Hiking

The Lakeside Walk
(easy, open-ended) 

A path that starts right behind the Canyon Matka Restaurant and follows the lake. Essentially the same scenery you'd see from a kayak or boat. It's a pleasant walk, though if you've already been out on the water, the views will be familiar.

The path starts easy but gets more uneven further along, with some steep rock steps and a high railing in places. Fine for most people, but worth knowing if you have very young children or mobility concerns.

Walk as far as you like and turn back when you're ready.

The Hike to the Golden Cross  (easy, ~1 hrs return) 

A relatively short trail with rewarding views. The path isn't well marked, though, so it's easy to lose track of where you're going. 

As you exit the Lodge, take a left on the road, towards the neighboring, small, black house. Go behind the parking lot and into the trees until you exit on a hill. From there, try to find one of the unmarked footpaths and follow it all the way down to a little creek. After crossing the creek, you will shortly join a bigger dirt road that leads to the Golden Cross.

Once you reach the Golden Cross, you can either turn back the way you came or follow the main road down, which will take you to the "Dormition of the Theotokos" Monastery.

The Shishevski Loop
(moderate, ~2 hour loop)

This hike is our top recommendation. There's a short, steep uphill at the very start, but it passes quickly, and the views from the top make it completely worth it. The trail brings you to Shishevski Monastery (St. Nikola Šiševski), a medieval church perched dramatically on the cliffs above the lake. The full route is a loop, so you return a different way than you came. 

Walk downhill to the main road. Head along the road until you reach the white bridge and cross it. Turn right and follow the trail that will lead you straight to St. Nikola Shishevski Monastery. The hike to the monastery takes about 1 hour. 

Once you're ready to start the descent, find the trail that starts behind the toilets at the monastery and follow it all the way down to the lake. It's pretty steep downhill, so watch your step. 

When you arrive at the lake, find the metal plate on the bench and hit it a few times. Someone will come by boat to ferry you across. You might be asked to pay 1 Euro for the ferry. You will be left at the Canyon Matka Restaurant, from where you can head straight out on a boat tour, rent a kayak, grab a bite to eat, or just take the main road back to the Lodge.

The Trail to the Millennium Cross (challenging, ~5 hrs to Vodno) 

This is a serious full-day hike for those who want it. The Vodno trail starts just before Shishevski Monastery, meaning you follow the Shishevski route to begin and then branch off. From the monastery, the path continues, often exposed and without shade, until you reach the Millennium Cross at the top of Mount Vodno. The views on the way up are exceptional. 

The distance from the Lodge to the Cross is around 12 km. From the cross, you can take the cable car mid-way down the Vodno mountain and hike another ~45min down to Skopje. From there, you will need to take a taxi back to Matka. 

This hike is doable, but it needs a bit of planning. If you're interested in doing it, please talk to us beforehand so that we can help you with some of the logistics.