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| Explore — Worldwide 2008/09 |
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EUROPE
BULGARIA
The Rodopi trails
Rodopi Rambles
TREKKING GRADE A/B
Ref LBG
BULGARIA
Stunning views across the mountains
JFMAMJJASOND JFMA
Snow-shoeing in Bulgaria
TREKKING GRADE B
Ref BG
8 DAYS HOTEL ON FOOT IN BULGARIAS LITTLE-VISITED SOUTH
JFMAMJJASOND JFMA
Rodopi Rambles Ref LBG
From/To
SOFIA
City tour Plovdiv
Europe lie around every corner each a wonderfully refreshing view into a life far removed from our own.
Ma ri c a
5 DAYS HOTELS AN EXHILARATING WINTER BREAK IN THE BEAUTIFUL RILA MOUNTAINS
BULGARIA
Asenovgrad Orehovo Rock-arch Bridges walk Goljam Perensk 2091m Bachkovo Bachkovo Monastery Pilgrimage Path hike
R O D O P I
Hill hike Gela Yagodina Canyons hike Trigrad Visit caves GREECE km
0
M O Prespa U N 2000m T A I N S
Orpheus Rocks hills hike
Goljam Perelik 2191m Mogilitsa
EZEROVO
Smolyan Museum
Ar
Arda Valley hikes
da
Rocks of Rodopi From Yagodina we walk to the village of Trigrad with fine views along the way. We'll enjoy one of several lunches on this tour that we take with a local family Rodopi food is superb local fare with Greek, Turkish and Slavic elements to it before setting off to explore the impressive landscape around the village. Trigrad Gorge provides one of the most impressive views in the country, its huge walls rising up from the Trigradska River. The famous Devil's Throat Cave is just one of many caves that dot this karst limestone region and is possibly the most impressive, one which in addition has links with the legend of Orpheus. The regional centre of Smolyan has an interesting ethnographical exhibition which we'll also see during our stay. Bachkovo Monastery & Sofia Next we take a route to what are locally called 'wonder bridges' unique formations that result in huge archways of rock rising from the ground, and after a visit we set off north to Bachkovo Monastery. Dating from the 11th century this is the second largest monastery in the country and the murals in the medieval refectory are renowned. We'll hike on a pilgrimage path to the 'holy water' and a rock chapel where an icon to which miracles are attributed was found. Finally we drive to Sofia to finish with an evening walking tour of the city's sights.
Outdoor lovers take note: walking in the mountains need not stop when the snows come. This unusual break offers the chance to explore on snow-shoes Bulgarias wild and spectacular Rila Mountains, and to see the wonderful painted monastery of Rila, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Rila Mountains From Sofia we head south towards the Rila Massif, pausing en route to visit a traditional Bulgarian house before continuing into the mountains. Donning our snow-shoes for the first time, we should need just a few minutes to master the easy technique, after which we can head off for an introductory walk in the Malyovitsa area. The following day we plan to do a full day of snow-shoeing, taking silent paths up through the fragrant pine forest and deep into the untouched snow-covered wilderness. Rila Monastery & Sofia There is time for a further half day of snowshoeing ascending Zekiritza Ridge up to Pioneers hut before we reboard our vehicles and drive to the world-famous Rila Monastery. Beautifully preserved, covered in breathtaking frescoes and with the pine-clad Rila Mountains as a backdrop, the monastery is a wonderful sight at any time of year; but with a light dusting of snow it promises to be absolutely sublime. No doubt leaving our hearts in the mountains, we return to the capital for some sightseeing.
Snow-shoeing in Bulgaria Ref BG
SOFIA
BULGARIA
Alexander Nevski Cathedral
Vitosha 2290m
Lake Iskar
St
m
ru
0
a
Snow-shoeing walks in the Rila Mountains
MOUNTAIN HOTEL
1770m
km
Maliovitza 2729m Rila Monastery 40
R
AN
GE
R
IL
A
25
FACTFILE
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Sofia; drive to Rila Mountains. 2 & 3 Two full days snow-shoeing. 4 Morning snow-shoeing; drive to Sofia via Rila Monastery. 5 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 4nts hotel; 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 4 dinners included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/On foot. Comment: This short but active, hotel-based trip requires no previous snow-shoeing experience. The walking is moderate (approx 4-6 hours a day, with a maximum of 650m ascent). Equipment provided. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Leader/mountain guide(s) plus driver. Group Size: Approx. 12 to 16.
Bordering Greece, the Rodopi Mountains are known as the home of Orpheus and Dionysus a land of myth and legend, but also of remarkable natural features, little-visited villages, monasteries and friendly people. This easy/moderate walking tour seeks to get off the beaten path, walking between villages for an insight into this unique area's landscapes and people, with an emphasis on great walking and lots of local contact.
Ezerovo & the Arda River Valley We stay in a family-run guesthouse in Ezerovo for this centre-based week just perfect for our exploration of Bulgaria's Rodopi Mountains. Locally owned by a family with a passion for the region we are assured of a friendly welcome and can look forward to enjoying traditional Bulgarian hospitality and some great food each night as we return from our walks! We explore using old mountain paths, typical of the area and still used by shepherds today. This whole region is one of only a few wild places left in Europe, where man thankfully still has to compete with brown bears, wolves and eagles, and where a wide variety of rare wild-flowers, found nowhere else, still manage to survive including the symbol of the Rodopi, the Orpheus flower (Haberlea rhodopensis). Almost untouched by tourism, cameo images of a fast disappearing
FACTFILE
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Sofia. 2 Hikes above Ezerovo. 3 Drive Arda River valley and walk old mountain roads and paths to Mogilitsa. 4 Transfer to Gela for walks above village to Stikal, visiting chapel en route. 5 Drive Smolyan for hikes in the region of the Orpheus rocks and waterfalls; PM visit the History Museum in Smolyan. 6 Drive Yagodina and walk to Trigrad, visit gorge and cave. 7 Drive and walk to 'wonder bridges' and Orehovo; visit Bachkovo Monastery before driving to Sofia; evening walking tour. 8 Fly Sofia/London. Accommodation & Meals: 7nts guesthouse; 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 6 dinners included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/On foot Comment: A great opportunity to explore an area we are sure will soon become a magnet for walkers. Being centre-based all walks are optional. Bring comfortable walking boots. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s). Group Size: 12 to 16.
Rila Monastery in winter/Peter Eshelby
Trek length and gradients
1700m 1600m 1500m 1400m 1300m 1200m 1100m Day 2 3.5hrs Ezerovo Ezerovo Ezerovo Ezerovo
Day 3 3.5hrs
Day 4 4.5hrs
Day 5 3hrs
Day 6 2.5hrs
Request a tour dossier for comprehensive tour information
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