What you can expect
Scenery
Spectacular scenery!
Plovdiv and Sofia
Sightseeing in Plovdiv and Sofia
Walking programme
Full and Varied walking programme
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About this trip...
About the trip
With its wildlife, high mountains, dense forests and variety of lakes and rivers, Bulgaria is an exciting destination for a walking holiday. Join us on this great value, walking-themed tour as we explore the magnificent natural, cultural and historical landmarks of this fascinating country.Activity Level:
What's this?What's included?
Return flights & transfers-
Airport taxes & charges
Twin/Double room for sole use
Breakfast daily at the hotel, 7 dinners and 5 lunches
Welcome drink
5 guided walks-
Visits to Rila Monastery, Boyana Church, Rojen monastery, Trigrad gorge, Shiroka Laka, The Wonderful Bridges, Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Fully Financially Protected
What's extra:
Extras
- Insurance click here
Itinerary
- UK-Bansko
- Bansko
- Bansko
- Bansko
- Bansko-Smolyan
- Smolyan
- Plovdiv - Sofia
- Sofia - UK
What you’ll be doing
Day One: UK-Bansko
After landing at Sofia airport, meet your Solos Tour Leader and local guide and transfer to the beautiful old town of Bansko. Enjoy a short briefing about your holiday and dinner at a local restaurant tonight.
With its beautiful scenery and welcoming people, Bulgaria offers perfect walking conditions. This Eastern European country is also known as the cradle to some of the most ancient civilisations in the world. Our eight-day walking tour encompasses the magnificent natural and historical landmarks of Bulgaria, and the secrets of the traditional local culture and cuisine.
- Overnight Bansko
- 4* Hotel Casa Karina
- Dinner Included
Day Two: Bansko
After breakfast we can enjoy our first day hiking in the beautiful Pirin mountain range. We commence our walk at a mountain hut at 2000m located beneath the imposing Mount Vihren – the highest peak of the range. Our hike will take us past the gorgeous Banderitsa Lakes, just some of the hundreds of glacial lakes in the area, until we reach the Todorka saddle from where you can marvel at the panoramic views.
After our walk, we can enjoy a tour of charming Bansko and learn more about its history, architecture and traditions. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
- Pirin Mountains, length approx 7km
- Total ascent is 702 meters, same descent. The hike takes 4 hours, maximum elevation is 2428 m. above sea level.
- Overnight Bansko.
- 4* Hotel Casa Karina
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day Three: Bansko
Today we will visit Rila – the other mountain range in Bulgaria. We will start with a morning transfer through the lush forests of the "Water mountain", where we will visit the world famous Rila monastery – a UNESCO listed site. After a picnic lunch, the hike through the picturesque valley will bring us to the so called Dry Lake, where we can enjoy the unspoiled nature of Rila, before we return back to our hotel.
- Rila, Length approx 9km
- Total ascent is 349 meters, same descent. . The hike takes 3.30 hours, maximum elevation is 1950 m. above sea level.
- Overnight Bansko.
- 4* Hotel Casa Karina
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day Four: Bankso
We have a well-earned break from walking today and we can enjoy an included visit the charming village of Melnik. Set in a picturesque valley, with good sandy soil and with 350 sunny days per year it’s no wonder that this region is home to the world famous Bulgarian wine cellars! After an included wine tasting we can enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before heading back to our hotel for the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
- Melnik, Length approx 4.5km
- Total descent 324 m. The hike takes 1.30 hours, maximum elevation is 659 m. above sea level.
- Overnight Bansko.
- 4* Hotel Casa Karina
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day Five: Bansko-Smolyan
After breakfast, we transfer to the village of Dolen, an amazing example of an ancient Bulgarian settlement often referred to as an ‘open air museum’. After a picnic lunch we set off on our hike through lush meadows and forests down to Trigrad, visiting the famous Trigrad gorge and the ‘Devil’s throat’ cave the largest underground waterfall in the Balkan Peninsula. Later, we continue onto the town of Smolyan nestled in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains.
