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Daily Eskimo Freeride Cat Skiing

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Daily Eskimo Freeride Cat Skiing Enquire
Price p/p From price based on 1-day cat skiing & 1-night lodging in low season (pre 15th Jan & post 20th Mar)(2024 rates)
Base/invoice currency is in EUR inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 247

DAILY CAT SKIING PACKAGES
1 Day Cat Skiing | 1 Night Lodging

Location: Europe | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Backcountry
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Price p/p From price based on 1-day cat skiing & 1-night lodging in low season (pre 15th Jan & post 20th Mar)(2024 rates)
Base/invoice currency is in EUR inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 247
Eskimo Freeride in North Macedonia is Europe's longest running cat skiing operation & offers fully customised cat ski & snowboarding powder packages incl. guiding, safety equipment, accommodation & all meals. Choose your best dates & duration to get the perfect conditions. You can add ski hire & transfers...
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Custom Booking Period: Dec 15 - Apr 13, 2025
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Daily Eskimo Freeride Cat Skiing

Overview

A day (or a week!) with Eskimo Freeride puts you in the care of Europe's longest established cat skiing operation. Located in the Sar Mountain Range in North Macedonia, the combination of generally high annual snowfall and great terrain creates a powder skiing & snowboarding nirvana the envy of any Eskimo!

Operating out of Macedonia's largest ski resort, Popova Sapka, Eskimo Freeride has up to 7 snowcats to prowl the expansive terrain and enough seats to ensure groups are well matched to ability and terrain. Whilst in no way a 5-star luxury experience, cat skiing in North Macedonia is best for those with an open mind & provides an adventure you are unlikely to forget in a hurry.

Daily cat ski tours are available so you can choose how many days and dates to guarantee premium snow conditions! The Popova Sapka ski resort and surrounding mountains are great for lift-assisted ski touring as well. See how a day's cat skiing with Eskimo Freeride works by selecting the Itinerary tab.

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Snow & Terrain

The Eskimo Freeride terrain is mainly high alpine meadows with few base obstructions, meaning even in poor snow seasons (or poor snow weeks!) (let’s face it, happens everywhere in the world!) the skiing can be great. But with the region’s highest annual snowfall, chances are conditions will be awesome. We found the snow varied greatly over a 6-day period. From the most perfect powder day ever (& we have seen a few!) to the worst wind-stripped nastiness imaginable. A few days later it was perfect powder again. Such is the nature of freeride in the backcountry.

The terrain includes beautiful mellow terrain for intermediates through to steeps and chutes for experts, plus tree skiing in the lower reaches. There's a whole spectrum of options available - wide open terrains, tree riding, couloirs, cliffs, banks, natural pipe canyons. From adrenaline rides down the 50° bowls, or chilling in a safe, powdery 30° slope, there is terrain for everyone.

Locally called Shar-planina or Shar (Sar) mountain, the cat ski area spreads for an amazing 1600 square km, rising up to 2,747m at Tito's peak. Pine forest extents to about 1,700 m, and above that lie approximately 550 square km of high pastures. This is the largest compact area covered with pasture on the European continent, making it a perfect playground for backcountry addicts! Shar Mountain is by evolution considered "old mountain" as opposed to the European Alps which are "young mountains". Because of this, Shar Mountain is the perfect shape for safe, fun and unlimited freeriding.

Eskimo Freeride's operation extends onto the best part of the mountain range from Tito's Peak (2,747m) to Jelak and Popova Sapka base at 1,687 m. The average daily vertical covered is 4,000m per day, which can be dependent on conditions, daylight hours, and the speed and ability of the group.

Skiers and snowboarders must be at least an intermediate level skier or snowboarder. Lower intermediates can be catered for, if part of a larger family group.

Safety

Eskimo Freeride cat skiing puts some emphasis on safety. As an associated member of HeliCat Canada, one of the world's finest associations of mechanized freeride operations, Eskimo follow their standards & procedures. The guides are experts in the local terrain and snow conditions. Terrain options exist for every type of snow and avalanche risk condition. Packages include full avalanche safety gear (with airbag).

Lodging & Food

All lodging & meals are included in a day’s cat skiing with Eskimo Freeride. Accommodation is in the recently renovated ski-in Hotel Arena Tetaks. All meals are included in the package & will not disappoint. See detailed information on the Lodging tab.

When you cat ski with Eskimo Freeride, once away from the ski resort, you are in one of the last European wildernesses – no mountain huts with disco tunes serving beer here! The land still has bears (they are seen in early Spring!), wolves, and the ghosts of the forest, lynx. Despite this, you can expect great culinary and local cultural experiences. Some comfortable shepherd's huts are utilised for lunches in the field when the weather is poor.

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Typical Daily Cat Ski Itinerary

Arrival Day

From Skopje, travel to Popova Sapka and arrive at the hotel. Transfer to the mountain from Skopje can be arranged for an additional fee. Greeted by a local host. If you requested ski equipment, you will need to be fitted out. Meet with your local mountain guide for a safety briefing & then adjourn to the hotel bar and discuss the coming days of powder skiing.
Included meal - Dinner

Cat Ski Day

In the morning, meet your guide at the hotel and depart for the day's adventure directly from outside in your designated snow-cat with your group of new friends! Your guide will choose the day's skiing based on the group’s ability, snow & weather conditions, avalanche risk and of course........ the group's wishes! Ski and ride up 4,000m vertical each day. Lunch  will be out in the field either as a snow picnic or at a local shepherds hut.
Included meals - Breakfast & Lunch 

After a day's riding, departure is in the afternoon, or you can arrange to stay longer and book more cat ski days (depending on availability) or explore the ski resort. Return transfer to Skopje can be arranged. Option to have Eskimo Freeride book an all-inclusive package for a great final night in Skopje including accommodation, local host, a traditional meal and night life or you can arrange your own further adventure.

