Golem Grad Island

Golem Grad is the only island in the country, sitting in Lake Prespa near the point where three borders meet, uninhabited since the monastic community left and now a strict reserve. It is known locally as Snake Island for the dice snakes that swarm on it, harmless to people but present in numbers, along with a very dense tortoise population. Ruins of Byzantine churches and a Roman-era settlement stand under old juniper trees, and cormorants nest on the cliffs.

What you actually see

• The snakes and tortoises - dice snakes and tortoises in unusual densities.
• The church ruins - Byzantine remains among the juniper on the plateau.
• The old junipers - the ancient trees covering the island's top.
• The cormorant colonies - the birds nesting on the surrounding cliffs.

When to go

May to September is the season for boats. Trips must be arranged and are cancelled in wind. Snakes are most visible in warm weather, which is when people come.

Honest expectations

The snakes are numerous and, though harmless, are a genuine surprise to visitors who were not warned. Boat trips must be arranged in advance. There are no facilities on the island.

Nearby

Stenje is on the shore, and Ohrid is northwest.