Compare Bulgaria: Rodopi Mountains by Exodus Travels vs UNESCO Heritage Tour & In Between by Visit Bulgaria
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| Duration | 8 days | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 1,890 | Check price |
| Price Per Day | $ 236 | Check price |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | Breakfast: Usually includes tea or coffee, bread, jam, honey and cheese, supplemented in Yagodina by fresh home-made yoghurt and traditional local specialities, such as katmi (thick pancakes) and rodopski klin (a rice-based dish). Lunch: Picnic lunches will be eaten in the mountains and typically comprise of bread, cheese, salami, salad, biscuits and fruit. Dinner: Will be taken in our hotel restaurant, and will normally include three courses comprising salad or vegetarian soup, followed by a main course, and a dessert of fruit, ice cream or cake/pudding. The cuisine reflects a mixture of Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish and Slavonic influences. We sample many traditional local specialities including smilyanski fasul (a delicious bean soup) and patatnik (grated potatoes, onions and cheese, seasoned with mint and other herbs). Jugs of tap water will be provided on the table with the evening meal. Bottled mineral water, soft drinks and alcohol are not included but can be purchased. There are also several local wines you may wish to try, including an excellent red Mavrud from vineyards on the northern slopes of the Rodopi. Vegetarians and vegan diets: Bulgaria produces excellent fresh vegetables and fruit, so vegetarians are usually well catered for, although in the mountains the variety may be limited to what is seasonally available. Eggs and dairy produce, especially cheese, form the staple part of the diet in the Rodopi region, and are included in most traditional meals, so vegans may find their daily menu more restricted and less varied. Gluten intolerance: Special gluten-free products are not available, so those with a wheat/gluten intolerance should, if needed, bring something to replace the local bread and pastries that make up the breakfasts and picnic lunches. | N/A |
| Description |
The Rodopi Mountains are a hauntingly beautiful and mysterious region which, according to legend, were the home of the ancient Greek bard, Orpheus. Today they offer a refuge for many rare plants, brown bears, wolves, wild cats and a prolific number of butterflies and birds. Discover the rich cultural and natural heritage of these remote peaks as we walk through a variety of landscapes, including ancient coniferous forests and rugged limestone gorges. We engage with local people who maintain their traditional rural existence, working the fields by hand and tending their livestock on the meadows and pastures.Hike through wildlife-rich mountains and discover the rural culture and history of Bulgaria |
This tour showcases the UNESCO heritage sights in Bulgaria, with the addtion of all major places of interest along the way. There are nine sights around Bulgaria (seven architectural and two natural) that are part of the UNESCO heritage list: Boyana Church, Rila Monastery, Pirin National Park, Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, Ivanovo Rock Monasteries, Biosphere Reservation Srebarna, Sveshtary Thracian Tomb, Madara Rider and the coastal town of Nessebar. |
Day 1 Start Sofia Airport; transfer to Yagodina
The adventure begins at Terminal 2 in Sofia Airport (Terminal 2), where we meet the leader, before a transfer to the remote village of Yagodina, our base for the next six nights. Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Kastrakli Nature Reserve and Chala village walk
Enjoy a day with two separate walks, each with a unique set of wildlife-spotting opportunities. A 15-minute drive after breakfast brings us to the trailhead of our first walk, a hike through the deep gorge and forests of Kastrakli Nature Reserve, renowned for orchids, butterflies and a growing population of Balkan chamois. In the afternoon, after a 30-minute drive to the village of Chala, those still with energy for a second walk can follow a broad grassy ridge spur, offering spectacular views towards Yagodina, before dropping steeply into the Buinovo Gorge, where waits to drive us (10 minutes) back to the hotel. Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 The Trigrad Karst Plateau
After breakfast, we drive to the neighbouring Trigrad gorge, where we make a short pause to scan the towering cliffs for the elusive wallcreeper, a delightful bird that flutters around like a butterfly on the rock faces, flashing strikingly crimson wings. We then spend the rest of the day hiking through the rugged heart of the Trigrad karst plateau. Following a maze of traditional trails and tracks, we thread our way through this wonderfully picturesque wilderness, rewarded by an ever-changing succession of landscapes and vistas. The region has been designated a Prime Butterfly Area, on account of the numerous rare species that can be found here. It also boasts outstanding flora, including many endemic species. Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 4 Traverse the highest peaks of the Rodopi Mountains
