on the lake, Ohrid

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During a visit to Ohrid in March 2012, my girlfriend and I took a couple of boat trips on Lake Ohrid.

The first of these was a pleasure trip; a round trip from the harbour past the old town and Sveti Jovan Kaneo Monastery (See tip in "Things to Do" section).

The second trip was more about convenience. We had just visited Sveti Jovan Kaneo Monastery and were walking back to town via Kaneo fishing village. In order to save time, we decided to take a one way boat trip from Kaneo to the Millennium Hotel, close to the Biljana Springs estuary that we were intending to visit next.

We negotiated a price with a sailor, who then put us in the hands of his young (maybe 12 years old?) son and his small wooden motor boat.

After lots of instructions and reassurances (maybe this was the first time the son had transported paying passengers?), we were on our way.

The engine spluttered a few times and the boat was taking on a little water, but we made it safely across the lake to our destination.

The 10 minute trip cost us 400 MKD / £5.60 and saved us close to an hour in time.

Small boats are a convenient way to take trips across Lake Ohrid. Negotiate a price with the sailors.

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Although this is something I haven't done it certainly looks like a fun, and practical, way of getting around the lakeshore. From what I gather, by speaking to the guys as they were touting, is that you can hire a ride on these boats for pretty much any purpose. You can take short trips such as from the harbour round to the church of St Jovan, longer trips such as down the lake to the monastery of St Naum or even just go for a cruise. Everything is negotiable and so what you pay depends on your bargaining skills.

Trips can be one-way or return and in the latter case you can pre-arrange your return pick-up time, or pay the guy to wait for you - however I reckon I wouldn't pay for the return bit in advance.

Water taxis are a great way to see Lake Ohrid. They can take you pretty much anywhere along the Macedonian lake shore, but the price you get is up to you to negotiate. This depends on how far you are going, if the captain will wait for you (and how long), or if it is just a sight seeing cruise. As an example to go to Sv Naum would have cost 17 Euro, but because of time constraints, I opted to take the shorter trip in the car (see "Car to Sv Naum" tip). To get a water taxi, just take a stroll along the water front and you are sure to be asked if you want a water taxi ride. Just be sure to work out the specifics of what you want and the price (including choice of currency) before getting in.

On the waterfront there are mnay small boats vying for your business. Some are a bit spiffier than others, but all are a bit of an adventure -- particularly as three times I have watched the owner smkoing his cigarette in the boat within a foot or so of the gas can!
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Be sure to get your price agreed before you step in the boat. Right now you should be able to go to Kaneo and back for about 200 denars.
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It's well worth the adventure!

On the boardwalk of Ohrid you will find a line of boat taxis waiting to give someone a ride. I would reccomend you try taking one of these just to have the experience of seeing the crystal clear waters of the deepest and oldest lake in Europe. There is also a monastary that can only be reached by boat. If you driver is willing to take you, you should ask him about 'Sveti Zoran.' If you want to get to the other side of the lake (Sveti Naum, not Albania) I would reccomend taking a larger boat sort of like a ferry. There is one called the 'Christina' that a friend of mine owns, but I don't know if he still has it.

Depends on a destination , but still cheap.
The most far destination is St.Naum , veeryy
close to the Albanian border .
The price is around 10 eur .
THE VIEWS ARE GORGEOUS :))

we took the cruise-boat to the opposite site of the lake, to the st. naum monastery. it was really nice, except for the rain:/ and we got to see albania!

there are a few cruise-sort-of-ships on the lake, but those little taxi-boats are just so much more charming..