Half-Day Tour: Matka Canyon and Vodno Mountain from Skopje
4.5
Half-Day Tour: Matka Canyon and Vodno Mountain from Skopje
By Inex Travel
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
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 drive through the woods and pastures of Mount Vodno with fantastic views over Skopje valley and Matka Canyon, great spots for photographers.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 3-89, max of 20 per group
Duration: 4h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- WiFi on board
- Guide
What's not included- All Fees and Taxes
- Entry/Admission - Church of St. Panteleimon
- Entry/Admission - Matka Canyon
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Independence, 11-ти Март 11 March, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Additional pickup optionsDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included pickup points.- Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Independence, 11-ти Март 11 March, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 222793P4- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 222793P4
From
$31.96
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 1
- 2
- 3
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- T77XQmichaelh0 contributionsGenerally disappointed and not recommendedGenerally disappointed. The best part of the tour was our guide Alexandre who gave us good background and commentary on the sites and the cultural context. Also met some wonderful people too. The lake and old town are beautiful but nothing I hadn't seen in Northern Italy and the holy sites are fairly typical for the region. The three hour drive back and forth through the mountains (6 hours total) in a small, cramped vehicle was uncomfortable and often unnerving. I can't recommend the tour or INEX, the tour operator, due to very poor and unreliable communications. The whole thing felt amateurish and bush league as well as poor value for the money . For a tour like this, I would recommend something more mainline in an air conditioned bus with a professional driver.Written September 25, 2024
- gcrice90 contributionsUnreliable tourOperator notified me at 11 pm the night before scheduled 8am start the following morning that tour was canceled and provided no explanation.leaving me no ability or options to find a replacement the next day. I don’t consider this tour operator to be a reliable option and would avoid selecting it.Written September 20, 2024
- 24rhysd0 contributionsGrateful to see OhridI was very grateful to have such a personal tour of Ohrid. In hindsight, i should have stayed in Ohrid for a few nights, but i only had Skopje booked. Fortunately this tour allowed me to visit Ohrid in a convenient manner. The driver and tour guide were very nice and speak perfect English.Written August 5, 2024
- Brandon L0 contributionsGreat tourLoved the tour. The driver was very friendly and careful while going through the mountains and during the heavy rains. The guide in Ohrid was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and kept the group moving along. Ohrid was beautiful and well worth the day trip.Written June 29, 2024
- ralphv8780 contributionsGreat experienceReally professional tour/trip thruMacedonia. We really enjoyed the tour in Ohrid it was just amazing. The person that drove us to Ohrid was just an fun, good and nice guy. When i'm back in Macedonia i will for sure take a look for more tours from this company.Written March 13, 2024
- I2269RSmelissah0 contributionsExcellent Tour and Best Guide Ever!Ohrid is so beautiful - it has history, culture, and a relaxing coastal vibe. The guide was fantastic! Alek was so easygoing. Very knowledgeable but did not drown me in facts, we just had a conversation about culture, history, music. He was willing to entertain all my questions and to create the tour with me so it fit my style. This made the tour really fun! Also, he’s a good driver. I recommend Alek and would do another tour with him any day!Written November 21, 2022
- debcruceli0 contributionsAwesome daytripWe really enjoyed our daytrip to Ohrid. It's quite a way to get there from Skopje but it's a must if you visit Macedonia! It's amazing! Our tour guide Alek was really friendly and has a lot of knowledge about the history and the sights in Ohrid. 10/10 would recommend itWritten October 10, 2022
- Ionut280 contributionsProfessional and friendly company - recommendMy wife and I booked a day-tour from Skopje to Ohrid. From the onset, the communication with the staff was great and prompt. The travel itself is beautiful and it was managed by one of the most skilled drivers. In Ohrid, our guide informed us about the local culture and history of the town, and showed us where to take the best pictures. We can wholeheartedly recommend them and the trip.Written October 9, 2022
- TaySsss0 contributionsMy trip to OhridOhrid is one of the best places to visit in Macedonia! Every country has its little gem and i think this is Macedonian! Last week,with my familly,i visited Ohrid and we were accompanied by our amiable and engaging guide Alek.It was a perfect place to sit back, relax, and enjoy a few drinks but also see something new and do more adventurous activities such as exploring the Lake,visiting the ancient theatre, Samoil's Fortress etc. This trip was exactly what I needed: educational as i was learning and seeing something new but also very refreshing and relaxing! It was a perfect vacation!Written August 22, 2022
