Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1

8.00- Departure from Varna

Instructions about the entire program are presented while traveling. 15 minute rest stops every 3 hours.

13.00- arrival in Plovdiv

13.15- Lunch in downtown Plovdiv

14.15- visit to the antique amphitheatre, downtown and the old city

16.45- Departure from Plovdiv to Assenovgrad

17.30- visit to the medieval fortress of Bulgarian tsar Assen

19.00- accommodation in Assenovgrad and dinner

20.00- free time (walk through the city)

Day 2

7.00- breakfast

8.30- departure from Assenovgrad towards the village of Bachkovo

9.30- visit to the Bachkovo Monastery, the second biggest in Bulgaria and visit to the Chervenata Stena (The Red Wall) national reserve

12.00- lunch in the vicinity of the monastery in traditional Bulgarian taverns with superb Rhodope cuisine

13.00-departure for the Chudnite Mostove (The Wondrous Bridges) natural landmark

14.30- accommodation in a beautiful inn right next to the phenomenal landmark

15.00- descending in to the area, also suitable for rock climbing. Sightseeing in the area and introduction to the Rhodope mountain flora and fauna

19.30- Dinner and free time (there is the option of staging games in the area and a night walk to the nearby “Skalnite mostove” (The Rock Bridges) inn

Day 3

7.00- breakfast

8.30- departure from the inn through the peak of Persenk at 2074 m above the sea, passage through the area of Gluhite Kamuni or the Deaf Stones, the Aidarski peak and to the “Izgrev” inn. The excess luggage of the group is transported to the next accommodation point- the village of Shiroka Laka.

13.30-arrival at the inn; lunch

15.00- passage to the village of Shiroka Laka

18.00- arrival, accommodation and dinner in a traditional folk and ethnographic village; sightseeing in the village- the folklore school and introduction to customs of the region

20.30- free time (folk music program introducing dancers of school for folk dance at Shiroka Luka and the folk ansamble “Bulgare”

Duration of the passage: 8 hours; ascent-650 meters; descent-450 meters.

Day 4

7.00-breakfast

8.30-transportation from Shiroka Laka to the Trigradsko Gorge

9.30- arrival and visit to Djavolsko Garlo (Devil's Throat) and the Iagodinska caves, visit to the ancient Bulgarian settlement near the Iagodinska cave, trolley descent into the gorge. The Trigradsko gorge is unique on the Balkan Peninsula and a photo safari is more than imperative!

13.30- lunch in the area of the Trigradska River

14.30- descent into the Haramijska cave, limited to groups of up to 10 people due to the narrowness of the cave and difficult terrain. If the groups is larger, a jeep safari is the alternative option.

19.30- departure from the gorge to Trigrad

20.30- accommodation and dinner, free time in Trigrad

Day 5

7.00-breakfast

8.30-departure from Trigrad for the town of Smolian

10.00- arrival at Smolian and sightseeing of cultural, historical and natural landmarks

12.30-lunch break

14.00-departure for the natural landmark of Djavolski Most or Devil's bridge near the town of Ardino

15.00- arrival at the area and sightseeing. The region is perfect for horseback riding, jeep safari and mountain biking.

19.30-departure for the town of Ardino

20.00-accomodation in the town of Ardino

20.15- dinner and music entertainment by local performers of Bulgarian Kaba pipes

Day 6

7.00- breakfast

8.30- leaving town and heading to the Studen Kladenetz (Cold Well) dam

9.30- extreme program-rock climbing, kayak and rafting are perfect for this area. Wild and beautiful nature form a great setting for a photo safari. The area around the dam has the greatest density of elk and wolf population in Bulgaria.

13.30- lunch in the area of the joining point of the dam and the river Arda

15.30- departure for the town of Madjarovo, the only place in the Balkans where three of the four species of vultures, populating Europe, can be observed

17.00- arrival, accommodation and bird watching; a visit to the Visitor's Office in town

19.30-dinner and free time

Day 7

7.00- breakfast

8.30- departure from Madjarovo

11.00- arrival in the town of Sliven and visit to the “Sinite Kamuni” (The Blue Stones) park

12.00- lunch and free time

14.00- mountain biking and short passages depending on the participants' wishes

16.00- departure for Varna

19.30- arrival in Varna. End of the program