BULGARIA – MOUNTAIN HIKING & SEA COAST VACATION

Day 1.Arriving at Sofia airport and meeting with the tour guide. Transfer (1.40 h.) to the village of Zgorigrad, next to Vratza city, located in the very heart of the Western Balkan mountains. Accommodation in a splendid, comfortable family hotel in the woods. Dinner (optional) and overnight.

Day 2.Breakfast. Our trek starts from the hotel – through meadows and forests we will reach the Zgorigrad gorge, where one of the most exciting trails in Bulgaria, consisting of hundreds of wooden bridges and stairs will lead us to the majestic “Borov kamak” waterfall. Lunch will be a picnic. Hike further to a hut, situated in a beautiful area in the high parts of the mountain. Accommodation in the hut. The hike for today takes some 5 hours. Dinner (optional) and overnight.

Day 3.Breakfast. Today we will climb the highest summit of the Vratza Balkan mountains (1482 m.) Further our trail leads us to the Ledenika hut with the nearby famous cave. The hike for today takes some 4 hours. Lunch at the hut and visit to the cave. Transfer back to our hotel in Zgorigrad. The region of Vratza is most famous as the climbing Mecca of Bulgaria - in the Afternoon we will be able to try some real rock climbing, assisted by a professional climbing instructor. Return to our accommodation, dinner (optional) and overnight.

Day 4.Breakfast. Today we will move forward to the central part of the Balkan mountains – the highest and most spectacular part of the massif. Morning transfer (2.15 h.) to the town of Troyan. Visit to the famous Troyan monastery – the biggest and most popular in north Bulgaria. The monastery was built in the first years of 17th century and is keeper of the icon “The Threehanded Virgin Mary”, which is believed to be miracle working. Transfer (1.30 h.) through the main Balkan ridge to the town of Karlovo – center of the Rose oil production. Lunch in a restaurant (optional). Here we will visit local winery and degustate the Bulgarian red wine and some Rose products. Accommodation in a nice family hotel. Dinner (optional) and overnight.

Day 5.Breakfast. After a short morning transfer we will use a chair lift to reach the high mountain area. Today we will hike through some of the most exciting parts of the mountain. Start with an ascent to “Ambaritsa” summit (2166 m.) – one of the symbols of the region. Next is a climb to mount “Golyam Kupen” (2169 m.) considered by many to be the most beautiful peak in the country. Lunch will be a picnic. Descent through some marvellous oak forests to “Vasil Levski” mountain hut, named after Bulgaria’s national hero. Visit to a beautiful 32 meter waterfall, located near the hut at 1450 meters above sea level. Today’s trek will take 5.30 hours. Accommodation in the “Vasil Levski” hut. Dinner (optional) and overnight.

Day 6.Breakfast. It is time for our most challenging day – we will climb the highest peak of the Balkan mountains. Hike through the highest parts of the massif until we reach the summit point of mount “Botev” (2376 m.). Lunch will be a picnic. From here we will make a descent through the most stunning landscape the mountain can offer – 250 meters of vertical cliffs, green meadows and oak forests. The trail will lead us to the “Rai” (Heaven) mountain hut where we will be accommodated. At a distance of only 200 meters we can see the highest waterfall in the Balkan peninsula (125 m.). The hike for today will take 6.30 hours. Dinner and overnight at the hut.

Day 7.Breakfast. Descent through some of the most amazing Bulgarian forests to the town of Kalofer, located at the foothills of the mountains. Kalofer is a beautiful rustic settlement, typical for its revival period architecture. Today’s hike takes 3 hours. Transfer to the south Black sea coastal area to the resort town of Primorsko. Lunch in a traditional restaurant on the way. Accommodation in a nice 3 star hotel. In the afternoon we will have enough time to go to the beach for some sun baths and swimming. Return to our accommodation. Dinner (optional) and overnight.

Day 8.Breakfast. It is a day for leisure and relax at the beach. Same accommodation. Dinner (optional) and overnight.

Day 9.Breakfast. In the morning we will have time for one more visit to the beach. Next is visit to the town of Sozopol – the ancient Apolonia. Sozopol’s Old Town was declared a museum-reserve. The reserve includes more than 180 residences, constructed from the middle of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century. Houses in the Old Town are built of stone and wood and conform to the so-called Black Sea school of architecture. In 2010, during archeological excavations of the nearby Saint Ivan (Saint John’s) Island, researchers unearthed holy relics of Saint John the Baptist. Today these invaluable relics are in the care of authorities at The St. Cyril and St. Methodius Church and attract pilgrims from all over the world. Old Sozopol and the relics of Saint John the Baptist were voted the most important of “Bulgaria’s Wonders” in 2011. Lunch in a restaurant. Afternoon transfer to the airport near the city of Burgas. Godbye!

Price includes:

• All the accommodations, mentioned in the program
• All breakfasts, mentioned in the program
• All picnic lunches, mentioned in the program
• All the transportations
• Tickets for museums and historical monuments
• The instant assistance of a licensed, English speaking mountain guide

Price does not Include:

• All dinners, mentioned in the program
• All restaurant lunches, mentioned in the program
• All the drinks

Minimum/maximum participants: 10 to 20

Tour difficulty: Easy

Suitable for:People with some mountain experience in good shape; children elder than 12 y. o.