Bid farewell to the tourist trail – Bulgaria is a place of hidden secrets and ancient folklore
Trips to Bulgaria
An adventure holiday to Bulgaria is one full of hidden surprises. Challenge yourself with a trek into the Pirin and Rodopi Mountains, where the soaring summits leave you breathless.
With medieval monasteries, enchanted caves with mythical histories and forests that echo with the plaintive cry of Europe’s remaining wolves, a trip to Bulgaria wins in the fairytale stakes.
Southwestern Bulgaria is dominated by two dramatic mountain ranges, the Pirin and the equally imposing Rila. Try hiking across stunning passes and glacial lakes and even ascend Musala, the highest on the Balkan Peninsula. This is raw and rugged nature at its most epic.
Bulgarian Cuisine
Bulgarian cuisine combines the rich influence of the Ottoman Empire with a peasant cooking style that piles in the country’s tasty vegetables and herbs. Shopska salad, banitsa, kebabche, kyufte, lyutenitsa… these are just a few of the delicious traditional dishes to sample. Try fish soup on the coast, fruit and veg in the plains, and cheese in the mountains.
Villages
Discover Bulgaria’s pretty towns and villages, like Koprivshtitsa, Kovachevitsa, Etar and Bozhentsi, and you learn about Bulgarian customs and traditions. Pick fresh fruit and veg at local markets and enjoy a slower pace of life.
Mud bathing
Renowned for its skin and healing properties, the mud near Atanasovsko Lake has formed over millions of years. Aside from applying it to your skin, you can also float in the saline pool next to the baths.
Spend a week in the Rodopi Mountains discovering the realm of the brown bear. Record tracks, scats and other signs of bear activity as part of an ongoing conservation project, and visit a specially constructed bear-watching hide to see these beguiling animals in their natural habitat.
I am keen on the natural world, fascinated by large carnivores – walking and sharing their world was the reason for booking. The spectacular mountain ranges are wild and empty of people. I enjoyed the fact that each day had a different emphasis and the lack of rest day enabled us to really make the most of our surroundings. Relaxing drinks on the patio, a feast of local delights and the company of likeminded, funny and interesting folk was a great end to each day.
I’d love to return in the autumn , but the wildflowers and butterflies were superb.
I thought this was an excellent week, with beautiful walks in spectacular scenery and almost no other hikers; fantastic flora and the excellent guide explained lots about the wildlife and history of the region which I hadn’t known much about. The local staff were very hospitable and it’s hard to see how the week could have been much better
Beautiful scenery- forests, mountains,wildflower meadows. If you like getting off the beaten track you will love this.
Enjoyed the evening meals in the hotel. Our group would meet for drinks on the terrace beforehand. It was a fun and sociable week.
