RODOPI MOUNTAINS

The Rodopi are the most extensive mountain range in Bulgaria. A hauntingly beautiful and mysterious region, according to legend this was the home of Orpheus. The way of life seems to have changed little over the last few hundred years. Local people maintain a traditional rural existence, working the fields by hand and tending their livestock on the surrounding meadows and pastures. The Rodopi are a remote refuge for many exceptionally rare plants, as well as brown bears, wolves, wild cats and prolific bird life. We walk through a variety of landscapes including ancient coniferous forests and rugged limestone gorges and pass remote timeless villages where we'll experience the traditional rural way of life. We also visit two impressive caves, and the beautiful Bachkovo Monastery.