Penguin Travel

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Departure dates:	Status
14 August 2010	Open for booking
11 September 2010	Open for booking
02 October 2010	Open for booking

Country region:   Rodopi Mountains

Price without flight ticket:    540 EUR

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv Airport and transfer to Plovdiv for overnight.

Day 2. Transfer deep into the mountains few kilometers after Studenets vacation area. Biking on dirt roads into the shades of a lush mixed forest until you reach the small Dobralak village. From there you ride on an isolated asphalt road until you reach the final point of today's cycling King Assen’s fortress built in the 11th-12th centuries. After visiting the fortress we go to the Bachkovo Monastery by car. Afterwards we will proceed to the overnight destination in the village of Brestnik at the foots of Rodopi Mountains.

Day 3. Transfer to Lilkovo village. The cycling runs within the countryside Hadzhiitsa and further up - Popova Rock. The village of Hvoina is the last stop with a visit to Persenk hut and the village of Orehovo on the way. Transfer to the town of Chepelare, where we stay overnight.

Day 4. Transfer to the rock phenomenon The Wonderful Bridges, then 1 km. further up to the Skalni mostove hut where the biking begins. Going further through old coniferous forest the track reaches Gluhite kamani (The Deaf Stones) nature phenomenon. At Izgrev hut you start a downhill biking to Zornitsa village all the way down to Chepelare. Transfer to the town of Smolian for overnight.

Day 5. Having visited the beautiful Smolyan Lakes you are transferred a few kilometers uphill to the starting point where you leave the asphalt road and hit a gravel track. In a short while you get to Studenets hut and Pamporovo ski-resort. From there you bike uphil to the highest point for the day Mechi Peak area at 1850 m a.s.l. From this point on you will be able to experience breath-taking mountain landscapes. Then comes a pleasent downhill ride through Kukuvitsa village and ending in Shiroka Luka - village - an architectural reserve. Overnight in Shiroka Luka.

Day 6. Transfer to Gela village where the cycling starts. You pass by Lednitsata hut and then through the small typical Rodopi villages Kassaka and Mougla. Afterwards you hit the road which turns in macadam and starts climbing before reaching the ancient Chairski lakes. From the lakes a downhill track leads you to the marvelous Trigrad Gorge where you finish with cycling and visit The Devil's Throat Cave. Nearby is Trigrad village where we stay overnight.

Day 7. You do a loop on your bikes: Trigrad - Vodni Pad village - Trigrad. Then you continue with a downhill cycling to Yagodina Cave, situated within the Buinovsko Gorge. After visiting the cave you get on the supporting vehicle. On our way to Plovdiv we enjoy the superb views over the Vacha and Krichim dams. We stay overnight in the city of Plovdiv.

Day 8. After breakfast you will have transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure.
 

Accomodation and food:   We stay in family-run hotels (days 3, 5 & 6) with private facilities and in guesthouses with en-suite facilities (the rest days; shared facilities only on day 4) on HB (breakfast & dinner included). Ordering lunchpacks is available in each of the hotels if necessary for the day tours (at the amount of 5-6 Euro)

Luggage transport:   Luggage is taken care of throughout the whole trip. A small rucksack for carrying personal items during the day is necessary. There will be 1 guide with you throughout the tour who will leave you at the starting point every day (you'll be given a map and itinerary notes for every day) and will meet you at the end of the cycling day.

Included in the price:   equipped mountain bike (without helmet!), guide/driver with a supporting vehicle, map, roadbook, transfer from/to the airport, accommodation and boarding as mentioned above, VAT and all local taxes.

Not included:   tips, entrance fees, alcohol drinks and other personal expenses.

Good to know:    
Road conditions: We use dirt, macadam, isolated asphalt roads and paths. Asphalt roads are very isolated where cars are scarce, trucks and buses - an exception. Watch out for some bumpy parts on the dirt and macadam tracks.

Necessary equipment: Equipped mountain bikes and saddlebags (upon request) are provided by the company. We don’t provide helmets for hygienic reasons. No special equipment needed for this tour (for list with recommended items see “General”)

Extension at the Black Sea coast: we have a unique proposal, which gives you the opportunity to stay on a sea holiday for extra week after your active tour at an incredibly low price in Sozopol, Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Lozenets, St. Vlas, Golden Sands etc. and all this with arranged transportation right after your tour and before your departure flight. For more information please check "Vacation extensions" below.

Low cost flights to Bulgaria: Wizz Air - http://wizzair.com/; Easy Jet - http://www.easyjet.com/; Germanwings - http://www.germanwings.com/; Penguin Travel – http://www.flybulgarien.dk/; Norwegian Air Shuttle - http://www.norwegian.no/, Cimber - http://www.cimber.com/; Airberlin - http://www.airberlin.com; Ryan Air - http://www.ryanair.com

Recommended travel period of the year:   may - september

Links to additional information:   
http://cyclingbulgaria.com/?page=tours&in=rodopi

Tour difficulty:   B  - C 

Most of you, who are used to walking/cycling during a long weekend, will be in condition to cope with a tour of this level. You should be in a good health condition. We have successive days of longer and more difficult walking and days of lighter walking/cycling. Some parts of the day routes are done at a higher altitude. The paths are in good condition. We walk/cycle for 5/7h a day.

These tours include trekking which is a little harder, normally on a challenging terrain. We take it for granted that you are in good condition and fit. You should be physically prepared at home to get the maximum of the tour. Most of the trekking is done at a greater height (max 3000m).

Group Size:   Min. 2 persons

Vacation Extensions:
Sozopol (Bulgaria)
Sunny Beach (Bulgaria)
Lozenets (Bulgaria)
Sveti Vlas (Bulgaria)
Nessebar (Bulgaria)
Varna / Golden Sands (Bulgaria)

Reservation System Code: BGMBROD

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