BICYCLE TOURS & MOUNTAIN BIKING

Bulgaria: 8-day Loop from Sofia

Bulgaria is an ancient - one of the oldest countries in Europe. Although small, it combines abundant historical heritage with splendid nature beauty and landscape diversity. This is the land of the oldest gold treasure on Earth (4500 BC), the best-tasting yogurt, fine wines and sweet-scented rose oil. At the southeast corner of Europe, Bulgaria is a land of European culture spiced up with an oriental charm. Now just a few months before European Union accession, Bulgaria has a reputation as an exciting destination with pleasant surprises for every visitor, including rich culture and folklore, traditional music, medieval monasteries, delicious cuisine and distinguished wines.

On this exciting bike trip you will be enjoying cycling along three of the most spectacular Bulgarian mountains and the famous Thracian valley; you will cross some lush beech and pine forests, follow river valleys, and pass through peaceful villages and towns. Wooden carts pulled by a donkey, or villagers doing the hay in the old fashioned way, are frequent sights. You will explore several of the most impressive Bulgarian monasteries; you will visit the thriving capital Sofia and the second and most beautiful Bulgarian town Plovdiv. You will rest in two of the most renowned Bulgarian spa resorts, Hissaria and Velingrad, where you can finish your cycling day with a mineral water pools and perhaps a spa treatment. You will also taste the delicious Bulgarian cuisine, sample the famous Bulgarian wines, and be surrounded by the notorious Bulgarian hospitality.

Tour Details

Day 1: Arrival
The guide will meet you at Sofia airport and transfer you to “Serdika” hotel (situated at the very heart of the Bulgarian capital) for overnight. After check in you can go on a walking tour in Sofia to explore many fine buildings from the beginning of the 20th century and massive administrative buildings from the communist era. Some of the capital’s highlights include the imposing Alexander Nevski cathedral with the golden domes, the National theatre, the Russian church, St. Sofia church, the House of Parliament etc.
Lodging: Hotel “Serdika” (3 *) – Sofia

Day 2: 48 km.
Transfer to the starting cycling point for the day – Glojene monastery (an hour and 45 minutes). The 13th century Glojene monastery is perched high in the cliffs overlooking the valley below and Beli Vit River. For the first three biking days you’ll cycle along the lower parts of the Balkan Range which has given the name to the Balkan Peninsula and is the longest and largest Bulgarian mountain. It stretches alongside the country from the Serbian boundary up to the Black Sea beaches for more than 550 km by air. In the beginning of that stage you’ll cycle only downhill amid the greenery of a lush beech forest, later on you’ll reach some open pastures on both sides of the road until you cross Beli Vit River. From that point all the way to your hotel the road ascends slightly by the river, passing through Teteven town. The final point for the day is Ribaritsa village which is one of the longest villages in Bulgaria (12 km). It is also a beautiful mountain resort with extremely clean air. According to latest measurement this is the area in Bulgaria with the biggest concentration of oxygen in the air. The charm of the Ribaritsa village are the numerous country houses and villas. They are lost in greenery and flowers, offering not only tranquillity, but also the opportunity to feel the unique authentic atmosphere and coziness of the Bulgarian village.
Lodging: Hotel “Evergreen palace” (4 *) – Ribaritsa Village

Day 3: 73 km.
In the morning you’ll start biking from the hotel on a very quiet paved road surrounded by old village houses. In about 14 km you’ll get to the highest point of the stage – 1245 m. a. s. l. The last five km before the top are quiet steep, so you may join the support vehicle. A nice downhill with some gorgeous views over the mountain ridges follows. After some ups and downs you’ll arrive in Troyan town – the most famous Bulgarian pottery center. In the nearby Oreshaka village you’ll visit the Pottery and Craft Exhibition “Oreshaka “ where you may buy some interesting souvenirs and craft objects. Just few hundred meters away from the exhibition is the third largest Bulgarian Monastery – the Troyan monastery, which is one of the most visited tourist sites in Bulgaria and impresses with its architecture and fine murals. After visiting the monastery you’ll continue cycling to the final destination – Apriltsi – another picturesque town at the foot of the Central Balkan range. The hotel where you stay tonight will give the opportunity to enjoy a sweeping view of the Central Balkan Mountain ridge with its highest peak Botev (2376 m.a.s.l.)
Lodging: Hotel “Apriltsi” (3 *) – Apriltsi