NOTE: This itinerary is a guide. The tour is dictated by the weather each day and your guide will fit around where the best conditions are. That’s the beauty of a guided tour!




Eskimo Freeride Lodging & Dining

All cat ski days at Eskimo Freeride are inclusive of accommodation & meals.

Hotel Arena Tetaks

Eskimo Freeride has its base at Hotel Arena Tetaks where the guides and snowcats stay as well. The hotel is located at 1,750m in the Popova Shapka ski area, so it is possible to access the terrain directly from the hotel and provides ski-in / ride-in comfort at the end of the day, for lunch or early home. Hotel Arena Tetaks has a good restaurant, well stocked bar and a hang-out room. Most of the rooms are either twin or two bunks with a few rooms for larger groups. The rooms are simple, but we found them clean & adequate for our stay. In the Summer of 2019, the hotel was extensively renovated to include a new pool & spa area, amongst other major upgrades. More recently, all of the rooms were renovated, totally changing the look and feel of the hotel. Food and drink in Macedonia is top-notch and we found Hotel Arena Tetaks to be no exception. It provides a great culinary experience for all guests. The sun terrace is excellent for après ski drinks looking up into the resort.

Eskimo Freeride accommodation
Eskimo Freeride accommodation
Eskimo Freeride accommodation
Eskimo Freeride accommodation
Eskimo Freeride accommodation
Eskimo Freeride accommodation

Dining Experience

Experience local Macedonian cuisine. Delicious food, part of a rich local tradition, that is fresh, tasty, hearty and different when compared to places most guests spend their ski holidays. Meat based or vegetarian meals are available. Breakfasts are served buffet style in the hotel dining room. Fresh cooked eggs & Turkish coffee or tea are made to order. Dinner offers a range of options. Some of the fabulous meals you try are below.

Vegetarian options:
Gravce tavce - oven baked beans mixed with onion, peppers, tomato and oil in clay pottery;
Ajvar - local red paprika prepared in a bath of spices and oil;
Pindjur - mixture of local red paprika in perfect mix with aubergine;
Biberke - hot, or very hot local green papers matched with garlic;
Sirenje - white brine sheep cheese made on Shar mountain;
Sopska salata - salad of local tomatoes like you never tasted before mixed with cucumber and topped with "sirenje" white cheese, often served as oeuvre, with cabbage, lettuce and other vegetables.

Meat eaters shouldn't miss the:
Mixed meat "plata" is a 'must do' made of Chevapchichi, Pljeskavica with kajmak, (mixture of lamb and beef, grilled with onions) Raznjci and Vesalica. It is so good you'll not mind putting a few extra pounds during you're stay.
Selsko meso - clay dish, oven baked with 3 kinds of meat and mushroom, cheese and spices;
Chorba - mix between soup and goulash, of course batter then either of them;
Oven baked Lamb that actually runs around this mountain on 2000 m elevation;
Turli tava - Turkish influenced meat, oven baked dish;
Sausage - hand made with cut chops of meat rather the minced - really nice!
Sarma - cabbage rolls of meat and rise stew;
Polneti Piperki - stuffed capsicum filled with rice or rice with meat;
Musaka - Since Macedonian food has a lot of Turkish influence you will find a lot of Burek - a pie made mostly with cheese, potato or meat.

On special occasions a most amazing traditional meal can be organised that only a few locals still have the complex knowledge to prepare. "Jagnje vo dupka" was made by local fighters that rebelled against the Ottomans in the old days. It is a lamb cooked in a hole dug in the ground. A huge fire is made that needs to burn for around 5 hrs. Lamb is skinned and placed back again in it's skin, filled with different vegetables and completely layered in a special kind of clay. The lamb is placed in the ground and covered completely by soil and stones. It is in the ground for around 3 hours with the burned wood. When taken out, the clay has formed kind of a pottery around the lamb. If prepared well, the lamb is cooked without oxygen and when pottery is broken... well this part is left for a surprise! Believe it - this is art as food!




Daily Rates & Inclusions

Rates (2024)

Low Season (pre 15th January & post 20th March)

1-days from €225/day

High Season (15th January to 20th March)

1  from €250/day
  • Invoice / base currency is EUR €
  • Price based on twin-share lodging, all meals, full days cat skiing, & safety gear
  • Convert to your currency here
Inclusions
  • GUIDED CAT SKIING: Guided cat skiing (4,000 vert.m./day)
  • ACCOMMODATION: twin-share accommodation
  • MEALS: All meals included (dinner, breakfast, lunch)
  • SAFETY EQUIPMENT: Use of avalanche safety equipment (including airbag)
Add-ons
  • TRANSFERS: Return transfer from Skopje (price dependent on group size - enquire)
  • CITY TOUR: Skopje nightlife tour (€60 for accom, dinner in traditional restaurant, nightlife & guide)
  • EXTRA CAT SKI DAYS: From €225 / day all inclusive (low season)
  • SKI EQUIPMENT: Ski or snowboard rentals - price on application
  • MASSAGE: price on application
Not Included

Terms & Conditions

As per agreed terms & conditions with the tour operator, Eskimo Freeride, at the time of booking, and including, but not limited to, the T&Cs listed below. Any contractual arrangements as a result of a booking enquiry are directly with the tour operator and is subject to their terms and conditions.