The Riverside Haven Guide to Matka

First let me talk you through a normal day trip. Each weekend of the summer season tourists are bussed in from Kosovo and join throngs of locals who form a steady progression up to and past the dam, and on to a boat tour to Vrelo Cave. They return, have a coffee at the restaurant, and make their way back to board the bus home again. This IS an enjoyable trip, and well worth doing, but there is so much more! For the benefit of those of you already locked in to a one day visit, let me talk you through the journey. When you reach the top of the dam you will precede on a narrow path with cobbled stone. After several bends you will come to the first boat services above the dam: Boat Trip Kenan.

However, if you want to visit Vrelo Cave or to be ferried across to hike up to the monastery, this is not the boat service for you.

Continue on until you pass through a sort of gatehouse and see a church. The Monastery of Saint Andrea. You will be able to see a board (though the sign has changed) and entry to a landing area. Here are views from several different directions:

Almata Prima also rents kayaks by the half hour. Unfortunately you may not use these to access the caves. (A guide must be present whenever tourists enter the cave to turn on the generators for the lights. They cannot be run at all times as it disturbs the local bat population.)

After your boat trip, if you have not already done so, take a look through Saint Andrea. No photos inside please, the church dates from the 1300s. Leave a small donation. (You can find all these places on Google Maps)

Should there be any reason you are not keen on a boat trip, a good length of the canyon may be seen simply by continuing straight past the church, loading area, hotel and restaurant and on to the walkway. It continues a good distance, as far as the caves (Vrelo is not the only one), but on the wrong side of the lake. When you reach the end, you will need to turn around and walk back. This is not a good walk for young kids. The railings are iffy and not always present.

Right! A cup of coffee (or beverage of choice) at the restaurant and you are ready to return, day trip done. If the restaurant is too busy, continue walking down to the Fresh Lounge, the Fish Restaurant or the Monastery Cave Restaurant for a leisurely drink there. The views are still beautiful and the prices much more reasonable.

BUT suppose you are not the average tourist?

What if you want to see and do much more?

Here is an overview of what can be done in Matka:

• Swimming in the Shiver River
• Kayak Lessons from a four time Olympian Kayaker
• Cave Diving (need a cave divers certificate!)
• Rock Climbing
• Mountain Biking
• Hiking and Climbing

Something less physical?

• Birdwatching, Butterflies and Herpetology?
• Fishing?
• A visit to the Matka Exposition Centre?
• A meal in a former bear cave?

Hiking and Climbing

The bridge by the slalom center leads to several trails that unfortunately are not well marked and may not correspond with the images on the map. Leave plenty of time so you can back track if need be. Try not to cross the dam since this is illegal and will set off alarms. (Be aware of the areas of the dam marked off limits for photography – there is usually a small sign. By the guard house at the top of the dam is a good example) Professional Guides are available! Hit the Adventure Button at the bottom of this page to learn more.

Bird Watching and butterflies/herpatology?

I don’t know more than what the internet will tell you. We could really use a visit from someone experienced in these fields to write something up for the guide.

Fishing?

Apparently you need to buy a license from a local club, and there are fish out our back gate.

Fresh Bar now offers one day fishing licences.

Restaurants and Coffee Shops.

These I know well! The Hotel at the top of the Canyon is reasonably priced, but the restaurant attached is very expensive by local standards. The staff there are very friendly, but much of their work is catered to the bus tours that come in from Kosovo, and in the height of the tourist season they are VERY busy. Unless you have your heart set on the view, you may find the other eating establishments below the dam less rushed. There is a nice and modern style coffee bar where the bus turns around. And there are 3 other excellent restaurants in the Matka area. All are slightly more expensive than Skopje, but each serve delicious local food and each has it’s own unique atmosphere. Even if you are only doing a day trip to Matka, consider a meal in one of them. Some dishes to try: Shopska Salad. Tarator Salad (similar to tadziki). The local fish. Qebapi (Kebab) or grilled meats. Fried bread with white cheese (Nafora). Most menus are both in Macedonian and English (some in Albanian as well), and many of the locals will either speak a bit of English or German or Italian or Turkish in addition to Macedonian.

Kulla Alinea is known for it’s fish and is open only seasonally (April to October?) Up on the hillside overlooking the river and the cliffs. Sadly it is closed at present.

The Monastery (or Bear Cave) Restaurant is built into the side of the hill and you can dine in grottos.

The Grill Restaurant/Fish restaurant (signage has both and a third name too) does lovely fried bread and cheese and looks out over the kayak course. They also have a cave and are rebranding as The Macedonian Cave Restaurant.

The Fresh Bar is a great place for coffee, turkish chai, or the local mountain tea (Chai mali). Some ice cream is available, but primarily it is a place to enjoy a non alcoholic drink with a view, and also ideal when awaiting the 60. 

Look for new menu items this season as they plan to expand into pizza and other types of food.

Fresh Bar now offers bikes for rent and also sells one day fishing licences.

But if you are serious about Checking out the real adventure, the places to stay, or the places to eat or if you want to know more about the exposition center, click through on one of the buttons below.