A tour designed to explore both the natural and cultural merits of the Rodopi Mountains – century-old coniferous woods which fill your lungs with fresh air; deep gorges banked with vertical cliffs more than 250 m, or 820 ft, high; green meadows decorated with a colourful carpet of flowers; sinister caves; the blue waters of mountain dams and unique local architecture and habitats. This tour has vehicle support, but self-guided option is also possible upon request.
Highlights:
• The mystic Rodopi Mountains – the oldest mountain on the Balkans
• Peaceful mountain sceneries and rich biodiversity
• Typical mountain villages architecture and vivid local life
• 3 of the most beautiful mountain dams in Bulgaria
• Stunning natural phenomenas – gorges, caves, rock bridges, lakes
Itinerary:
Day 1. Plovdiv - Batak dam - Beglik dam - Dospat
After a transfer from Plovdiv ( 1.5 hours) we begin cycling few kilometers from Velingrad, from the picturesque landscape of Tsigov Chark (1000 m a.s.l.) countryside by Batak dam (1170 m a.s.l.) to the town of Dospat . On the way we go round the blue-green waters of Goliam Beglik (1525 m a.s.l.) and Shiroka poliana dams before reaching the town of Dospat (1358 m a.s.l.) and its dam, where we stay overnight in a hotel.
Cycling distance: 52km
Day 2. Dospat - Yagodina cave - Devil's throat cave - Trigrad
The biking starts from Dospat via Borino town to the Buinovsko Gorge, which is also a gate to the next stop - the Yagodina Cave (1015 m a.s.l.). Here we make a cave tour before going further to Trigrad village, passing among the 250 m high cliffs of the Trigrad Gorge. Here another sinister cave is expecting us - The Devil's Throat Cave, housing one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe. Overnight in Trigrad (1240 m a.s.l.) in a family hotel.
Cycling distance: 50 km
Day 3. Trigrad - Shiroka laka - Smolyan - Plovdiv
A pleasant descent along Trigradska River brings you to the village of Grohotno (800 m a.s.l.) and the natural rock
phenomenon "The Elephant". Then we continue upstream Shirokolushka River to the village of Shiroka Luka (1058 m a.s.l.). We stop here to savour the spirit of this architectural reserve, famous for its preserved houses dating back from the Bulgarian Revival Period. We pass by the beautiful Smolyan lakes and finsh cycling in Smolyan town(1000 m a.s.l.), from where a car takes us back to Plovdiv (1 hour).
Cycling distance: 66 km
Price Includes:
Two nights at family run hotels/guesthouses incl. breakfast
rooms with private facilities
2 lunches (lunchpacks)
all transfers
luggage transport
English speaking driver/guide with a supporting vehicle.
Not Included:
flight tickets
insurance
drinks and meals not mentioned
entrance fees
tips
accommodation in Sofia
personal expenses
bikes
Additional Services:
rent of a helmet: 5 euro
Supplement at 2-3 people travelling together : 90 EUR per person
Gallery
C
Moderate/Difficult. Tour for experienced bikers.
Weekend Cycling in Teteven Balkan
From the bicycle - into the swimming pool! It’s really nice to work out a little bit, to...
Snowshoeing in Vitosha
Why Vitosha mountain? Situated just within a stone throw away from the center of Sofia, Vitosha...
Verified