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Catski Freeride in the Balkans in Macedonia!

In the early ’90s, a group of high school kids explored the vast Šar Mountains in search of deep snow adventures. During one such adventure, they ventured into an unexplored part of the mountain and had to build an igloo to spend the night.

Fifteen years later, this experience inspired them to start the first snowcat operation in Europe, naming it “Eskimo.” Since 2008, freeriders from around the world have come to enjoy the freeriding, culture, and gastronomy of Macedonia.

Mountains & Terrain

Eskimo Freeride is based in the Balkans, near the major North Macedonia ski destination of Popova Sapka.

Here, you can enjoy Catski freeriding on some of Europe’s finest mountains. Eskimo Freeride will take you to the peaks of exotic ranges with breathtaking scenery, allowing you to ride an average of over 4,000 vertical meters per day. Terrain options are available for every type of snow and avalanche risk condition. The area offers a wide variety of landscapes, including wide-open terrains, tree runs, couloirs, cliffs, banks, and natural pipe canyons, covering a total of 32 square kilometres.

Whether you seek adrenaline-pumping rides down 50° slopes or prefer the safer, fluffy 30° runs, you’ll have an amazing experience. Whether you’re a pro or just handling intermediate resort slopes, the Catski Freeride in the Balkans in Macedonia offers options for all tastes!

The Package

With cosy mountain accommodations, delicious food and excellent services included, Eskimo Freeride offers complete affordable packages. Upon arrival, you will sign waivers, attend safety briefings, and participate in transceiver training to get ready to start your Catski experience on the following day!

Eskimo adheres to the high standards and procedures of the HeliCat Canada Association. The guides are professionals and experts in the local terrain and snow conditions. They excel at finding the best skiing opportunities, no matter the weather conditions.

The snowcats are modified grooming machines with special passenger cabins designed specifically for freeriding. They operate almost every day, allowing you to enjoy tree runs when higher elevation weather is challenging!

Why We Love Eskimo Freeride

The finest Catski Freeride operator in the Balkans in Macedonia!

Professional Guides that get you to the best powder no matter the weather forecast!

Macedonian unique cultural experience!

Ready to Heliski in Macedonia?

Lodging

The operation is headquartered at Hotel Arena Tetaks, offering a convenient base for all guests. The hotel is clean and functional, featuring an excellent pool and spa area with a jacuzzi and sauna. Last night you will be accommodated in one of the best 5-star hotels in an old bazaar in Skopje, in order to take your international flight on the morning after.

Meals, especially dinner, are a highlight in North Macedonia. Guests can enjoy a diverse selection of traditional local vegetarian and meat-based dishes that will delight the palate. Local wines and beers are the perfect accompaniment, and you should also try the local rakija (grappa). Breakfast includes a broad buffet of both ‘western’ and local options, along with freshly prepared eggs and omelettes from the kitchen. Lunches are served in the mountains and vary depending on the day’s location. They can be picnic-style in a sheltered spot or in one of Eskimo’s mountain huts.

Getting There

Popova Sapka is located in the Shar Mountains in the northwest region of North Macedonia (formerly known as FYROM – the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). It is 21 km west of Tetovo city and 70 km west of the capital, Skopje.

Skopje Alexander the Great Airport is 95 km from the mountain hotel. Wizz Air has many direct flights from Europe, England, Scandinavia, Dubai and Doha. Alternatively, you can fly to Pristina Airport, a 150 km drive away.

Eskimo Freeride organises direct private transfers from the airport by taxi or van. Get ready to Catski Freeride in the Balkans in Macedonia!

Interested in Heliskiing in Macedonia?

You might also like

Catski Freeride in the Balkans in Macedonia!

In the early ’90s, a group of high school kids explored the vast Šar Mountains in search of deep snow adventures. During one such adventure, they ventured into an unexplored part of the mountain and had to build an igloo to spend the night.

Fifteen years later, this experience inspired them to start the first snowcat operation in Europe, naming it “Eskimo.” Since 2008, freeriders from around the world have come to enjoy the freeriding, culture, and gastronomy of Macedonia.

Mountains & Terrain

Eskimo Freeride is based in the Balkans, near the major North Macedonia ski destination of Popova Sapka.

Here, you can enjoy Catski freeriding on some of Europe’s finest mountains. Eskimo Freeride will take you to the peaks of exotic ranges with breathtaking scenery, allowing you to ride an average of over 4,000 vertical meters per day. Terrain options are available for every type of snow and avalanche risk condition. The area offers a wide variety of landscapes, including wide-open terrains, tree runs, couloirs, cliffs, banks, and natural pipe canyons, covering a total of 32 square kilometres.

Whether you seek adrenaline-pumping rides down 50° slopes or prefer the safer, fluffy 30° runs, you’ll have an amazing experience. Whether you’re a pro or just handling intermediate resort slopes, the Catski Freeride in the Balkans in Macedonia offers options for all tastes!

The Package

With cosy mountain accommodations, delicious food and excellent services included, Eskimo Freeride offers complete affordable packages. Upon arrival, you will sign waivers, attend safety briefings, and participate in transceiver training to get ready to start your Catski experience on the following day!

Eskimo adheres to the high standards and procedures of the HeliCat Canada Association. The guides are professionals and experts in the local terrain and snow conditions. They excel at finding the best skiing opportunities, no matter the weather conditions.

The snowcats are modified grooming machines with special passenger cabins designed specifically for freeriding. They operate almost every day, allowing you to enjoy tree runs when higher elevation weather is challenging!

Why We Love Eskimo Freeride

The finest Catski Freeride operator in the Balkans in Macedonia!

