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  A high country tarn and the peak of Graniten, Upper Bűnderitsa Valley, Pirin Mountains

NEWS! The Mountain Hiking Holidays website is now live! Walking Softly's hiking trips are now offered under the "Mountain Hiking Holidays" brand name. You can access information about our hiking trips at the Mountain Hiking Holidays website at www.MountainHikingHolidays.com. Until further notice you'll also be able to access information about our hiking trips right here at the Walking Softly website.
For a more complete description of this trip, please go to the Bulgaria page at the Mountain Hiking Holidays website.

August 22-30, 2009
Plan your arrival for August 21, 2009
Plan your departure for August 31, 2009

Printable version of itinerary


Come to the edge of Europe and discover exotic Bulgaria! The trails of the Rila and Pirin National Parks will take you into the heart of some of the wildest mountain scenery left on the continent. Follow paths through streamside meadows and groves of pine. Ascend to gem-like lakes cupped in mountain basins, and revel in the joy of a ridgetop walk where you can let the mountain breezes sweep your cares away. Deep in a forested valley, contemplate the frescoes that grace the walls and ceilings of the Rila Monastery, a testimony to the pride and faith of the Bulgarian people. Under an ancient grape vine, immerse yourself in the palpable peace of Rozhen Monastery. Wander amidst the strange sandstone pinnacles of the sun-soaked Melnik badlands. Enjoy walks to Bulgarian mountain villages, and savor the pleasure of an overnight stay in a restored village kashta. In a traditional Bulgarian mehana, fine food, drink, and music cap off your adventure-filled days. Introduce yourself to Bulgaria; a warm welcome awaits you!



Day 1
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight in Borovets

From central Sofia, the bulk of Mount Vitosha (whose name means "twin peaks") dominates the view to the south and hints at mountain adventures to come! Enjoy a walking tour of central Sofia including the imposing Aleksandar Nevski Cathedral and the eye-catching Church of St. Nikolai. Following the tour of central Sofia, visit the Boyana Church, a World Heritage Site, in the village of Boyana (today a hill suburb of Sofia). The Boyana Church was built within the compound of one of thirty five fortresses that once defended the city of Sredets (Sofia). The church consists of three buildings dating from the 11th, 13th and 19th centuries. The interior walls of the 13th century structure—the Kayolan Chuch (named after its donor)—are covered with frescoes executed in 1259 in Byzantine style by an anonymous artist. The murals depict 240 figures in 89 scenes and comprise one of the most important collections of medieval paintings in Europe. Boyana’s frescoes have undergone nearly 40 years worth of restoration work. Later in the afternoon, depart for the Rila Mountains and the village of Borovets, your base for three nights.

Day 2
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight in Borovets

Enjoy a choice of hikes in the Rila Mountains from your base at Borovets. A three-mile long cable car line lifts you 3,400 vertical feet into the Rila Mountains from its lower station in Borovets. From the cable car's upper station at Yastrebets Chalet (7,710 ft) enjoy a panorama of Rila’s high peaks. Looking south, you’ll gaze upon the summits of Deno, Irechek, Malka Musala, Musala, and Aleko. A gentle walk through alpine meadows and groves of stunted mugo pines brings you to the still waters of the Musala Lakes. You can continue further along a well-built trail to the Aleko Lakes tucked away in a higher basin. A more challenging hiking option continues up the ridge past Ledenoto Ezero ("Icy Lake") eventually gaining the summit of Musala at 9,597 feet, the highest point in Bulgaria and the entire Balkan Peninsula! From the summit, sweeping views extend to Mount Vitosha to the north and the Pirin Range to the south.

Day 3
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight in Borovets

Enjoy your choice of hikes in the Rila Seven Lakes Basin (Tsirkus Sedemte Rilski Ezera). Starting from the Pionerska Chalet, hike through woods and meadows to reach the lip of the basin at the Rila Lake Chalet. From here, ascend a grassy, open ridge to the sweeping, “Sound of Music-style” meadow called Suhiya Rid. Below you lies the lake-spangled Seven Lakes Cirque carpeted by flower-filled meadows. All around you rise the snow-flecked ramparts of the Rila Mountains. A gentle walk brings you to the cobalt-blue waters of Bubreka Ezero (“Kidney Lake”). From this point, energetic hikers can ascend further to reach Okoto Ezero (“Eye Lake”), and Sulzata Ezero (“Teardrop Lake”), time and weather permitting. Otherwise, descend into the main part of the basin passing beautiful Bliznaka Ezero (“Twin Lake”), Trilistnika Ezero (“Three Leaf Lake”), and Ribnoto Ezero (“Fish Lake”). Loop back to the Rila Lake Chalet and continue through meadows and woods to return to the trailhead.

Day 4
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight in Bansko

Travel to the Rila Monastery nestled in a deep valley on the western flanks of the Rila Mountains. Portions of the monastery, which was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1983, date to the 14th century though a large portion of the monastery was reconstructed in the 19th century after a devastating fire. The monastery’s five-domed Sveta Borgoroditsa church dates from 1834 and is dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin; the walls and domed ceilings of its external gallery are graced with brilliant frescoes that will take your breath away! You can wander through the impressive 19th century monastery kitchen and beneath the multi-storied, arcaded verandahs that ring the interior of the monastery compound. After lunch, hike to the chapel of St. John of Rila set in lush, deciduous woods on the slopes of the valley. From the chapel, the path descends easily through flowering meadows and woodlands passing the chapel of St. Luke en route. After the hike, depart for the town of Bansko at the foot of the Pirin Mountains. Tonight, a splendid Bulgarian meal awaits at a traditional mehana ("tavern").

