Mountain and winter sports Northern Macedonia

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.

Kožuf Mountaineering Club (ЗПСК Кожуф, Здружение Планинарски Спортски Клуб Кожуф/Združenie Planinarski Sportski Klub Kožuf) is the local association that manages the trails on the Macedonian part of Mount Kožuf, on the border with Greece. It has only one guide authorized to lead summer hikes on this mountain: Risto Karkalašev ([email protected]). On the Greek side, you can contact Iraklis Misidis ([email protected]). He is based in Ioannina and was trained in France, at the National School of Skiing and Mountaineering.

This small resort (Ски Центар Нижеполе/Ski Centar Nižepole) lies between 1,300 and 1,610 m above sea level, below Mount Mala Griva (1,916 m). Managed by the state-owned Streževo water company, it has two t-bars and two slopes (total length: 5 km). The lower part has a café-restaurant and is lit up on certain evenings for night skiing. Ski equipment can be rented from local hoteliers. It's often full at weekends, and the parking lot is tiny.

This small resort (Ски Центар Копанки/Ski Centar Kopanki) lies between 1,415 and 1,770 m above sea level below Mount Stiv (2,468 m). Managed by the nearby Hotel Molika, it boasts a chairlift and a drag lift. Although the slopes are only 1.2 km long, they are steeper and more technical than those at Nižepole. The site is also more beautiful and is the starting point for several hiking trails through the national park.

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 ski resort (Ски Центар Крушево/Ski Centar Kruševo), also known as Stanič/Станич, is tiny with a 618 m run, two minipistes for beginners and two pull-ups. But it's located directly in the town, 700 m east of the center (you pass it on your way to the Makedonium). What's more, there are two restaurants on the summit, at an altitude of 1,400 m. Ski equipment can be rented from the Vila Gora hotel (among others), and the Montana Palace has ski instructors.

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.

This station (Ски Центар Кожуф) is closed since 2020. Created 2009, it fell victim to a corruption case. But its trails are easy hiking trails in summer. Starting from the bottom, at 1,500 m above sea level, you can reach the Greek border at the end point of the two abandoned lifts. To the southeast, K-92 rises to 2,102 m. In the south, the Zelen Breg reaches 2,171 m and is located right next to the Kožuf peak. Magnificent landscapes at 360 degrees.