Pelister National Park

Pelister National Park is in Western North Macedonia near Bitola.

Understand


Park straddles North Macedonia's southern border with Greece, running along the magnificent Baba Mountain. Its highest peak - Pelister (2601 m) is the third-highest in North Macedonia after Korab and Titov Vrv. It is 15 km from North Macedonia's second city, Bitola, and makes for an invigorating natural escape from urban life.

History
Pelister National Park was established in 1948 and is the first national park in the country. It is also the second largest national park in North Macedonia after Mavrovo National Park.

Landscape
Pelister is rugged and mountainous.

Flora and fauna
Pelister National Park is filled with exquisite flora and fauna. Among flora elements, the presence is especially significant of the five-needle pine molica (Pinus peuce)- a unique species of tertiary age being present on only a few mountains in the Balkan Peninsula. The beauty of the landscape is enhanced by the diversified wildlife: bears, roe deer, wolves, chamois, deer, wild boars, rabbits, several species of eagles, partridges, red-billed jackdaws, and the endemic Macedonian Pelagonia trout.

Climate
The climate is diverse all over the park.

Get in
Pelister is 14 km from Bitola, 75 km from Ohrid's Airport or 170 km from Skopje's Airport.

The best way to reach Pelister would be from Bitola, across the villages of Trnovo and Magarevo. No public transport is available, so taxis and private cars are the only options to get there. A taxi from Bitola to the park's information center costs about 400 denars. Alternatively, a taxi from Bitola to the entrance of the National Park, near Magarevo, costs 200 denars if called in advance if you don't mind the extra walk.

Fees and permits
Entrance fee: 50 denars per car.

Get around
Taxis cost pretty cheap, around 100 denars for a ride, but it will require most likely ordering a taxi by phone from Bitola.

There is a road going from Dihovo to Nizepole village and further into mountains which offers quite spectacular views. Accessible either by car, bicycle or on foot. There is a few forks of it leading to Brajcino village (22 km), Little and Big Lakes.

See

 * The views of Pelagonia valley, Lake Prespa, mountains Nidzhe, Galichica, Jakupica, and Bitola.
 * The two mountain lakes called Pelister's Eyes. The Big lake is 2,218 m above the sea level while the Small lake is 2,180 m high. They are the sources of many rivers. It's possible to swim in the small one during summer time. It's about 5 hr walk from Dihovo to small lake one way.

Dihovo village

 * There is a walk to Small and Big rocks which are local landmarks.
 * Churches of Sv Nedela and Sv Nicolas.

Do

 * Pelister is known for great skiing.
 * Lots of nice hiking trails with good views, e.g. Children, Historical and Stone Trails. . Refer to online map for all available hiking routes.
 * A few mountain bike tracks.
 * A few mountain bike tracks.

Sleep
You can be sleep over in many hotels, or in 3 mountain houses.





Dihovo village
It's about 5 km away from Bitola which is 5-10 minute drive by asphalt road. Taxi fare from Bitola to Dihovo is 120-140 denars.

Trnovo village
Near Dihovo village, about 5 km away from Bitola



Go next

 * Brajčino — picturesque village located in the mountains of Western North Macedonia, just off the eastern shore of Lake Prespa.
 * Bitola — one of the most European-flavoured cities in the country, Bitola is known for its colourful neo-classical architecture and the Ancient Macedon ruins of Heraclea Lyncestis nearby.