Self guided Walking Holiday in Bulgaria

Balkan Mountains Hike

The Fore-Balkan area of the Balkan Mountains is unique with its diverse landscape and tiny villages lost in greenness and flowers, offering not only tranquility and calmness, but also opportunity to feel the unique authentic atmosphere and coziness of the Bulgarian village. In this region the traditions are kept alive even in recent days. Old water mills are still working, the fulling mills are still washing the colorful carpets, the famous "rakia" (brandy) is prepared right before you in a copper, housewives prepare the unforgettably sweet jams of wild berries and the old farmers are still making the well-known Balkan brine cheese prepared both from sheep and goat milk. And all this surrounded by the wild nature of the National Park Central Balkan and one of its nine green pearls - the biosphere reserve of Boatin, housing one of the vastest tree belts of Beech forests.

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Rates  include accommodation, breakfast and dinner, detailed road book and map, luggage transfers
8 Days/ 7 Nights   $ 595   Single +120
-- based on  Euro 375/75   
2008 Dates: daily from May to September

Airport:  Sofia or Plovdiv airport
Meeting: Yamna
Transfer:  from Sofia or Plovdiv
                 airport included
Not included: tips, entrance fees, alcohol drinks, personal expenses.

Difficulty Level:  2 (easy)

Accommodation:
Family-run hotels with en-suite facilities (days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6) and in a guesthouse with shared facilities (day 7). The meal plan is based on HB (breakfast and dinner included).

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Central Balkan National Park (716 sq. km) was established for the conservation of the unique nature of the Central Balkan Mountains. One-third of the Park's territory comprises nine reserves, four of them - Boatin, Tsarichina, Steneto and Dzhendema are part of the world Biosphere Reserves Network under the UNESCO "Man and Biosphere" Program.
Ribaritsa village is a beautiful mountain resort with numerous little country houses and villas, which according to latest measurement has the biggest concentration of oxygen in the air in Bulgaria.
Glozhene Monastery was built in the 13-th century by the Ukrainian prince Glozh, housing an icon at the age of about 1000 years.
"Sueva dupka" Cave, considered to be probably the most-beautiful cave in Bulgaria, was named after the two brothers Seyuo and Sayuo, who hid themselves there from the Turks during the yoke.
 

 Balkan Mountains Self-guided Trek

Balkan Mountains Self-guided Trek

Balkan Mountains Self-guided Trek

Rodopi Mountains Self-guided Trek

Balkan Mountains Self-guided Trek

Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv airport and transfer to Yamna village (650 m a.s.l.) for overnight (taking about 1,20 h from Sofia or 2,30 h from Plovdiv).  D

Day 2. Yamna is a typical village for the Fore-Balkan of the mountains - long and scattered among the small valleys and hills. After breakfast you will have to reach the other part of the village, where the path for the first stage starts from. As an introduction walk to the whole trip the trek today provides lots of typical landscapes and experiences - picturesque, vast meadows spotted with lots old apple tree gardens, ringing bells of grazing sheep and horses etc. The path follows the ridge over the village and goes descending by a cave to the outskirts of the village Cherni Vit, renown for its great dancers and singers of traditional Bulgarian folklore. From there you will be transferred for overnight by the neighbouring village of Divchovoto.
Walking distance: 17 km; walking time: about 5 hrs; uphill walk: 400 m; downhill walk: 600 m   BD

Day 3. This morning you will walk probably the most adventurous part of the tour. The path goes through the century-old Beech forests of Boatin Reserve (at 825 m a.s.l.), reaching the peak at 1065 m a.s.l. in an hour of gentle ascent. Then it starts descending over the other side of the hill, reaching a forestry road that leads to the region of "Kostina", where one of the Bulgarian national heroes has been killed by the Turks. From this point you will walk 3 km along totally peaceful asphalt road among gardens, meadows, villas and houses of local people ending in the village of Ribaritsa, where you stay overnight (at 545 m a.s.l.).
Walking distance: 10.5 km; walking time: about 3,5-4 hrs; uphill walk: 250 m; downhill walk: 530 m   BD

Day 4. Today you will walk along "Debeli Dial" - the ridge surrounding Ribaritsa from North. The path continues to Vasiliov Hut but before that you will turn right descending at the upper parts of Ribaritsa, which is actually the longest village in the country (12 km long). On the way back to your hotel you will have the opportunity to see the way of live of the local people and to enjoy the idyll of a typical Balkan Mountains village.
Walking distance: 14 km; walking time: around 4.5 hrs; uphill walk: 400 m; downhill walk: 400 m   BD

Day 5. In the morning you will be transferred to the neighbouring town of Teteven (415 m a.s.l.; some 6 km from Ribaritsa). Check in into the hotel and time at leisure for sightseeing and shopping. There are some sites of interest in the town that are worth visiting like the historical museum, the church "Vsiah Svetii" and the chapel next to it, the "St. Ilia" Monastery built in XIV century, the picture-gallery in the centre of the town, the ancient houses (Bobevskata, Iorgovata and Hadzhi Ivanovata). An optional afternoon walk could be made to a local waterfall with extension to "Haidushka poliana" Peak (955 m a.s.l.).
Walking distance: 13 km; walking time: around 4 hrs; uphill 540 m; downhill walk: 540 m   BD

Day 6. Cherven Peak (1221 m a.s.l.) is the easternmost of the three peaks raised above the northern side of Teteven. The giant is the target of the day. The path starts from Teteven and goes upwards through broad leaved forests and vast meadows to the rocks of Cherven Peak, offering a superb panoramic view over the town of Teteven and the valley of Beli Vit River. From there we take the new eco-path leading to Babintsi village. Then there are 2 hours of walking on the way down to Teteven.
Walking distance: 13 km; walking time: around 5 hrs; uphill walk: 700 m; downhill walk: 700 m   BD

Day 7. After a short transfer to the village of Glozhene (8 km from Teteven) a short trek expects you to Morovitsa Cave. The path from the cave continues through old Beech forest to Glozhene Monastery, where you can see the 1000 years old icon of St. George. From the monastery there is a dirty road leading to the pass between Goliam Izvor and Teteven and then following the peaceful road you get back to Goliam Izvor. Overnight in Goliam Izvor village (450 m a.s.l.).
Walking distance: 13 km; walking time: about 4 hrs; uphill: 400 m; downhill walk: 350 m   BD

Day 8. After breakfast you will have transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure. B

DETAILED ROAD BOOK AND MAP WILL BE PROVIDED UPON ARRIVAL

B= Breakfast included    D= Dinner included

View detailed trip dossier here! (.pdf )