- sarah_es_mich0 contributionsGreat day outGreat day out with a very friendly guide to discover Ohrid. I only wish I could have stayed longer! Many opportunities during the long trip to discover more about Macedonian history, food and music. Thanks for this great day!Written August 4, 2022
- karkalasev0 contributionsWe had a great experience for a tour from Skopje to Matka with Inex Travel. We totally recommend them to everyone.We had a great experience with Inex Travel to Matka. The people were very helpful and kind. We would totally recommend them!Written May 24, 2022
- Explorer6120620 contributionsAmazingVery helpful, responsive and kind people. Amazing selection of trips and attractions. I had a great time while booking during the trip. Definitely will use again.Written February 25, 2020
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
81 reviews
Excellent
65
Very good
7
Average
3
Poor
3
Terrible
3
Frances L
1 contribution
Dec 2022
Pleasant driver/guide, but the excursion was disappointing and not as described. We did not do an easy hike on Vodno mountain, nor did we get taken to the top. Instead, we simply stopped at a viewpoint some way from the summit. As for Matka Canyon, the description of the trip clearly indicates that the boat trip is a key part of the tour; however, when I asked the driver if we were going on a boat, he answered that it was "an option". I was surprised by this, and asked what else we would do if we didn't go on the boat, and he just shrugged his shoulders and said we could have a coffee. As it turns out, you can see very little at all of the canyon without going on a boat or in a kayak - the canyon is very narrow and you can just see the start of it. As we were in winter, we discovered that the lack of tourists meant that boat trip departures were not guaranteed. We were only two people, and the driver told us that they needed at least 3-4 people to make a boat trip worthwhile. He suggested we wander around for 10 minutes to see if anyone else turned up. They didn't. He then said we could go for a coffee to kill some more time. Still no one else came. So, we spent 45 minutes waiting to see if we could go on the boat trip that I believed was the centrepiece of the tour, only to give up and return to Skopje. The whole trip lasted just 3 hours, including the time spent waiting to see if we could go on the boat, which is a short "half day". Most of that time was spent in the car.
Written December 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Frances. Thank you for your review but we dont understand the problem. Next time if you dont like to wait for another passengers to do the boat trip. You can simply do the private boat tour or go for kayaking.
Written December 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bettina
3 contributions
Only 2 stars because the driver/guide was really nice and would deserve 5 stars but the company is dodgy. They contacted me through an unknown WhatsApp number the night before the tour (after 10pm) that the tour won't go ahead at 9am but 1pm instead. No reason or explanation was offered. The guide showed up with a quite dirty and rather old minibus which didn't indicate that it belongs to any tour company. Fees for cable car, church or boat tour are not included, cash is needed to pay for them. There is no hike. Description of the tour is misleading. Guide was good but company totally unreliable and extremely bad in communicating. I wish I would have read the other reviews before booking.
Written April 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon L
Guildford, UK21 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
This is a reasonable trip. Beware that the boat trip costs denar 500 each and they don’t take cards. The guide was fine, knowledgeable. The trip ran from 9am to 3pm without any stop for lunch. We had 30 mins at the canyon but the guide warned that wasn’t enough time to get food. Toilets are scarce and cost denar 60 each, with no change, at the canyon. Could be planned a bit better and more consideration for logistics, but it was OK.
Written September 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanja
4 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
This was a perfect half-day trip for me ! Having an astounding view from Vodno to the city horizon and seeing the composition of the frescoes of the Church of St. Panteleimon was spectacular enough but going to the Matka Canyon was breathtaking.It has stunning sites! it is surrounded by very high but aesthetically pleasing mountains and a beautiful lake. it’s just an amazing way to escape from the city crowds to a beautiful nature scenery. But nothing made this trip fun as much as our guide Alek did! He’s very friendly and informative guide who made this trip thousand times better with his enthusiastic and charming personality!
