Countless Marriage Proposals on My Struga Sailboat

If romance had a name, it would surely be Lake Ohrid, says Gjoko Gucheski from Struga, a member of the Snegаr Sailing Club and the Sirma Yachting Club in Struga.

Gjoko is a living witness to many love stories written aboard his sailboat, which is used to promote the lake’s tourist sites.

For Kajak.mk, he shares his beginnings. Passionate about the vastness of the lake, Gjoko and a few enthusiasts decided to invest their own funds to build their own sailboats. Over the past five years, after obtaining a tourist guide license, Gjoko has developed tours showcasing the beauty of Lake Ohrid, including visits to numerous cultural and historical landmarks, diving, swimming in the lake, and romantic experiences.

The informative tours include visits to several local destinations, with adventures most often starting from Struga. One of the stops is Kalishta, where the churches of St. Mary from the 14th century and St. Athanasius from the 15th century are located.

Gjoko says that besides the romantic moments offered by the cruises, it is important to note that these tours provide many valuable insights. Everyone gets the chance to see the 18th-century icon of St. Mary, where the figures of St. Mary and Jesus are depicted in dark colors—considered one of the rare icons in the world.

On the other hand, during the sailing trips, diving excursions are often organized at the Vrbnik site, where at just 2–3 meters deep you can see and even touch history that is 3,500 years old, says Gjoko.
For the romantics, sunset sails are organized. With champagne in hand and romantic music playing in the background, passengers drift along, enjoying the setting sun and the rising moon.

Gjoko has witnessed many marriage proposals during his sailing trips. This brings him particular joy, knowing that young people are embracing unique ways to enjoy Macedonia. Frequent “team-building” cruises, which he used to organize mostly for foreign tourists, have now also become popular among domestic visitors.

Gjoko adds that so far, there have been no complaints about the organized cruises, and guests leave satisfied with positive impressions and the intention to return again next year.