The Three Highest (Bulgaria)
Probably the best way to hike the most famous mountains in Bulgaria within a week time!
This is an unforgettable journey through Bulgaria’s highest and most beautiful mountains, taking you to awesome alpine peaks, ice-cold mountain lakes and rivers, deep silent forests, and green sunny meadows. Highlight of the tour is the climb to the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula – Mount Musala (2925m a.s.l.), but you will also conquer the giants of Pirin Mountain (Mt. Vihren – 2914m) and Balkan Mountains (Mt. Botev – 2376m). All treks are on the territory of national parks giving you the chance to enjoy untouched wild nature and meet in close with the locals – graceful Balkan Chamois, wild horses, sheep, rare plants (Edelweiss among them)…and the people of course, warmly welcoming newcomers with traditional specialties and fine red wine. Explore the majestic beauty of Rila, Pirin, and Balkan Mountains, climb their highest peaks, discover three different faces of Bulgarian culture and traditions!
Tour Highlights
♦ The three most beautiful mountains in Bulgaria on one trip
♦ The highest peak on Balkan Peninsula: Mt. Musala (2925m)
♦ Diverse landscapes: marble alpine peaks, vast green hills and meadows, century-old beech forests
♦ Stunning natural phenomena: Heaven’s Waterfall, Sphinx rock formation, Stob sand pyramids, dozens of glacial lakes among which the famous Seven Rila Lakes;
♦ Rila Monastery - the most popular among all monasteries in Bulgaria equally for its size, natural surroundings, architecture, wall paintings and ancient history.
Itinerary:
Day 1. Sofia - Plovdiv
Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer to Plovdiv for overnight (2hrs drive). Time permitting we can make a short stroll in old quarters of the second largest Bulgarian city with houses and cobbled streets from the Revival Period.
Day 2. Plovdiv - Panitsite
Early morning transfer takes us to “Panitsite” region, above the town of Kalofer. We start hiking in the beautiful Balkan Mountains, following the stream of Tundza River, reaching Rai hut (1560m) where we stay overnight.
Walking time: 4-5 hours; Uphill walk 760m (2490ft.)
Day 3. Rai hut - Botev peak - Govedartsi village
Mount Botev awaits us today. The path passes by the Heavens Waterfall (more than 100m high) and then steeply weaves among the rocky slopes of the mount, providing breathtaking view to the precipice of Southern “Dzhendem” reserve. Then we descent back to Panitsite on a different track and have a transfer to Govedartsi village at the foot of Rila Mountains.
Walking time: 7 hrs; Uphill walk: 800m (2624ft.); Downhill walk: 1500m. (4921ft.);
Day 4. Govedartsi village - Seven Rila Lekes area
Loop hike from Vada Hut to the most eminent area in Rila Mountains - The Seven Rila Lakes (above 2200m a.s.l.). The path follows the summit between the rivers Dzherman and Cherni Iskar, offering fine views towards both Vitosha and Verila mountains. Eventually we walk among the famous glacial lakes.
Walking time: 6-7 hrs Uphill walk: 1,050 m (3,444 ft); Downhill walk: 850 m (2,788 ft);
Day 5. Govedartsi village - Borovets ski resort
Today we climb the highest peak in Bulgaria and on the Balkans – Musala (2925 m a.s.l.). Short transfer brings us to Borovets ski resort, where we take the lift to Yastrebets Peak (2369 m a.s.l.). Enjoyable walk along Dwarf Pine massifs with the jagged form of Mount Musala at the background leads us to Musalenski Lakes, lying at the foots of the peak. The view from the top is truly breath-taking – you can make out the remaining peaks of Rila Mountains; the marble edges of the Pirin Mountains; Mount Vitosha and the Sredna Gora Mountains; the green summits of the Rodopi Mountains; and last, but not least, the long body of the Balkan range.
Walking time: about 6.30 hrs Uphill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft); Downhill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft);
Day 6. Govedartsi village - Rila Monastery - Bansko
Transfer to the most famous landmark of Bulgaria – Rila Monastery. Sightseeing and leisure hike to the hermitage of St. Ivan Rilski. The next stop nearby are the amazing sand forms near Stob village – The Stob Pyramids. Then we continue on to the foots of Pirin Mountains and the town of Bansko for overnight.
Walking time between 2-3 hours Uphill walk: 150 m (492 ft); Downhill walk: 150 m (492 ft);
Day 7. Bansko - Vihren peak
A fairly difficult ascent to highest peak in Pirin Mountains - Mount Vihren (2914m a.s.l.), awaits us. On our way to the peak we have various opportunities to enjoy most of the Pirin's peaks, Vlahini and Bunderishki glacial lakes as well as Edelweiss and many other rare plants flowering in the Karst parts of the mountains. Walking time: 7-8 hours; Uphill walk: 1,000 m (3,280 ft); Downhill walk: 1,000 m (3,280 ft);
Day 8. Bansko - Sofia
Transfer to Sofia airport for departure (2,30hrs drive)
Luggage transportation: Luggage is taken care of throughout the whole trip (except on Day 2, where you should bring along enough clothes for one night in the hut)
Included in the price: ►accommodation in guesthouses and 3*** hotels with en-suite facilities (days 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7), and mountain hut with dorm rooms with shared facilities (day 2) on halfboard (breakfast and dinner included)►all ground transfers►English-speaking guide►group transfers from/to Sofia or Plovdiv airport (09.00 - 19.00) ►lift tickets
Not included: ►maps (could be requested in advance when booking the tour)►entrance fees ► Private transfers: Sofia APT - Sofia center: 15 EUR (per vehicle); Plovdiv APT - Plovdiv center: 15 EUR (per vehicle); Sofia-Plovdiv or vv. 60 EUR (per vehicle)►tips►alcohol drinks, cigarettes and other personal expenses.
Other expences: ►single room supplement: 80 EURO
Good to know: 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. In summer time there are loads of opportunities to book a cheap flight to Bourgas or Varna Airport instead of landing at Sofia Airport. We can arrange for you a bus or train ticket to the starting point of the active tour with transfer to the central bus/railway station in these towns, picking you up at the airport upon arrival or vice versa at the end of your tour (this would only cost you appr. 20-30 Euro per car + the bus/train ticket price itself). For detailed information and prices, please look at the trip dossier.
How to get there: For low-cost flights to Bulgaria please check: 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/
We recommend trip in the period: June - September
Links to additional information:
http://www.walkingbulgaria.com
Vacation Extensions:
Sozopol (Bulgaria)
Sunny Beach (Bulgaria)
Lozenets (Bulgaria)
Nessebar (Bulgaria)
Varna / Golden Sands (Bulgaria)