Great info, was there anywhere to camp there overnight? Ourbackpacking the Balkans adventure was all about seeking out these amazing highlights ofoff-the-beaten-track Europe! Attractions & things to do in Matka Canyon, Things to bring on a day trip to the canyon. I did some googling around and couldnt really find the info how to get there with public transport from Skopje so thank you for the info, Ill definitely need it! This is also the starting point of all trails who lead to some of Matkas incredible medieval monasteries. The Sony a7IV is the perfect travel camera. Please leave me a comment or even better share this on any social media platform. Near the dam, youll find the visitors center from where you can hop on a boat. Readyto escape the city for an afternoon of hiking, Luke and I excitedly ran out to catch a bus from Skopje to Matka Canyon. We leave in a few days and Im so excited. Interested to join me on one of my trips? We could see our breath as we explored at our own pace every corner of this mysterious subterranean system. My husband and I visited during off-season, so there were not a lot of people, which was really nice. s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); When arriving at the Lake Matka there is a parking area. There is a walkway through the caves and some parts are colourful illuminated. So much for texting and driving. If youre planning on going swimming, obviously bring a swimsuit! There are severalhistoric churches and monasteries around Matka Canyon which can be accessed from various other hiking trails if you have more time. You can reach the canyon by car in about 30 minutes and park near it. No trip to Matka Canyon is complete without taking a boat trip. The first one youll encounter is the route to St. Nikola Shishevski. Enjoy! Take the number 60 bus from Skopjes main public bus station (the red buses), The journey takes between 45 and 60 mins depending on traffic and costs around 35 Denars each way(0.50/ $0.62). Get yourself covered so you can enjoy your trip worry free! Home Kayaking for 3hrs Down the Amazing Matka Canyon to Discover the Enchanting Hidden Cave on the Water! This tour is a combination of some of the most famous landmarks around Skopje, like the Millenium Cross on the top of Vodno Mountain and the natural reserve Matka Canyon, but in a different way - we'll do an easy hike through the woods and pastures of Mount Vodno with fantastic views over Skopje valley and Matka Canyon, great spots for photographers. So far divers have reached depths of almost 1000ft below the surface and more is still to be explored. If you need some help, you can ask for information, help, and/or equipment at the Matka Mountaineering Center, located next to the St. Andrea Monastery. The buses to Matka do not run that often so please do check the return time. You can get there by bus number 60 from the bus station, which takes about an hour to the canyon. It was very cold! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is free to visit for everyone. In the city centre take bus 60 at the main bus station. Before you go don't miss out on these posts: How to visit Macedonia for the first time, Why you should visit the serene Lake Ohrid, 12 things to do in Brasov Romania off-the-bitten path, 2 days in Budapest Discover 17 fun adventures, An appetising Budapest food tour with Taste Hungary, Montenegro Road Trip: How to experience the highlights in 7 days, Food of Armenia: 14 dishes you must try in Yerevan, 10 seriously awesome things to do in Montenegro, 15+ traditional Romanian food: Youll be surprised, 15 fascinating Schonbrunn Palace facts you probably didnt know. A couple days before I visited Skopje I took the impressive boat trip on the Komani Lake in Albania and was so blown away by the beauty of this gorge. To get a bus pass at the main bus station. In the beginning, we took the paddling very easily, not really having much of an understanding of just how far we had to go if we wanted to make it down Matka Canyon! 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Check availability here. We ate at the restaurant here and got two enormous salads, which were delicious. How Much Does a 10-Day Trip to Greece Cost? Just a few miles away from Skopje, youll discover Matka Canyon; a vast natural paradise that covers close to 5,000 hectares of incredible scenery. How about spending a night in the Matka Canyon Hotel? You can get a city bus from the bus station in Skopje that will drop you off at Matka Canyon. For less than 40 per room you already sleep in this exclusive hotel. You can hike for as long as you like. The Guide Alek is extremely supportive and cooperative. In case you don't drive, you can take a taxi or hire a driver who will take you there and back. It is a small thing for you to do, but would make a big difference for me. This meant we could explore the Suva section of these beautiful caves with the benefit of the lighting system fitted down here. Although I later heard the city centre of Skopje with all its statues is kind of fake (more about it later on my blog) I still think it is an impressive place to visit in North Macedonia. Did you visit the 627 year old church? But whenever you decide to visit, do spend the whole day here. There arent many places where you can buy food and drinks in the canyon, especially if youre trekking. I did not go by bus to Matka Canyon but I asked around for you and a return ticket will only cost less than 3. $ 35,17 If you love being in nature and want to have an adventure beyond the typical tourist experience in Skopje, then this Matka Canyon tour is great for you and it will be a day to remember. Its crazy really what lies below! Alek picked me up from the hotel and was really friendly and knowledgeable. You need to walk in the opposite direction to the main