Every single one of us has once been to Mavrovo. Some have gone skiing or attended seminars held in one the hotels, others have stayed in a weekend cottage or taken a day trip. Mavrovo is one of the unavoidable destinations in Macedonia. Next time you go there, try enjoying into something rather different than the things you are used to. For instance, include some more physical activity.
Cycling around Mavrovo Lake is a perfect recreational achievement over the weekend, especially when the weather is nice. It is an achievement that can be reached by any healthy individual who owns a bike. You would neither need a special sports bike, nor any particular physical readiness. Still, you would need a helmet, temperature-appropriate clothing, some food and some water. The ride distance is around 30 kilometers, and literally anyone who can go up the stairs on foot to the fifth floor, could cycle around the lake.
Every June, apart from Mavrovo off road mount-bike marathon, which is organized by Energy Cycling Club and is of sports and competitive nature, simultaneously, another recreational cycling tour takes place around the lake. If you are not in possession of a car or a bicycle car rack, this is a great opportunity, not only because there are organized buses and trucks to transport bicycles to the destination, but also since there are many people, everyone has a whale of a time socializing with others and sharing the same recreational spirit as theirs.
Even if you go individually by car, or you choose the organized transport, the starting point is the parking lot at the ski slopes towards Leunovo. Make sure you put on some sunscreen and take a small bottle of water with you. Do not worry, there are several shops and taps/drinking fountains on the way, so there is no need of dragging big, heavy bottles of water. It is quite important to stay hydrated while cycling. If you believe that there is a possibility of rain, take your waterproof raincoat. Cycling in the rain is not that big of a deal, so let not be discouraged to participate unless the weather is good. What might be a problem, is to get wet due to a sudden rain and not having dry clothes to change (this is a piece of advice of some who has experienced it).
The right side of the lake on the whole is infrequently visited and flat, with 2-3 ascents and descents, only for you to perspire a little and feel the adrenaline while ascending, and do something a bit different that a simple cycling along the quay. Even if you cannot climb because it is too steep, do not discourage, instead get off the bike and push a little until you reach a flatter area. Well, that is how you burn calories.
The first village you go past is Nikiforovo, and cycling past Hotel Radika you arrive in Leunovo. Leunovo is a lovely village in which it is worthwhile to take a short break.
Following Leunovo, the cycling trail leads you to the first dam, where you will often encounter fishermen. “Hello; Good afternoon; How are you; What have you been up to; Where are you headed with those bikes; The fish do not take the bait,” and such similar talks are always welcomed for both, you and the people you meet. There, the view is priceless and the water color is blue and green.
After Leunovo you should have your eyes wide open. A kilometer away from the village, there is a narrow hiking trail turn off to your left. You could take the left turning off the cycling trail and go down the hiking trail towards the lake and the beach. The safest way to get there is on foot. The trail is short. Let’s make it clear, the beach is not an actual beach, but a wider area by the water where one could sit. Having arrived here, you would already have been riding for quite some mileage and burnt a lot of calories.
The pathway progresses along the lake and after a while it joins the regional road Gostivar – Debar. This regional road at the weekends, especially when the weather is nice, is frequently travelled by. In high season at Mavrovi Anovi, you will often come across traffic jams, which is why I do not recommend this place for a break. Do not be afraid, but be careful at this section, move strictly along the right edge of the road and give proper hand signal when turning right or left in order to let the vehicle drivers know where you are headed.
When you go past Mavrovi Anovi you arrive at the second lake dam. If you believe that you have not ridden enough, at the dam, instead of turning left and moving across the dam towards the ski slopes, you could go straight ahead towards Debar.
Provided that you decide to ride to Debar, you will notice that after a certain period of time the river Radika expands into a lake, Debar Lake. Here you could also see Kosovrasti Spa, and several kilometers away from the well-known Boshko’s Bridge is located Rajchica Monastery. It is an all-female monastery, which unfortunately, I have not visited because when I was riding this route, it was already very dark and it was raining heavily, so my sole aim was to get to Debar. However, having seen some of the pictures, it seems to me that I would have to retake this route, only this time during daylight and on a sunny day.
If you decide not to take this turning and continue towards the ski slopes, then turn left and move along the dam, so that the pathway will lead you to the parking lot, the place where you have started the route.
For those who are more courageous, a kilometer or two ahead of the ski slopes, there is a fork in the road, which leads to Galichica. This road is not at all recreational, it is incredibly steep, and hence, it is quite a sports challenge to achieve. It also requires proper bicycle and equipment, as well as, being in an excellent physical condition. Nevertheless, it is good to know all your options.
This part of the route (starting from the dam to the ski slopes), you are probably familiar with, and Mavrovo settlement are pretty commercial. On the right side, you could see the weekend cottages, and on the left side, there is a bunch of restaurants, hotels and motels with terraces on the lake, where you could refresh and intake some more calories to burn later, as a reward for having spent such a nice day.Cycle safely and consume responsibly!
Cheers!
Jovana Tozija, on a bike across Macedonia.
