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 and best 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 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 & 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 very good cat ski operations.

Popova Sapka (translates into 'the Priest's Hat - long story!) is Macedonia's 'premier' ski resort. It has a skiable vertical of over 800m plus expansive off piste & backcountry terrain. The resort has the most modern ski lift in the region. Despite some recent improvements, the village is channeling a dilapidated vibe, but when the snow is cold & fresh, the Powderhounds have had some of the best ski days of their lives.

Operating out of the Popova Sapka ski resort, Eskimo Freeride cat skiing provides backcountry powder skiing for all levels of skier & snowboarding from intermediate to expert. Based out of a local village hotel, there are no transfers required to start the day & you can ski all the way back to the door.

In the south of the country near the border with Greece, 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 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.

South of Popova Shapka near Bogovinje, Shar Outdoors operates a new cat skiing operation based in two mountain huts. As well as local cat skiing in the Shar Mountains, they also run the sensational Balkans Cat Ski Safari, taking in the best of North Macedonia & Kosovo, plus ski-touring trips throughout the region.

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.

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 gets great snow, is light on the hip pocket (cheap!) has delectable food and still has a sense of edgy adventure when travelling there. For something completely different, 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 soon. See the relevant pages to read our reviews.

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