Penguin Travel

Passing through some of the most spectacular parts of Rodopi Mountains (Trigrad Gorge, the Devil's Throat Cave, the Miraculous Bridges etc.) this trip gives you the opportunity to explore the mountain without being escorted by a guide, relying just on your own abilities to handle exciting and surprising situations! The trail follows breath-taking views over high rocky cliffs, dense woods, alpine meadows and not the least tiny villages still housing the ancient spirit of times gone. Arranged accommodation and luggage transportation during the whole trip ensure the pleasure of unrestricted walking through the wilderness of the native place of the mythical Orpheus!

Tour Highlights
• The mystic Rodopi mountains – the oldest mountain on the Balkans
• Peaceful mountain sceneries and rich biodiversity
• Small mountain villages, providing close look at the typical way of living – history, traditions, cuisine
• Stunning natural phenomena – gorges, 2 of the most beautiful caves in Bulgaria, rock bridges
• The second biggest and famous Bulgarian monastery – Bachkovo monastery
• The old town of Plovdiv city – one of the oldest in Europe
 

Download our trip-dossier as PDF

Departure dates:
01 May 2010 - 30 October 2010 - every day

Country region:   Rodopi Mountains

Price without flight ticket:   440.00 EUR

Trip plan:
Day 1. Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv airport and transfer to Yagodina for overnight.
Day 2. Today you will have a short walk to Yagodina Cave and then to Trigrad village where you stay overnight.
Possible extension to the nearby Trigrad gorge and the Devil's throat cave (also possible on days 3 and 4). Walking distance: 15 km; walking time: 4hrs; Uphill walk: 600 m (1,968 ft); downhill walk: 250 m (820 ft).
Day 3. Starting from the hotel in Trigrad, the trail goes to the remote village of Vodni Pad and back to Trigrad village.This stage provides good overview of the way of living for many of the local people, combined with the serenity in the coniferous forests en route.
Walking distance: 20km; walking time: 5-6hrs; uphill walk: 400m; downhill walk: 450m
Day 4. The walk today starts from Trigrad village, continues through alpine meadows and old forests to Chairski Lakes and goes back to Trigrad climbing up on a panoramic road with picturesque meadows and descending to Trigrad village in a small hidden valley.  Walking distance: 22km; walking time: 6 hrs; uphill walk: 1000m; downhill walk: 800m
Day 5. Early morning transfer to Beden village will bring you to the starting point for the day. From here you will have to reach Liaskovo village, where you will stay overnight.
Walking distance: 24km; walking time: 6-7 hrs; uphill walk: 350m; downhill walk: 315m
Day 6. After breakfast you start trekking from Liaskovo to “Skalnite mostove” hut (walking distance - 15 km) through century-old coniferous woods and hidden meadows in-between. After visit to the rocky phenomenon of the Miraculous Bridges, you will have a short transfer to the village of Kosovo, where you will stay overnight.
Walking distance: 15km; walking time: 4 hrs; uphill walk: 635m; downhill walk: 200m
Day 7. In the morning you can take a short stroll around the village. Then you will be transferred through Bachkovo Monastery (with a short stop there) to Plovdiv, where you will stay overnight. In the afternoon you can go for a sightseeing tour in the Old Town of Plovdiv, still housing ancient houses and monuments.
Day 8. Depending on your departure time you will have transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport.

Accomodation and food:   Small family-run pensions and guesthouses in en-suite rooms on halfboard (breakfast and dinner included) except for Day 7, when no dinner is provided.

Price of extra services:   Single room supplement: 85 EURO

Included in the price:   accommodation in family-run pensions with en-suite facilities on halfboard (except day 7, when no dinner is provided); luggage transfers as follows: Day 1: from Yagodina to Trigrad upon arrival in Yagodina; Day 5: from Trigrad to Liaskovo (after leaving you in the village of Beden); Day 6: from Liaskovo to the village of Kosovo; Day 7: from Kosovo to Plovdiv together with you; pick up/drop off at Sofia or Plovdiv airport; all ground transfers; roadbook in English; map; 24hrs phone assistance; VAT and all local taxes.

Excluded from the price:   tips, entrance fees for the caves, alcohol drinks and other personal expenses.

Practical information:    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: please check: Wizz Air - http://wizzair.com/; Sky Europe - http://www1.skyeurope.com/; Easy Jet - http://www.easyjet.com/; Germanwings - http://www.germanwings.com/; My Air - http://www.myair.com/; Penguin Travel – http://www.flybulgarien.dk/; Norwegian Air Shuttle - http://www.norwegian.no/. 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.

Recommended travel period of the year:   May - September

Comment: the tour can be also done as mountain bike trip (for experienced bikers only)

Links to additional information:   
http://www.walkingbulgaria.com

Tour difficulty:   B 

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.

Group Size:   Min. 2

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

Gallery

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•