02. Mountaineering and Rock Climbing
03. Hiking and Walking in Bulgaria
04. Hiking and Walking in the Western Rhodopes
05. Hiking and Walking from Pamporovo
06. Horse Riding
07. Mountain Biking
08. Bird Watching
09. The Valley of Roses - Bulgaria Rose Festival
10. Fishing
01. Caving
Up to now 4,620 caves have been discovered in Bulgaria. Each has their specific history and most of the caves have been explored and are accessible for visiting. Many items of historical value have been found in some of them while others are interesting with their karst forms and weird nature formations.
top02. Mountaineering and Rock Climbing
The topographical map of Bulgaria shows that it is a country of low, medium and high mountains, low lands and plains, hills and plateaus, gorges and passes, valleys and meadows, gulfs and beaches.
top03. Hiking and Walking in Bulgaria
Hiking and walking have long been a tradition in Bulgaria, and there are
both one and two week hiking trips on offer in most national parks, always
in the company of an experienced hiking guide.
Hiking enthusiasts will certainly
want to discover the mountain regions of Pirin, Rhodope, the Balkan with
the Botev peak, and Vitosha with the breathtaking Cherni Vrah.
Due to a network of comfortable mountain chalets, guest houses and
camps, the hiking visitor has a choice of more than 5,000 marked hiking paths and
routes through unspoilt nature, secure in the knowledge of a warm welcome
at the end of a days hiking.Thousands of kilometres of marked hiking trails
provide a high degree of security when moving around in the mountains.
The four-colour marking characteristic of most European countries with
developed hiking is adopted in Bulgaria. The key colours in it are red,
blue, green and yellow, and white colour is an auxiliary one. It should
be known that the red marking, in principle, is for ridges. Winter marking
consists of yellow-black metal stakes, at a height of between 3 and 4
metres and indicates the comparatively safest way for hiking along a certain route
in the event of thick snow cover. The greater part of the routes, particularly
in Rila, Pirin and along the ridges of Stara Planina, has azimuth table
plates in addition to the numbering of the stakes.
04. Hiking and walking in the Western Rhodopes
Yundola Saddle and resort centre on the border between Rila Mountain
and the Rhodopes, 16 km from Velingrad. There is a tourist chalet, restaurants,
shops and lots of rest homes. Youndola is an intermediary point for combined
routes in the two mountains and of the European route E-8. For 3.30 hours
along a marked hiking track one can reach the Kladova Chalet in the Alabak sub-range
of the Rhodopes.
Velingrad - the biggest balneological resort in Bulgaria is also one of
the most beautiful towns in the Rhodopes. It is the starting point for
the Alabash Ridge. It is the beginning of a marked hiking track to the
Kladova Chalet -3 hours, from where one can proceed to the Milevi Skali
Chalet -5 hours and Ravno Bore Chalet -another 2 hours.
The town ot Batak - a town of rich history, 26 km to the south-east of
Velingrad and very near Batak Dam. A hiking track starts to the Teheran
Chalet ), from where in -3.30 hours one can reach the highest peak of
the Batak range - Mt. Batakshki Snezhnik.
The town of Devin - is 82 km to the south of Pazardzhik and 46 km to
the north-west of Smolyan is a is the strating point of hiking tracks
to: Orphei Chalet -5 hours in the Devin mountain subrange, from where
one could proceed and reach in 3 hours the well known Kemerov Most, Lednitsata
Chalet in the Perelik subrange, from where there are different options
- to the village of Shiroka Luka, Perelik Chalet and Pamporovo, Trigradski
Skali Chalet.
The bus from Devin to Trigrad passes through the Trigrad gorge and near
the Dyavolsko Gurlo Cave.
The town of Peroushtitsa - 24 km to the south-west of Plovdiv is a starting
point for Chernatitsa. A hiking track starts here to the Bryanovshtitsa
Chalet -3 hours, from where it proceeds to Vurhovruh Chalet -2.30 hours
or descends to the Academic Chalet -1 hour.
