WalkingBulgaria

History and geography have played role in making the Rhodopes (Rodopi mountains) in Southern Bulgaria, one of Europe’s most beautifully wild and fascinating regions, the birth place of the legendary Orpheus. Our days are spent on walks, through canyons, virgin forests and remote villages. We pass through some of the most spectacular parts of the Rodopi Mountains, namely; the Trigrad Gorge, the Devil’s Throat Cave, the Miraculous Bridges amongst others. The trail affords breathtaking views over high rocky cliffs, woods, alpine meadows and the tiny villages where you can observe Bulgaria at its best untainted by the influence of western society.

Highlights:
- Shiroka Luka - An architectural reserve hosting a bagpipe music school
- Gela - A small village at the foot of Rodopi highest peak: Golyam Perelik (2191m a.s.l.), considered the birth place of Orpheus
- Yagodina Cave is among the longest caves in Bulgaria (more than 10 000 m mapped so far), one of the most spectacular
- The Devil's Throat Cave has its name from a legend. It tells that if you let something flow in the cave river it will never come out again. And there is one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe, 42 m high;
- The Miraculous bridges - unique rock formation (about 40 m. high) covering an area of 40,3 hectares;
- Lyaskovo - stay with a local family, enjoy its hospitality and taste the local specialties
- Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest Bulgarian monastery;
- The old town of Plovdiv - Europe's oldest inhabited city

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival in Sofia
Arrive Sofia and transfer to to your hotel for overnight. -/-/-

Day 2. Shiroka Luka - Gela
Transfer to the village Shiroka Luka. We spend about an hour in the village taking a walk along its cobbled streets and then continue for another 20 min. drive to Gela. Rodopis highest situated village (1500 m. asl.) Gela hosts the annual Bagpipe Festival in August. The afternoon offers a delightful introduction to the Rodopi Mountains by taking several hours circular walk from our guest house to the nearby villages of Stikul and Solishta.B/-/D
Walking distance: 16km; Uphill walk: 770m; downhill walk: 770m; walking time: about 5 hrs

Day 3. Gela - Lednicata Hut - Mugla - Chairski Lakes
A long and rewarding day of walking through the heart of the Rodopi. We walk most of the time above the tree line enjoying the magnificent views over Mt Turlata and Mt Perelik. This walk combines forest tracks with old mule trails without any steep ascents and descents. After a short rest in the small village of Mugla, we reach our final destination Chairski Lakes Hut for overnight. The hut is named after the seven lakes nearby formed by melting glaciers during the Ice Age. The origin of the name of the lakes is Turkish. It comes from the word “chair”, meaning “meadow”.B/-/D
Walking distance: 18.5km; Uphill walk: 950m; downhill walk: 960m; walking time: about 6 hrs

Day 4. Chairski Lakes - Trigrad Cave - Trigrad
An easy day walking lies ahead of us. After two hours along a dirt road following the Chairska River we reach the main road Devin-Trigrad and we walk another 30 min. to get to the Devil Throat cave of Trigrad. The cave waterfall is one of the highest in Europe; some 42 m a spectacular underground experience.B/-/D
Walking distance: 8.5km; Uphill walk: 305m; downhill walk: 500m; walking time: about 4 hrs

Day 5. Trigrad - Yagodina Cave - Yagodina - Lyaskovo
This day starts with gentle 30-40 min. ascent North-West from the village to a forest trail leading into alpine meadows offering views over Trigrad Gorge. The spectacular, 8 km Yagodina Cave is the longest known Rodopi cave and, with its many abysses and labyrinthine tunnels, also one of Bulgaria’s deepest. The 45-minute tour highlights the remarkable stalagmites and stalactites, which resemble curtains, and mentions the Neolithic settlers who lived here 8000 years ago.B/-/D
Walking distance: 8.2km; Uphill walk: 285m; downhill walk: 495m; walking time: about 4 hrs

Day 6. Lyaskovo - Zaburdo
After leaving the village we follow ancient trails criss-crossing streams as we ascend. Then after a steep climb we reach the highest point in the trek at 1470 m enjoying the panoramic views. Now descend through thick pine forests to the village of Zaburdo where we will stay overnight. B/-/D
Walking distance: 17.5km; Uphill walk: 920m; downhill walk: 795m; walking time: about 6 hrs

Day ​7​. Miraculous Bridges - Kabata Hut - Orehovo​ - Bachkovo Monastery - Plovdiv​
After breakfast ​our​ hosts will transfer you to the ​Miraculous​ Bridges, two natural bridges of solid rock rising up to 45 m, peacefully set among the pinewoods. You will first hike to Kabata​ Hut (1 hour 20 min) following a blue marked dirt road​. ​After another 30 min. climb from the hut we reach Tsirikova Church - a small chapel at 1740 m asl. The trail affords breathtaking views over Chaya Valley and Chernatitsa Ridge. From here descend to Orehovo ​where our ​guide will be waiting for you to take ​you ​to the Bachkovo Monastery, one of southern Bulgaria’s architectural gems, ​and ​then onto Plovdiv​ for overnight.​​ B/-/-
Walking distance: 21km; Uphill walk: 850m; downhill walk: 1180m; walking time: about 7 hrs

Day 8. Departure
Private transfer to Sofia airport for departure (1.5 hours drive).

Recommended period of travel: May - October