Professional Guides that get you to the best powder no matter the weather forecast!

Macedonian unique cultural experience!

Ready to Heliski in Macedonia?

Lodging

The operation is headquartered at Hotel Arena Tetaks, offering a convenient base for all guests. The hotel is clean and functional, featuring an excellent pool and spa area with a jacuzzi and sauna. Last night you will be accommodated in one of the best 5-star hotels in an old bazaar in Skopje, in order to take your international flight on the morning after.

Meals, especially dinner, are a highlight in North Macedonia. Guests can enjoy a diverse selection of traditional local vegetarian and meat-based dishes that will delight the palate. Local wines and beers are the perfect accompaniment, and you should also try the local rakija (grappa). Breakfast includes a broad buffet of both ‘western’ and local options, along with freshly prepared eggs and omelettes from the kitchen. Lunches are served in the mountains and vary depending on the day’s location. They can be picnic-style in a sheltered spot or in one of Eskimo’s mountain huts.

Getting There

Popova Sapka is located in the Shar Mountains in the northwest region of North Macedonia (formerly known as FYROM – the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). It is 21 km west of Tetovo city and 70 km west of the capital, Skopje.

Skopje Alexander the Great Airport is 95 km from the mountain hotel. Wizz Air has many direct flights from Europe, England, Scandinavia, Dubai and Doha. Alternatively, you can fly to Pristina Airport, a 150 km drive away.

Eskimo Freeride organises direct private transfers from the airport by taxi or van. Get ready to Catski Freeride in the Balkans in Macedonia!

Interested in Heliskiing in Macedonia?

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Customer Reviews

AWAVE Travel

Customer Reviews

Lissette De Boer 30/06/24

Google
Giulia was incredibly helpful in booking our surf trip! Strongly recommend using AWAVE for any surf packages. We will definitely be contacting her again. Thank you!

Fabs Alegria 19/05/24

TrustPilot
Trip of a lifetime. First and foremost I'd like to thank James Colston from Awave Travel, for assisting me in every which way to help book one of the most memorable experiences I've had in my life. He was extremely responsive and answered every single question I had, even the dumb ones haha. As for AYADA, holy dooly, that place is paradise! Absolutely breathtaking, I couldn't believe I was actually walking around such a beautiful island! Big love to the staff at Magu Restaurant, seeing as how I ate there pretty much everyday, they were amazing! Very switched on and quick off the mark to help with anything that was needed. A special mention to Dhaboa and the captain who took me out surfing! I cannot speak highly enough about their friendly, helpful and straight up on point expertise. With Dhaboa picking the spots to surf and tips on where to sit to catch the best waves on the day, to the wonderful captain himself, filming and sending me videos of the waves I caught.
Absolute legends! Made my surf trip! Best holiday I've ever been on to this date.

Carlos 30/06/24

TrustPilot
Reliable travel agency to book a surf trip - Both Giulia and James were very reactive and adivsed on the best options. In our case we made a boat trip in Maldives. It is the second time we use Awave Travel to do a surftrip to Maldives and we have had a very good experience in both cases. They are a reliable and trustworthy travel agency, I highly recommend them.

Tatsiana Radchanka 04/21/2024

Google
Amazing surf camp. Felt at home there. Super nice, kind, helpful staff. Any of my requests has been satisfied. Highly recommended!

Charles Viellevoye 03/27/2024

TrustPilot
Very professional team. Giulia is always on and have an accurate answer to all my questions. The boat trip was incredibly well organised. Nothing was missing.

Emily Bullen 04/03/2024

TrustPilot
Professional and Top Notch! From the moment we started planning our trip AWAVE was responsive and professional. We had a lot of back and forth picking the perfect location and resort and James and Giulia were patient and helpful. The resort we stayed at, AYADA in the Maldives, was beautiful and relaxing- great for families and couples! It was perfect for us- we have 1 surfer in the family, he was able to enjoy the waves and we also were able to enjoy the reef and snorkel as a family. Our kids loved the kids club and the private pool on the beach villas was amazing. The alcohol is expensive if you don’t do full board but that is to be expected. Wonderful vacation and amazing travel agency! Definitely recommend!!

Cobus and Jackie Van Aswegen 10/19/23

Google
awesome last minute trip which was well communicated, friendly crew and great surf guide! waves were not the best but we realised at the time of booking that it was end of season. crew could not be more friendly and willing to help all the time - chef prepared a wide variety of food and never any complaints on that front - thanks!!!... we will be back for more!

Steve 10/07/23

TrustPilot
I've used Awave twice ... so far. This is the second time I've used Awave for a trip to the maldives. Stayed in 2 different resorts this time. They've always been incredibly prompt at replying and handled everything for us, making sure the 2 Resorts were in touch to get us transfered half way through our trip. At one of the resorts I even bumped into Giulia and Delia who were out there surfing at the time. There's no doubt in my mind that I'll use awave again if I'm booking a surf trip

Donald Ayres 11/06/23

TrustPilot
Indonesia Surf Trip/ Java/Bali/Sumba - James Colston was my representative from AWAVE - I’m an older solo surfer and James was attentive, respectful, extremely responsive from the initial planning stages all the way through the booking. And he was so patient with all my crazy questions along the way. I couldn’t have been more pleased with James’s level of service. Thank you James

Alex Daish 12/28/23

TrustPilot
Giulia was an amazing person to book with. I was overwhelmed with choices initially, but AWAVE knew their stuff and helped me with my options and even suggested delaying my trip so I could go to a certain hotel which ended up being the best decision I made all year.
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