Walking in the Rhodopes

Arrival in Sofia and transfer to the hotel. City tour. Known in ancient times as Serdica and in the Middle Ages as Sredez, the Bulgarian capital has been called ‘Holy Sofia’ after the church since the 14th century. The city tour takes us through the heritage of the Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians and Turks - 7,000 years of history and more than 250 monuments. 

Transfer: 0.50 hours
Night stop: Sofia
Accommodation: 3* hotel in the city centre
Included meals: dinner

Breakfast and transfer to Plovdiv - the European Capital of Culture in 2019. City tour. The city can look back on an eventful past: Thracians, Romans, Slavs, Turks and Bulgarians have all left their mark here. Visit to the picturesque little old town with its 150 Renaissance houses, the Church of Sveti Konstantin i Elena, the Roman theatre (2nd century) and the Roman stadium.
Free afternoon in the city and opportunity to attend a cultural event.
Dinner in a restaurant in the old town centre.

Transfer: 2.00 hours
Night stop: Plovdiv
Accommodation: 3* hotel in the city centre
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Breakfast and transfer to the nearby Batshkovo Monastery. Alongside the Rila Monastery, the complex is one of the most important pilgrimage centres in Bulgaria and is considered a national shrine. The monastery was founded in 1083 by the Georgian Gregory Pakourianos. The icon of the Virgin Mary from 1311, which is set in silver and is believed to have miraculous powers, is kept in the church. The frescoes in the old dining room (reflectorium) and in the nearby ossuary are particularly worth seeing - both are now museums.
Visit the monastery and enjoy a hike to the rock where the miraculous icon was found - approx. 2 hours.
Continue to Hvoina and hike to Kosovo village - approx. 3 hours, +300/-450 m.
Dinner and overnight stay in family hotel ‘Kosovski Kasti’ - awarded as ‘Green House’ for sustainability.

Transfer: 1.00 hour
Night stop: Kosovo village
Accommodation: 3* complex Kosovski kashti
Walking time: 5 hours, + 510 m/ - 660 m
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Breakfast and transfer to the so-called Wonder Bridges - two stone bridges (about 40-45 metres high) at an altitude of 1500 metres. In the past, the bridges were a cave formed under the flowing destruction of the river waters. Over time, parts of it broke off, slowly forming the majestic marble bridges.
Hike from the miracle bridges on the remains of an old Roman path to Persenk hut and further descent to Orechovo.
Dinner and overnight stay in family hotel ‘Kosovski Kasti’ - awarded as ‘Green House’ for sustainability.

Transfer: 1.30 hours
Night stop: Kosovo village
Accommodation: 3* complex Kosovski kashti
Walking time: 6 hours, + 350 m/ - 800 m
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

According to the most widespread legend, the legendary singer Orpheus, who beguiled man and beast with his enchanting music, was born in the Rhodopes. After breakfast, a short drive to Gela - the village where the legendary singer is said to have been born. Today, almost the entire village (approx. 100 inhabitants) is a member of the Foklore ensemble, whose speciality is the outstanding bagpipe players, the so-called ‘Kaba-Gaida’. A bagpipe festival is held here every year at the beginning of August, attracting thousands of people to the small village. Hike past villages and chapels with panoramic views to the highest peaks in the Rhodope Mountains.
In the afternoon visit to the museum village of Schiroka Luka.  
Transfer to Borino and 2 overnight stays in a family pension.

Transfer: 2.30 hours
Night stop: Borino
Accommodation: 2* family-run guesthouse
Walking time: 4 - 5 hours +/-550m
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Breakfast and short transfer to the so-called Devil's Throat Cave near Trigrad, where the water of the Trigrad River cascades into the depths. The highest underground waterfall is 42 metres high. According to legend, Hades - the ruler of the underworld - is at home here. The most famous legend tells that Orpheus descended into the underworld here in search of his beloved Eurydice.
Hike to Jagodina village and on to Jagodina Cave and visit the cave, where you can admire impressive stalactite formations. Return journey through the impressive Jagodina Gorge.
Dinner and overnight stay in Borino.

Transfer: 1.00 hour
Night stop: Borino
Accommodation: 2* family-run guesthouse
Walking time: 3 - 4 hours +300m /-520m
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

In the morning free time and then transfer to Tsepina, where we take the narrow-gauge railway (approx. 2 hour journey by train). The Rhodope railway is the last narrow-gauge line in Bulgaria (gauge 760 mm), which is sometimes referred to as the ‘Rhaetian Railway of the Balkans’ due to its route. The only connection between several villages and the big city, the railway is still actively used by the inhabitants of the Rhodope Mountains.
From Avramovo - the highest railway station in the Balkans - there is a scenic bus ride to Bansko. One of the cultural centres of Bulgaria in the Revival period (18-19th century), the town of Bansko is today the country's most famous ski resort. The most important building is the Holy Trinity Church (Sveta Troica) in the old town centre, which was completed in 1850.

Transfer: 4.00 hours
Night stop: Bansko
Accommodation: 3* family-run hotel
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Breakfast and transfer to Sofia. Transfer to the airport and return flight. Dovizhdane!

Transfer: 2.30 hours

Included meals: breakfast

Overnight: Plovdiv city

Accommodation: 3* hotel

Meals included: Breakfast