Written August 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hogne V
Oslo, Norway11 contributions
Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a lot of interesting things to tell us about the places we visited, as well as general information and history about North Macedonia.
Matka canyon was a beautiful place and I wish we could have spent more time there.
The little church of Saint Panteleimon was also a great stop!
The bus on the way to the canyon had a problem with the A/C, so they changed busses while we visited the canyon. Unfortunately the second bus had the same problem.
As it was Monday, the cable car up to the cross was closed, so we stopped at a viewpoint instead. This would’ve been fine if there actually was a view to be seen, but the place was overgrown by trees and bushes. This stop could’ve been skipped to give us more time at the canyon.
All in all I recommend this tour if you don’t have a lot of time in Skopje and you don’t want to drive or arrange your trip to the canyon yourself.
Matka canyon was a beautiful place and I wish we could have spent more time there.
The little church of Saint Panteleimon was also a great stop!
The bus on the way to the canyon had a problem with the A/C, so they changed busses while we visited the canyon. Unfortunately the second bus had the same problem.
As it was Monday, the cable car up to the cross was closed, so we stopped at a viewpoint instead. This would’ve been fine if there actually was a view to be seen, but the place was overgrown by trees and bushes. This stop could’ve been skipped to give us more time at the canyon.
All in all I recommend this tour if you don’t have a lot of time in Skopje and you don’t want to drive or arrange your trip to the canyon yourself.
Written May 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam R
35 contributions
We took a taxi to the canyon, and the driver waited a couple of hours to take us back. The canyon is about 30 mins from the centre of Skopje by car.
Once you arrive, there is about a 10 minute walk to the entrance of the canyon, with plenty of ice cream, drink, and food available whilst you walk there.
We followed the walkway to the second tour company, as they did the cave visit, too. You need cash (500 mkd per person) to pay for the trip - no card payments accepted. This includes a 30-minute boat trip down the canyon, with a 15-minute stop to visit the cave and then the return boat journey.
The scenery is stunning, and this trip is worth every penny.
Once you arrive, there is about a 10 minute walk to the entrance of the canyon, with plenty of ice cream, drink, and food available whilst you walk there.
We followed the walkway to the second tour company, as they did the cave visit, too. You need cash (500 mkd per person) to pay for the trip - no card payments accepted. This includes a 30-minute boat trip down the canyon, with a 15-minute stop to visit the cave and then the return boat journey.
The scenery is stunning, and this trip is worth every penny.
Written August 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce Z
27 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
Visited the Millennium Cross and a monastery, both are interesting to have a look. Though the cross is just a piece of steel frame work lack of maintenance.
The canyon is a reservoir, it’s more of a reflection of the city history than a sensory spot.
The canyon is a reservoir, it’s more of a reflection of the city history than a sensory spot.
Written October 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Devrim B
Chicago, IL22 contributions
Sep 2022 • Family
Wonderful tour from Skopje with the most pleasant and knowledgeable Alek. Definitely recommend the tour of you want to see the beauty of the city from the top of Vodno & experience the grandness of Matka Canyon. Enjoyed our conversation with Alek and a scenic coffee break! Don’t miss out!
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MBK
Hoogeveen, The Netherlands25 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
This tour is a great way to see more of Skopje's beautiful surroundings if you only have a limited time. I had only 2 days in Skopje and this tour was amazing to see some of Skopje's nature as well. The tour covers a lot but still feels very chill and laid back. The tour guide was excellent and had a lot of knowledge. Only downside was that when I booked the tour I selected a pick up location at my hotel and only at the last minute I was informed that the pick up location would be elsewhere (about 10-15 minutes walk for me).
Written June 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stephderap
Southampton, UK9 contributions
Had a great visit with Alec who has such a nice personality. Very knowledgeable and interesting guy to talk to about his country.
The trip is organised as described, Alec will contact you on WhatsApp about the RV point.
I highly recommend it as I could not have organised it myself.
The canyon is not as impressive as on the pictures and spoiled by buses full of tourists, but nevertheless according to the locals it is the thing to do here!
Maybe the country will invest more in infrastructure and tourism in the future. But for now, don't expect too much and just enjoy the visit.
Written October 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience