Bulgaria: Rodopi Mountains
Bulgaria: Rodopi Mountains
Bulgaria: Rodopi Mountains
8 Days
Visiting: Bulgaria
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TDB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
The Rodopi Mountains are a hauntingly beautiful and mysterious region which, according to legend were the home of Orpheus. Today they offer a refuge for many exceptionally rare plants, as well as brown bears, wolves, wild cats and a prolific number of butterflies and birds.
This holiday provides the opportunity to discover the amazingly rich cultural and natural heritage of these remote mountains as we walk through a variety of landscapes including ancient coniferous forests and rugged limestone gorges, we also visit two impressive caves, and engage with the local people who maintain their traditional rural existence, working the fields by hand and tending their livestock on the surrounding meadows and pastures.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Sofia Airport; Transfer To Yagodina
Meals Included: Dinner
The adventure begins at Terminal 2 in Sofia Airport (Terminal 2), where we meet the leader, before a transfer to the remote village of Yagodina, our base for the next six nights.
Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 : Kastrakli Nature Reserve And Chala Village Walk
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a day with two separate walks, each with a unique set of wildlife-spotting opportunities. A 15-minute drive after breakfast brings us to the trailhead of our first walk, a hike through the deep gorge and forests of Kastrakli Nature Reserve, renowned for orchids, butterflies and a growing population of Balkan chamois.
In the afternoon, after a 30-minute drive to the village of Chala, those still with energy for a second walk can follow a broad grassy ridge spur, offering spectacular views towards Yagodina, before dropping steeply into the Buinovo Gorge, where waits to drive us (10 minutes) back to the hotel.
Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 : The Trigrad Karst Plateau
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we drive to the neighbouring Trigrad gorge, where we make a short pause to scan the towering cliffs for the elusive wallcreeper, a delightful bird that flutters around like a butterfly on the rock faces, flashing strikingly crimson wings. We then spend the rest of the day hiking through the rugged heart of the Trigrad karst plateau. Following a maze of traditional trails and tracks, we thread our way through this wonderfully picturesque wilderness, rewarded by an ever-changing succession of landscapes and vistas. The region has been designated a Prime Butterfly Area, on account of the numerous rare species that can be found here. It also boasts outstanding flora, including many endemic species.
Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 4 : Traverse The Highest Peaks Of The Rodopi Mountains
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we set off in our bus for a 90-minute drive east into the highest part of the Rodopi Mountains. Having reached the end of the driveable road, we begin a wonderfully panoramic hike along the main ridge of the Rodopi Mountains. First, we skirt just below the military base on the summit of the Rodopi’s highest peak Mt. Golyam Perelik (7,188ft/2,191m), before ascending Mount Golyam Snezhnik (7,178ft/2,188m). Having enjoyed the expansive views from the rolling open pastures, we then start to drop down into the forest, making a long descent to the tiny, picturesquely situated village of Gela, which according to legend was the birthplace of Orpheus. Here we will be met by our bus for the drive back to Yagodina. Occasionally, during May, late-lying snow makes it impossible to traverse the flank of Mount Golyam Perelik, so instead the leader will arrange an alternative lower-altitude walk in the mountains south of Yagodina.
Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 5 : In The Footsteps Of Orpheus
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Having finished the previous day’s walk in the village of Gela, the supposed birthplace of Orpheus, we continue with the Orphic theme today, by following in his footsteps to the site of an ancient Thracian sanctuary where Orpheus is believed to have met his death. As well as being steeped in a fascinating mix of myth and mystery, todays walk also offers some lovely remote walking, where we share our trail with wolves and deer, and can often hear the eerie cries of black woodpeckers echoing through the forest, adding to the excitement and magical atmosphere.
Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 6 : Hike In The Bulgaria-Greece Border Zone
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A half-hour drive up the picturesque valley of the Buynovska Reka brings us to the village of Buynovo, where we start our walk. Today we wander amid the mountain meadows and forests along the border with Greece. Nowadays this is a tranquil region, peacefully roamed by wolves, bear, wild boar and roe deer, but during the Cold War it was known as the Zone of Death, a forbidden area patrolled by armed border guards ordered to prevent anyone trying to escape across the Iron Curtain into Greece. During our walk, we see remnants of the old border fence and former military bunkers, plus we learn more about this interesting, but dark, period of Bulgarian history.
Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 7 : Forest Walk And Riverside Nature Trail. Transfer To Sofia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Before making the long transfer back to the Bulgarian capital, we have the chance to enjoy two final short, but highly picturesque nature walks. Having had breakfast and said our farewells to the staff at the hotel, we set off on foot, picking up yet another section of former Roman road, now a beautiful forest trail that is famed for its great variety of orchids. Suddenly the path emerges at a shelter, perched high on a rocky viewpoint from which one can gaze down into the Buinovo Gorge below. From here, the trail steadily descends to the river and road where we meet our bus, for a 45 minute drive to the town of Devin. Here we start our second walk of the day, following a delightful, specially-constructed nature trail along the valley of the Devinska Reka. As well as being extremely photogenic in its own right, the trail passes through another Prime Butterfly Area, offering the chance to see yet more rare and beautiful species. After a picnic lunch by the river, we then make our way back to the bus, before completing the final transfer (3 hours 30 minutes) back to Sofia.
Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Crystal Palace (or similar)
Day 8 : End Sofia
Meals Included: Breakfast
This trip draws to a close after breakfast. If you want to spend a bit more time in the city after our walking adventures, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
What's Included
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Transfer for group flights
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All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners included
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All accomodation
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Fully Guided
What's Not Included
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Single supplement
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Visa's & Vaccinations
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Travel insurance
Food
*Typical Meals*
*Breakfast:* Will usually include tea or coffee, bread, jam, honey and
cheese, supplemented in Yagodina by fresh home-made yoghurt and traditional
local specialities such as thick pancakes known as 'katmi' and a rice-based
dish called 'rodopski klin'.
*Lunch:* Picnic lunches will be eaten in the mountains and typically comprise
of bread, cheese, salami, salad, biscuits and fruit.
*Dinner: *will be taken in our hotel restaurant, and will normally include
three courses comprising salad or vegetarian soup, followed by a main course,
and a dessert of fruit, ice cream or cake/pudding. The cuisine reflects a
mixture of Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish and Slavonic influences. We sample many
traditional local specialities including 'smilyanski fasul', a delicious bean
soup, and 'patatnik', a local delicacy made with grated potatoes, onions, and
cheese, then seasoned with mint and other herbs. Jugs of tap water will be
provided on the table with the evening meal. Bottled mineral water, soft
drinks and alcohol are not included but can be purchased. There are several
local wines that you may wish to try, including an excellent red 'Mavrud'
from vineyards on the northern slopes of the Rodopi.
*Vegetarians and Vegans:* Bulgaria is famed for its fresh vegetables and
fruit, so vegetarians are usually well catered for. However, it is extremely
difficult for vegans, as dairy produce and eggs form the staple part of the
diet in this region, and occur in the vast majority of meals.
Please note, special gluten-free products are not available, so those clients
with wheat/gluten intolerance should, if needed, bring with them something to
replace the local bread and pastries that make up the breakfasts and picnic
lunches.
Accommodation
Our base for six nights is Yagodina, a traditional rural village known for its self-sufficiency and the hospitality of the inhabitants. It’s isolated and tucked away in the Trigrad Karst region, one of the most remote parts of the Rodopi Mountains. Here we stay in the Yagodina Family Hotel, a small hotel offering comfortable twin and single rooms with wifi. It’s owned and run by a local family and most of the food (including milk, cheese, butter, jam and honey) is either home-produced or locally sourced. Our final night is at Boutique Hotel Crystal Palace, a conveniently located four-star hotel in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.
Check out our Q&As
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What is the maximum group size?
16
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
4-star hotel
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Minimum 16 years age people can go on this tour.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
Visas are not required for Bulgaria for British and other EU passport holders. Other nationalities should check with the relevant authorities.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks on this trip. However, ticks have been reported in this region and could possibly carry Lyme disease, Tick-Borne Encephalitis or other diseases.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Transfer for group flights
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.