North Macedonia - Miyak Tribe Trail
Explore Mavrovo National Park on horseback – from snow-capped mountains, belted by pine forests, to rolling green hills and fields littered with wildflowers, this is the perfect setting for a riding holiday.
This holiday is for those who enjoy the mountains’ treasures. Riding uphill along the valleys of Bistra Mountain and Mavrovo Lake, you will enjoy open views of countless mountain peaks. On the Miyak Tribe Trail, you will get closer to the shepherd’s life, visit a few sheep farms and experience the traditional way of cheese making. It is also a great opportunity to learn the traditions and the history of the oldest North Macedonian tribe, the Miyaks.
Click on top left symbol on the map below for the day to day itinerary, then select an individual day/night for further information and photos. Alternatively, click directly on the route lines or map symbols for more details.
Ride for around 5 to 9 hours each day, covering a distance of between 15 and 44 km a day. On this week long itinerary, you will ride over 200 km in total. You must be riding fit as well as physically fit, confident and in control at a walk, trot and canter out 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 will rarely trot. There will be fast canters where the terrain allows and to avoid racing, the canters will be in single file.
You can help with grooming and tacking up your horse if you'd like, otherwise the team will prepare your horses each morning.
Hard hats are mandatory. Body protectors are available to borrow.
During this trail you will stay at a range of accommodations, from comfortable guesthouses to bunk style rooms and simple dome tents (4 nights hotel, 2 nights camping and 1 night in a guesthouse). The night at Guesthouse Carevec is in a dormitory room, which is mixed sex.
Single tents are available, but you should be willing to share in the hotels and guesthouse.
While camping, the team will set up the sleeping tents, start the campfire and prepare all the meals. Chairs and tables are provided for meals and there is a toilet tent. However, there won’t be any hot water for showering.
The traditional North Macedonian diet is all about the simplicity and high-quality produce in season. Meat is locally sourced from animals that have grazed freely on rich, high-altitude herbal pastures.
If time is short, you can join the the Bucephalus Trail, which is the first 5 nights of the Miyak Tribe Trail (Saturday to Thursday). After the first nights camping, the guests on the Miyak Tribe Trail will continue their ride from camp to the next location, while the guests on the Bucephalus Trail will ride from camp back to the ranch.
Both itineraries can be scheduled at the same time with a maximum of 10 guests overall. Please contact us for further information.
| Holiday | Experience LevelExp Lvl | Arrive - DepartArr - Dep | Price | Itinerary | Availability | |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 16 May 2020 - 23 May 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 23 May 2020 - 30 May 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 30 May 2020 - 6 Jun 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 6 Jun 2020 - 13 Jun 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 13 Jun 2020 - 20 Jun 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 20 Jun 2020 - 27 Jun 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 27 Jun 2020 - 4 Jul 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 4 Jul 2020 - 11 Jul 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 11 Jul 2020 - 18 Jul 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 18 Jul 2020 - 25 Jul 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 25 Jul 2020 - 1 Aug 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 1 Aug 2020 - 8 Aug 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 8 Aug 2020 - 15 Aug 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 15 Aug 2020 - 22 Aug 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 22 Aug 2020 - 29 Aug 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 29 Aug 2020 - 5 Sep 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,668.23 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 5 Sep 2020 - 12 Sep 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 12 Sep 2020 - 19 Sep 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 19 Sep 2020 - 26 Sep 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 26 Sep 2020 - 3 Oct 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 3 Oct 2020 - 10 Oct 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,450.64 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 10 Oct 2020 - 17 Oct 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,305.57 |
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| Miyak Tribe Trail | 17 Oct 2020 - 24 Oct 2020 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $1,305.57 |
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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 guesthouse are possible on some nights only and it is not possible to guarantee single accommodation throughout. Where available, single rooms in the guesthouses are an extra €10 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 Shared transfers are included from Skopje airport at any time.
Return transfers are included from Skopje airport. Flights can arrive and depart at any time and you will be collected on arrival.
Guests arriving before 16:30 will be taken to Skopje for a short sightseeing tour at the Old Bazaar and the city centre.
North Macedonia is a southeast European country on the Balkan peninsula. It is landlocked by Bulgaria, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Greece.
North Macedonia's climate features hot summers and cold winters. May to October is an excellent time to visit, as it's the warmest and driest part of the year.
The rides across the wildflower pastures, through the Beech woods and along the mountain ridges were about as good as it gets. The whole thing exceeded my expectations by a long way.
Len, Cornwall
Overall rating: 5/5
You will be riding in the mountains - bring clothes you can layer throughout the day! Really comfortable footwear is essential too.
Lucy says
This ride is perfect if you want to experience North Macedonia's natural beauty.