The village of Hrabrino -12 km to the south of Plovdiv. Starting point
for the Academic Chalet -1.30 hour, from where the hiking track continues to
the Vurhovruh Ridge of Chernatitsa to the Bryanovshtitsa Chalet (1.5 hrs.)
and Vurhovruh Chalet -4 hours. The hiking track is marked.
Village of Gulubovo -17 km to the south of Plovdiv, connected with it
with a regular town bus line. Starting point to the Byala Cherkva Ridge
of Chernatitsa - along a marked track to Zdravets Chalet -1.30 hours,
Studenets Resort -another 1 hour, Byala Cherkva Resort -another 1.30 hours,
from where one can proceed to the Ravnishta Chalet -3.30 hours and Persenk
Chalet -6 hours.
Village of Kouklen - 14 km to the south of Plovdiv. Near-by is the Kouklen
Monastery -1 hour. From Kouklen there is a marked hiking track to Ruen Chalet
-2.30 hours, from where one can proceed to Zdravets Chalet -another 2
hours. Narechenski Bani - one of the biggest balneological centres in
Bulgaria, with many sanatoria, mineral water springs, hotels, restaurants,
shops. Located 45 km to the south of Plovdiv and 54 km to the north of
Smolyan. This is the beginning of marked hiking tracks to Byala Cherkva Resort
-3-4 hours passing Mt. Cherni Vruh -1543 m altitude in Chernatitsa, Pashaliitsa
Chalet -3 hours in Radyuva Mountain in the Prespa Range, Mt. Zarenitsa
-1 hour where one can see the remains of a medieval fortress. An asphalt
road -6 km, with no marking, can take you to a very interesting village,
known for its old architecture - Kossovo.
Village of Orehovo. A bus line connects it to Plovdiv twice a day, Assenovgrad
and Smolyan. 7 km away from it is the village of Hvoina, located on the
main road Plovdiv-Smolyan, where many bus lines have a stop. It is the
starting point to Persenk Chalet -2.30-3 hours and Kabata Chalet -3 hours,
from where in 3 hours and 1.30 hours respectively one can reach the phenomenal
rocks Choudnite Mostove, near which, at 20 min. walking distance from
one another there are two chalets - Choudnite Mostove Chalet (immediately
by the rocks) and above it - a bigger and better furnished Skalnite Mostove
Chalet. All hiking tracks are marked.
Village of Zabardo 51 km to the south of Assenovgrad is a starting point
to the natural phenomenon Choudnite Mostove with the two chalets nearby
-2.3-3 hours, from where one can proceed to Persenk Chalet -3 hours, Izgrev
Chalet -5-6 hours, Kabata Chalet -1.30 hours or climb Mt. Persenk -2074
m in 2 hours. There is a direct route from Zaburdo to Izgrev Chalet as
well. There is a hostel in the village. All hiking tracks are marked.
The town of Chepelare is the biggest speleological centre in Bulgaria.
It hosts a tourist house and a speleological museum. This is the starting
point for a marked hiking track to Izgrev Chalet -2.30 3 hours in Chernatitsa,
from where one can proceed southwards along the watershed to Pamporovo
6-7 hours, Shiroka Luka - 4 hours, or to the north to Persenk Chalet -
6-7 hours, Choudnite Mostove - 5-6 hours. A main road (12 km) connects
it to Pamporovo Resort.
Rozhen Saddle is the border between the Perelik and Prespa subranges,
9 km away from Chepelare and 20 km to the north of Smolyan. The saddle
is at an altitude of 1430 metres. A marked hiking track passes here, connecting
the resort Pamporovo (Stoudenets Chalet - 2 hours) and Momchil Yunak Chalet
-3 hours from where one can proceed in different directions.
Smolyan - the largest town in the Western Rhodopes is 100 km to the south
of Plovdiv. Regular bus lines connect it to Sofia, Plovdiv and many other
cities and villages of Bulgaria. There are abounding accomodation facilities, many
restaurants, entertainment opportunities. 16 km away from it is Pamporovo
Resort. The town is the starting point for marked hiking tracks to the
Stoudenets Chalet - 3 hours, Perelik Chalet - 5 hours located near the
highest peak in the mountain range - Mt. Golyam Perelik, Rodopska Shipka
with the monument below Mt. Srednogorets - 3-4 hours, the village of Arda
7-8 hours. An 8 km road (town bus available, too) leads to the Smolyan
lakes and the chalet thereby.