road, to where all of the local buses park. From what I heard is hiking in Matka Canyon a real adventure. more. Privacy Policy. Parking is also free! We recommend going further as few motorised boats or kayaks go there and you can finally enjoy some real quietness and nature (the boats and entrance area are quite noisy). The underwater sections of the Matka cave are some of the deepest in the world and still have yet to be fully explored. Nature, wildlife, hiking, monasteries with amazing views, boat rides, cave touring, kayaking, fishing, restaurants w/ fresh fish, and photography. Explore the stunning Matka Canyon in Macedonia on a full-day sightseeing tour from Skopje and cruise by small boat between the vertical rocks. Our favourite travel lens is the Sony FE 24-105 f4. Bring water! Explore Canyon Matka in Macedonia on a 4-hour sightseeing tour 20 km. Chances are if youre traveling this area of the Balkans, youll be passing through Skopje. You have the option to walk from Mt. Doubles also available as well as motorised boat tours. If youre an early riser and can put in the miles there is actually a route from Matka all the way back to the Cross. You can takebus 60 to Matka Canyon from Skopjes main bus station. Obviously, this alternative provides far fewer amenities than the hotel but is a lot cheaper. We also walked back to the entrance of the canyon (closer to where we got off the bus), and went swimming in the river. Id also recommend bringing a dry bag if youre kayaking. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. There were lots of people particularly couples walking through the canyon when we were there. Overall, would definitely recommend. There are lots of places to buy food and water/drinks on the walk from where the bus drops you off to the canyon. The canyon is a touristy place where locals and tourist love to go on a hot summer day to escape the bustling capital of North Macedonia. a weekend when all the locals go), the bus wont be able to pick you up where it dropped you off. Start at the 14th-century Monastery of Matka, dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. The most adventurous way to see the canyon from the water is in a kayak. Hi! You can take the bus 60 from any bus stop on Blvd. Its all mainly outdoor areas, some are reserved just for drinks. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. On weekdays: 05:50 / 7:45 / 9:40 / 11:20 / 13:05 / 14:55 / 16:25 / 17:45 / 19:20 / 21:00 / 23:20, Weekends: 05:50 / 7:45 / 9:40 / 11:20 / 13:00 / 14:40 / 16:20 / 18:00 / 19:30 / 21:00 / 23:20. On the other side of the Treska River, youll find two more trekking routes that cut through the gorge and lead to the other two monasteries. As soon as I reached the monastery on top of the mountain the weather suddenly changed and it started raining like crazy. The most budget-friendly option of getting to the canyon is probably by bus. Traveling makes me a better person with ever day I am on the road. But it was so much fun to hang out and chill, and watch guys diving off the bridge. :), Read also: 15 Best things to do in Skopje. Instead eating at Cave Monastery restaurant is a must- the inside is a cave and they have trout in a pond and they are very tasty). You can also go on a boat trip to see the cavethis takes about 2 hours total. The rest is a wonderful display of the beauty of nature and a real off-the-beaten-track Europe highlight. Take a taxi from the city, enjoy a boat trip in the canyon and be back in the city centre within 2 hours. Its my birthday and I cant think of a better place to head. So Id suggest bring water and snacks with you, as well as cash if you want to buy anything on the walk there. If you go on a weekend in summer, it will most likely be packed with locals. The path through the canyon is quite narrow, but nothing too dramatic. Amazing boat trip at Matka Canyon made the short trip extra memorable. It shouldn't be more than 500-600 MKD one way per car. The natural wonders youll see in the canyon will wash all the bad vibes away. Sep 2020. I had planned to do the trip by public transport, but this was much better as I saw some great sights and had some great company. There is no entrance fee at Matka Canyon. For those keen on hiking in Matka Canyon I have good news! Pass ancient houses, temples, and medieval monasteries. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Becoming a digital nomad through this blog was a dream coming true, of course supported by my 280K Instagram account @Traveltomtom, more than500K TikTok and 50K Facebook family. Bring your own towel, flip-flops, and sunscreen too. It might seem affordable to you but by local standards, the restaurant is ridiculously overpriced. Skopje is definitely weird but deserving of a few days on any trip to this part of the Balkans. Luckily the day was very clear. * Wear some good shoes as the cave is slippery and muddy, you also might want to do some of the hikes if you have time. How Much Does it Cost to Travel the Balkans For 2.5 Weeks? Make sure you bring some cash along so that you can take the boat trip to the cave housing one of the worlds deepest underwater caves! You can always have an overpriced meal at the restaurant near the visitors center. It takes around 30 minutes. You may also want to check out our guide to Skopje Old Bazaar. I flew into Skopje Airport on this trip. Offering incredible image quality, great portability and a varied lens selection. Privacy Policy. Highlight definitely is the canyon. And just like any other canyon, you can find a lot of towering rocks that can give you some of the most breath-taking views of the canyon. They are squat toilets though, so youve been warned! Partizanski Odredi. So in order to get to Matka Canyon, you have to take a number 60 bus that leaves from the main bus station. This is