- Trigrad, Length approx 9km
- Total ascent is 388 meters, total descent is 659 meters. The hike takes 3.30 hours, maximum elevation is 1344 m. above sea level.
- Overnight Smolyan.
- 3* Hotel Crystal
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day Six: Smolyan
This morning we can enjoy a light hike to the ‘Canyon of the Waterfalls,’ hidden deep in the highest part of the Rhodope Mountains. After a picnic lunch, we visit the village of Shiroka Luka, an amazing perfectly preserved architectural reserve.
- Rhodope Mountains, Length approx 9km
- Total ascent is 401 meters, same descent. The hike takes 3.30 hours, maximum elevation is 1462 m. above sea level.
- Overnight Smolyan.
- 3* Hotel Crystal
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day Seven: Plovdiv - Sofia
After Breakfast we make our way to the Medieval Asen’s Fortress with its beautiful 12th Century church and Bachkovo monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria and home of some of the finest frescoes of Orthodox Christianity. We will contiune our tour in Plovdiv ancient town. Later we transfer to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and check into our centrally located hotel. Here the guide will take us for panoramic tour of the historical centre of Sofia.
- Overnight Sofia.
- 4* St Sofia Hotel
- Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day Eight: Sofia - UK
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport before our return flight to the UK.
- Breakfast Included
Accommodation
Best of Bulgaria
During your holiday you stay in a selection of 3* and 4* hotels as stated in the itinerary
- 4* Hotel Casa Karina
- 3* Kiparis Alpha
- 4* St. Sofia
Dates & Prices
Frequently asked questions
Transfer Time
The transfer time from Sofia Airport to our hotel takes approximately 3 hours, depending on weather and traffic.
Walking programme
Five guided walks are included in the programme. Your walking guide will advise you in resort of the daily programme. The walking programme is graded as Medium and you can expect to walk between 4.5 to 9km per day, with some ascents/descents, rough underfoot terrain and high altitudes involved.
Below are the distances for each walk, however please bear in mind these are approximate and subject to change due to local conditions
- Pirin Mountains ,Length approx 7km. Total ascent is 702 meters, same descent. The hike takes 4 hours, maximum elevation is 2428 m. above sea level.
- Rila, Length approx 9km. Total ascent is 349 meters, same descent. The hike takes 3.30 hours, maximum elevation is 1950 m. above sea level.
- Melnik, Length approx 4.5km. Total descent 324 m. The hike takes 1.30 hours, maximum elevation is 659 m. above sea level.
- Trigrad, Length approx 9km.Total ascent is 388 meters, total descent is 659 meters The hike takes 3.30 hours, maximum elevation is 1344 m. above sea level. Rhodope Mountains, Length approx 9km. Total ascent is 401 meters, same descent. The hike takes 3.30 hours, maximum elevation is 1462 m. above sea level.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain that you will be walking. You could be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet. If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it.
Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require. Solo’s Holidays Ltd cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.
Grade: Medium
What to Wear
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort.
Whilst we would hope for good weather during your holiday, it is of course impossible to guarantee this. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
- Walking boots with good ankle support
- Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
- Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
- Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
- Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
- Walking socks – several pairs
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Hat & gloves
- Daysack/rucksack for walking
- Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
- Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
- Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
- Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.
Gratuities
We suggest a Group Collection to cover transfer drivers, and hotel staff of €15.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate percentage on.
More to Explore
There may be optional activities available to you during the course of your holiday, full details of which will be given out at your Information Meeting by your Tour Leader. All tours should be paid for in euros only. The exact amount will be given at your Information Meeting. Your Tour Leader will help arrange these for you but may not necessarily accompany you.
Passports and visas
A full 10-year passport is required, valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday.
All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Bulgaria Foreign Advice If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements. .
Health requirements
Compulsory vaccinations: None
All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Bulgaria
Currency
Bulgarian Lev
