Pirin-Rodopi Mountain Trek - Trekking Trip

Accommodation

We stay in 3-star hotels (days 1, 2 & 6), family-run hotel (days 4 & 5) and guesthouse (day 7) with private facilities and in a tradional oldfashion house (day 3) with shared facilities on HB (breakfast & dinner included). Ordering lunchpacks is available in each of the hotels if necessary for the day walks (at the amount of 5-6 Euro).

Itineraries

Arrive at Sofia or Plovdiv airport and transfer to Bansko for overnight accommodation (about 3 hrs).

After breakfast we head for the foothills of the Pirin Mountains, above the Vihren hut (1,950 m). There we visit the Muratovo, Ribnoto, Dulgoto, Zhabeshkoto and Okoto lakes. After that we go back to Bansko by bus, with a short stop to the oldest tree in Bulgaria (more than 1,300 years old!). Later in the afternoon we will embark on a short sightseeing trip along the streets of Bansko.
Uphill/downhill walk: 300/300 m.; walking time: 3-5 hrs

In the morning we have a transfer to the foothills of the Pirin Mountains, but this time to Dobrinishte (a 15 minute drive). From there the bus travels on to the Gotse Delchev hut (about 20 min drive). Here we take the chairlift to the Bezbog hut. The target of the day is Mount Polezhan (2,851 m). This trip offers probably the most beautiful panoramic views available from these mountains. We return to the Gotse Delchev hut via the same lift. In the late afternoon we head to Leshten village and further to the village of Kovachevitsa (some 70 km from Dobrinishte). The overnight in Kovachevitsa will be preceded by a short walk along the paved streets and the stony walls of the ancient houses of both villages.
Uphill/downhill walk: 650/650 m.; walking time: 5 hrs

After breakfast we make a short stroll to the chapel of St.George above Kovachevitsa. After this, our bus will take us some 90 km further on to Trigrad village (3 hrs drive) where we stay for the next two nights. We will pause for lunch by the blue waters of the Dospat dam.
Uphill/downhill walk: 350/350 m; walking time: 2-3 hrs

In the morning we continue southeast to the peak of the ridge by Trigrad village and then further on to Vodni Pad village. The return journey is a real delight, tracing the Trigradska River all the way to Trigrad village before continuing on to the Trigrad Gorge (1,450 m) for another 30 minutes.
Uphill/downhill walk: 400/450 m; walking time: 5-6 hrs

After breakfast we leave the hotel in Trigrad on foot. A good dirt track, following the upper edge of Trigrad Gorge, leads to the village of Yagodina and Yagodina Cave where we have about 45 min cave tour.The bus will be waiting by the entrance of the cave, and will transport us to Shiroka Luka (1,060 m, or 3,477 ft), where we will stay overnight.
Uphill/downhill walk: 250/600 m; walking time: 3-4 hrs

In the morning we will be transferred about 65 km north of Shiroka Luka for a final trek among the dense Beech woods of The Red Wall reserve. Then we take the bus, setting for Plovdiv via Bachkovo Monastery - the second largest in Bulgaria. We stay overnight in Plovdiv, where we will have some free time in the late afternoon for sightseeing and shopping.
Uphill/downhill walk: 650/650 m; walking time: 2-3 hrs

Early transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv airport for departure