Shar Mountains Cat Skiing, North Macedonia
Cat ski tours in the Shar Mountains National Park are among Europe’s best cat-skiing adventures. The Shar Mountains are amongst the best alpine regions in Europe for cat skiing, extending northeast to southwest for about 47 miles (75 km) along the border of North Macedonia & Kosovo. The natural shape of the mountains allows easy access to the peaks by snowcats. The region is also known for its magnificent food & hospitality which is the perfect accompaniment to the powder-laden mountain freeride experience.
After flying into the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, the adventure begins with your transfer to the Hotel Scardus in Popova Sapka.
Cat skiing in Macedonia has been undergoing an evolution in the last few years. Better, more reliable snowcats with customised cabins for more comfort, plus highly trained & well-equipped guides have improved the overall cat ski experience immensely. While the well-known ski resorts across Europe are becoming crowded with freeriders from all over the world, in Macedonia, freeriding is still a totally different experience. The rural countryside & mountains is beautiful & still a little 'raw'. From wide-open alpine faces to narrow couloirs, natural halfpipes & forests, the terrain is awesome for all skiers & snowboarders from strong intermediate to expert.
All guiding, accommodation, meals, & avalanche safety equipment (air backpack, probe, shovel, avi transceiver) is included.
Highlights
- Experience cat skiing & culture in a different place, far removed from western Europe & North America
- Enjoy local guides that take safety seriously but also know how to have a good time.
- Be assured by the range of reliable snowcats & high quality equipment used during the tour.
- Rest easy in the comfort of a 4-star hotel.
- Salivate over the incredible food included on the tour and celebrate with a few toasts of the local spirits.
- Meet new friends from all over the world.
- A care-free off-piste freeride adventure where everything is organised for you.
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Snow & Terrain
Shar Mountains catskiing is located in on the snowiest parts of the Balkans. Terrain is generally between 1,800m & 2,600m, guaranteeing snow cover. As with mountains everywhere, the wind can play a massive part in the prevailing snow conditions, but all the ski locations have options to make the most of the conditions. About 4,000m vertical is skied on any one day but can be more or less depending on the group, snow conditions & weather.
From wide-open faces to narrow couloirs and natural pipes, the nature of the terrain gives maximum pleasure to both strong intermediate and expert riders alike. On a day with good visibility there are no restrictions and basically you can ride everywhere where the ski guides will find good snow.
In poor weather conditions, the usual daily agenda will be to stay at lower elevations for amazing forest skiing where the powder stays protected from the wind, and the trees are used as a tool for orientation in low visibility.
Accommodation & Food
Accommodation is provided in the fully comfortable Hotel Scardus at 1,780 m/asl. The food on the tour is amazing, indeed one of the real treats of visiting the region! Lunches are usually had picnic-style in the mountains. For more details, see the Lodging tab.
Snowcats, Guiding & Safety
The Shar Outdoors catski operation has a minimum of 6 modern & comfortable snowcats with customised cabins capable of seating 14 people each. One snowcat is held in reserve to cover any unforeseen issues (cat-skiing is tough on these machines!). Most snowcats have safe side entry doors & side mounted ski storage.
All tour guides are locals, have at least 7-15 years of guiding experience in the area, and are experienced freeriders. A minimum of 2 guides are provided with each Snowcat (one head & one tail guide) to provide maximum safety for your backcountry experience. Additionally, included in the package price, each guest is provided with all necessary avalanche safety equipment, including a modern avalanche transceiver and avalanche backpack.
Ski Ability & Gear
All participants should be at least of strong intermediate ability, with some experience in off-piste powder & mixed snow conditions.
Ski rental is available for an extra tariff (Elan freeride skis), however if you your own ski gear, please bring it. There is no snowboard/splitboard rental available. All avalanche safety gear is provided.
Location & Getting There
Shar Outdoors operates throughout the Balkans, but the cat ski operation base is in the Shar Mountains at Popova Sapka ski resort in North Macedonia. The main entry point is Skopje and return transfers from to & from the cat ski base are included in the tour tariff. See how to get to there via our Location page.
Before or after the tour, a night in contemporary Skopje is worth considering.
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