Path 1: Grnchari – Kurbinovo – Slivnica – Brajcino – Ljubojno – Dolno Dupeni

The western massifs of Mount Pelister, in their descent to the shores of Lake Prespa, gradually, from sloping uncontrollable slopes, turn into gentle almost flat configurations, which almost in a horizontal line equal the water level of the lake. This picturesque belt, 1 to 2 km wide, is approximately 25 km long. It starts near the village of Podmocani and moves along the entire east coast of the Great Prespa Lake. All 14 rural settlements that exist today on the route are strung with the regional road R-505, Makazi - Markova noga, and Makazi is reached by the highway M-5, Bitola - Resen. Numerous archeological sites and material remains from the oldest periods of human history to recent times have been preserved in or near most of these villages. Of the old monuments, the church buildings are the most numerous.   Some of the Orthodox temples according to their importance and artistic achievements are already included in the list of the most valuable achievements of the old art in R. Macedonia and beyond. The hiking trail we offer is concentrated on visiting those monuments.   The trip through the proposed destinations can be organized by car or the same can be done with recreational walking. This is possible, because after the mutual distance of 4-5 km on the terrain there are marked mountain paths placed parallel to the asphalt regional road. In that case, we will enjoy for a long time and directly what this beautiful landscape offers, formed in combination between the mountain landscape and the lake surface.   We start on foot from the village of Grnchari, from where along the wide dirt mountain road, in about forty minutes we climb to the monastery of St. Ilija.   From the monastery complex, along the path, along the village Rajca we continue to the village Kurbinovo. Our next destination will be the church of St. Gjorgji from 1191, about 2 km above the village.   From St. Gjorgji, we climb to the monastery Ragjanje na Sveta Bogorodica or the Slivnica monastery, where we overcome a height difference of about 200 meters. For those who want to split this trip into two days, here is the ideal opportunity for a longer stay and overnight.   As we continue our journey south, we practically enter Dolna Prespa.   The next destination is the village of Arvati located just above the village of Krani. Several churches have been preserved in the village, but all are from a more recent date. In the spirit of our journey we propose a visit to the site with healing water called Ratoec, which is equally respected by Christian and Muslim believers. From Arvati the road leads us through the abandoned location of Staro Strbovo and from there we continue to Brajcino. Arriving in the village of Brajcino we head to the monastery of St. Petka, in the immediate vicinity of the village.   In continuation, through the forested area, we descend to the church of St. Petar i Pavle above the village of Ljubojno.   At the end of this trip to the far south, we visit the churches of St. Bogorodica and St. Atanasij to finally arrive in the village of Dolno Dupeni.