The Rodopi Mountains are a hauntingly beautiful and mysterious region which, according to legend, were the home of the ancient Greek bard, Orpheus. Today they offer a refuge for many rare plants, brown bears, wolves, wild cats and a prolific number of butterflies and birds.
Discover the rich cultural and natural heritage of these remote peaks as we walk through a variety of landscapes, including ancient coniferous forests and rugged limestone gorges. We engage with local people who maintain their traditional rural existence, working the fields by hand and tending their livestock on the meadows and pastures.
Activity Areas
Centre-Based
Walking & Trekking
Wildlife Walks
Region & Country & City
Europe: Bulgaria, Rila Monastery, Rodopi Mountains, Sofia
Included in the Price
— All breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners
— All accommodation
— All transport and listed activities
— Tour leader throughout
— Group arrival and departure transfers available
Not Included In The Price
— Travel insurance
— Single accommodation (available on request)
— Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation Information
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (hotels)
— Six days walking in the Rodopi Mountains
— Travel by minibus
— Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Map
Itinerary
Day 1 Start Sofia Airport; transfer to Yagodina
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 Buynovo Gorge Hikes
Enjoy a day with two separate walks, each with a unique set of landscapes and 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, we set off for our second walk. To start with we follow a broad grassy ridge spur, offering spectacular views towards Yagodina, before dropping steeply into the Buynovo Gorge, where the bus will be waiting to drive us (10 minutes) back to the hotel. It's also possible to return to Yagodina on foot following a forest trail that climbs steeply out of the gorge before reaching the centre of the village - this adds an extra hour to the walk.
Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 Hike in the Bulgaria-Greece border zone
A 30-minute 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 4 Traverse the highest peaks of the Rodopi Mountains
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 Bear and wolf tracking walk
Today's walk starts and finishes at the door of our hotel. We spend the entire day on foot exploring the diverse patchwork of landscapes that surround the village of Yagodina, prime habitat for both brown bears and grey wolves. During the day we look out for signs of their presence and activities, whilst learning about their ecology and behaviour. We also gain an understanding of local conservation efforts and the challenges of human-carnivore existence.
Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)
Day 6 Hiking in the footsteps of Orpheus
Having visited the village of Gela earlier in the week, 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. 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 7 Riverside nature trail. Transfer to Sofia
Having had breakfast and said our farewells to the staff at the hotel, we drive 45-minutes to the town of Devin for a leisurely riverside walk 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 a Prime Butterfly Area, offering the chance to see yet more rare and beautiful species. We make our way back to the bus, before completing a transfer (3 hours 30 minutes) back to Sofia. We expect to have a few hours free time in Sofia before our farewell dinner together at the hotel restaurant.
Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Crystal Palace (or similar)
Day 8 End Sofia
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.