easy to do with public transportation, and definitely one place you should see in North Macedonia. Were Charlie and Luke UK travel bloggers, adventurers and storytellers. As I wasnt bothered about kayaking or a boat trip, or doing a big hike, I spent a few hours walking out along the cliff path and back. 3 hours to get there! Also, many cyclists go to Matka, but this requires special caution due to the narrow roads, as well as . Accommodation includes breakfast, free wifi and free parking, and prices range from 30-40euro/night. We had found paradise! Great places to go near Warrior on a Horse in June (updated in 2023) | Here, you can find the best travel tips, transportation routes as well as nearby hotels and restaurants, book discounted attraction tickets, etc. from Skopje and cruise by small boat between the vertical rocks. Bus 60 is one of the busses but there are more busses according to the helpful old man and they run quite regularly. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But at the main part of the canyon, its really just the restaurant/hotel. The trail is an elevated path on the side of the canyon. Oh wow, how have I never heard of (or seen photos of!!!) Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Lets not forget that Matka is a canyon. Last updated on May 27th, 2023 at 10:33 am, Matka Canyon Matka Canyon is actually a man-made. Prices vary but in general its not too expensive. Summers are too hot and the canyon gets quite crowded while the winters offer beautiful landscapes but the cold weather and slippery trekking routes are not ideal. What is a Passport/Travel Document Number? We took a straightforward path that goes right through. This leads us to the next exciting activity in Matka Canyon. Since the bus system in Skopje is not always reliable, you might have to take a taxi on the way back from Matka if the bus doesn't show up. There are so many amazing things to do in Matka Canyon! You will need to buy a Skopje public transport card and put money on (denominations of 100s). To get from Skopje to Matka Canyon you need to take the bus no 60. You can find them in the apartments or you can also purchase them at the green kiosks (at the bus stop) with an initial fee of 180 MKD that includes three rides. To get to the caves you will need to take one of the Matka Canyon boat tours that take about 2 hours in total. You can also hike out to the cave, which will take about 2 hours one way. Passing a dead forest drowned by the rising water we eventually reached the dock for the Matka cave! Visit of the Monastery St.Andrew. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. About this activity Free cancellation Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund Reserve now & pay later There are a lot of exciting things to do in Matka Canyon and its no surprise that its one of the top destinations for adventurist travelers near Skopje. The ferry takes around an hour and includes an entrance to the cave and a tour of Matka Canyon. We travel slow and write about sustainable travel. Reconnect with nature in the Matka Canyon. Approx 600 denars per single kayak. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Price for one way ticket is only 35den./0.57 EUR. This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. After 2 big trips around the world in my early travel days, I am now already continuously traveling the world for more than 3,700 days! There is a restaurant in the canyon to order drinks and food. Bus drops you off at the kayak sports centre (not the same as the rental kayak area). There's a row of numbered signs (not in numerical order) and number 60 is about half way up the row. The views from the boat were incredible, with the mountains reflected perfectly in the calm water. To ride public buses you need to have a plastic SKOPSKA card. - 1 Day. You can bike up and down the hill but again, be very careful with this. To the right behind the pillar and across the road are the toilets pictured in the previous photos. If its a nice day, you might even luck out and see some of the guys jumping off the cliff here! You should take a dry bag if you go kayaking because there arent any places where you can keep your belongings when renting a kayak. Canyon Matka, full of beauty and nature. If its a busy day at the canyon (ie. Do give me a shout/Tweet if theres anything I might be able to help with because I know first hand how scare the info online can be! The 6km long lake is wedged between huge limestone towers that at times sit almost impossibly close. Do the trails loop, ad their maps etc? Nice to get away ftom city for a few hours. To ride public buses you need to have a plastic, You can easily spend a few hours at the beautiful. I hope this helps in planning a daytrip to Matka Canyon from Skopje! Parking spaces are limited! When she's not blogging, Charlie works in digital marketing. Do you need to book in advance to visit Matka Canyon? Explore Canyon Matka in Macedonia on a 4-hour sightseeing tour 20 km. You can float around on your own or even try to get to Vrelo Cave. This of course is the easiest option as the drive from the city only takes about 30 minutes. Please leave me a comment or even try to get to Vrelo cave a. This exclusive hotel a busy day at the kayak sports centre ( the! From any bus stop on Blvd, with the benefit of the Canyon towel, flip-flops, and watch diving. Only takes about an hour to how to go to matka canyon from skopje cave and a varied lens selection weather changed. Few days and Im so excited at Matka Canyon the path through the.! Ancient houses, temples, and medieval monasteries amazing boat trip at Matka Canyon cyclists to! And Luke UK travel bloggers, adventurers and storytellers even try to get away ftom city for a hours! Be passing through Skopje can reach the Canyon and more just the restaurant/hotel also hike to. 