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PIRIN-RODOPI MOUNTAINS TREK
Guaranteed departures for 2009:
06 June, 27 June, 18 July, 08 August, 22 August, 19 September (other days also possible upon request!).
SUMMARY
This tour is a lighter version of the Rila-Pirin trek with more sightseeing elements, which combines short walks in the high and challenging Pirin Mountains' beauty with the serenity of the Rodopi range - the most inaccessible with the oldest mountains in Bulgaria respectively. During the trek, you will get to explore some of Bulgaria's more remote and forgotten regions. Mountain border villages, which were closed to foreign visitors not so long ago, enable the tourists to experience some elements of authentic Bulgarian culture and country life. On the tour we also visit caves and the second biggest Bulgarian monastery. 
The trek is designed for people who do not feel comfortable walking for hours in the alpine parts of the mountains but still would like to see the best of them. Moderate walks prevail, mixed with a number of sightseeing highlights (caves, monasteries, gorges, museum villages etc.)
SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Pirin Mountains are the second highest in Bulgaria after Rila Mountains and the third in the Balkan Peninsula (Mount Vihren 2914 m a.s.l.).
Rodopi Mountains: The Rodopi Mountains (highest peak: Golyam Perelik (2191m a.s.l.) are the oldest mountains on the Balkan Peninsula.
Bansko (925 m a.s.l.) is one of the biggest winter resorts in the country.
Gela village (1500 m a.s.l.) is one of the most ancient settlements in the Rodopi Mountains, being more than 3300 years old. Gela is believed to be the birth place of the legendary musician Orpheus.
Shiroka Luka (1060 m a.s.l.) Numerous houses preserving the typical Rodopean architecture, speech, songs and customs of local people have given the village the status of an architectural, ethnographic and folklore reserve.
Plovdiv (160 m a.s.l.) ranks as the second Bulgarian city in population and size. The old town of Plovdiv is one of the oldest European towns contemporary to Troy and Mikena.
Yagodina Cave is among the longest caves in Bulgaria (more than 10 000m mapped so far), considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe with its outstanding stalactites, stalagmites, columns, ponds and cave pearls in them.
The Devil's Throat Cave has its name from the fact that if you let something flow in the cave river it never comes out again. There is a cave waterfall - one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe, 42 m high.
Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest Bulgarian monastery.
 ITINERARY
Day 1. Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer to the town of Bansko at the foots of Pirin Mountains for overnight (2,30hrs drive).
Day 2. Short transfer and walk above Vihren hut (1950 m a.s.l.). There we visit Muratovo, Ribnoto, Dulgoto, Zhabeshkoto and Okoto lakes. (5 hrs; uphill walk: 300 m; downhill walk: 300 m). In the afternoon we make sightseeing trip along the streets of Bansko.
Day 3. Transfer to the foothills of Pirin Mountains to the town of Dobrinishte and further to Gotse Delchev hut. Here we take the chair lift to Bezbog hut (2236 m a.s.l.), where the walk towards Mount Polezhan (2851 m a.s.l.) starts. This hike offers probably the most beautiful panoramic views in the mountains where one can count 17 glacial lakes from a single point, including the biggest lake in Pirin Mountains – Popovo Lake. Then we continue to Leshten village and further to the village of Kovachevitsa for overnight. (5 hrs; uphill/downhill walk: 650 m)
Day 4. Sightseeing tour in Kovachevitsa (declared an architectural reserve) and the adjacent area. Transfer further to Trigrad village where we stay overnight for the next 2 nights. En-route we stop for lunch by the blue water of Dospat dam. (3 hrs; uphill walk: 400 m; downhill walk: 500 m).
 Day 5. In the morning we continue southeast to the peak of the ridge by Trigrad village and further to Vodni Pad village. The hiking on the way back is a real delight going after Trigradska River all the way to Trigrad and Trigrad Gorge (1450 m a.s.l.). (6 hrs; uphill walk: 400 m; downhill walk: 450 m).
Day 6. After breakfast we leave the hotel in Trigrad on foot. A nice dirty road, following the upper edge of Trigrad Gorge leads to the village of Yagodina (850 m a.s.l.) and Yagodina Cave where we have about 45 min cave tour. The bus is waiting by the entrance of the cave to take us to the town of Devin, where we stay overnight. (3 hrs; uphill walk: 250 m; downhill walk: 600 m).
Day 7. This morning we start with a short transfer (3km) to the picturesque site Struilitsa, where we will walk along the Devin eco-path, offering some fine views of the Valley of Devin River. At noon we continue with a transfer to Shiroka Lyka for short sightseeing and continue on to Bachkovo Monastery - the second largest in Bulgaria. We end up in Plovdiv, where you will have some free time in the late afternoon for sightseeing and shopping. (3 hrs; uphill walk: 200 m; downhill walk: 200 m).
Day 8. Early transfer to Sofia Airport for departure.
 EXTENSIONS
Yes, Black Sea
This is a unique proposal, which gives you the opportunity to stay in Bulgaria for one week more at the incredibly low price! We can offer a great variety of means of accommodation - from home stays (no meals) to 2, 3 and 4-star hotels (BB or HB) on the Southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast:
- Sunny Beach - a big modern resort with hundreds of hotels, cafes, pubs, casinos, water-sports facilities etc.
- Nessebar, Sozopol - small towns (founded by the ancient Greeks) with picturesque Old Quarters and a specific atmosphere.
- Lozenets - a peaceful small village with a beautiful beach. Only 4-5 km from the forests of the Strandzha Mountains where you can go walking, biking or riding horses.
Difficulty grade: B
Accommodation:
We stay in 3-star hotels (days 1, 2 & 6), family-run hotel (days 4 & 5) and guesthouse (day 7) with private facilities and in a traditional old fashion house (day 3) with shared facilities on HB (breakfast & dinner included). Ordering lunchpacks is available in each of the hotels if necessary for the day walks (at the amount of 5-6 Euro). Luggage is taken care throughout the whole trip. A small rucksack for carrying personal items during the day-walks is necessary. It is possible to skip some of the walks and to take the bus with the luggage instead.
Group size: Min. 4 persons.
Single room supplement: 75 €
 The price includes: accommodation and boarding as mentioned above; transfer to/from Sofia Airport; lift tickets as per itinerary; English-speaking guide and private transfers throughout the tour; entrance fees for the caves; VAT and all local taxes.
The price does not include: maps (could be requested in advance when booking the tour), tips, alcohol drinks, cigarettes and other personal expenses.
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