North Macedonia

Beginning at 1100m, the small number of pisted runs climb past the resort itself at 1800m, before peaking at 2500m. A huge array of off piste terrain is then available off the back, situated in the Shar Planina National Park well above the treeline, providing almost endless opportunity to score some awesome turns. Modern high-speed six-packs mix with rope tows and fixed lifts to accommodate the weekenders who frequent the area, and night skiing keeps the party going well into the evening!

Resort facilities are somewhat limited, made up of a large village area and a small collection of hotels. These include the luxurious modern 4* Hotel Scardus, offering plenty of amenities including pool and spa. The resort is nestled close to the Kosovar border, less than an hour from the capital Skopje and close to the nearby local hub of Tetova; as a result Popova Shapkar is popular with weekenders and extremely accessible.

One of the big draws to the region are the cat skiing opportunities. Several companies and guiding organisations operate in the region, and are well utilised by holidaymakers and tours from Western Europe and beyond. Combined with the brilliant snow record, this is a real hidden gem of a ski area, able to serve up amazing memories turn after turn!

Resort website: popovashapka.com.mk