Day 4: 55 km.
Today you’ll start cycling again from your hotel. The track goes up and down throughout the day, taking you to some peaceful and remote villages. In the middle part of the stage you’ll follow for many kilometers the riverbed of Rositsa River. You’ll have a nice picnic in the Batoshevo nunnery yard with its colorful garden. The cycling ends just before Gabrovo town. Then you’ll be transferred to the nearby Etara Open Ethnographical Museum – one of the jewel historic sites in Bulgaria, representing a complex of 18th and 19th century houses (The Bulgarian Renaissance period). In Etara you’ll see master craftsmen, creating in their shops real pieces of art from gold, silver, copper, leather, wood etc – all of them for sale. Then you'll proceed on the support vehicle to Hissaria (approximaly a two-hour, 15-minute drive) for overnight. The present spa resort of Hissar with its more than 20 mineral springs, the mild climate and the rich cultural and historical past is situated at the foothills of the Sredna Gora Mountains. The town was called Augusta at the time of the Romans and was a famous health resort. Some Roman remains are waiting to be discovered, including the very well preserved fortification wall.
Lodging: Hotel “Hissar” (4 *) – Hissar

Day 5: 60 km.
The Bulgarian lands are home of a very ancient civilization – The Thracians, which have left some very fine gold and silver artifacts together with amazing tombs and temples. Today you’ll bike on a level road in the present called Thracian valley, known also as the Valley of the Thracian kings (full of Thracian tomb-temples, dating back from 4-5th century BC) or Valley of the roses because of the rose fields. About 24 km away from Hissaria you’ll get to the Starossel Thracian temple which is the largest found so far dating back from 4-5th centuries BC. The sensational discovery represents a temple/grave of what is believed to be a Thracian ruler, possibly Sitakes I, the first king of a combined Thracian empire. Later the track goes by the waters of Piasachnik dam until you finish cycling in Saedinenie town. A 30-minute drive will take you to Plovdiv – the second Bulgarian town, the picturesque city of the seven hills, the second oldest town in Europe, as old as Troy as and even more ancient than Athens and Rome. It’s a city full of history and places of interest, including the charming Old Town - architectural and historical reserve with plenty of National Revival houses from the XVIII - XIX centuries, the Roman Amphiteathre, the Roman Stadium, etc. The elegant Dafi hotel where you'll spend the night is nicely located in the city center.
Lodging: Hotel “Dafi” (3 *) - Plovdiv

Day 6: 75 km (13 km on the support vehicle).
For the last two biking days, you’ll be biking half day in the National Park area of the highest mountain on the Balkan peninsula – Rila. Then you’ll continue to the Rhodope Mountains – home of the legendary musician and singer – Orpheus and the widest mountain massif in Bulgaria, being also the oldest land on the Balkans. Here one can find the loveliest coniferous woods in the country and the most preserved nature. The landscape is soft and oval and consists of high ridges and deep river valleys with gorges taking turns with river basins and valleys.

In the morning of Day 6, after 1-hour 15-minute transfer, you’ll start an uphill cycling towards the stunning Belmeken dam. In about 12 km biking you’ll join the support vehicle for another 13 km to the highest point of the whole tour – 2000 m. a.s.l. From that point the track continues only downhill with very short and slight ascents unitl the end of the stage in Velingrad. After passing the Belmeken dam you’ll bike among some high altitude pastures, surrounded by pine forests. Velingrad, where you'll stay overnight is the biggest Bulgarian spa resort of international significance with the largest number of mineral springs.
Lodging: Hotel “Markita” – (3 *) – Velingrad

Day 7: 72 km (10 km on the support vehicle).
This stage is a real pleasure with probably the best landscapes on that tour. After a few kilometers of even track and then uphill cycling, you’ll reach the Batak dam which offers a great open view and large pastures all around. Then you’ll skip the very steep part of about 10 km by getting on the support vehicle. From the highest point of the stage – 1670 m. a.s.l. you’ll get on the bikes again. Several beautiful dams are on the way to the final point – Dospat dam and Dospat town, situated on top of its shores. The way to Dospat goes up and down with mostly descents.

After finishing with biking you’ll get on the support vehicle for about a 2 1/2 hour transfer to Plovdiv for the last overnight. On the way, you’ll go for a short stroll in Shiroka laka village – a charming architectural reserve with 200 years old houses and narrow cobbled streets. Just before Plovdiv you’ll visit the second largest Bulgarian monastery – Bachkovo monastery - founded in 1083, one of the most sacred places in the Bulgarian history. In the monastery you’ll see the largest panoramic mural in Bulgaria. Next, the guide will take you to the remarkable remains of King Ivan Asen’s fortress - he was a wise ruler of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There you will find an ancient church dating from the 12th century rich in authentic pieces of iconography as well as the stone made inscription carved by King Ivan Assen. The last memorable experience from Bulgaria will be the farewell dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant in Plovdiv with a folklore program, with lots of tasty food and fine wine, folk music and dance.
Lodging: Hotel “Dafi” (3 *) - Plovdiv

Day 8:
Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia airport for departure.