It is considered one of the most mountainous countries in the world, with more than 85 per cent of the country being covered by mountains. Mount Korab, on the Albanian border, reaches a height of 9,030 feet (2,752 meters).

The mountainous terrain has become a staple for people living in North Macedonia. “When I enter my car, whichever direction I want to drive, I have a mountain in front of me and a mountain behind me,” local resident Frosina Pandurska-Dramikjanin told CNN.  

The entire nation is home to 2million people, slightly less than Birmingham. And while those working in the nation’s travel industry believe it has plenty to offer, they are also wary of overtourism.

Aleksandar Bogoevski, owner of Sustainable Adventure Travels, added: “Approximately one million passengers are transiting Macedonia during the summertime. They don’t stop, I think there are so many other things that can be seen.”

One of the major attractions in the country is Lake Ohrid, which straddles the border with Albania. The North Macedonia side of the lake was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, with the wider area included a year later.

The town of Ohrid itself is one of the oldest human settlements in the world and is home to the oldest Slav monastery (St Pantelejmon). UNESCO says the lake is home to around 200 species of plants and animals.

The Šar Mountain range, at the northwestern border with Albania, offers visitors to North Macedonia an array of walks and hikes. Villagers in the mountains are even known to practice ancient methods of sheepherding.

Known as transhumance, it involves leading the sheep on seasonal migrations into the village in winter before returning to the mountaintops in summer. Foodies visiting North Macedonia will be met by a mix of Balkan, Mediterranean, and Turkish cuisines.

The traditional national dish, Tavče gravče, consists of mostly baked beans in an earthen pot. Other popular dishes feature fresh produce, grilled meats and pastry. 

The nation’s capital, Skopje, is home to around 526,000 people and sits in the Skopje Valley along the Vardar River. YouTuber Drew Binksy described Skopje as one of the “weirdest cities in the world” thanks to its imposing riverside statues.

During his visit to North Macedonia, Drew was however won over by Lake Ohrid. In a video he said: “Anyways, the coolest lake in Europe is called Ohrid. It’s a really clear freshwater lake.

“You can go diving in it, cliff jumping and just have a day on the water. It’s really, really awesome. That’s my favorite thing about [North] Macedonia by far.

“Overall, it’s just a really chill, cool, small country, easy to road trip, Balkan vibes, good food. I highly recommend North Macedonia. I actually think it’s super underrated and it’s one of my favorite Balkan countries.”