to refresh in the lake as it takes only 3 hours to get down. Or, if you are up to a bigger challenge, you can walk up to Pelister peak (2.601m) and descend on the rocky trail and through the molika pine woods down to hotel Molika (1.420m) where you can take transfer to Bitola. 
Hike Golemo Ezero - Nizepole: 6,3km / 1.108m D-
Hike Golemo Ezero – Pelister summit: 13,3km / 690m D+
Hike Pelister summit – hotel Molika: 13,2km / 1.356 D-