583km. in 11 days of cycling with 70% on dirt road. Minibus following.
Discover the world from the saddle of your mountain bike. From Sofia, through the mountains of Bulgaria and Greece, to the Aegean Sea and the monasteries of Mount Athos.
This mountain bike trip is not only a journey dedicated to physical efforts and visit of historical and cultural centers. It is also a gastronomic journey that makes us discover the taste of good food and fine wines and spirits of the two Balkan countries.
Day by day
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1
Arrival in Sofia
Meeting with our guide of mountain bike at Sofia Airport.
Guided tour of the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
Hotel accommodation and dinner.
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2
Distance: 53 km, Ascent: 1015 m, Descent: 1000 m, Level: medium
From Sofia to Dren
Breakfast at 07.30. Setup of the bikes for the next 11-day trip. Departure at approximately 10.30. Soon the trail leads us into the intense green of the forests of Mount Vitosha.
Arrival at Dren in the afternoon. Accommodation in a farm house that has two comfortable apartments for guests. Dinner prepared with typical products, made exclusively at home. Overnight stay.
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3
Distance: 30.5 km, Ascent: 1015 m, Descent: 1000 m, Level: medium
From Dren to Bistritza
Breakfast at 08.30, prepared with homemade products. Departure at 09.30. Our route crosses agricultural fields and small, isolated villages.
Arrival in Bistritsa in the afternoon.
Hotel accommodation and dinner.
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4
Distance: 46 km, Ascent: 1130 m, Descent: 1100 m, Level: medium
From Bistritza to the Rila Monastery
Breakfast at 08.00. Departure at 09.00.
The route leads us through the woods of pine, oak, hazel and alpine meadows to the town of Rila. Rila is the native village of St. Ivan of Rila (the holy founder of the largest and most important Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria).
Arrival at the Rila Monastery in the afternoon.
Visit of the monastery.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Typical dinner for this valley: the brook trout.
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5
Distance: 70 km, Ascent: 1585 m, Descent: 1630 m, Level: difficult
From Rila Monastery to Bansko
Breakfast at 08.00. Departure at 09.00.
We proceed towards the mountain hut Makedonia, situated at 2166 m, passing through the highest point of the whole journey - a mountain pass at 2185 m. above sea level. The climb is bike-friendly, except for a portion of the road damaged by the river, where we have to push the bikes for approximately 2 km. Once at the Makedonia hut, a long descent of approximately 20 km awaits us. Short uphill and again downhill to the village of Bania. From here to Bansko we have approximately 6 km of uphill.
Arrival in Bansko in the afternoon.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Visit of the city’s historic district. (Bansko is a strong fortress of the renaissance of Bulgaria and the largest ski resort on the Balkans).
Dinner in the typical restaurant “Bariakova Mehana” (winner of the Gold Award for the best cuisine in Bulgaria).
Overnight stay at the hotel.
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6
Distance: 38 km, Ascent: 730 m, Descent: 650 m, Level: easy
From Bansko towards T. Poliana
Breakfast at 08.30. Departure at 09.30.
Arrival at destination in the afternoon. (A private guest house, surrounded by trees, grass and flowers.)
Accommodation in the hotel rooms, rest, dinner and overnight stay.
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7
Distance: 64.5 km, Ascent: 1490 m, Descent: 2100 m, Level: very difficult
From T. Poliana to Melnik
Breakfast at 07.30. Departure at 08.30.
A sequence of ascents and descents in the woods of Mount Pirin leads us for lunch at a modest restaurant in the mountains. Another short uphill and a long descent bring us to the village of Rojen, where we stop to visit the monastery of the same name (Rojen monastery was built in the 12th century AD and is the oldest monastery on the territory of Bulgaria).
In the late afternoon, we reach the picturesque town of Melnik, a city famous for centuries for its fine wines and wine culture.
Accommodation in the hotel. Dinner - there will certainly be a tasting of delicious wine and grape brandy.
Overnight stay.
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8
Distance: 31.5 km, Ascent: 450 m, Descent: 560 m, Level: easy
From Melnik to Aghistrò
Breakfast at 08.00.
A brief tour of the town of Melnik and an old house converted into a museum.
Departure at 11.00.
From Melnik, following the small roads that connect the various villages in the valley, we arrive at the Greek border and enter the greek territory. A few kilometres after the border we arrive at the hotel.
Accommodation, rest, dinner and overnight stay.
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9
Distance: 52 km, Ascent: 1730 m, Descent: 960 m, Level: difficult
From Aghistrò to Vrontoù
Breakfast at 08.00. Departure at 09.00.
Addressing the long climbs and equally long descents in the mountains of Greece. The fresh air of the forests of beech, under the shade of which we are riding us the freshness and helps us not feel so tiring climb. The climate is very windy on the Balkan Peninsula and even though we are in summer, the heat is completely absent.
Arrival in Vrontou in the afternoon.
Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.
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10
Distance: 61 km, Ascent: 760 m, Descent: 1740 m, Level: medium
From Vrontoù to Simvoly
Breakfast at 08.00. Departure at 09.00.
A beautiful descent leads us down the valley from where we begin the ascent to the last mountain pass, then descend into the valley of Drama.
Arrival at the hotel to Simvoly. Accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.
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11
Distance: 59.5 km, Ascent: 475 m, Descent: 510 m, Level: easy
From Simvoly to Asprovalta
Breakfast at 08.30. Departure at 09.30.
A wonderful ride, easy and enjoyable. We cross the Struma valley following the farm roads. Around noon we arrive on the coast of the Aegean Sea.
Arrival in Asprovalta in the early afternoon.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Bath in the Sea.
Dinner based on fish.
Overnight stay.
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12
Distance: 77 km, Ascent: 1125 m, Descent: 1150 m, Level: medium
From Asprovalta to Ouranoupolis
Breakfast at 08.00. Departure at 09.00.
Riding the long arc of coastline on the beaches of ‘Asprovalta Stavròs. For about 30 km we enter a not very busy main road that runs along the Halkidiki peninsula and leads to Ouranoupolis (last place in town before the border with the monasteries of Mount Athos).
Accommodation at the hotel.
Bath in the sea.
Dinner based on fish.
Overnight stay.
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13
Visit of the monasteries of Mount Athos
Breakfast at 08.30.
Visit of the monasteries of Mount Athos. Mount Athos is a symbol of the union of the Orthodox Christian churches. It is a State within a State. A visa is required to enter the area and visit the monasteries. We are happy with a trip on a boat which passes close to the monasteries of Mount Athos.
The afternoon is free for leisure, shopping and packing the bikes.
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14
Return
Early breakfast in the morning.
Transfer to the airport of Thessaloniki for the international flight back home.
For our clients that do not have a connection flight from Thessaloniki, we can arrange a transfer from Ouranopoli to Sofia and if necessary an overnight stay in Sofia. Please request a separate quote for this service.
