Crampon Tours for Everyone to Discover Mavrovo’s Beauty

Meet up close the owners of the mountain house “Carevec,” stationed in the wilds of Mavrovo, who are creating new adventures that attract tourists.

Among their adventurous offerings are tours with crampons. Since this is unfamiliar to most tourists, we spoke with Vladimir Gorgjioski, the owner, to tell us more about it.

Snowshoes are footwear attachments designed for walking on snow. They work by distributing the wearer's body weight so that the feet don’t sink completely into the snow.

Traditional, old-fashioned snowshoes have a hardwood frame laced with dried leather. Some modern snowshoes follow a similar design, but most are made from lightweight materials such as metals, plastics, and synthetic fabrics.

In addition to distributing weight, snowshoes are usually curved upward at the front to allow for easier maneuvering. They are designed with a mesh-like structure that prevents snow from accumulating on top, allowing it to fall through instead. Similar to snowboards, they have bindings that can be adjusted to fit hiking boots.

Today, snowshoes are most commonly used for recreational purposes—by tourists who love to hike through Macedonia’s natural beauty and breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Vladimir says this is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to explore Mavrovo National Park in winter and reach areas that are otherwise difficult to access without snowshoes.

This type of adventure is especially appealing to visitors who are looking to step out of their comfort zone and experience the forest trails of the park in a new and exciting way.

The Mavrovo snowshoe tours are open to anyone with prior hiking experience and appropriate winter hiking gear. For those without hiking experience, Vladimir explains that they are welcome to join shorter, easier tours designed to introduce them to the basics—what kind of clothing is needed, what a typical tour looks like, and whether they are ready to take on a bigger adventure.

He hopes that attractions like these, still relatively new to the Macedonian tourism market, will draw in many visitors eager to explore the national park.

Vladimir also recommends a great route that’s not too demanding—from their mountain lodge Tsarevets to the nearby peak of the same name, which rises to 1,810 meters above sea level. The tour is fairly easy, takes about four hours, and passes through breathtaking scenery, including beech forests, the natural habitat of the Balkan lynx, and ends at an incredible viewpoint overlooking the entire Mavrovo Lake.

The Tsarevets area is believed to have once served as a retreat for a medieval ruler—a fact that also explains the origin of its name. According to legend, a king built a fountain—now known as Tsareva Cheshma—along with a small house, seeking solitude and peace away from others. That’s why this place is still considered perfect for rest and relaxation.

Vladimir adds that these kinds of tours are ideal for everyone. The main advantage is that tourists stay physically active while the experience remains affordable and accessible to all.

Historically, snowshoes were a vital tool for traders, trappers, and anyone whose survival depended on their ability to move through snow-covered terrain inaccessible by vehicles. Today, they serve a new purpose—as a unique and exciting tourist attraction.