The town of Assenovgrad - 20 km to the south-west of Plovdiv is is the
main starting point for the Dobrostan Massif. A marked hiking track leads
to Momina Sulza Chalet -2 hours), Brezovo Chalet another 1.30 hours and
Martsiganitsa Chalet another 3 hours. 2.5 km to the south of the town
is the historical Assenova Krepost. There is a tourist hostel in the town.
The village of Manastir - the highest village in Bulgaria (located at
1450 m above sea level) is an important starting point for the Prespa
Subrange. There is a tourist hostel there too. Marked hiking tracks lead
to Svoboda Chalet -2.30-3 hours, Prespa Chalet -1.30-2 hours and Haidushki
Polyani (a small resort - 2 hours), located on the main watershed of the
Prespa Range.
The village of Novakovo - located 24 km to the south-east of Assenovgrad,
on the main road Plovdiv-Kurdzhali. is a starting point for Sini Vruh
Chalet -2 hours in the Novakov Mountain, from where one can proceed to
Martsigaitsa Chalet -7.30 hours, Svoboda Chalet -10-11 hours, passing
by the forest guard house Aqua Tepe and Rodopsko Konche, Aidaa Chalet
-9 hours in the direction of the city of Haskovo.
5. Pamporovo
Is located 1650 m above sea level in the Perelik range of the
Western Rhodopes in one of the most beautiful places of the Orpheus mountain.
The resort offers 5 chair lifts, 13 tow-lifts and 17 500 metres of alpine
ski runs. Pamorovo is 16 kilometres from Smolyan, 12 km from Chepelare,
35 kilometres from Devin, 83 km from Plovdiv and 240 km from Sofia. There
is a regular bus line connecting it to these towns. The high transmission
tower on Mt. Snezhanka helps the location of the resort to be esily indetified
from far away (in a clear day).
Pamporovo is the starting point for many marked hiking tracks to: Smolyanski
Ezera Chalet -2.15 hours or 0.40 hours with the two lifts, Izgrev Chalet
(in hernatitsa)- 6 hours, Momchil Yunak Chalet (in Prespa) - 4.30 hours,
Perelik Chalet (under the mountain leader Mt. Golyam Perelik) - 4.30 hours,
the village of Progled -1.30 hours, the town of Smolyan -3 hours, the
Orpheus Rocks -20 min from Mt. Snezhanka, Mt. Mourgavets -1 hour.
Stoudenets Chalet is a point of the European route E-8.
The town of Haskovo is a starting point in the northern part of the Eastern
Rhodopes. It is located 78 km to the east of Plovdiv and is connected
with other parts of the country by bus and railway lines. 9 km to the
west of the town are Haskovski Mineralni Bani, which may be the starting
point for hiking tours to the beautiful ridges Mechkovets and Dragoina.
The route to Aida Chalet, immediately below Mt. Mechkovets -760 m above
sea level takes 2 hours along a marked hiking track, that passes by Sharapanite
(remains from Thracian times). From the chalet one can proceed westward
along a marked track leading to the Sini Vruh Chalet -9 hours, thus entering
into the Western Rhodopes. A marked hiking track begins in the town to
the village of Dragoinovo, crossing Dragoina Ridge -4-5 hours. There are
no other marked hiking tracks in the area, but all interesting sites are accessible
via regular bus lines.
Together with Haskovo Kurdjali is the biggest town in the Eastern Rhodopes.
It is the main starting point to the most interesting places in the Eastern
Rhodopes - the valleys of the rivers Borovitsa, Vurbitsa, Arda with the
big dams built on them. All tourist sites are accessible through regular
bus lines and by car. Some 10 miles from Kardjali, in the Eastern Rhodope
range, on a rocky peak at 1 400 ft above sea level, is the sacred Thracian
Palace of Perperikon. Here, Alexander the Great learned about his faith
to conquer the world. The palace and its fortress were the capital of
the mightiest state of the Thracians -that of the Odris Kingdom.
