Semi-Private Tour of North Macedonia: Ohrid & Struga from Tirana
Description
Visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Ohrid in North Macedonia in this small group tour from Tirana, Albania.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our professional tour leader will pick you up at your hotel in Tirana and depart towards North Macedonia.
Struga (N. Macedonia) will be our first stop. We will have a quick drink by the beautiful source of Drini River, one of the longest in Western Balkans.
After a short visit in Struga we will drive towards Ohrid. The town of Ohrid is one of the most seductive destinations in N. Macedonia, indicated as one of the oldest human settlements in all of Europe. Ohrid city and Ohrid Lake are part of UNESCO World Heritage since 1980.
Ohrid Lake and its surroundings where inhabited by the Illyrian Tribe of Enkeleys. The Lake was named by the Romans as “Lyhnidas” (the Light Lake). Our tour continues to the city of Ohrid (UNESCO world heritage) an important centre of Orthodoxy.
We will visit the famous view point of church of St. John, the church of St. Nicolas and the mosque Halveti Hayati Tekke. Ohrid became an important centre for the Orthodox believers during the Byzantine Empire and is famous for its 365 Orthodox churches, said to have one church for each day of the year. During the Ottoman Empire the city grew on the hills and surrounding areas by the lake. The houses were built with a very specific architecture that created narrowed streets, tunnels and tiny yards on the hilly terrain, making it possible for every house to have a good view of the lake. Today the city is famous for its architecture, the churches, the castle on top of the city, the amphitheatre, the beautiful view of the lake surrounded by mountains and the pearls from the lake.
Driving back to Tirana, remarks the end of this day tour
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
On request (at least 12 hours before tour departure) we can pick you up at 7:00 -8:00 am from your hotel in Tirana free of charge. Pick up form other cites is possible at an additonal cost
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Tips are not a must in Albania or the Balkans, however, our recommendation is to tip the tour leader/driver as an international practice to tip good service.
Reviews(172)
We chose the private tour and glad we did! Very, very nice tour and our guide/driver Altin was great! Struga and lake Ohrid are absolutely fantastic. Tour company (Choose Balkans) is very professional and we chose to do another private tour (Berat) by booking directly with them. Highly recommend this private Macedonia tour and it is the highlight of our Terana visit!
I had an incredible private tour experience with Altin, who guided me through Struga and Ohrid. From the very beginning, it was clear that he is exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about what he does. What truly stood out was the depth of his historical insight. Altin didn’t just point out landmarks—he brought the region to life. He walked me through the rich history spanning from the Illyrian era, through the legacy of Skanderbeg, and into the Roman and Byzantine periods, explaining how these influences contributed to what can essentially be seen as the roots of Albanian identity. His ability to connect these eras in a meaningful and engaging way made the experience feel like a living history lesson. He also provided a thoughtful and balanced perspective on more recent history, explaining how various Slavic countries navigated the challenges of war and communism. It added an important layer of context to everything we saw and discussed. On top of that, the Choose Balkans arranged a Mercedes E-Class for my private tour, which made the entire experience even more comfortable and enjoyable.
We had a wonderful trip to Struga and Ohrin, thanks to our fantastic driver and guide, Altin! He was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and ensured our comfort and safety throughout our journey! The return trek is not for the faint of heart, with navigating and traversing on such twisty, winding roads, but Altin was a true champion! Further, I appreciated the clear communication of pick-up point, and I he fact that he was there waiting for us, with a smile. We experienced beautiful weather and stunning views from the castle, and monastery. There is a significant amount of walking across uneven terrain, so please be mindful, and choose this trip accordingly based on your walking/fitness abilities. It is a full day activity, but incredibly worth it!
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour. Thanks again for sharing your experience, and we hope to see you on another tour in the future!
The tour of Lake Ohrid was one of the highlights of our trip. The lake area was stunning, with so much natural beauty and fascinating history. What made our tour extra-special was our guide, Ilir. We cannot say enough about his encyclopedic knowledge, infectious love of history, and all-around kindness. We took this tour at the end of our stay in Albania, and by that time we were starting to tire, but we are SO GLAD we went - we made memories that we will treasure always.
Altin was absolutely awesome. He was a wealth of knowledge and very professional. He was very thorough in explaining the Albanian and Macedonian history to us. We enjoyed our time both in Struga and Lake Ohrid.
Our “small group” turned out to be a private tour!! Worth the drive. The lake, the fort, the old town, the bazaar, all top notch. St John’s is beautiful but sadly was closed due to the caretaker having some sort of emergency. Many many churches. Do not miss St. Sofia church and its frescos. Amazing driver/guide Marco. Enjoyed typical Macedonian food with him. Highly skilled driver and he even gave us good recommendations for dinner back in Tirana
Our experience was amazing. Toni was the best tour guide I’ve ever experienced. He made sure we hit all the spots. He took his time with us and explained everything. He was very professional, friendly and funny.
we had an amazing day. The tour guide is extremely helpful. Thank you very much, highly recommend this excursion. Michelle
Ilir was a very knowledgeable tour guide and did a great job showing us around Lake Ohrid. We had an amazing time!
Ermest went above and beyond to make us have an amazing day in North Macedonia. We enjoyed his company so much. Choose Balkens is such a professional tour company ensuring all their guests have an enjoyable time. I would highly recommend any tour with this company!