CYCLING AROUND MAVROVO LAKE
Poured by
Jovana Tozija м
Active Life
Every single one of us has once been to Mavrovo. Some have gone skiing or attended seminars held in one the hotels, others have stayed in a weekend cottage or taken a day trip. Mavrovo is one of the unavoidable destinations in Macedonia. Next time you go there, try enjoying into something rather different than the things you are used to. For instance, include some more physical activity.
Cycling around Mavrovo Lake is a perfect recreational achievement over the weekend, especially when the weather is nice. It is an achievement that can be reached by any healthy individual who owns a bike. You would neither need a special sports bike, nor any particular physical readiness. Still, you would need a helmet, temperature-appropriate clothing, some food and some water. The ride distance is around 30 kilometers, and literally anyone who can go up the stairs on foot to the fifth floor, could cycle around the lake.
Every June, apart from Mavrovo off road mount-bike marathon, which is organized by Energy Cycling Club and is of sports and competitive nature, simultaneously, another recreational cycling tour takes place around the lake. If you are not in possession of a car or a bicycle car rack, this is a great opportunity, not only because there are organized buses and trucks to transport bicycles to the destination, but also since there are many people, everyone has a whale of a time socializing with others and sharing the same recreational spirit as theirs.
Even if you go individually by car, or you choose the organized transport, the starting point is the parking lot at the ski slopes towards Leunovo. Make sure you put on some sunscreen and take a small bottle of water with you. Do not worry, there are several shops and taps/drinking fountains on the way, so there is no need of dragging big, heavy bottles of water. It is quite important to stay hydrated while cycling. If you believe that there is a possibility of rain, take your waterproof raincoat. Cycling in the rain is not that big of a deal, so let not be discouraged to participate unless the weather is good. What might be a problem, is to get wet due to a sudden rain and not having dry clothes to change (this is a piece of advice of some who has experienced it).
The right side of the lake on the whole is infrequently visited and flat, with 2-3 ascents and descents, only for you to perspire a little and feel the adrenaline while ascending, and do something a bit different that a simple cycling along the quay. Even if you cannot climb because it is too steep, do not discourage, instead get off the bike and push a little until you reach a flatter area. Well, that is how you burn calories.
The first village you go past is Nikiforovo, and cycling past Hotel Radika you arrive in Leunovo. Leunovo is a lovely village in which it is worthwhile to take a short break.
Following Leunovo, the cycling trail leads you to the first dam, where you will often encounter fishermen. “Hello; Good afternoon; How are you; What have you been up to; Where are you headed with those bikes; The fish do not take the bait,” and such similar talks are always welcomed for both, you and the people you meet. There, the view is priceless and the water color is blue and green.
After Leunovo you should have your eyes wide open. A kilometer away from the village, there is a narrow hiking trail turn off to your left. You could take the left turning off the cycling trail and go down the hiking trail towards the lake and the beach. The safest way to get there is on foot. The trail is short. Let’s make it clear, the beach is not an actual beach, but a wider area by the water where one could sit. Having arrived here, you would already have been riding for quite some mileage and burnt a lot of calories.
The pathway progresses along the lake and after a while it joins the regional road Gostivar – Debar. This regional road at the weekends, especially when the weather is nice, is frequently travelled by. In high season at Mavrovi Anovi, you will often come across traffic jams, which is why I do not recommend this place for a break. Do not be afraid, but be careful at this section, move strictly along the right edge of the road and give proper hand signal when turning right or left in order to let the vehicle drivers know where you are headed.
When you go past Mavrovi Anovi you arrive at the second lake dam. If you believe that you have not ridden enough, at the dam, instead of turning left and moving across the dam towards the ski slopes, you could go straight ahead towards Debar.
Provided that you decide to ride to Debar, you will notice that after a certain period of time the river Radika expands into a lake, Debar Lake. Here you could also see Kosovrasti Spa, and several kilometers away from the well-known Boshko’s Bridge is located Rajchica Monastery. It is an all-female monastery, which unfortunately, I have not visited because when I was riding this route, it was already very dark and it was raining heavily, so my sole aim was to get to Debar. However, having seen some of the pictures, it seems to me that I would have to retake this route, only this time during daylight and on a sunny day.
If you decide not to take this turning and continue towards the ski slopes, then turn left and move along the dam, so that the pathway will lead you to the parking lot, the place where you have started the route.
For those who are more courageous, a kilometer or two ahead of the ski slopes, there is a fork in the road, which leads to Galichica. This road is not at all recreational, it is incredibly steep, and hence, it is quite a sports challenge to achieve. It also requires proper bicycle and equipment, as well as, being in an excellent physical condition. Nevertheless, it is good to know all your options.
This part of the route (starting from the dam to the ski slopes), you are probably familiar with, and Mavrovo settlement are pretty commercial. On the right side, you could see the weekend cottages, and on the left side, there is a bunch of restaurants, hotels and motels with terraces on the lake, where you could refresh and intake some more calories to burn later, as a reward for having spent such a nice day.
Cycle safely and consume responsibly!
Cheers!
Jovana Tozija,
on a bike across Macedonia.
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and do not necessarily represent the views of Pivara Skopje.
