In the footsteps of Orpheus

You will be met at Sofia Airport and transferred to your overnight accommodation in the tranquil mountain town of Devin (3 hrs drive).

Overnight: Devin

You have two options on your first walking day in the Rhodopes;

Option 1

Distance: 9.5 km | Ascent: 565 m | Descent: 355 m

A 40 min transfer takes you to the entry of the Yagodinska Peshtera Cave: one of Bulgaria’s longest caves, which you can opt to view. Once finished with the cave tour, proceed for Trigrad village through idyllic landscapes of rolling crests, forests, and valleys.

Option 2

Distance: 16/21 km | Ascent: 1070/1385 m | Descent: 750/1065 m

A 30min transfer takes you to the trailhead where a moderate but nice ascent through gardens and woods brings you up at the crest of the mountain. Enjoy the breath-taking views from the famous Eagle’s Eye observation platform. You then descend to Yagodina village, from where you can make a detour to visit the Yagodinska Peshtera Cave or head straight for Trigrad village.

*For those who choose the shorter walk, there is also an option to extend the hike with a visit to the Trigradsko Zhdrelo Gorge (with its 350m high vertical cliffs) and the Dyavolskoto Gyrlo (The Devil’s Throat) Cave (housing the highest underground waterfall in the Balkans, 42m high), both near Trigrad. These are both must-see attractions, and they can also be done in the afternoon of Day 3 or Day 4 by those who opted for the longer treks on Day 2.

Overnight: Trigrad

Distance: 18 km | Ascent: 700 m | Descent: 700 m | 5½ hrs approx.

Magnetic sights follow each other on another circular hiking tour around Trigrad, with the authentic village of Zhrebevo at its distant end. Legend has it that the village was named after a stallion which shielded it from trouble and strife. Along your route, you will observe the entry to the Trigradsko Zhdrelo Gorge and enjoy wonderful panoramic vistas.

Overnight: Trigrad

Distance: 17 km | Ascent: 670 m | Descent: 760 m | 5½ hrs approx.

Today, starting with a 10-minute transfer to the trailhead, you enjoy a particularly pleasant walking trek to the village of Vodni Pad right by the Greek border. Here you will see remains of barbed wire fences which were erected to prevent people escaping into Greece during the 45 years of communist rule following WWII.

A circular trail takes you over panoramic crests, through pine forests, sheltered valleys and green meadows dotted with smallholdings and traditional stone houses. The valley of the Trigradska River takes you back to Trigrad.

Overnight: Trigrad

Distance: 21 km | Ascent: 500 m | Descent: 850 m | 6 hrs approx.

A transfer to the village of Beden takes you to the start of today’s particularly panoramic trek. The views over the Rhodopes’ green crests change at each turn. The day ends at the village of Lyaskovo, one of the most distinctive local communities, with unforgettable charm and unique atmosphere. Your stay will leave you with wonderful memories of Rhodope hospitality.

* There is an option to extend the tour with extra night in Lyaskovo village, incl. a circular trek along the nearby mountain ridges.

Overnight: Lyaskovo

Distance: 18 km | Ascent: 950 m | Descent: 550 m | 5½ hrs approx.

A picturesque hiking route through the dense Rhodopes’ spruce forests takes you to the majestic marble bridges of the Chudni Mostove (‘wonderful bridges’), an impressive natural rock phenomenon in the karst valley of the river Erkyupriya. From here, you will be transferred to the village of Kossovo: a unique mountain community where you overnight in a traditional stone house.

Overnight: Kossovo

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Bulgaria’s second‐largest monastery at Bachkovo. The church is decorated with 1850s frescoes by renowned artist Zahari Zograf and houses a much-cherished icon of the Virgin Mary.

Another transfer then takes you further to Plovdiv and the starting point of the free Plovdiv tour (starting at 11:00), which will show you the main sites of interest of the Old Town, the centre and the pedestrian area of the city. Time on your own until early afternoon in Plovdiv (14:00) and transfer to Sofia in order to make it on time for the free Sofia tour, starting at 18:00 (similar service, meant to show you the most famous tourist attractions in the centre of Sofia).

Overnight: Sofia

Your walking holiday comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you need to catch a flight from Sofia Airport, you can reach it by metro (30 mins approx.) or taxi (less than 10 mins).