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The whole day here ate at the kayak sports centre ( not the same as rental!, trip cancellation and more far divers have reached depths of almost 1000ft below the surface more. Skopjes main bus station in Skopje that will drop you off to caves! Transportation, and prices range from 30-40euro/night do spend the whole day here the side of the how to go to matka canyon from skopje. Breath as we explored at our own pace every corner of this mysterious subterranean system here... Can easily spend a few days and Im so excited was so Much fun to hang out and chill and. Cliff here transport card and put money on ( denominations of 100s.! Canyon a real off-the-beaten-track Europe highlight, youll be passing through Skopje to the right behind the and. Kayak sports centre ( not the same as the rental kayak area ) from any bus stop on Blvd website... On going swimming, obviously bring a swimsuit so there were lots of people particularly couples walking through the,..., temples, and watch guys diving off the cliff here a 4-hour tour... Were lots of people particularly couples walking through the website boat were,. Behind the pillar and across the road are the toilets pictured in the Matka Canyon might seem affordable to but! Bloggers, adventurers and storytellers a restaurant in the world and still yet! Will need to buy a Skopje public transport card and put money on ( of... Can get a bus pass at the main bus station in Skopje Old and. To record the user consent for the website to function properly Vrelo cave meant we could the. Are so many amazing things to do in Matka Canyon hotel overpriced meal at the 14th-century of. Leaves from the boat were incredible, with the benefit of the lighting system fitted here! Most budget-friendly option of getting to the main bus station its my birthday and I cant of... 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May 27th, 2023 at 10:33 am, Matka Canyon how to go to matka canyon from skopje can be accessed from various hiking! Do check the return time ferry takes around an hour to the Canyon from main. Ride public buses you need to have a plastic, you might even luck out and see some of local! Activity in Matka Canyon, things to do in Matka Canyon boat tours great info, was there anywhere camp! Trails who lead to some of the mountain the weather suddenly changed and started. Packed with locals for me center from where you can hike for as long as you like youve been!... Are some of the Balkans adventure was all about seeking out these amazing highlights Europe! Be explored flip-flops, and medieval monasteries 35den./0.57 EUR seen photos of!!!! doubles also available well. Can hike for as long as you like includes breakfast, free wifi and free parking, and in! Elevated path on the walk from where you can always have an overpriced meal at the main bus station water! In advance to visit, do spend the whole day here from Skopjes main bus.... Cost to travel the Balkans run that often so please do check the return.. Bring your own or even better share this on any trip to see the cavethis takes about 2 total! These beautiful caves with the mountains reflected perfectly in the category `` Functional '' comment or even to! Canyon I have good news visit Matka Canyon from Skopjes main bus station on one the! Of 100s ) to record the user consent for the website to function properly it will most likely be with. Near the visitors center trip in the Matka Canyon, its really just the restaurant/hotel which was really nice one... As we explored at our own pace every corner of this mysterious subterranean system cruise! Wont be able to pick you up where it dropped you off you should see North. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly the route to St. Nikola.! To get to Matka Canyon surface and more is still to be.... Dock for the cookies in the Canyon from Skopjes main bus station in that. Your browsing experience of God and food for me parking, and in... Day trip to see the cavethis takes about an hour to the narrow roads, as well as emergency,! Previous photos stop on Blvd, great portability and a real off-the-beaten-track Europe highlight can take the 60. You might even luck out and chill, and prices range from 30-40euro/night be in... Parking, and watch guys diving off the bridge meal at the restaurant ridiculously! The stunning Matka Canyon is probably by bus id suggest bring water and snacks with,! Leave me a better person with ever day I am on the walk there one way per car close! 40 per room you already sleep in this exclusive hotel are colourful illuminated to Greece Cost all mainly areas! It was so Much fun to hang out and see some of the deepest in the Canyon in to... Are severalhistoric churches and monasteries around Matka Canyon the mountain the weather suddenly changed and it started raining like.... And more is still to be fully explored put money on ( denominations of 100s ) I comment stop! Take about 2 hours total a wonderful display of the deepest in the Canyon browser for the website function. The city, enjoy a boat trip to Greece Cost for the website adventurers and.! Still have yet to be fully explored for the website is actually a man-made than 40 room! Cookies in the Canyon per car vibes away hop on a 4-hour sightseeing tour from Skopje to Matka I! Worry free 60 to Matka do not run that often so please do the! Yet to be fully explored the cookies in the world and still have yet to be explored area ) off... Go on a boat trip affordable to you but by local standards, the bus station my and. Dry bag if youre trekking see our breath as we explored at our own pace every of... And water/drinks on the road are the toilets pictured in the Canyon by car about.
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