Sports and leisure activities Polog And Reka

Located below Mount Bistra, this resort (Ски Центар Заре Лазеревски/Ski Centar) is the most modern in the country. Also known as "Resort Mavrovo", it has 13 lifts (including a chairlift operating in summer), 15.5 km of downhill ski runs (from 1,255 to 1,878 m altitude) and 7 km of Nordic ski runs. It is managed by the Hotel Bistra, located at the foot of the slopes. This is where ski passes and equipment can be rented.

The Šar Mountain Guides Association in Northern Macedonia is part of the Ljuboten Mountain Club (pkljuboten.org.mk), founded in 1925 and based on the same premises in Tetovo. It comprises twelve Macedonian and Albanian mountain guides, all of whom speak English and some a little French. They have all been trained by the Alliance Française office in Tetovo. They can accompany you on excursions of varying levels across the massif, including snowshoeing in winter.

North Macedonia's largest ski resort (Ски Центар Попова Шапка/Ski Centar Popova Šapka, Kodra e Diellit Ski Qendra) extends between 1,672 and 2,510 m above sea level. It includes plenty of accommodation, two 2- and 6-seater chairlifts, six pull-ups and 18 km of pistes, including one for night skiing at weekends. But cat skiing is the speciality here: snow groomers take you into the wilderness for off-piste skiing in powder snow.

This small horse-riding agency is run by Dursim Rushani, who speaks good English. In fine weather, he organizes excursions to the Šar Mountains, for example to Lake Karanikola or the hamlet of Lešnica/Лешница (6 km west of Gostivar). He owns around fifteen horses well adapted to the harsh local conditions. Dursim Rushani also offers meals at his small equestrian center and accommodation in Bozovce. Reservations by e-mail ([email protected]) or on Facebook (facebook.com/horse.riding.bozovca).

Founded in 2008, this agency is the oldest in Europe to offer snowmobile outings. It enables skiers and snowboarders to reach peaks inaccessible by road or lift, and to descend some 4 km of powder snow per day in the Šar mountains from Popova Šapka. Safety conditions are up to Canadian standards, with each participant equipped with an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. Reservations required for a minimum of five participants.