This was my first group walking holiday and I am pleased to say it exceeded my expectations. The... Phil McLean, 2017 See more reviews
This was a great walking holiday in mountains that were not busy or developed in the same way of... Richard Broughton, 2016 See more reviews
A great week with long days rewarded with amazing vistas and sweeping panoramas. Martin Maley, 2016 See more reviews
One of the best weeks walking in mountains we have experienced. The scenery was breathtaking. The... Philip Hogsflesh, 2015 See more reviews
Great walking with a great group of people.Vlademir lead the group very well, keeping everyone... John Muir, 2015 See more reviews
I have been on plenty of holidays like this one and this was one of the best. I was on the same... Anonymous, 2014 See more reviews
This was an excellent Exodus trip. Each hike was beautiful and challenging. It was interesting... Beth Barnes, 2014 See more reviews
A weeks hard core walking in the beautiful Bulgarian mountains, bagging peaks and soaking up... Penny Daffarn, 2014 See more reviews
It has been three years since my last Exodus trip and this one reminded me of what I had missed.... Anonymous, 2013 See more reviews
Great leader. Very tough walking but accomadation great, so would recommend separate gradeing of... Anonymous, 2012 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all Day 1 Fly to Sofia; transfer to Bansko Fly to Sofia. On arrival in the late afternoon, we transfer 2 hours 45 minutes to our hotel in Bansko, an atmospheric mountain town at the gateway to the Pirin Mountains, which will be our base for the next three nights. In the evening our guide will hold a welcome briefing and discuss the week ahead and answer any questions. Molerite Hotel or similar Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Hike the Todrina Porta pass (2500m) via Vasilashki and Bandersihki lakes Having hiked up the Demyanitsa Valley, we start a long steady climb which takes us first past the Vasilashki lakes, then two more small but beautifully formed lakes known as the 'Eyes of Todorka'. Eventually, we cross over the high pass Todorina Porta (2,500m), an outstanding viewpoint, before descending steeply via the Bunderishki lakes to the Vihren hut where we will be picked up and driven on down to our base. This evening dinner is not included, leaving you free to choose your own place to eat from the many traditional inns and restaurants in the town. Molerite Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 3 Ascent of Mt. Vihren (2914m), the highest peak in the Pirin Mountains Today we will attempt an ascent of Mt. Vihren (2,914m), the highest peak in the Pirin National Park and the second highest in Bulgaria. Beginning from the Vihren hut, our walk takes us steadily up into the dramatic Golyam Kazan cirque which lies directly beneath Vihren's towering 400-metre high north wall. Here, as well as enjoying breath-taking mountain scenery, we can also find several beautiful endemic alpine flowers such as the delicate yellow 'Pirin Poppy'. From the cirque, a long exciting scramble takes us up white marble rocks to the summit, which on a clear day offers a wonderful panorama over the entire Pirin range. There follows a steep descent back down to our bus for the return to Bansko. Once again this evening's dinner is not included, leaving you free to choose your own place to eat. Molerite Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 4 Visit the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and walk in the surrounding nature reserve Leaving Bansko, we transfer to the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As well as visiting the monastery itself, we will also have a pleasant walk in the surrounding forests which have been designated a nature park. During our walk we will have the chance to visit a couple of isolated chapels and a cave which are closely associated with the intriguing life story of St. Ivan Rilski, a local hermit who was to become the patron saint of Bulgaria. Our accommodation for this night will be a hotel conveniently located in the beautiful Rilska Reka valley, just a short drive from the Monastery. Hotel Gorski Kut or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Panoramic hike through the heart of the Rila Mountains Whilst our luggage is transferred round the mountains by road, we make a long demanding trek through the heart of the Rila National Park. Our route leads us up and over one of the highest and most imposing ridges in the Rila Mountains. Finally rejoining our bus on the other side of the range, we transfer to our hotel in the small village of Govedartsi, where we will be based for two nights. Family Hotel Djambazki or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Ascent of Mt Malyovitsa (2729m) Today we explore the region at the head of the Malyovitsa Valley and attempt an ascent of Mt. Malyovitsa (2,729m), one of the highest and most imposing peaks in this part of the Rila Mountains. The whole walk offers stunning views, as well as an opportunity to observe an interesting variety of typical alpine birds. We then return to our hotel in Govedartsi for a second night. Family Hotel Djambazki or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Ascent of Mt Musala (2925m); transfer to Sofia Having checked out of our hotel, our goal for today is Mt. Musala (2,925m), the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula. To accomplish the ascent as a day walk, we will use the cabin-lift from Borovets which will take us up to a starting altitude of about 2,300m. The route to the summit is well-graded, winding up past a succession of sparkling glacial lakes around the shores of which one can find blooming the endemic 'Rila Primrose'. We then end the day with a short 90 minute transfer to Sofia, where we will spend our final night. Hill Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Fly to London. Fly back to London Meals included: Breakfast
Bulgaria: Rodopi Mountains Spectacular trekking in Bulgaria's mountain landscape Guided Group Walking & Trekking 8 days Incl. Flights From £1,079 4.5 / 5 from 20 reviews Add to wishlist
Bulgaria Visas are not required for Bulgaria for British and other EU passport holders. Other nationalities should check with the relevant authorities.
