Interjet Tours – Travel Agency

This tour is a lighter edition of the Pirin-Rila trek, which combines the high and challenging Pirin Mountain’s beauty with the serenity of the Rodopi Mountains. During the trek, you explore some of Bulgaria’s remote and forgotten regions. Mountain border villages, which in the near past had been closed for foreign visitors, enable the tourists to experience a part of the original Bulgarian culture and life in the countryside. Throughout the tour we also visit caves and the 2nd biggest Bulgarian Monastery.

Introduction:
This tour is a lighter version of the Pirin-Rila trek, which combines the high and challenging Pirin Mountains’ beauty with the serenity of the Rodopi Mountains range, the latter known as of the legendary musician Orpehus. 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.
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.
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. Arrive at Sofia or Plovdiv Airport and transfer to Bansko for overnight accommodation (about 3 hrs).
/dinner/

Day 2. After breakfast we head for the foothills of the Pirin Mountains, above the Vihren hut (1,950 m, 6,397 ft). We reach the latter by bus (a 20-minute ride) and continue on foot to the glacial lakes close to the Bunderitsa River. There we visit the Muratovo, Ribnoto (The Fish), Dulgoto (The Long), Zhabeshkoto (The Frog) and Okoto (The Eye) lakes. The superb view to the neighbouring peaks (most of them higher than 2,500 m, 8,202 ft) is complemented by the aroma of mountain herbs and the cries of Nutcrackers and Ring Ouzels. This walk will take about 3-5 hours depending on the weather conditions. After that we go back to Bansko by bus, with a short stop to the oldest tree in Bulgaria (more than 1,300 years old!). Later in the afternoon we will embark on a short sightseeing trip along
the streets of Bansko, visiting the Holy Trinity church, some traditional crafts
shops and enjoying the unique architecture of the houses there.
Uphill walk: 300 m (984 ft); downhill walk: 300 m (984 ft)
/breakfast, dinner/

Day 3. In the morning we have a transfer to the foothills of the Pirin Mountains, but this time to Dobrinishte (a 15 minute drive). Dobrinishte is a balneological resort, east of Bansko, famous for its mineral springs since ancient times. From there the bus travels on to the Gotse Delchev hut (about 20 min drive; 1,450 m, 4,757 ft). Here we take the chairlift to the Bezbog hut (2,236 m, 7,335 ft.) – the start of today’s trek, which is a 30 minute ride. The target of the day is Mount Polezhan (2,851 m, or 9,353 ft). There are incredible views on the way to the top and from the summit itself. One can count 17 glacial lakes from a single point, including the biggest lake in Pirin – Popovo Lake. These are probably the most beautiful panoramic views available from these mountains. It takes approximately 5 hrs to complete the walk. We return to the Gotse Delchev hut via the same lift. Our next meeting with traditional Bulgarian architecture will take place in Leshten village and further to the village of Kovachevitsa (1,050 m, or 3,444 ft) (some 70 km (43 miles) from Dobrinishte). The overnight in Kovachevitsa will be preceded by a short walk along the paved streets and the stony walls of the ancient houses of both villages.
Uphill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft); downhill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft) Guaranteed departure dates for 2008: 07/6, 28/6, 19/7, 09/8, 23/8, 20/9
/breakfast, dinner/

Day 4. After breakfast we make a short stroll to the chapel of St.George above Kovachevitsa. The return hike takes about 2-3 hrs. Walking on Dabrash Ridge we will meet remains of old houses and pens, scattered among meadows, woods and interesting rock formations. Once reached, the view from the peak is superb, revealing the valley of Mesta River, Slavianka Mountains and the southern slopes of Pirin Mountains. After this, our bus will take us some 90 km (55 miles) further on to Trigrad village (3 hrs drive; 1,250 m, or 4,101 ft) where we stay for the next two nights. We will pause for lunch by the blue waters of the Dospat dam.
Uphill walk: 350 m (1,148 ft); downhill walk: 350 m (1,148 ft)
/breakfast, dinner/

Day 5. In the morning we continue southeast to the peak of the ridge by Trigrad village and then further on to Vodni Pad village. The walk there will take around 3-4 hrs, with the route back along the Trigradska River’s stream taking another two. The path is a pleasant one, passing through coniferous woods all the time. After gentle ascent to the summit of the mountains the track follows its highest points, affording views of potato fields and green meadows on the right-hand side. In Vodni Pad we will stop for lunch and a siesta. The return journey is a real delight, tracing the Trigradska River all the way to Trigrad village before continuing on to the Trigrad Gorge (1,450 m, or 4,757 ft) for another 30 minutes. This trek highlights the stark contrast between the 250 m (820 ft) high cliffs of the gorge and the dark, cold and sinister “mouth” of the “Devil’s Throat” Cave. A cave tour is optional, but must be performed within its working time (before 4.30 pm). Uphill walk: 400 m (1,312 ft); downhill walk: 450 m (1,476 ft)
/breakfast, dinner/

Day 6. After breakfast we leave the hotel in Trigrad on foot. A good dirt track, following the upper edge of Trigrad Gorge, leads to the village of Yagodina (850 m, or 2,788 ft). It goes through pine forests, agricultural land (especially popular for traditional potato growing), pastures and meadows. We will reach Yagodina in 2,5 hrs. From the village the track ascends a little into the nearby coniferous woods, before flattening out. Before reaching the Yagodina Cave the path becomes steep, descending all the time to the riverbed of the Vucha River. It takes about an hour hike from Yagodina village to the cave. There a 45-minute cave tour will await us – please be prepared for the temperature inside the cave (6oC). The bus will be waiting by the entrance to the cave, and will transport us to Shiroka Luka (1,060 m, or 3,477 ft), where we will stay overnight. Later that afternoon we have some time for sightseeing in Shiroka Luka before dinner.
Uphill walk: 250 m (820 ft); downhill walk: 600 m (1,968 ft)
/breakfast, dinner/

Day 7. In the morning we will be transferred about 65 km north of Shiroka Luka for a final 2,5 hrs trek among the dense Beech woods of The Red Wall reserve. We start the walk just few turns before Bachkovo Monastery heading uphill along a crystal clear river. On our way we will find the wonderful Slivodolsko Padalo waterfalls. Further up the river has created a natural Japanese garden of mossy riverbed and cave-like rock formations. At the top we will reach the beginning of the river where the water springs out of the ground by the rocks. Then we head back for lunch and sightseeing to Bachkovo Monastery. The biggest part of the afternoon will be spent in Plovdiv, where we will continue the sightseeing trip along the paved streets of the Old Town of Plovdiv. We stay overnight in Plovdiv.
Uphill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft); downhill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft)
/breakfast, dinner/

Day 8. Early transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure.
/breakfast/

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 daily walks (at the amount of 5-6 Euro).