マトカ湖のおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

Back up to the campsite halfway along the red and white Gr path, follow lots of shade.

Dam at Lake Matka, the small power plant is operated by EVN.

At the beginning of the Matka Canyon, there are various stalls, then a narrow path leads along the cliffs past the dam to the oldest artificial lake in the country. There, you can continue by boat or enjoy a meal and a drink at the restaurant. When I was there on a Monday, it was relatively quiet, so it was possible to cycle into the gorge. During peak season or on weekends, this would probably be impossible. There are ten caves in the Matka Canyon, the shortest of which is 20 meters long and the longest 176 meters. Visitors and tourists can explore the Vrelo Cave during a 20-minute boat ride in the Matka Canyon.

It can get very crowded on weekends in spring and summer, with cars and tour buses backing up the small access road. But the views and scenery are incredibly beautiful. The water of the Treska River, which flows through the gorge, is ice-cold even in summer. A refreshing dip is still worthwhile. Worthwhile: There's a 20-km hiking trail from Vodno to the Matka Gorge and vice versa, offering breathtaking views of the gorge and the surrounding area. For example, you can hike from Skopje to the gorge and then take a taxi back.

It can get very crowded on weekends in spring and summer, with cars and tour buses backing up the small access road. But the views and scenery are incredibly beautiful. The water of the Treska River, which flows through the gorge, is ice-cold even in summer. A refreshing dip is still worthwhile. Worthwhile: There's a 20-km hiking trail from Vodno to the Matka Gorge and vice versa, offering breathtaking views of the gorge and the surrounding area. For example, you can hike from Skopje to the gorge and then take a taxi back.

In the Holy Mother of God monastery, which is run by four nuns, traditional robes are sewn for the heads of the Orthodox Church worldwide. A nun with IT skills programs the computer-controlled sewing machines. Sewing is also done by hand.

Wonderful landscape. The Matka Monastery is worth seeing here.

Unfortunately the path ends here on this iron X even if you notice that it continues but with evident carelessness and greater danger. The sad and annoying thing is that the cave is on the opposite bank and it would have been nice to have even just a Tibetan bridge between the two banks so that, after completing the path, you can visit the cave and then choose whether to return to the dam on foot or by boat.