Bulgaria There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Yellow Fever. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice.
Hotels You will spend 7 nights in comfortable tourist-class hotels offering twin rooms with private facilities. The hotels are 2 to 3 star in the Bulgarian system of classification, but rooms are clean and comfortable. Single accommodation is not available on this trip.
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Reviewed September 2017 Phil McLean Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria High Peaks of Bulgaria, August 2017 This was my first group walking holiday and I am pleased to say it exceeded my expectations. The itinerary for the trip is excellent, including a couple of peaks I knew I wanted to visit (Vihren and Musala) and several other walks I would probably not have stumbled across and which were all really enjoyable. The walk up Malyovitsa was a particular highlight, and the preceding day crossing the Rila mountains was also stunning. Overall there was a nice variety of scenery and types of walking (forests, lakes, valleys, ridges, plateaux) and a nice 'flow' to the week's itinerary as we moved from one area to the next. I enjoyed not having to think about logistics and simply enjoy the walking and the company of the group. The hotels were all very pleasant and we were very lucky with some superb weather too! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It's hard to pick one single highlight but the views from the summits of Vihren and Malyovitsa were superb. What did you think of your group leader? Vladimir was a truly excellent guide - unwaveringly enthusiastic, sociable, and knowledgeable!
Reviewed September 2016 Richard Broughton Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria Great walking holiday This was a great walking holiday in mountains that were not busy or developed in the same way of the alps. There was no technical climbing, but some scrambling and even rocky paths. The days were long, but with bus support we did not have to camp so could shower and relax in the evening. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The final ascent of Vihren was very impressive with a huge limestone summit that looked spectacular in the sun. What did you think of your group leader? The group leader was excellent both on and off the mountain. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Whilst all the paths can be walked, the rocks require concentration to not slip over. The days are long particularly the ridge walk which ends with an added forest walk to the nearest road. Is there anything else you would like to add? Perhaps spend another day in Sofia, as the group flight was very early and I enjoyed the city.
Reviewed July 2016 Martin Maley Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria Amazing panoramas, head earned. A great week with long days rewarded with amazing vistas and sweeping panoramas. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching the top after a 1400m ascent on a 22km day. Tough, but ooooh so rewarding! What did you think of your group leader? Maria was excellent. Well organised, very safety conscious (counting her "ducklings" at regular intervals to make sure all was well) and aware Of the differing speeds and technical ability of the group. All one would wish for in a leader. Possibly would have benefitted from the presence of an assistant. Marshalling 15 people of varying abilities in such harsh terrain seemed a stretch to me. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you are well prepared and fit. The advertised walking times were always exceeded by at least an hour and a half so prepare for long slow ascents and arguably over hasty descents to compensate for the time "lost." Is there anything else you would like to add? The trip summary on the website states six dinners are included (whilst the detailed notes say five) it is in fact five so you will have an extra dinner to pay for if you relied on the summary. Bulgaria however is inexpensive so this whilst irksome ( especially as it has gone unaddressed for several trips) is not a material calamity.
Reviewed September 2015 Philip Hogsflesh Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria Bulgarian National Parks One of the best weeks walking in mountains we have experienced. The scenery was breathtaking. The people were extremely friendly. The walking was challenging and very rewarding. We will remember the summit days of Mount Vihren, Mount Malyovitsa and Mount Musala for a long time. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The summit days of Mount Vihren, Mount Malyovitsa and Mount Musala were exceptional walking days. They were challenging but very rewarding. What did you think of your group leader? Vladimir was an excellent group leader. He had a comprehensive knowledge of the mountains and was clearly very proud of his country. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you train for day after day of hill walking for this trip and that you have a high level of fitness for this holiday. We walk regularly walk in the Lakeland fells and we found the walking challenging, especially the summit days. Is there anything else you would like to add? It would be really good if Exodus did a follow up week of other Bulgarian mountains and ridge walks. The mountain scenery is breathtaking and we would like to experience more of it.
Reviewed August 2015 John Muir Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria Bulgarian National Parks Great walking with a great group of people.Vlademir lead the group very well, keeping everyone involved. His extensive knowledge of local sights & customs kept us all informed throughout the holiday. Loved the traditional Bulgarian hotels. The movement from place to place was well organised & Vlademir ensured we kept to a tight schedule. We were also blessed with great weather apart from a couple of hours on the seven lakes walk when we were bombarded with hail & thunder. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching the mountain summits Vihren & Musalla. What did you think of your group leader? Excellent . Could not have been better. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you are fit enough before booking this holiday. My fellow group members were all walking enthusiasts so this kept us all together. Is there anything else you would like to add? Superb holiday. Magical scenery.