06. Horse Riding
If you are an experienced horseman, there is a wide choice of one and two week trekking tours. Destinations include the Balkan Mountains, Troyan, the Danube valley and the Valley of Roses.
top07. Mountain Biking and Cycling
On a bike and with a rucksack along the 'Way of the Sun' is the homonymous project for cycling tourism elaborated with Swiss assistance in the Stara Planina region.
top08. Birdwatching
Bulgaria is very interesting place for tourists. Foreign tourists are attracted by over 400 bird species that can be seen here.
top09. The Valley of Roses - Bulgaria Rose Festival
To visit Bulgaria and not go to the Valley of Roses or the Bulgaria rose festival is
to go to Egypt and not see the pyramids. The Valley of Roses is in the
very heart of the country and is shielded by the high slopes of two majestic
mountain ranges - the Balkan and Sredna Gora. The rose, the queen of flowers,
has been focusing the attention of people since the remote past as a symbol
of beauty and youth. It was the Phoenicians who organized first the feast
of the blessed flower. Cleopatra chose the rose for her palaces; her bathroom
and numerous cosmetic substances all had a rose smell. The ancient Greeks
decorated their temples with roses. Homer described rose oil in the "Iliad"
and in the "Odyssey". In his "Natural History" Pliny
mentions the rose that was grown in Thrace.
The rose - a symbol of perfect love
The Romans lavishly spent on rose fragrances; they adorned the feast
tables with roses and Nero "invented" the rose rain. Christianity
reinterpreted the symbol of fleeting pleasure as the symbol of perfect
love and adorned the most virtuous maids with roses.
The rose - a kind of Bulgarian currency
The emergence of the perfume industry in France in the 17th century triggered
off the rapid development of rose production, including the Bulgarian
lands. Rose oil that was extracted, as in ancient times by the distillation
of fresh rose petals, which were treated with water steam became a kind
of Bulgarian
The attar of roses
For centuries Bulgarians have planted roses, picked their flowers and
extracted their heavenly essence – attar of roses. The rose, this
marvellous gift of the land, is admired and used in perfumery, pharmacy
and food industry.
The Festival of Roses
The Rose Valley is magically transformed with breath-taking blooms in
May and early June each year when The Festival of Roses is celebrated
in many towns of the region. Rose picking rituals and folklore displays
are presented.
Queen Rose
The Bulgaria rose festival program includes the coronation of Queen Rose (a beauty
contest in several rounds), the traditional rose-picking ritual and rose-distillation
that gives you a true feeling of authenticity. The rose festival ends with
a street procession in which the main role is allotted for the participants
of the International Folklore Festival that has been hold parallel to
the Festival of Roses for some years.
Afact of interest
Bulgarian Rose Adds Scent to World Famous Beauty Product
Bulgarian rose is one of the main ingredients in the new Helena Rubinstein
creme called "Life Pearl". The news was broken on 17 March 2004,
by the fashion magazine Vogue. The Bulgarian rose adds a different scent
to the fragrance of the creme made by a subtle mixture of Moroccan Iris
concrete and Indian jasmine. Specialists working at the Helena Rubinstein
beauty laboratories have also added cyto-pearl consistencies to the new
product said to deliver a concentrate of rare active ingredients to the
very heart of skin's cells.
10. Fishing
Dospat Dam - Dospet Village is situated at the heart of the Rhodope Mountain Range and is approx 80kms west of Smolyan. This is a beautiful area with the lake surrounded by forests. Fish - perch, gray mullet, carp, trout and pike.
Golyam Beglik Dam - Situated in the central Rhodope Mountain Range. Fish - carp, pike and coarse fish
Shiroka Polyana dam - Situated in the Western Rhodope Mountain Range, approx 25kms south of Batak. Beuatiful scenic area. Fish - carp, gray mullet, perch, pike and trout.
Note : A monthly or annual fishing licence is required. This licence is available from your Bulgarian Hunting & Fishing Union. Offices are found in most towns and cities
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