“Just go” – Lina’s experience of Girls Only Catski in North Macedonia

North Macedonia is one of Europe’s smallest and most overlooked countries – but for anyone chasing real adventure in untouched terrain, it’s a hidden gem. Nestled in the Balkans, it borders Albania, Serbia and Greece, and the landscape is dominated by mountains that in winter deliver deep powder snow and a quiet that’s hard to find anywhere else in Europe.

It’s a country with a rich history – ancient heritage, Byzantine churches, Ottoman architecture and a vibrant coffee culture. The capital Skopje is full of surprises. Along the riverbanks, old bazaars sit alongside contemporary art installations and restaurants where the food is as good as it is affordable. It’s easy to see why Lina chose to stay an extra day there on the way home – and she’d recommend it to anyone making the trip.

But it’s in the mountains where North Macedonia really delivers. The Popova Shapka ski area sits in the heart of the Šar Mountains, reaching up to 2,500 metres. Still largely unknown outside the region, it means untouched terrain, no lift queues and an authenticity that most major ski resorts lost a long time ago. Snow falls heavily in winter and stays, and the combination of altitude and cold temperatures creates conditions that are hard to find further west in Europe.

That’s exactly the kind of place DBP Adventures Girls Only Catski was made for – off the beaten track, but with the reassurance of experienced guides and a well-planned setup.

For Lina, it wasn’t just the skiing that drew her in. Discovering somewhere new is as much a part of the trip as the snow itself, and North Macedonia felt like a genuinely blank page.

Heading into the trip, the feeling was a mix of excitement and nerves. Excited for new friends, for pushing herself outside her comfort zone and for the energy that comes with an all-women trip. The nerves, though, were about her body – she’d been ill before the trip and hadn’t been able to train as much as she’d wanted. Would she have the energy to keep up?

That question was answered within the first few days.

Fresh snow and sunshine in North Macedonia

The group made the most of every day in the mountains, and the conditions turned out to be almost too good to be true – a fresh dump of snow one day and wall-to-wall sunshine for pretty much the rest of the week. The kind of luck that makes a trip.

For Lina, the highlight was simple: the skiing. Lots of runs, good snow and a group that pushed each other forward. The kind of week that stays with you – not just in your legs, but in your memory.

Heading off on a group trip with strangers can feel daunting. But time and again it turns out to be one of the biggest strengths of the whole experience – the sense of community that forms quickly when you share terrain, laughs and a dinner table with like-minded people.

For anyone still on the fence, Lina’s advice is straightforward:

– Just go!

Next trip: 2 – 7 February 2027

We’re going back. Bring your girlfriends, your mum, or come on your own – it’s time for another adventure.