Reviewed October 2014 Anonymous Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria Bulgarian National Parks I have been on plenty of holidays like this one and this was one of the best. I was on the same trip as Beth and Penny who have also posted reviews and I echo what they have said. We were blessed with good weather, a group that worked well together and an excellent leader. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? This is a trip with plenty of highlights. What did you think of your group leader? Valdimir has quiet, calm, professionalism about him and that makes him one of the best leaders I have come across. Taking a group of 16 people with ages ranging from mid-20's to mid-60's into the mountains can be tricky. He set a pace which kept us moving but equally kept us together as a single group. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be well prepared! The trip is marked as grade 5, Challenging and that is a fair grading. Each day had separate challenges, and mountain weather can be variable at the best of times. Make sure you take plenty of food up the mountain as there are some long days when it's necessary to keep the energy levels up. Always carry extra clothing and waterproofs. Is there anything else you would like to add? Having read the review posted in July 2013 which comments about the lack of time in Sofia, I arranged to stay in Sofia an extra night and fly home independently (with easyJet) the next day. As well as saving myself a 4am alarm call it meant I was able join a Walking Tour of the city. This was a great way to see and find out about the city.
Reviewed September 2014 Beth Barnes Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria Fantastic hiking This was an excellent Exodus trip. Each hike was beautiful and challenging. It was interesting to hike two different mountain ranges; though unique, they both had stunning scenery and good trails. The Bulgarian food was good, and Vladimir our leader was superb. If you’re reasonably fit and love to hike, you can’t go wrong with this choice. This was our 4th Exodus trip and we had a wonderful time. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Wednesday was the toughest day, 22km with 1400m elevation gain. It was long and steady - totally manageable. Getting to the high point of the ridge that day after almost 4 hours of ascent was very rewarding. And it was awesomely beautiful. What did you think of your group leader? Vladimir was the best leader we've ever had. He was fun, knowledgeable, caring and organized. He managed the group so well, keeping the perfect pace for everyone. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? We had participants from the ages of mid-20s to mid-60s. Everyone was fit and all were fine with the challenge. The trip was great because no one was falling behind. Be ready for a challenging week. Is there anything else you would like to add? Bulgaria is a beautiful country and this trip was fantastic.
Reviewed August 2014 Penny Daffarn Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria Bulgarian National Parks A weeks hard core walking in the beautiful Bulgarian mountains, bagging peaks and soaking up amazing views. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? This week was full of highlights and it would be crazy to try to single out only one. Every peak conquered was a huge achievement and every view spectacular! What did you think of your group leader? Over the years of Exodus travel we always expect the leaders to be exceptional and Vladimir is up there with the best. He loves his country and is knowledgable and keen to share all aspects of it with the group. He was very patient, never stressed or anxious and always happy to 'go the extra mile' with any request or problem. A really nice guy he has a story about every lake and mountain top, almost every one involved a beautiful girl from Bansko! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? This is not a walk in the park! Make sure you are really fit. The days are long and the walks are usually steady steep climbs, some scrambling, boulder bouncing and some narrow edges. And of course what goes up must come down, so if you've got dodgy knees......! But it is all doable and the rewards are there, fabulous views and a huge sense of achievement! Is there anything else you would like to add? As usual in the mountains, be prepared for hot and cold and wet, you will need the full range of kit, waterproofs, hat and gloves, sun cream, etc. It's a fabulous holiday, go for it!
Reviewed July 2013 Anonymous Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria BULGARIAN NATIONAL PARKS It has been three years since my last Exodus trip and this one reminded me of what I had missed. Great accomodation, lots of quality chunky walks, pleasant group and outstanding leader. Able to relax in evenings. Holiday as well as a challenge. Met friendly people everywhere. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Enjoyed the penultimate walk especially winding up through several lakes over snow to peak. Surprised by good quality of hotels. Also managed to see the final set of Wimbledon after walk(avoiding the stress of the first two sets!) in hotel restaurant. The Bulgarians were accomodating of our enthusiasm. What did you think of your group leader? Competent,organised ,charismatic and likeable. Introduced us to Bulgarian culture in imaginative way. Won`t spoil it for others by telling his stories! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I was anticipating searing hot temperatures but the mountain walks were reasonably cool(some snow about) which was a blessing for ascent. Is there anything else you would like to add? Only reservation was missing a quick tour of Sofia at the end due to half the group being on early flight. The final hotel was upmarket but unfortunately some of us didn`t get to enjoy it as we left 4am.
Reviewed October 2012 Anonymous Trip: High Peaks of Bulgaria BULGARIAN NATIONAL PARKS Great leader. Very tough walking but accomadation great, so would recommend separate gradeing of walking and accomadation. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? 5 mountain tops in 7 days! What did you think of your group leader? Very good. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be aware that walking is long days in hot conditions. Accomadation and food great but good level of fitness required. Is there anything else you would like to add? Enjoy trip with great group. Our leader was brilliant and great fun with good local knowledge. Our driver was allways on time and drove very carefully. Accomadation was good with plenty of nice local food. Local food and drink also resonable priced.
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