Kokino, Kuklici & Kratovo tour from Skopje
Description
We will be able to visit Kokino, the fourth oldest observatory in the world, right after Stonehenge in England, Angkor Watt in Cambodia and Abu Simbel in Egypt. We will visit an extraordinary stone formation in the place called "Stone dolls", and hear the legend of their creation. And we will visit the small town of Kratovo, located in the crater of an extinct volcano.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Kokino is located 70 km East from Skopje. The observatory and the sacred site were first discovered in 2001 and ranked as the world’s fourth most important ancient observatory by NASA, listed together with Stonehenge in England, Angkor Watt in Cambodia and Abu Simbel in Egypt. The ancient observatory Kokino tracks and captures the movements of the sun and the moon through the year, the solstices and equinoxes, lunar and solar eclipses as well as the cultural and spiritual beliefs between the 19th and 17th century BC.
These unusual forms that look like human figures, according to the scientists, are more than 10 000 years old. In 2008, this place was declared a Monument of nature. Otherwise, the locals were familiar with this miracle of nature for centuries and they were having different interpretations about its creation. A legend was born about a great wedding and the curse of a girl for her unrequited love. Exploring these stone pillars, more than 130 in number, getting familiar with the bride and the groom and the invited guests at the wedding, due to the creativity and the imagination of the local population, make this monument worth visiting.
We will continue with a visit to the small town of Kratovo, full of medieval bridges. Having a mild and pleasant climate, it is located in the crater of an extinct volcano. Here we can make a lunch break in a local restaurant, or in a restaurant just outside of town. We will finish the tour with a pleasant walk in the narrow streets of this calm place. At the end, we will drive back to Skopje and drop you off at your hotel, or another place of your convenience.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We can pick you up from your hotel or any other preferred location in Skopje
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour does not operate in bad weather conditions. You will be offered a date change if that happens.
- Comfortable walking shoes are reccomended
Reviews(3)
Many have heard of Stonehenge and its megaliths. But ancient observatories can also look completely different. Imagine unspoiled nature on a magnificent mountaintop, surrounded by forested slopes, astronomical landmarks carved into stone the only signs of human activity. Kokino is a fabulous place to visit! Friendly guides and delicious tea picked in the mountains in Kratovo is what will remain in my memory for a long time :)
We had an excellent guide, Boban, who explained so much about the places we visited. The ancient observatory at Kokino was very interesting to see, and we enjoyed being there without other travelers. The ‘stone dolls’ at Kuklici are amazing and it was fun picking out characters that some of them resembled. Being in Kratovo was like going back 60-70 years in time.
Thank you for your very kind words for our local guide, Boban. We are glad you enjoyed it. All the best
This tour was brilliant and our favourite trip while in Macedonia. Our guide, Bobbi, was knowledgeable and passionate and showed us unique and undiscovered attractions and towns. We were a group of four people and Bobbi was super friendly and during the day he found out our groups interests and went at our pace. The driver, Dragan, was also very professional and safe and the van was very comfortable. We enjoyed a yummy local lunch at a restaurant in Kratovo all recommend by Bobbi. I highly recommend this tour!
