Conquer the highest peak between the Alps and the Caucasus

8 days
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Group Tour
How about climbing the highest peak between the Alps and the Caucasus? We are going to climb Musala, which at 2925 meters (9596 feet) is the highest peak in the Balkans. Late summer is the perfect time to do it, as the snow has melted and the mountain is most accessible and welcoming, so if this is your idea of a well-spent holiday in mid-September, then join...
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Hike 6 days
    • Reach the highest summit in the Balkans 2925m
    • Hike and national parks Rila and Pirin
    • Visit Sofia and Thessaloniki

What's this trip about?

    How about climbing the highest peak between the Alps and the Caucasus? We are going to climb Musala, which at 2925 meters (9596 feet) is the highest peak in the Balkans. Late summer is the perfect time to do it, as the snow has melted and the mountain is most accessible and welcoming, so if this is your idea of a well-spent holiday in mid-September, then join the event now.

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CitySofia, Bulgaria
End CityThessaloniki, Greece

Travel Themes

  • High Adventure
  • Hiking & Walking
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Bulgaria
  • Greece

Attractions

  • Sofia
  • Thessaloniki

Activities

  • Adventure & Adrenaline
  • Mountaineering

Trip includes

    • • 7 nights bed and breakfast at 3 and 4 star hotels and other accommodation • Minibus transfers from and to airports (for the recommended flights only) • Minibus transfers to and from the starting and finishing points of the hikes or sightseeing visits, depending on the itinerary • Local English-speaking certified mountain and tourist guides for all hikes and sightseeing trips, depending on the itinerary

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Itinerary

Day 1

We will meet in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, at midday. Following lunch, we will take a tour of the city centre. We will visit the Alexandar Nevski cathedral, one of the most recognizable Sofia landmarks, and we will then head straight for the mountains. We will arrive at the resort of Panichishte, where, time permitting, we can visit the gorgeous 70m (230ft) Skakavitsa Waterfall before supper.

Day 2

We will go by cable car to the foot of the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque and will then trek past the lakes (each named after their most characteristic feature, e.g. the Kidney Lake, the Twin Lake and the Trefoil Lake). Passing the Malyovitsa Summit 2729m (8953ft), we descen...

Day 3

Today we climb the Balkans’ highest summit: Musala, a unique experience as we ascend up stone rivers and past glacier lakes and alpine huts. We plan to stay in the Everest mountain hut for the evening at 2725m (8940ft), following our descent from Musala. Expect to do at least 7-8 hours of effective walking during this day.

Day 4

After descending to Borovetz, we will be transferred to Bansko at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, where we will have a well-deserved break from hiking before exploring the mountains the next day. In the afternoon we can take a cable car to view the terrain for our hikes over the next two days.

Day 5

In the morning we visit one of the most picturesque parts of the Pirin: the Banderishki Lakes Cirque. We pass some of the 16 glacial lakes, which reveal themselves one by one as we climb the terraces. We will walk through the Todorina Porta (Todora’s Gate), which take...

Day 6

We’ll start early as we attempt to climb Vihren: Bulgaria’s second-highest and the Pirin’s highest summit. Breathtaking views offer themselves to us as we climb through the Golem Kazan (Giant Cauldron) area, bounded by the 400m-tall (1312ft) northern face of Vihren. T...

Day 7

Today is a leisure and rest day, and we are staying in a hotel with thermal spa facilities. We will have a full day to enjoy the waters, whose temperature ranges from 42°C to 81°C. Optional short hikes are possible, as the town of Sandanski is located near beautiful forests. Bulgarian cuisine is an inventive mix of Mediterranean, Slavic and Oriental influences.

Day 8

In the morning we will head towards Melnik, a town which has preserved its 19th century architecture and is located in the middle of a wine region. There are natural pyramid-like formations with hiking trails, which we could visit. Alternatively, we could have a wine-...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,115
Price per day$139
Last Updated: 7/23/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Hiking the Balkans.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Hiking the Balkans Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
Excellent
2
Great
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Average
0
Disappointing
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Terrible
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M

Maya

Jul 2018

Written on

Stunning views, good hikes and great hospitality

It was my first ever trip with Hiking the Balkans, so I had no expectations. I was pleasently surprised by the professionalism, the choice of accommodation, trails a...

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Other Hiking the Balkans Reviews

M

Maya

Jul 2018

Written on

Stunning views, good hikes and great hospitality

It was my first ever trip with Hiking the Balkans, so I had no expectations. I was pleasently surprised by the professionalism, the choice of accommodation, trails a...

L

Lukasz

Apr 2018

Great trail running adventure

I had been to Skopje once before, where I looked at Mt Vodno and dreamt of doing a trail run up it. Fortunately, Hiking the Balkans managed to get me in touch with D...

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Tour Operator

Hiking the Balkans

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Are you interested in hiking, mountaineering, open water swimming, white water rafting, kayaking, cycling and enjoying the outdoors? Do you want to discover new cultures and enjoy tasty organic food and home made dishes? If you have said yes to all, Hiking the Balkans is created for you. The idea behind Hiking the Balkans is to promote the Balkan countries to nature lovers who enjoy the outdoors and want to have first-hand experience of this fascinating region of Europe. All trips organised by Hiking the Balkans are developed by locals. All the food we eat is locally sourced and traditionally made. We offer tailored, guided, small group culture and adventure trips to those interested in discovering the Balkans. We have chosen unique locations stretching from Croatia down to Bulgaria and Albania, including Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia. We will not put you on a bus and show you the whole of the Balkans in ten days, because that is not how we do things. But we can take you there again and again. As long as you want to come. We are opening the gate to hiking amazing mountain ranges and stopping in villages for freshly baked bread. We are taking you across the Peaks of the Balkans, Via Dinarica, cross border hiking, to hidden waterfalls and mountain lakes where you can swim exclusively, without being surrounded by other tourists. Our extensive knowledge of the Balkans enables us to offer authentic itineraries, very few of our trips are repeated, and we continuously tweak and modify them in the process of discovering new areas of interest. Hiking the Balkans provides a real insight into the nine countries we are working in including their culture, history and nature and we give you an opportunity for genuine interaction with the locals. Our local guides are internationally trained and licensed. We are also committed to assist young people from disadvantaged backgrounds originating from the Balkans to develop careers in mountain guiding in future. We participate in annual activities for clearing up mountaineering paths, building natural shelters for mountaineers as well as marking new trails. All our trips are guided and the maximum size of our groups is 18 participants. You need to be relatively healthy and fit and be a regular walker in order to enjoy our trips. But most of all you need to have an open and curious mind and zest for life. We have been organising adventure trips in the region for four years via the London European Club and after doing more research in 2015, the time has come to start Hiking the Balkans.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • • Travel/health insurance – please arrange your own in order to be able to join this trip • Flights – you need to purchase your own flights out to Sofia and back from Thessaloniki • Tickets for cable cars • Lunches and evening meals in restaurants • Personal expenses, optional activities, souvenirs
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

Breakfast and lunch packs only

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
hiking-ConAlsCau

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