This tour combines the high and challenging Pirin Mountain's beauty with the serenity of the Rodopi Mountains. During the trek, you explore some of Bulgaria's remote and forgotten regions. Mountain border villages, which in the near past had been closed for foreign visitors, enable the tourists to experience a part of the original Bulgarian culture and life in the countryside. Throughout the tour we also visit caves and the 2nd biggest Bulgarian Monastery.
Departure dates for 2010: 26 June; 17 July; 7 August; 21 August; 18 September; 2 October (other dates possible upon request)
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1. Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer to the town of Bansko at the foots of Pirin Mountains for overnight (2,30hrs drive).
Day 2. Morning hike above Vihren hut (1950 m a.s.l.). There we visit Muratovo, Ribnoto, Dulgoto, Zhabeshkoto and Okoto lakes. Sighseeing trip along the streets of Bansko is planned in the afternoon.
Walking time: 5hrs; uphill walk: 300 m (984 ft); downhill walk: 300 m (984 ft)
Day 3. Today we head to Mount Polezhan (2851 m a.s.l.). This trip offers probably the most beautiful panoramic views in the mountains where one can count 17 glacial lakes from a single point, including the biggest lake in Pirin Mountains – Popovo Lake.Then we continue to Leshten village and further to the village of Kovachevitsa for overnight.
Walking time: 6hrs; Uphill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft); downhill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft)
Day 4. Sightseeing tour in Kovachevitsa (declared an architectural reserve) and the adjacent area. Transfer further to Trigrad village where we stay overnight for the next 2 nights. En-route we stop for lunch by the blue water of Dospat dam.
Day 5. In the morning we continue southeast to the peak of the ridge by Trigrad village and further to Vodni Pad village. The return journey is a real delight going after Trigradska River all the way to Trigrad and Trigrad Gorge.
Walking time: 5hrs; uphill walk: 400 m (1,312 ft); downhill walk: 450 m (1,476 ft)
Day 6. After breakfast we leave the hotel in Trigrad on foot. A nice dirt road, following the upper edge of Trigrad Gorge leads to the village of Yagodina (850 m a.s.l.) and Yagodina Cave where we have about 45 min cave tour. The bus is waiting by the entrance of the cave to take us to the town of Devin, where we stay overnight.
Walking time: 3-4hrs; uphill walk: 250 m (820 ft); downhill walk: 600 m (1,968 ft)
Day 7. We walk along the Devin eco-path, offering some fine views of the Valley of Devin River. At noon we continue with a transfer to Shiroka Lyka for short sightseeing and continue on to Bachkovo Monastery - the second largest in Bulgaria. We end up in Plovdiv, where you will have some free time in the late afternoon for sightseeing and shopping.
Walking time: 3hrs; uphill walk: 200 m; downhill walk: 200 m
Day 8. Early transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure.
Accomodation and food: We stay in 3-star hotels (days 1, 2 & 6), family-run hotel (days 4 & 5), guesthouse (day 7), and in a tradional oldfashion house (day 3) with private facilities on halfboard (breakfast & dinner included). Ordering lunchpacks is available in each of the hotels if necessary for the day walks (at the amount of 5-6 Euro).
Tour difficulty: moderate
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Accommodation and boarding as mentioned above;
- private transfers throughout the tour
- Lift tickets
- English-speaking guide
- Entrance fees for the caves
- VAT and all local taxes.
Price Excludes:
- Maps (could be requested in advance when booking the tour);
- Tips;
- Alcohol drinks, cigarettes;
- Other personal expenses.
single room supplement: 75 euro
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Bulgaria
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Hiking & Trekking
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