720 €, 8 Days
An unforgettable tour to Bulgaria's three of the most beautiful mountains. Nestled in the stunning Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria is home to a treasure trove of natural wonders, including three of the highest mountain peaks in the country. For adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts, trekking through these majestic peaks offers an unforgettable experience. From the soaring heights of Mount Musala, the highest peak in the Rila Mountains, to the rugged beauty of Mount Vihren in the Pirin Mountains, and the enchanting landscapes of Mount Botev in the Balkan Range, each trek unveils breathtaking vistas, diverse flora and fauna, and a sense of exhilaration that only comes from conquering nature's grandest challenges.
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: 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.
♦ The Old city of Plovdiv – European capital of culture for 2019
Itinerary:
Day 1. Sofia
Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer to your hotel for overnight. -/-/-
Day 2. Vidima - Pleven Hut
Transfer to the small Balkan village Vidima (3 hours drive). We leave our vehicle close to the small hydroelectric power station bearing the same name and starting walking heading South to reach Pleven hut where we have dinner and stay overnight. B/-/D
Walking time: 2.5 hours; Uphill walk: 850 m
Day 3. Pleven hut - Botev peak - Pleven Hut - Vidima - Plovdiv
Early start of the day. The Mt Botev (2376 m) climb takes about 3 hours. We spend some time at the meteorological station on the top to enjoy the magnificent views and eat our picnic lunch before heading back to Pleven hut and Vidima. We continue to Plovdiv over Troyan Pass. Overnight in the old part of the city. B/-/-
Walking time: 7 hrs; Uphill walk: 800m; Downhill walk: 1500 m
Day 4. Plovdiv - Borovets - Mt Mussala - Govedartsi
Today we climb the highest peak in Bulgaria and on the Balkans – Musala (2925 m .). We drive to Borovets ski resort (1.5 hours), where we take the lift to Yastrebets Peak (2369). 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. After returning back to our vehicle we drive for another 30-40 min. to the village of Govedartsi where we stay for the night. B/-/D
Walking time: about 6.30 hrs; Uphill walk: 650 m; Downhill walk: 650 m
Day 5. Govedartsi village - Seven Rila Lakes 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. Walk among the famous glacial lakes. Overnight in Govedartsi. B/-/D
Walking time: 6-7 hrs Uphill walk: 1,050 m ; Downhill walk: 850 m
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. B/-/D
Walking time between 2-3 hours; Uphill walk: 150 m; Downhill walk: 150 m
Day 7. Bansko - Vihren peak - Sofia
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. Return to Sofia and overnight. B/-/-
Walking time: 7-8 hours; Uphill walk: 1,000 m; Downhill walk: 1,000 m
Day 8. Departure
Transfer to the airport for departure. B/-/-
Price Includes:
Accommodation 6 nights at guesthouses and standard hotels; 1 night in a mountain hut with en-suite facilities
meals as per program
airport transfers on arrival and departure days as set by the itinerary (Day 1 and Day 8; other days - upon additional payment)
all ground transfers
English-speaking guide
lift tickets
Not Included:
Flight tickets
maps (could be requested in advance when booking the tour)
airport transfers outside the tour itinerary
insurance
entrance fees
tips
drinks and meals not mentioned in the program
personal expenses
Additional Services:
Supplement per person for a group of 2-3 p: 100 EUR
Gallery
Currency fluctuations might cause correction of price at any time.
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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).
Tours of this level demand that you be really in good shape. The paths are not always in the best condition and the marking can be scarce. There are day-treks with big ascents and descents. Changing weather conditions /even in midsummer/ play an important role when trekking/cycling at a very high altitude and may cause changes of the preliminary route. This is to be decided by the mountain guide on the spot. Normally, the treks are 6/8h per day, but some can be longer. Preliminary hiking experience is an advantage, but not necessary if you are really in a good shape. Note that during some of the days, you should personally carry your baggage, which is naturally an additional difficulty. No rock/ice climbing experience is needed.
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