Radovish Under Plachkovica
Radovish is the second-largest city of southeastern North Macedonia, set where the northern edge of the valley meets the Plachkovica range. The town itself is a working place for markets and coffee; the mountain above it is the serious objective.
Plachkovica is built of granite and marble rather than limestone, extends between Radovish and Vinica, and is cut in two by the Zrnovska river valley. Its highest peak, Lisec, reaches 1,754 m.
The mountain day
Two lodges serve the range: Vrteska on the Stip side and Dzumaja on the Radovish side, both reached by slower mountain roads after the main highway. From them, the trail to Lisec is regarded locally as one of the harder peaks to climb, a full mountain day with a steep final section.
Snow can linger on the summit into June, and above the tree line there is little shade, so summer starts have to be early. The reward is a high, open ridge that feels far more alpine than the drive from the valley suggests.
The town half-day
Radovish works perfectly well without the climb. The town is roughly 38 km and about 42 minutes from the retreat via the main Strumica-Stip road, and its market, cafes and lunch tables make an easy morning out with a wall of mountain as the backdrop.
Guests who want a short walk rather than a summit can use the lodge roads and lower forest tracks for a gentler half-day.
How it differs from Belasica
Belasica, the ridge south of Gabrovo towards the Greek and Bulgarian borders, is our home mountain: beech forest, waterfalls and goat paths. Plachkovica is a separate range north of Radovish, harder, rockier and higher in feel.
Its western half has its own named peak, Turtel at 1,689 m, and the Zrnovska valley splits the range so that the two sides are effectively separate days.
Why visit
- Lisec at 1,754 m, a serious local summit
- Granite and marble terrain unlike the Belasica
- Two mountain lodges, Vrteska and Dzumaja
- A genuine market town for a short outing
- Roughly 38 km and about 42 minutes from the retreat
Good to know
Getting there
Roughly 38 km and about 42 minutes from Gabrovo on the main Strumica-Stip road; the lodges add 20-30 minutes of slower mountain road.
When to go
May-October for the mountain, with snow possible on Lisec into June. Autumn is spectacular on the eastern slopes; start early in summer.
Difficulty
The town outing is easy. The Lisec climb is a full day for fit hikers, based from the Vrteska or Dzumaja lodges.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the climb to Lisec?
Can we do Radovish without hiking?
Is Plachkovica the same mountain as Belasica?
More to explore
Stay at the hacienda
For a second mountain day, Radovish and Lisec are the natural choice. Tell us your legs' opinion and we will plan accordingly.