Discover the Beauty of the Bulgarian Mountains

• Climb up to the highest waterfall in Bulgaria (124 m)

• Visit the geographical centre of Bulgaria

• Hike to the largest water cascade in Bulgaria

• „Conquer“ the highest peak in Sredna Gora mountain

• Get acquainted with the Thracian heritage and with some of the best known traditional handcrafts in Bulgaria

• Visits to small towns from the Revival period

Day 1: Dobre doshli! Welcome!
Arrival in Sofia and sightseeing tour. Dinner and overnight.

Arrival at Sofia airport and greetings from your Bulgarian guide.
On this day you make a sightseeing tour throughout the political, cultural and administrative centre of Bulgaria – the capital city of Sofia.
During the tour you get acquainted with the history, culture, government and lifestyle of the city, and you visit some of the most famous city-sites – the largest orthodox cathedral on the Balkan Peninsula, the church “St. Nedelya”, the buildings of the Parliament, the Central Baths, the University, as well as the central streets or the city-parks.
Dinner and overnight in Sofia.

Day 2: The Treasure of Sofia – Natural Park Vitosha
Sofia – Aleko chalet – Golden Bridges – Kopitoto (the Hoof) – Koprivshtitsa. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Today you begin with the real hiking tour of Bulgaria. As a start, we have selected for you a very pleasant route in the Vitosha mountain. The coach takes you to the lowest station of the Simeonovo gondola-lift. The ride with the gondola reveals for you a beautiful view over Sofia and takes you up to a height of 1810 m, where the Aleko chalet is situated. From here you follow an easy climbing up to the famous area of the Golden Bridges. Passing along old mountain huts and through fresh pine forests you imperceptibly reach the highest point on your route – the mountainous col between the peaks Ushite (1902 m) and Kamen del (1862 m). Whoever has skills and desire, may also climb the Kamen del peak. Then you continue to the Golden Bridges (1400m) – the region has been named in this way because of the “golden” moss that grows on the rocks. Here is located also the largest “stone river” in the region. After a short break you continue to Kopitoto peak, where the coach will be waiting for you.
A little bit tired, but certainly excited from the good walks you continue the trip with a drive to Koprivshtitsa.
Dinner and overnight.

Lenght: 11 km
Walking time: approx. 3.5 hours
Altitude: 600 meters
Difficulty: easy
Coach drive: 2 hours, 120 km

Day 3: The Lord of Sredna Gora Mountain – Bogdan peak, 1604 meters
Koprivshtitsa – Bogdan summit – Srednogorets Chalet – Barikadite Chalet – Koprivshtitsa. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Today you enjoy a 2-hour long, very pleasant and not so hard hike up to Bogdan summit (1604 m) – the highest peak in Sredna Gora mountain. You follow the yellow-marked trail from Koprivshtitsa along Kriva Reka river and it leads you to Bogdan chalet and natural reserve Bogdan. Exactly in this reserve is located your aim for the day. The summit is surrounded on all sides by woods. From the large Bogdan summit to the south and to the north you have an unobstructed view to the wooded peaks of Barikadi and Valk (wolf). On the southern slope of the large Bogdan, amidst beech forests, you can find the large moss-covered rocks, known as Detelinowa cave. Three rivers take their source from this mountain: Pyasatchnik, Kriva and Luda Yana. After a short break you will climb down to Srednogorets chalet and from there – to the Barikadite chalet. Srednogorets chalet lies at the foot of the Malak Bogdan summit. There is a tourist kitchen and a bar, where you can relax and continue with recharged energy to the Barikadite chalet. In about 2.5-hour walk you will reach the chalet, where the bus will be waiting for you.
Short drive to Koprivshtitsa. Dinner and overnight.

Lenght:
Walking time: approx. 7 hours
Altitude: 600 meters
Difficulty: medium
Coach drive: 30 minutes, 10 km

Day 4: The Bulgarian Revival – Koprivshtitsa and Kalofer
Koprivshtitsa – Starossel – Kalofer. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and a tour of Koprivshtitsa. The town impresses with its architecture, typical for the Bulgarian Revival period, when the houses had two or three floors and were richly painted and decorated with wood-carvings and wall-paintings. Koprivshtitsa has successfully kept the unique atmosphere of the past.
Before you reach the next “Revival town” you will visit a wine-cellar, where you will taste wines from the Thracian valley in an authentic Thracian atmosphere.
Energised with good mood you continue to the town of Kalofer. Kalofer is the birthplace of one of the most famous Bulgarian poets – Hristo Botev. Here again you can see the typical Revival architecture. Kalofer is situated at the foot of the Balkan mountain and in the immediate vicinity of the National Park “Central Balkan”, where on the next day you will take a long hike.
Dinner and overnight.