After breakfast, we set off in our bus for a 90-minute drive east into the highest part of the Rodopi Mountains. Having reached the end of the driveable road, we begin a wonderfully panoramic hike along the main ridge of the Rodopi Mountains. First, we skirt just below the military base on the summit of the Rodopi’s highest peak Mt. Golyam Perelik (7,188ft/2,191m), before ascending Mount Golyam Snezhnik (7,178ft/2,188m). Having enjoyed the expansive views from the rolling open pastures, we then start to drop down into the forest, making a long descent to the tiny, picturesquely situated village of Gela, which according to legend was the birthplace of Orpheus. Here we will be met by our bus for the drive back to Yagodina. Occasionally, during May, late-lying snow makes it impossible to traverse the flank of Mount Golyam Perelik, so instead the leader will arrange an alternative lower-altitude walk in the mountains south of Yagodina. Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 5 In the footsteps of Orpheus
Having finished the previous day’s walk in the village of Gela, the supposed birthplace of Orpheus, we continue with the Orphic theme today, by following in his footsteps to the site of an ancient Thracian sanctuary where Orpheus is believed to have met his death. As well as being steeped in a fascinating mix of myth and mystery, todays walk also offers some lovely remote walking, where we share our trail with wolves and deer, and can often hear the eerie cries of black woodpeckers echoing through the forest, adding to the excitement and magical atmosphere. Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 6 Hike in the Bulgaria-Greece border zone
A half-hour drive up the picturesque valley of the Buynovska Reka brings us to the village of Buynovo, where we start our walk. Today we wander amid the mountain meadows and forests along the border with Greece. Nowadays this is a tranquil region, peacefully roamed by wolves, bear, wild boar and roe deer, but during the Cold War it was known as the Zone of Death, a forbidden area patrolled by armed border guards ordered to prevent anyone trying to escape across the Iron Curtain into Greece. During our walk, we see remnants of the old border fence and former military bunkers, plus we learn more about this interesting, but dark, period of Bulgarian history. Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 7 Forest walk and riverside nature trail. Transfer to Sofia
Before making the long transfer back to the Bulgarian capital, we have the chance to enjoy two final short, but highly picturesque nature walks. Having had breakfast and said our farewells to the staff at the hotel, we set off on foot, picking up yet another section of former Roman road, now a beautiful forest trail that is famed for its great variety of orchids. Suddenly the path emerges at a shelter, perched high on a rocky viewpoint from which one can gaze down into the Buinovo Gorge below. From here, the trail steadily descends to the river and road where we meet our bus, for a 45 minute drive to the town of Devin. Here we start our second walk of the day, following a delightful, specially-constructed nature trail along the valley of the Devinska Reka. As well as being extremely photogenic in its own right, the trail passes through another Prime Butterfly Area, offering the chance to see yet more rare and beautiful species. After a picnic lunch by the river, we then make our way back to the bus, before completing the final transfer (3 hours 30 minutes) back to Sofia. Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Crystal Palace (or similar)
Day 8 End Sofia
This trip draws to a close after breakfast. If you want to spend a bit more time in the city after our walking adventures, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
Day 1: Sofia
Arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Day 2: Sofia
Explore the city and visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Church of St Sophia, the Rotunda of St George. While navigating the small streets or the boulevards of the city’s center, stroll by the marvelous National Theatre, the National Art Gallery, the Parliament and the Presidency. In the afternoon visit the National History Museum and the Boyana Church, a small church, nestled in the skirts of Vitosha Mountain, famous for the 13th century wall-paintings, demonstrating the exceptional achievements of the Bulgarian medieval culture and art.
Day 3: Sofia → Kazanlak (230 km, 2Hr30min) → Veliko Tarnovo (100km, 1Hr30min)
Depart for the Thracian tomb near Kazanlak- a testament to the Thracian culture. Accidentally found in 1944, the tomb dates back to 4th-3rd century BC, and most notable among its claims to glory are the remarkable antique paintings and sculptures. Continue to the tomb of Tzar Sevt and see the church in the small town of Shipka before crossing the Balkan Mountain over the Shipka pass. Walk through the outdoors ethnographic center Etar and then continue to Veliko Tarnovo.
