Ski North Macedonia
Skiing & snowboarding in North Macedonia is not hinged on its couple of reasonable ski resorts, but mainly on backcountry powder & some of Europe's longest running cat skiing operations. Additionally, North Macedonia is a surprising melting pot of cultures with an amazing history plus cuisine that needs to be eaten to be believed!
North Macedonia is attractive as a powder ski destination because of its abundance of snow & lack of local freeriders (lots of freshies for visitors!) in a country that is incredibly affordable & cheap but with a people, culture & food that are gold-plated.
Ski Resorts, Cat Skiing, A Ski Touring in North Macedonia
It is important to understand that ski resorts in North Macedonia are not the über modern monstrosities of the Alps in Austria, France, Italy or Switzerland. Ski lifts tend to be old & slow. Grooming of piste trails can be poor (or optional!) & overall facilities are on the ‘run-down’ side of the 'scale of maintenance'! In reality there are only a few resorts of any real note, plus several cat ski operations.
The 'premier' ski resort in Nth Macedonia is Pelister has a National Park with a small ski centre and a fabulous cat skiing operation called SF Freeride. The area is worth a few days visit for powder skiing & boarding (including trees), views, food & unparalleled fun & hospitality.
The other North Macedonian ski resort to consider is Mavrovo, situated midway between Popova & Pelister on the border with Albania & close the magnificent Mt Korab.
The region around Mt Korab has the nation’s best ski-touring. The backcountry possibilities are nearly endless, with some of the best snow, long descents and the novelty of skiing into neighbouring countries too! The backcountry ski-touring is the true highlight of skiing in North Macedonia.
Snow
The mountains of North Macedonia, are like everywhere being impacted by a changing climate. Seasons seem to start later than in the past, and the snow level is higher up the mountains. The region can be boom or bust in terms of snowfall or even bust and boom in the same week. Given the nature of the mountains & terrain (particularly in the Sharr Mountains that differ greatly in structure to the Alps), a period of warmth and rain can turn into a cold, deep winter storm with superb cover for bottomless powder skiing in a matter of days.
Where is North Macedonia?
North Macedonia is the newest country in the world! Previously known as FYROM (the former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia), the name changed in early 2019. The country is in the Balkans, bordered by Serbia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Greece & Albania. It is approximately 950km south of Vienna in Austria.
The main gateway airport to North Macedonia is the magnificently titled Alexander the Great Airport near the capital, Skopje. We recommend using quality airlines flying out of major European airports like Vienna & Zurich. Daily flights from Vienna to Skopje take around 1hr 35min. Regular direct flights from Zurich take around 2hr. Flight costs are relatively cheap, however the budget airlines operating out of secondary airports in Germany etc. are in the “you get what you pay for” category. Search & book a great deal on a flight to Skopje.
Powderhounds recommends pre-organising direct private transfers from the airport to your ski destination with your tour operator or hotel provider prior to arrival.
For more information on how to get there, see our
Travel to North Macedonia page.
Skopje Hotels & Accommodation
The capital, Skopje, is a wonderful city to spend a few days before or after your ski adventure in Macedonia. Overlooked by the walls and turrets of the Skopje Fortress (or Kale), the city centre has several excellent (& unusual!) hotel options & attractions such a fun restaurant district & bazaar. A night in the Hotel Senigallia on the Vardar River in the centre of Skopje is a fun way to experience the city.
Search & book all Skopje accommodation.
For accommodation in general, the standard in North Macedonia is lower than in Western Europe. Whilst there are some notable exceptions (like the excellent Hotel Sumski Feneri near Pelister), when away from Skopje it is best to keep your expectations lower than the number of stars indicated on the hotel sign! Regardless of the room amenities, the food at all Macedonian hotels will never disappoint.
Reasons to Ski & Snowboard North Macedonia
Macedonia is still wild at heart. How many places in Europe still have bears, wolves, lynx & ................ cat skiing! North Macedonia can get great snow, is still light on the hip pocket (affordable!), has delectable food and still comes with a sense of edgy adventure when travelling in its backblocks. For something completely different to the Alps & western Europe, ski and snowboard Macedonia.
Reviews
The Powderhounds reviewed ski resorts & cat skiing in North Macedonia in 2019 visiting Popova Shapka (skiing the resort, touring the backcountry & cat-skiing with Eskimo Freeride), Pelister (cat skiing with SF Freeride) & also did the inaugural Balkans Cat Ski Safari with Shar Outdoors. The experience was way better than we expected - high adventure, some wonderful powder, delectable cuisine & great people........ plus a few challenges that kept it real! We will be back one day .... maybe. See the relevant pages to read our reviews.
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If you have a question about skiing & snowboarding in North Macedonia or Europe, CONTACT US.