Coach drive: 2 hours, 100 km

Tag 5: The Majesty of the Balkan Mountains – Raisko Praskalo waterfall
Kalofer – Panitsite – Raisko praskalo waterfall – Panitsite (8 hours) – Kalofer. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and a short transfer to the area Panitsite – the starting point of your hike today. In 20-minutes walk you will see a wooden arch, marking the entrance to the National Park. Once on the territory of the park you climb through beech-oak forests up to the entrance of the Dzhendema reserve. From here you can enjoy the beautiful view to the peaks if the Balkan mountain: Botev, Ravnets, Kapaklyia, Armankaya and Haiduta. After a short and refreshing break you continue further on your way to the waterfall. The walk through Dzhendema reserve is the most difficult part of the hike because of the steep slopes. In 2 hours you realize that it is really worth the effort. The majestic waterfall Raisko praskalo – the highest waterfall on the Balkan Peninsula, 124 meters – stands right in front of you. You take a break at the Rai chalet. If you want, you can climb up to the waterfall (40 minutes there and back). Here you can make the lunch break and enjoy the beautiful view.
When you gather enough strength, you go back along the same way to Panitsite area.
Transfer to Kalofer. Dinner and overnight in Kalofer.

Lenght: approx. 10 km
Walking time: 8 – 8.5 hours
Altitude: 750 meters
Difficulty: challenging
Coach drive: 30 minutes, 10 km

Day 6: The Thracians in Bulgaria
Kalofer – Kazanlak – Shipka pass – Uzana. Dinner and overnight.

After the difficult hike, today you will enjoy a whole day dedicated to the Thracian heritage and the Bulgarian crafts. On the way to Kazanlak you will make a small deviation to a small village, where you will have the opportunity to taste a typical Bulgarian product – rose honey. Here you will get acquainted with the authentic technologies for production of rose oil, which have been used for many years. At the end of the visit you will have the chance to buy famous Bulgarian rose oil as a souvenir, or other products such as lavender oil, rose water, perfumes, etc. Then, after a short transfer, you will reach the town of Kazanlak – famous not only for the roses but also for its Thracian heritage. The Thracian king tomb, dated IV c. BC, is located here. The tomb was accidentally discovered in 1944 and was included in the UNESCO list in 1979. It is impressive with the excellently preserved mural paintings, depicting either a wedding or a funeral procession.
Time for lunch.
After the break you drive to the Northern part of Bulgaria and soon reach the geographic centre of the country – the Uzana area. It is the vastest ridge meadow in Bulgaria and a popular winter resort for beginner skiers.

Coach drive: 2 hours, 120 km

Day 7: The Geographical Centre of Bulgaria
Uzana – Sokolski monastery (4.5 hours) – Etar – Veliko Tarnovo. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. From the information centre at Uzana you start your hike to Sokolski monastery. The hike is easy, but long. First you follow an asphalt way, which leads to a recreation base of Gabrovo municipality. From here you will enjoy a beautiful view over the city of Gabrovo. From the recreation base your way continues on a forest path with coniferous and deciduous trees, and with slight ascents and descents. Following this way you reach Shipka pass, where you cross the asphalt road, bend to the left and climb down to the monastery.
A break for lunch.
Short drive to architectural-ethnographic complex “Etar”. The whole complex recreates the atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival. The diligently crafted goods, made of wood, leather, copper, textiles, sugar, etc, will convince you of the skills of the Bulgarian craftsmen. You can buy some souvenirs from the smiling craftsmen to remind you of Bulgaria.
In the afternoon you arrive in the old capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo.

Lenght: 20 km
Walking time: 4.5 hours
Altitude: 640 meters
Difficulty: easy
Coach drive: 1 hour, 60 km

Day 8: Some rest before departure
Veliko Tarnovo (city-tour) – Krushuna waterfalls (2 hours) – Sofia. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and city-tour of Veliko Tarnovo. Picturesquely situated on the banks of the river Yantra, the city offers everything from rich history and old architecture to modern restaurants and present-day pleasures. The majestic fortress of Tsarevets, where once the Tsar’s Palace and the Patriarch’s church were located, tells you a story about the life, the people and the history of this city in the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
Having enriching your knowledge of Bulgaria with this cultural visit, you continue to the natural phenomenon – Krushuna waterfalls. This is a fabulous place, loved by many Bulgarians. The water cascade (the largest in Bulgaria) is a system of small and large waterfalls, ponds and water caves. The water amazes with its saturated blue-green color, due to the high level of limestone content. This natural beauty is accessible for the tourists thanks to the steps and bridges made of wood and metal. The pleasant hike takes about 2 hours.
Refreshed by the beauty of Nature you depart for Sofia.
Dinner and folklore program with lively dances, joyous songs and delicious Bulgarian specialties.
Overnight in Sofia.

Lenght:
Walking time: 2 hours
Altitude: 25 meters
Difficulty: easy
Coach drive: 4.5 hours, 270 km

Day 9: Dovizhdane! Farewell.
Departure

Breakfast. After 8 days in Bulgaria, full of good mood and positive emotions, comes the time, when we must say “Goodbye”.
Transfer to the airport according to the departure flight.

Sevices included:

Accommodation	8 nights in good 3 and 4 stars hotels and family-run hotel
Board	Half board – 8 breakfasts, 7 dinners and 1 dinner with folklore show
Tour guide	Qualified guide and mountain guide in the requested language
Entry fees	Entrance fees for the visits according to the program Gondola-lift ride to Aleko chalet
Tastings	1 wine-tasting 1x tasting of rose honey
Transportation	Bus or minibus for the whole trip from/to Sofia airport

The program and the services could be modified according to your requirements!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!