E-Bike Tours on Galichica, Shar, Bistra, and Jablanica Mountains

If there’s no snow, then green trails will do just fine. For those in love with the mountains, there’s no such thing as bad weather for a visit. Today, the team from Kajak.mk spoke with Mihail Solakov, a member of the SharOutdoors team, who have recently gained attention with their offers for adventure tourism.

Mihail shared that as the snow melts in the mountains, ski equipment and snow groomers are parked in garages, and electric bikes take their place—used to organize tours through the mountains of Macedonia.

Following global trends, we’ve noticed that electric bike tours are becoming increasingly popular. They offer people the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing yet adventurous holiday that isn’t overly exhausting, while still staying physically active.

Electric bikes are relatively new on the market, and demand for them is growing. They’re a great way for people who aren’t extremely fit to still be able to complete longer tours and enjoy the stunning landscapes and natural beauty that the mountains have to offer.

Mihail says that the electric mountain bikes they use are from the brand DRAG, and they are suitable and easy to handle for both beginners and more experienced mountain bikers.

SharOutdoors organizes one-day and multi-day tours, which take place on Shar Mountain, Bistra, as well as in the Ohrid region, including Galičica and Jablanica.

The most attractive one-day tours include:

Popova Šapka – Leshnica – Šipkovica
This tour covers a distance of 40 kilometers and takes you through the most scenic region of Šar Mountain. The ride starts from Popova Šapka, following a mountain trail to the Leshnica Valley, where a coffee break is taken and the natural pools of the Krivošijska River are visited.

From there, the tour continues on a mountain path to the village of Bozovce, where it joins the asphalt road passing through the villages of Vešala and Brodec, and ends in the village of Šipkovica.

From Šipkovica, organized transport returns the group to Popova Šapka.
Throughout the route, you’ll enjoy stunning views of peaks such as Kobilica, Plat, Titov Vrv, as well as the second and third Leshnica rocks.

Leunovo – Galičnik

This tour is approximately 32 kilometers long and is designed to take you through the heart of Mavrovo National Park.

• The starting point is the village of Leunovo, from where the group ascends via a forest trail toward the Sandaktaš peak.

• Once out of the forest, the route continues toward the Čafkarnik shepherd's hut, where a break is taken and participants have the opportunity to taste fresh cheese.

• After the rest, the tour proceeds southward and connects with the main mountain trail that links Mavrovo and Lazaropole.

• Along this trail, you'll be treated to phenomenal views of the entire Korab massif.

• The ride continues westward until it reaches the asphalt road below the peak Tsarevets. From there, the descent through Toni Voda field leads to the village of Galičnik.

At Galičnik, there's an optional lunch stop, after which the group is transported back to Leunovo by organized transport.

Velestovo – Trpejca – Ohrid (Tour de Galičica)

This stunning 43–63 km mountain biking tour begins in the village of Velestovo and takes you deep into the heart of Galičica National Park via scenic mountain trails.

• The ride offers breathtaking panoramic views of both Lake Prespa and Lake Ohrid, with a real chance to spot wildlife along the way.

• Heading south across a karst plateau at an elevation of 1,500 meters, you’ll reach the Asan Džura mountain hut, where the group takes a short coffee break.

• The tour then continues along the same path towards Prespa, where it connects with the main asphalt road linking Ohrid and Prespa through the mountains.

• From there, the route turns westward toward Lipova Livada, the starting point for the ascent to Magaro Peak (the highest point of Mount Galičica).

This ride is a must for adventure lovers who want to experience Macedonia’s most iconic landscapes in a single, unforgettable journey.

From here, the route continues downhill on an asphalt road all the way to the village of Trpejca. Depending on the group's mood and fitness level, participants can choose to either continue cycling for another 20 kilometers to Ohrid or return by organized transport.

The tours are always conducted with two guides to ensure attention is given both to faster and slower riders, so that everyone finishes the tour satisfied at the end of the day. Support from a 4x4 vehicle is always available, ready to respond quickly in case of injury or any unexpected situation, including evacuation of the affected person if needed.

At first glance, 40–60 kilometers may seem like a lot to some, but with electric-assisted bikes, you can easily cover that distance without any problems.

We have done these tours many times with groups that included a mix of both active and less physically active people, and everyone has always completed the tours, says Mihail. He adds that this year the tours will start on May 26th, with tours around Galichica planned until June 10th in Ohrid, and then they will move on to Shar Mountain.

During the summer, information about when and where tours will take place can be found on their official Facebook and Instagram profiles or at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/sharoutdoors.balkan.adventures