Monastery Cycling Tour (Bulgaria)

Experience the atmosphere of Bulgarian monasteries and history on a bike. This tour is not just a circuit of some of the most interesting Bulgarian monasteries. It is also a journey through Bulgaria's history, since all of the featured religious buildings are monuments to everything that happened in Bulgaria over the last 700 years or so. Along with the rich history you will submerge in the green hug of the mountains (“Balkana”) and admire its outstanding nature - beautiful waterfalls, caves, rock cliffs, forests, vast meadows, rivers and valleys combined with crop and potato fields. We bike along the Central part of the Balkan mountains exploring many scattered villages nestled among quiet valleys and beautiful green mountain landscapes. It seems that time has stopped here and life is quiet and peaceful - people still use the horse driven cart, look after their small herds of sheep, goats and cattle, cut the grass in the old fashion way, take care of their small vegetable gardens or just sit in front of their houses and have a chat with smiles on their faces.

Highlights:
♦ Arbanasi village is famous for its massive houses that resemble minor fortresses, several monasteries and old churches 
♦ Dryanovo Monastery “St Archangel Michael” is situated in the gorge of Dryanovska River where limestone rocks rise high on all sides of the gorge as unapproachable forest walls.
♦ Tryavna has preserved its old town square, the only one left in the country, which has been proclaimed as a Monument of Architecture.
♦  Etura Open-air Ethnographic Museum Master craftsmen fashion beautiful gold, silver, copper, leather and wooden articles right before your eyes from early morning until late at the night.
♦ Shipka monastery - built in the traditional style of 17th-century Russian cathedrals the monastery stands to the living memory of Russian soldiers and Bulgarian revolutionaries who died during the Russian-Turkish Liberation War.

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Itinerary:

Day 1. Sofia. 
Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer tou our hotel for overnight. -/-/-

Day 2. Arnabasi - Transfiguration monastery - Veliko Tarnovo
Transfer to the architectural reserve of Arbanasi village and St. Virgin Mary monastery where  we start cycling. Today we start with a visit of the picturesque Transfiguration monastery near Veliko Tarnovo. Then we get on the bikes we continue biking near Hotnista gorge until you reach the main road to Sofia. You get on the car for short transfer and start biking again to Buria (Storm) village. You finish cycling near Dryanovo town. Then we go for sightseeing in Veliko Tarnovo . Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo. B/-/-
Cycling distance: ~40 km, Up 695m, Down 675m.

Day 3. Merdanski monastery - Kapinovo monastery - Veliko Tarnovo
Transfer to Dragizhevo village where you start biking. Enroute you pass by Merdanski Monastery and continue in direction to Plakovo and Kapinovo monastery. Transfer back to Veliko Tarnovo for overnight. B/-/-
Cycling distance: 35 km, Up 422m, Down 484m.

Day 4. Kilifarevo monastery - Dryanovo monastery 
After short transfer you start cycling through the villages Plakovo, Golemanite and Natsovtsi to Kilifarevo monastery. After lunch and a visit of the monastery you continue with a short but challenging ascent to Ialovo village. Then you cycle along Dryanovska River to Dryanovo town. From there you are transferred to Dryanovo monastery where we stay overnight. Optional visit of the nearby Bacho Kiro cave. B/-/D
Cycling distance: 26 km, Up 462m, Down 440.

Day 5. Bojentsi architectural reserve - Tryavna
In the morning we have a short transfer and then start cycling up and down to Bojentsi village where we spend some time for sightseeing. After a short transfer back you start cycling before Tsareva livada village on isolated village roads to National revival town of Tryavna, where we stay overnight. B/-/-
Cycling distance: 17 km, Up 364m, Down 309m.

Day 6. Gabrovo - Etura open air museum - Sokolski monastery - Etura
Cycling from Tryavna up to a mountain pass and then downhill to Gabrovo. The next stop is the open-air ethnographic museum of Etura. Its 18-th-19-th century water driven machinery, crafts and lifestyle come alive before the eyes of the visitors. From here you have four more kilometers to the picturesque Sokolski Monastery and cycling back to Etura where we stay overnight. B/-/-
Cycling distance: 32 km, Up 608m, Down 376m.

Day 7. Shipka monument - Shipka monastery - Sofia
After breakfast in Gabrovo town in typical Bulgarian pastry we go for a transfer to the historic Shipka pass and memorial. You get on the bikes for a 10 km up/down ride in beautiful beech forest to the historic Buzludza area. A supreme downhill ride on the Southern slopes of the mountains awaits us. You continue biking to Shipka town where we visit the richly decorated Shipka monastery and church. Transfer to Sofia, where we stay for the last night. B/-/-
Cycling distance: 29 km, Up 346m, Down 942m.

Day 8. Departure
Transfer ro airport for departure.

OUR BIKES Rent of Pannier bags

Good to know:
♦ Bikes: hardtail hybrid bike 
♦ Roads: we use mainly isolated village asphalt roads with little traffic, road conditions are relatively good with some exceptions (bumpy sections, potholes, rough asphalt), we do not go off road
♦ Guide/driver: The guide with the supporting vehicle and the luggage inside checks several times a day if everything is OK with the group, waiting by crossroads, accompanying them for breakfast, lunch and dinner and giving them talks by the most interesting sites en-route

Recommended period: April - October

Necessary equipment: We strongly recommend you wearing a helmet during the cycling. You can bring your own helmet or rent one of ours. Cycling gloves, breathable clothes, waterproof gear, cycling shoes/trainers.

*If taking part in biking activities, each individual is responsible for him/herself and agrees to abide by the decisions and instructions given by the guide who reserves the right to change the itinerary according to weather conditions and the group’s abilities.

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Price Includes:
1 night in a monastery (Day 4)
6 nights family run hotels rooms with en-suite facilities
all meals acc. itinerary
English-speaking guide/driver with a supporting vehicle
map
all local transfers and airport transfers
technical support for the bikes

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Not Included:
bike rental
travel insurance
tips (5 EUR per pers./day)
entrance fees

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Additional Services:
Small group supplement per person at 1-3: 150 EUR

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Gallery

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