Hiking & Walking
There are over 35,000km (21,749 miles) of waymarked paths in Bulgaria. One- or two-week trips through the wild mountains can be arranged. Guides are provided and accommodation is usually in mountain chalets, guest houses or camps. The main hiking areas are the Pirin and Rila national parks, the central and western Rhodopes, and the Stara Planina.
The Pirin Mountains are the wildest, most picturesque range in Bulgaria, with 45 peaks over 2590m, deep valleys, karstic massifs and more than 200 glacial lakes, mainly in the northern part of the range, which has the finest panoramic views. The Rila Mountains include the highest peak in the Balkan peninsula and Bulgaria's greatest monastery, and are characterized by magnificent forests and alpine scenery, covered with wildflowers during the whole year.
The Pirin Mountains are the wildest, most picturesque range in Bulgaria, with 45 peaks over 2590m, deep valleys, karstic massifs and more than 200 glacial lakes, mainly in the northern part of the range, which has the finest panoramic views. The Rila Mountains include the highest peak in the Balkan peninsula and Bulgaria's greatest monastery, and are characterized by magnificent forests and alpine scenery, covered with wildflowers during the whole year.
In Rhodopes , the lower range, and yet the loveliest in Bulgaria, is where can be enjoyed a mixture of pine forests, crags, highland meadows and villages of stone houses, and the fantastic caves and birdlife around the Trigrad Gorge.
In the Stara planina or Balkan Range, most of the trails are not well marked which is a challenge for those seeking adventures. Villages such as Berkovitsa and Chiprovtsi provide the best access to higher altitudes.
If hiking independently you should visit Odysseia-In in Sofia, to gather up some useful information; they can also book accommodation in some areas. You could also preferably join Odysseia-In's weekly scheduled hiking groups for US$35 per day, including bed and housing. These run throughout the hiking season (mid-June to late October). You could as well hire a guide and tailor-make your own itinerary for US$25 per person per day, plus all expenses for yourself and the guide. Guides can be hired from SunShine Tours or through tourist offices in the Pirin and Rhodopes.
In the Stara planina or Balkan Range, most of the trails are not well marked which is a challenge for those seeking adventures. Villages such as Berkovitsa and Chiprovtsi provide the best access to higher altitudes.
If hiking independently you should visit Odysseia-In in Sofia, to gather up some useful information; they can also book accommodation in some areas. You could also preferably join Odysseia-In's weekly scheduled hiking groups for US$35 per day, including bed and housing. These run throughout the hiking season (mid-June to late October). You could as well hire a guide and tailor-make your own itinerary for US$25 per person per day, plus all expenses for yourself and the guide. Guides can be hired from SunShine Tours or through tourist offices in the Pirin and Rhodopes.
