This story is written by Macedonia’s largest tourism platform, www.kajak.mk, where you can find everything you need for a complete and authentic travel experience in Macedonia — from local accommodations and guides to attractions, tours, and gastronomy.
Visit www.kajak.mk and discover the true beauty of Macedonia.
The Kajak.mk team is constantly searching for stories about people who quietly create things of real value for Macedonia. We call these people “Local Heroes.”
This time, our journey took us far from asphalt roads and urban noise — to the mountain village of Grljani, in eastern Macedonia, where a young couple made a decision that many young families are increasingly choosing today: stepping out of the fast-moving, predefined system and embracing a more genuine way of living.
Kajak.mk brings you the story of Nikolche and Anja. Nikolche is a graduate electrical engineer with experience in digital marketing and city life in Skopje, while Anja is a graduate graphic designer from Novi Sad, accustomed to an urban lifestyle and living in the city center.
Nikolche says that after their wedding, they made a decision many would consider risky — to leave the cities behind and start a new life and business in a village.
“When we returned to live in the village, we realized we had two options — either look for jobs elsewhere, or create something of our own. We wanted a life with more meaning and control over how we spend our time,” he tells us.
Grljani is a typical mountain village, located at around 800 meters above sea level, with a small population and almost no industry. That very isolation, which many would see as a disadvantage, became their greatest advantage. Untouched nature, clean pastures, and an abundance of wild herbs form the foundation of their story — the story behind their honey products branded under the name “Babin.”
Beekeeping is not a new chapter for Nikolche. It is a family tradition, a craft he learned from his mother, while from his father he inherited an entrepreneurial mindset. For Anja, however, the change was profound — from life in Novi Sad to everyday life in a mountain village in Macedonia.
“It wasn’t easy — a new language, a new environment, a completely different lifestyle. But the feeling of building something of your own, from start to finish, is worth far more than the comfort a city can offer,” Anja says.
Today, Babin offers mountain honey and wildflower honey, along with a range of bee products — pollen, propolis, bee bread (perga), royal jelly, and their special immune-boosting blend, “Babin Shield.” Their offer also includes teas made from their own plantations and wild-harvested medicinal herbs, collected from ecologically clean areas.
The quality of their honey has not gone unnoticed. Their products are organically certified, and at a competition in Novi Sad they won two first prizes — one for quality and one for taste.
“Awards matter to us, but what matters even more is when people come back and buy again. That’s the best confirmation that we’re on the right path,” Nikolche adds.
From harvesting and caring for the bees, to packaging, design, and communication — everything is handled by the two of them, with family support when needed. No large team, no investors, just a clear vision.
The story of Nikolche and Anja is not a romanticized escape-from-the-city narrative. It is a real example that sustainable businesses can be built even in small communities — when there is knowledge, patience, and a genuine desire to work honestly and with dedication.
For us at Kajak.mk, stories like this are a reminder that local heroes are not always loud or visible. Sometimes they are people working quietly in a mountain village, creating products that represent Macedonia in the best possible way — through quality, authenticity, and respect for nature.
We warmly welcome Nikolche and Anja into the world of local heroes supported by Kajak.mk. Stories like these are the foundation of meaningful tourism — one we hope will truly flourish one day.
This story is written by Macedonia’s largest tourism platform, www.kajak.mk, where you can find everything you need for an unforgettable travel experience in Macedonia — from local accommodations and guides to attractions, tours, and gastronomy.
Visit www.kajak.mk and discover the real beauty of Macedonia.
