The Great Balkan Trail - Kom-Emine

With its 650 km. Kom-Emine is Europes longest high mountain uninterrupted hiking trail. Starting from the westernmost peak in the Balkan mountain - Mt. Kom (2016 m) it follows the main ridge to the East right to the Black Sea and Cape Emine.

The trail's average elevation is 770 m. with more then 29 peaks with an altitude of above 2000 м .The highest point on the trail is Botev Peak at 2376 m.

The daily walking distances vary from 20 to 40 km (5-8 hours walking). The trail is waymarked in white-red-white with the initials E-3 but waymarking is of poor quality and almost impossible to follow particularly on the Eastern part of the trail.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Sofia – Kom hut
Transfer to “Petrohan”, from where we begin the hike to Kom hut - nova. Our hike begins at the highest peak of the Western Stara Planina – Kom peak (2016 m). From there you can see Berkovitsa and the surrounding fields, as well as the town of Montana and the Ogosta dam. Overnight at Kom hut.

Day 2: Kom hut – Proboynitsa hut (6 hours)
We continue along the main grassy ridge east to Proboynitsa hut.

Day 3: Proboynitsa hut – Trustenaia hut (8 hours)
After a steep descent to one of the lowest points on the route - Lakatnik station, we will continue our route through Trustenaia hut, known for its large raspberry plantations and production of raspberry wine.

Day 4: Trustenaia hut – Proboynitsa hut Leskova (8 hours)
We will climb to the foot of Izdermets peak (1493m), and we will pass through the Bain Kamak area with a beautiful view of the valley before reaching Leskova hut, where we will spend the night (bivouac).

Day 5: Leskova hut – Murgash hut (7 hours)
Today we will pass through the picturesque Iskar gorge.

Day 6: Murgash hut – Vitinya tourist house (8 hours)
After enjoying the incredible view from the top, we head east to the Vitinya pass for an overnight stay in the Vitinya tourist house.

Day 7: Vitinya hut – Svishti plaz hut  (12 hours)
After the Vitinya pass, the trail climbs through an old beech forest. Overnight stay at the Svishti Plaz hut.

Day 8: Svishti Plaz hut – Echo hut (12 hours)
Today, the trail crosses one of the most picturesque parts of the trek and you will enjoy the breathtaking views. Overnight stay at the Echo hut.

Day 9: Echo hut – Dobrila hut (11 hours)
Climbing the main ridge again, today we will climb the peaks of Kozya Stena (1670 m) and Gerdektepe (171 3m) before reaching the Dobrila hut for the night.

Day 10: Dobrila hut – Tazha hut (Mandrata hut) (11 hours)
Today we will climb the highest peak of the Stara Planina – Botev (2376 m). We will move in the "Dzhendema" nature reserve, and we will spend the night in the hut Tazha.

Day 11: hut Tazha - hut Shipka (8 hours)
Gradually the path to the east begins to lose height. We pass through one of the most beautiful rock formations on the route - the Singing Rocks, before reaching the Shipka pass. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 12: hut Shipka - hut Himik (9 hours)
Today we will pass through two of the most emblematic monuments in the region - Shipka and Buzludzha, before reaching the hut Himik for the night.

Day 13: hut Himik - hut Chumerna (12 hours)
Passing through centuries-old pine forests and quiet mountain pastures, we continue east to the hut Chumerna for the night.

Day 14: hut Chumerna – Kamchia springs (6 hours)
Today the day is relatively short - to get to the Vratnik pass and the Kamchia river spring, where we camp for the night (bivouac).

Day 15: Kamchia pass – Kotel town (7 hours)
Most of our path today descends through oak and beech forests to Kotel. Overnight in a hotel in Kotel.

Day 16: Kotel town – Varbishki pass (8 hours)
From today the main thing was to make everything more difficult to follow, and our trail crosses centuries-old forests and high mountain pastures. In the evening we will arrive in Varbitsa, where we will spend the night (bivouac).

Day 17: Varbishki pass – Rizh pass (8 hours)
Today we have another day of walking along poorly marked sheep trails, descending to Rizhki pass (400 m), where we will spend the night (bivouac).

Day 18: Rizh pass – Duskotna village (8 hours)
Today we will reach Duskotna village, where we will spend the night (bivouac).

Day 19: Duskotna village – Kozichino village (12 hours)
Today we have an 8-9 hour walk to the small village of Kozichino for overnight stay. Walking through narrow paths among forests with dense bushes, we will already begin to feel the smell of the sea. Overnight stay in the village of Kozichino (bivouac).

Day 20: Kozichino village – Emona village (12 hours)
Today is not the last, but also one of the longest hikes. After leaving Kozichene and crossing the main road Varna-Burgas, we reach our final destination – Cape Emine – the end of the European hiking route E3. We stay in a guest house in the village of Emona

Day 21: Irakli beach – Burgas
Today is our last day, we will walk down to Irakli beach, where we will spend about 2 hours. At lunchtime, the bus will pick us up and transport us to the train station in Burgas.

Accommodation: Mountain huts with rooms with 2, 3, 4 and more beds; shared facilities, hotels in some points - room with private facilities, tent overnights

Clothing and equipment: Checklist

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