WalkingBulgaria

This trek takes you to the jagged alpine peaks of The Pirin Mountains and the peaceful green meadows and thick forests of The Rhodope Mountains – the home of Orpheus. This tour is a lighter edition of the Pirin-Rila trek, which combines the high and challenging Pirin Mountain's beauty with the serenity of the Rhodope 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.

Highlights:
♦ Small mountain villages, providing close look at the typical way of living – history, traditions, cuisine
♦ Yagodina Cave - considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe and The Devil's Throat Cave having one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe (42 m).
♦ Bachkovo Monastery - the second largest Bulgarian monastery.
♦ Plovdiv old town - one of the oldest European towns contemporary to Troy and Mikena.

Itinerary:

Day 1. Sofia-Bansko. Walk Vihren hut – Banderishki Lakes - Bansko
Early morning drive to Bansko (1.5 hours). After we check-in at our hotel transfer to Vihren Hut. 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 Bansk is planned in the afternoon. Walking time: 5hrs; uphill walk: 300 m (984 ft); downhill walk: 300 m (984 ft). Back to Bansko for overnight -/-/D

Day 2. Bansko – Dobrinishte – Mount Polezhan – Leshten - Kovachevitsa
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) B/-/D

Day 3. Kovachevitsa – Dospat Dam – Trigrad
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.
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Day 4. Trigrad – Vodni Pad – Trigrad
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)
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Day 5. Trigrad – Yagodina – Devin
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)
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Day 6. Devin - Shiroka Lyka - Bachkovo Monastery - Plovdiv
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 (656 ft); downhill walk: 200 m (656 ft)
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Day 7. Departure
Early transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure.
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We recommend trip in the period: June - September