Day 5
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight in Bansko

Start your exploration of the Pirin Mountains with a choice of hikes in the Bűnderitsa Valley. Green meadows accented with clumps of pine and picturesque boulders make for joyous walking at the start of the day. After about an hour of walking, arrive at the shores of the Ribno Ezero ("Fish Lake"), the largest lake in the valley nestled against the headwall of the lower Bűnderishki Cirque. Proceed further into the mountains heading for the series of lakes that adorn the floor of the upper Bűnderishki Cirque. Perhaps the most beautiful of these, Dűlgo Ezero ("Long Lake"), is edged by granite boulders and clumps of mugo pine. Its cobalt waters reflect the grandeur of surrounding peaks including the brilliant limestone summit of Vichren, highest in the Pirin. Dűlgo Ezero makes a good turnaround point, or you can continue to the saddle known as Todorina Porta for far-ranging Pirin vistas. Descend into the Vasilashki Cirque and hike through the Demyanitsa valley to trail's end.

Day 6
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight in Bansko

Today is your chance to attempt the limestone summit of Vichren at 9,561 feet. From either the Bűndertisa or Vichren chalets, a rugged path ascends steeply through woods, meadows and mountain basins to the summit crest of the Pirin Range before the final "push" along an open ridge to Vichren’s summit where a 360 degree mountain panorama unfolds!
Alternatively, you can ride a chairlift through conifer-clad Pirin foothills to the Bezbog Chalet set on the shores of a lovely mountain tarn of the same name. On a serene summer day, the beauty of this little lake (Bezbozhko Ezero) reflecting the surrounding mountain ridges belies its name, Bezbog, meaning "without God," or "godforsaken." Magnificent mountain vistas accompany you on the walk from Bezbog Chalet to the Popovo Ezero ("Priest Lake"), one of the most beautiful of Pirin high country lakes whose crystalline waters sparkle in a splendid mountain setting.

Day 7
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight in Melnik

Depart Bansko bound for Melnik. Today you have the option of hiking across the Pirin Mountains via the pass known as Bűnderishka Porta. Ascend past the lovely Hvoînato Ezero ("Juniper Lake") to gain the crest of the range. Descend past the small tarns of the Spanopolski Ezera and on to the Yane Sandanski Chalet in the Popina Lâka area on the southwestern slope of the Pirin Range. If you’d rather, you can enjoy a morning hike to Hvoînato Ezero before traveling by vehicle to the Yane Sandanski Chalet to meet up with those hiking across the mountains. Cool your heels at the pretty Popinolâshki waterfall before traveling the rest of the way to Melnik by vehicle. Settle in for the night in the picturesque town of Melnik at the heart of a wine-producing region.

Day 8
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight in Kovachevitsa

In the early morning, set out on a short hike to the 18th century Sveti Nikola church, the ruins of a fortress, and the Sveta Zona chapel—all perched atop the bluffs south of Melnik. From atop the bluffs near the Sveta Zona chapel, enjoy classic views over Melnik. If you choose, you can continue through the sandstone pyramids of the Melnik "badlands" to the exquisite Rozhen Monastery. Sit under an ancient grape vine and absorb the special ambiance and tranquility of this place. Retreat to the cool comfort of a mehana in the nearby village of Rozhen for a mid-day meal. After lunch, travel by vehicle across the southern Pirin Range. A serpentine road twists its way to the meadows of Popovo Livadi at the crest of the range before descending to the Mesta River. The road then ascends into the Rhodope Mountains. Your destination is the well-preserved village of Kovachevitsa (3,500 feet above sea level) where you’ll enjoy an overnight stay at a superb traditional kashta lovingly managed by the Kapsazov family. Before dinner, wander through the streets of the village, or possibly, ascend to the St. George chapel that crowns a wooded ridge-top above the village.

Day 9
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight in Sofia

This morning explore Kovachevitsa village, set on a bench above the gorge of the Kanina River. (The village is filled with fine examples of National Revival architecture and has been named an architectural and historical reserve by the Bulgarian government.) Or, descend into the Kanina River Gorge following an ancient path that will bring you to the outskirts of the Rhodope Mountain village of Osikovo which enjoys a lovely view of the Pirin Range. In the afternoon, travel back to Sofia by vehicle. This evening, enjoy traditional Bulgarian cuisine at a farewell dinner! Your breakfast tomorrow is also included.


Other Details about this Trip
Dates: August 22-30, 2009
Price:   $2,995 (was $3,525)
Single room for entire trip: $275
Lodging: 10 nights in 4 or 3 star hotels and inns. Note: Your hotel in Sofia on the evening of August 21 is included. Accommodations on August 29 are with shared bath facilities.

Meals: 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners included
Trip Begins at the Radisson SAS Hotel or Crystal Palace Hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria
Trip Ends at the Radisson SAS Hotel or Crystal Palace Hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria
  Bulgarian flora (left to right): Balkan avens (Geum coccineum), yellow gentian, wild strawberry.   

Printable version of itinerary

Other Resources

A good place to start learning more about Bulgaria is the Travel Bulgaria website.
The United Nations World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides data on Pirin National Park including its history, administration, physical features and a list of important plant and animal species found in the park.
Learn more about the architecture and art of the World Heritage Boyana Church outside Sofia.
The Sofia City Guide is a great little website that "cuts to the chase" with information on the city—things to watch for and watch out for! A great way to familiarize yourself with Bulgaria's capital city.
The Sofia Echo is Sofia's English language newspaper. Keep up on the latest happenings in Sofia and Bulgaria, on-line!

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