Hiking Trip in the Rhodopes

About

This itinerary for hiking in Bulgaria is suitable for tourists of all ages and levels of experience, and allows you to experience the history and legend-abundant virgin nature of the Rhodopes. Every day, the hikes are carried out at a different altitude.

The relief and surrounding landscapes are uniquely beautiful and shift constantly before your very eyes.The itinerary will let you discover Rhodopes’ own folklore, architecture and the rural life, unchained for centuries.

Highlights

• Get in close contact with the rural lifestyle in the Rhodopes

• See the Sitovo rock inscription, estimated to be 7000-8000 years old

• Visit the Wondrous Bridges rock formation

• Hike up to Mount Karlak

• Experience the Chairi Lakes protected area

• Pass through the Trigrad Gorge

• Explore the Devil’s Throat cave

• Tour the Yagodina cave

• Walk through the Buynovo Gorge

Description

Over the course of 7 days, we’ll take you on a journey to the Rhodope and Pirin mountains’ biggest natural attractions. After your individual arrivals at Sofia Airport, you’ll be transferred by coach to Plovdiv. The first day is dedicated to its historical and cultural sights.

Our trip to the Rhodope mountains begins on the second day. We’ll be transferred across the longer distances by bus, and we’ll hike through the most picturesque and interesting parts of the mountains, through quaint villages, beautiful landscapes at varying altitudes.

The route includes a visit to the Sitovo rock inscription – the oldest ancient inscription ever found in Europe, estimated to be 7000-8000 years old. Its meaning is yet undiscovered. 

The next day takes us through forests and meadows, up mountain ridges and down what remains of an ancient Roman road. We’ll be visiting one of the most famous natural landmarks in Bulgaria – the Wondrous Bridges, two cliff bridges naturally formed by the erosive activity of the Erkyupryia river.

The upper bridge is impressive in size (96 m in length) as well as the size of its opening (43 m tall and 45 m wide), while the lower situated one is impassable and takes the form of a canyon in a cave. The last stop for the day is the Shiroka Laka architectural reserve.

The fourth day is almost entirely dedicated to the beautiful and varied landscapes of the very heart of the Rhodopes, with special attention to the tallest summit in the area – Karlak.

Our hike takes us to Mugla village – a small pocket in the mountains that has remained untouched by the passage of time.

On the next day, our trip leads us to the protected natural area of the Chairi Lakes. This is one of the most beautiful spots in the Rhodope mountains – the small lakes with peat-islands are arranged in a plateau surrounded by a crown of hills, and possess a particular and untouched kind of beauty.

On the sixth day, we’ll be exploring two of the Rhodopes’ most impressive natural wonders. The Trigrad Gorge is a spectacular feat of nature – a deep canyon that cuts through the mountain, with sections where the opposing vertical cliffs are so close to each other, there are barely 10 meters between them, and the path is carved into the cliff itself. The Devil’s Throat cave is one of the Trigrad Gorge’s most notable features. Inside its so called Rumbling Chamber is the tallest subterranean waterfall on the Balkans (60 m). Once we’re out of the cave we continue past the village of Trigrad, through a lush forest, and finally to Yagodina cave and its beautiful stalactites, stalagmites and mineral “pearls”.

On the seventh day, we descend through the spectacular Buynovo Gorge alongside the river that cuts through it. We’ll be transferred through Krichim to Sofia for the last overnight.

On the eighth and final day, it’s time to part ways. All members of the tour group will be accompanied to the airport, coach station, train station or sent-off individually.

Inclusions / Exclusions

The price includes

• Accommodation in comfortable hotels and rural houses with private facilities

• Full board treatment from the first day’s dinner to the last breakfast

• Transfers by minibus throughout the stay and luggage transport during hotel transfers

• A map of the itinerary

• A professional English speaking tour guide

The price does not include

• The trip to / from Bulgaria

• Alcoholic beverages

• Entrance fees

Notes

Level of difficulty: easy to moderate level

The full itinerary is available on request.

A total of 8 days / 7 overnight stays / 5 days of hiking

Scheduled starting dates

2018: 24.08 / 31.08 / 07.09 / 14.09

560 €

per person

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Hiking

Starting point - Sofia Airport

8 Days \ 7 nights

Summer, Autumn, Spring

Live tour guide available in English, Italian, French, Spanish

Maximum number of participants - 20 people

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The Villages of the Rhodopes Hiking Tour

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350 €

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350 €

3 days \ 2 nights

The Mysteries of the Rhodope Mountains

Turn your sightseeing holiday into an adrenaline holiday and go off-roading from Bulgaria's Devil's Throat Cave to Yagodina cave.

49 €

1 day

The Smolyan Lakes Eco-trail

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A short guided hikking trip in Bulgaria to one of the tallest waterfalls in the Rhodope mountains. Hike through the Chervena Stena nature reserve.

20 €

3 hours

Trekking in Balkan Central Park

Explore the beautiful landmarks and unique forests of Karlovos Balkan Central Park.

30 €

5 hours

The Bride Ecotrail

A light hike down one of the most famously beautiful eco-trails in the Rhodopes, known for its spectacular views and natural landmarks.

26 €

2 hours

Waterfalls Canyon Ecotrail

A guided nature walk through the picturesque Waterfalls Canyon eco-trail, the location of more than 50 breathtaking waterfalls.

29 €

5 hours

White River Ecotrail

A nature-hike down the picturesque White River eco trail, part of the Central Balkan National Park and home to a number of rare plant and animal species.

27 €

1 hour

The Thrilling Caves of the Rhodopes

A trip to two of the most emblematic caves in the Rhodope mountains, topped off with a day of spelunking in the Haramiiska cave. A must for caving enthusiasts.

80 €

2 days \ 1 night

Trek to the Top of Rila Mountain’s Highest Summit - Musala

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40 €

1 day

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The most beautiful of the panoramas around the city of Plovdiv!

40 €

1 day

The unknown countries of Batashka and Chernatitsa mountains

78 €

2 Days

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Enjoy 7 days of trekking through the beauty of the Rila and Pirin Mountains - lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests speckle their valleys to create breathtaking panorama.

672 €

7 days \ 6 nights

Trekking through the Rhodopes

984 €

10 days \ 9 nights

Hiking from the Rhodopes to the Seven Rila Lakes

A week-long hiking trip from Plovdiv, through the historical, cultural and natural landmarks of the Rhodope and Rila mountains, to the Seven Rila Lakes.

540 €

7 days \ 6 nights

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A 1-day guided trek to the Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria's Rila Mountain.

37 €

1 day

Hiking in the Area of Belintash

A 3-day guided nature-hike in the area of Belintash, home to the famous Belintash Rock Formation. Enjoy the beauty of the Red Wall nature reserve near Plovdiv.

180 €

3 days \ 2 nights

The Ancient Wonders of Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains

Hike through the Eastern Rhodope mountains and see some of Bulgaria's most fascinating ancient heritage sites.

300 €

5 days \ 4 nights

Trekking Along Pirin Mountain's Marble Ridge

This two-day guided trek along Pirin Mountain’s main ridge including its most narrow part – the famous Foal knife-edge ridge. Suitable for experienced trekkers.

160 €

2 days \ 1 night