Bulgaria - history, culture, nature
Day by day
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1
Arrival in Sofia
Meeting with our guide at the airport of Sofia.
Transfer from Sofia to Samokov (a town situated at the foot of Rila Mountain). About 70km, 1.30 hours of travel.
Accommodation in a family run hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
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2
Mussala - the highest peak of the Balkans
Breakfast at 07.30.
Transfer to the resort of Borovetz - 1300m. Travel approx 20-30 min.
Today we plan to climb the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula: Mussala - 2925m, located in the Rila National Park.
A gondola allows us to reach without efforts the Iastrebetz mountain hut - 2300m.
We start walking in the valley of the same name towards the Mussala peak and around noon we will be on the highest peak of the Balkans. The descent will follow the same route of the ascent and then the gondola trip to Borovetz.
Transfer to the hotel.
City tour and visit of the ancient Monastery of Women.
Dinner and overnight stay.
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3
Rila Monastery
Breakfast at 08.00.
Transfer by minibus to the Rila Monastery. Approx 100km. 2.30 hours of travel.
Visit of the largest and most important monastery in the territory of Bulgaria.
Visit to the cave of St. Ivan of Rila, where the first community of Christian monks in Bulgaria was founded.
Transfer to Bansko (the town at the foot of Pirin Mountain - strong fortress of the Bulgarian Renaissance and the largest and most modern ski resort on the Balkans.)
Accommodation at the hotel.
Visit of the historic town, the church, the birthplace of Neofit Rilski and the downtown. Dinner at “Bariakova Mehana” (a typical restaurant with live music, which won the gold award for the best cuisine in Bulgaria).
Overnight stay at the hotel.
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4
The highest peak of Pirin Mountain - Vihren
Breakfast at 08.00.
Transfer from Bansko to the Vihren mountain hut. About 1 hour drive.
Visit to “Baicusheva Mura” (a phenomenon of nature. A tree of the species of the “Balkan Pines” of over 1300 years of age. It is proclaimed World Heritage Site and is under protection of UNESCO).
Ascend to the highest peak of Pirin Mountain, Vihren - 2914m (according to the legend, the highest peak of the mountain is home of the god Perun, God of the ancient Thracians.).
We descend following the same path of the ascent.
Transfer to Bansko.
Dinner at Bariakova Mehana.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
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5
Tevno Esero mountain hut
Breakfast at 08.00.
Transfer by minibus to the resort Karierata. Approximately 20-30 minutes of travel.
Trekking in the valley of Damianitza. The route follows the river uphill Damianitza and ascends gently in the midst of pine forests, alpine meadows and mountain lakes of blue-green water.
In the afternoon we arrive at the Tevno Esero mountain hut - 2500m (the highest mountain hut in Bulgaria, situated in a beautiful setting of granite peaks).
Dinner and overnight accommodation at the hut.
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6
The Kralev Dvor pass
Breakfast at 08.30.
Early in the morning we proceed our walk (about half an hour) on the path that brings us to the pass Kralev Dvor - 2600m.
From here on our trek will be solely downhill. Following the river in the valley of Jeleznitza, through the alpine meadows on which graze herds of cattle, we enter into the woods, and reach the Pirin mountain hut.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hut.
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7
Rojen Monastery
Breakfast at 08.30.
our walk proceeds to the village of Rojen near which is situated the oldest monastery in Bulgaria - The Rojen monastery built in the 12th century AD.
In the early afternoon we arrive in Rojen where our minibus is expecting us.
Visit of the monastery.
Short transfer to the town of Melnik, known in past centuries for its thriving market of local wines.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Visit to an old home converted into a wine museum.
Dinner and overnight stay.
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8
"Zero kilometers" products
Breakfast at 08.30.
Our minibus picks us up for our trip back to Sofia.
We have a lunch stop at a farmhouse, where we taste typical dishes with home-made products. As they say: “zero kilometers products”.
Arrival in Sofia in the afternoon and hotel accommodation.
Guided tour of the Bulgarian capital.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
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9
Departure
Transfer to Sofia airport for the international flight back home.