Overnight.
Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo, capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire in 12- 14th century, has a rich and long history and is spread across several hills, with fantastic views. Explore the medieval forest of Tsarvets, visit the numerous churches and monasteries in the vicinities, dating back to the early centuries of Christianity, walk the coble stone streets and soak into the city’s atmosphere. Overnight.
Day 5: Veliko Tarnovo → Ivanovo Rock Monasteries (100 km, 1Hr30min) → Srebarna (120 km, 1Hr30min) –Sveshtary (70km, 1Hr) → Madara (85 km, 1Hr15min) → Varna (80km, 50 min)
Start with a drive to Ivanovo Rock Churches located near the town of Ruse, the biggest city on the bank of the Danube River. A stair cases in the rocks provides access to the various churches and chapels, The wall paintings in the church “St. Mary” are among the most representative models of Paleologus Art on the Balkan Peninsula and the reason for their inclusion by UNESCO. Continue the driver parallel to Danube River until we reach the biosphere reservation by the village of Srebarna, part of the migratory bird path from Europe to Africa - Via Pontica. See the birds’ nests on the floating reed islands, which never flood because they follow the vertical movement of the water. The drive continues to the Thracian tomb of Sveshtary, quite large in size, and whose chamber ceiling is held by statues of women with raised hands, still preserving the remains of a colorful decoration. From then continue to the Madara Archelogical Reserve, which displays several monuments from various periods. Among the towering cliffs is the most notable artifact- the stone carving relief known as the Madara Rider, a mythical horseman, with a sword in his hands and a lion at his feet. The long day ends in the biggest city on the Balck Sea Cost- Varna.
Overnight.
Day 6: Varna
A day to relax and explore this beautiful seaside city. Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria, a major port with an economical and cultural importance, often called the Sea Capital of Bulgaria. Stroll through the Sea Garden, enjoy a dolphin show at the Dolphinarium, see the biggest Roman Baths on the Balkan Peninsula or simple chilax on the endless beach surrounding the city.
Overnight.
Day 7: Locations: Varna → Nessebar (98km, 1Hr30min) → Plovdiv (300km, 3Hr)
Nessebar is charming coastal town, located on a small peninsula built by rocks and linked with the mainland by a narrow 400 m long isthmus. During Thracian times the town was a port, but towards the end of the 6th century B.C. the Byzantines turned it into a lively trade center while preserving its Thracian name of Mesambria. Some of the finest achievements of church architecture are preserved here. The ancient fortress wall, the town's mediaeval churches with remarkable architecture and the traditional houses give Nessebar a unique vibe.
Later in the afternoon, continue to Plovdiv.
Overnight.
Day 8: 8 Plovdiv → Bansko (150km, 2H15min)
Discover Bulgaria’s second largest city- Plovdiv. Situated on seven hills, the city combines the history of the Thracians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans, with each of those empires giving the city a different name and influencing the city architecture. Plovdiv has several museums and its most famous landmarks is the architectural complex of the Ancient Plovdiv, still preserving beautiful Bulgarian Renaissance houses and boasting great restaurants.
Later afternoon depart for Bankso, driving among Rhodope and Pirin Mountains.
Overnight.
Day 9: Bansko, Pirin National Park
Famous mainly as a ski and snowboard destination, Banko is actually quite scenic town, situated at the foothill of the majestic Pirin Mountain. Whether you decide to take onto the many hiking routes of varying difficulties or explore the Old Town with its house-museums, icon exhibitions and great local restaurants, you will truly experience the spirit of Pirin.
Overnight.
Day 10: Bansko → Rila Monastery (94km, 1Hr15min) → Sofia (120km, 1Hr45min)
Depart for the most famous and grand monastery- St Ivan of Rila, a symbol of Bulgaria. Surrounded by 20 m-high stone walls, the monastery includes the monastery courtyard, the Birth of the Virgin Mary Temple, Hrelyo’s Tower, the museum and the residential and the farming buildings. There are around 300 rooms in the monastery, 100 of which are monastic cells. Afternoon arrival at Sofia.
Overnight
Day 11: Sofia
Transfer to the airport for departure.
