Girls Only | Off-piste Development Week | North Macedonia
Join us on an Girls Only catski-trip to North Macedonia during our development week and learn, or get better, in the off-piste.
Book nowWe want to get even more women to join this unique and incredible trip, where community is at the heart of the experience, and you’ll have the opportunity to develop your off-piste skills in a safe and supportive environment. So grab your friends and come along to North Macedonia!
Off-piste skiing is very different from regular skiing, and we want everyone to feel comfortable and have a calm and encouraging space to grow beyond the pistes. That’s why we created this women-only trip – where we support each other, take things at our own pace and ensure that everyone feels at ease in the process. The more confident you feel, the faster you improve – and that’s exactly what this trip is about!
To provide the best possible instruction, we’ve teamed up with some of Denmark’s top ski instructors. They are all certified by the Danish Ski School, have years of skiing experience and an extensive background in off-piste coaching. Their goal is to help you refine your technique and build new skills, so you can take your skiing to the next level – no matter where you are starting from.
Our adventure actually began in North Macedonia nearly 15 years ago, when we first set out to find a place where we could have the mountains to ourselves and carve first tracks in untouched snow. There are no lift systems here – instead we travel by a cat, a snow grommer, that has space for up to 16 people. Catskiing in North Macedonia is far more affordable than in many other parts of the world, making this experience accessible to more adventurers.
We stay in the small mountain village of Popova Šapka, where you’ll get an authentic taste of North Macedonia culture. The hotel is simple yet charming, and the atmosphere makes the experience truly special. In 2020 a spa area with a pool and sauna was added, and you also have the option to book a massage – perfect after a long day in the off-piste.
Are you ready to take your off-piste skiing to the next level together with ab inspiring and supportive group of women?
Read more…
Hotel
Transfer to / from Skopje airport (SKP)
Full pension
Catski with our mountain guide
Skiing in a completely deserted off-piste area
Safety equipment (beeper, sond, showel)
> 2400 altitude meters on average every day
Instruction by our instructor
Access to pool and sauna
Farewell dinner in Skopje
10€ per day for the preservation of their national park
Member of The Travel Guarantee Fund (Rejsegarantifonden)
Best price guarantee
Airline ticket
Insurance
+ extra cost for private room
+ extra cost for avalanche backpack rental
Day of arrival:
- Our driver will be waiting for you att Skopje Airport (SKP), ready to take you to Popova Šapka. Look for the sign that says De Brede Planker or Eskimo Freeride. The transfer takes approximately two hours by car, and you will be picked up according to the arrival and departure times you have emailed us beforehand.
- Upon arrival at the hotel, you can check in and take advantage of the spa area to unwind after your journey.
- Safety briefing – in case of late arrival it will be held in the following morning.
- Dinner is served at 19.00
Days in The Mountain
- Breakfast is served between 07.00 and 09.00
- Between 09.00 and 09.15 we head out with our cat.
- We spend the entire day skiing off-piste, including a mountain lunch. If the weather is bad we can take shelter in cabins scattered around the mountain. During the first run, we also go through an avalanche transceiver training session.
- We return to the hotel somewhere between 16.00 and 17.00
- The bar will be open, and there’s always a great atmosphere before dinner. Of course, you can also relax in the pool and sauna.
- Dinner is served at 19.00
Departure Day from the Mountain
- Breakfast is served between 07.00 and 09.00
- Between 09.00 and 09.15 we head out with our cat.
- We spend the entire day skiing off-piste, including a mountain lunch. If the weather is bad we can take shelter in cabins scattered around the mountain.
- We return to the hotel somewhere between 16.00 and 17.00. You will have the opportunity to shower before departure.
- 18.00 our transfer will pick you up and take you to a comfortable hotel in the heart of Skopje.
- After a quick check-in the transfer will continue to a restaurant where you’ll enjoy a goodbye-dinner together.
- Of course, you’ll be driven back to the hotel after the dinner.
Departure day
- Breakfast is served between 07.00 and 10.00 at the hotel.
- Your transfer is schedule to ensure you have plenty of time at the airport (based on the departure time you have provided).
- If you have some extra time, you’re in the heart of the city, with the river just around the corner and some of Skopje’s famous bridges nearby. A 10-minutes walk will also take you to the Turkish Quarter and its bazaar.
We say goodbye and thank you for an amazing trip!
We live in a small town in the valley under very “North Macedonian conditions” – the hotel is not flashy, but it is a cultural experience like no other and the atmosphere is great.
The mountain range we are in is called Shar Planina. It covers an area of 1,600 square kilometers, with the highest peak being 2,747 meters above sea level. The tree line is at an altitude of 1,700 meters, which gives several different conditions. At the top there is a large open area, after which gradually more trees come as you go down to the bottom. The first 1,000 meters are completely without trees. The area below the tree line offers good opportunities to ski between the trees, which is also an advantage if the weather is foggy. The advantage of this is that the trees provide a contrast so you can navigate by them.
The Shar Planina mountain range is described as old in relation to, for example, the Alps. The combination of time, weather and wind has “worn” the mountain range, it has made the mountains more oval than many other mountain ranges. This means that there are many different slopes for all levels. This means that no matter what peak you are on, you will always be able to choose whether you want a steep and challenging slope or a more flat and easier slope.
In North Macedonia, the avalanche danger is generally lower than in the Alps and many other mountain ranges. This is partly due to the oval shape of the mountains and partly to the surface. Opposite the Alps, the surface consists mainly of grass, which better “holds” the snow, so it is more difficult to slide.
Regardless of your level, Shar Planina in North Macedonia will be the right off-piste playground for you.
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In North Macedonia, you’ll stay in the small town of Popova Sapka, located about a two-hour drive from Skopje. Your accommodation will be at one of the hotels listed below, all conveniently situated next to each other.
These hotels are classified as three-star hotels in North Macedonia. Guests have free access to the spa/sauna, so don’t forget to pack your swimwear!
– Hotel Arena Tekets: This is where the spa facilities are located, but you’re welcome to use them even if you stay at one of the other hotels.
– Hotel Bora Bora
– Hotel Patrol Lodge
All accommodations offer shared rooms with single beds, accommodating up to four people per room. You’ll typically be grouped with the people you’re traveling with. Each room has its own bathroom and shower.
If you prefer, you can upgrade to a room with a double bed or opt for a private room at an additional cost.
Inspiration for our activity trips elsewhere in the world:
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