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Rila and Rhodope Mtns, Bulgaria
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8 days/7 nights
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⛰1000-2300m above sea
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🚴🏻♂️ 30-70km per day
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↑750-1400m of ascent
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🌞best period June to October
This is an 8-day guided cross country mountain biking tour that covers the best routes in Southern Rila and Western Rhodope mountains of Bulgaria. The terrain is 80-85% dirt roads with low technical difficulty and hard descents, the ascents are strenious and distances vary between 30 to 70km per day.
Crossing the mountains from the west to the east along this route is a physical challenge and also a chance to see varying landscapes and views every day with no bus transfer times, loading and unloading bikes, just riding from one accommodation to another every day.
Luggage transfers, bike support and guiding are provided, as well as accommodation in small villages, family guest houses and mountain huts. Start and end points of the tour could be Sofia or Plovdiv.
The route in Rila involves a visit and accommodation at a hut at 2300 meters above the sea, also riding along one of the highest dirt roads in the Rila National Park – the Macedonia Hut to Belmeken Dam road. Visit to the Semkovo area and the Belitsa Bears Park.
In the Western Rhodopes we will ride across Velijski Rodopi range and the villages of Ortsevo and Zlataritsa. The area is distinct with its well kept rural life communities, best views towards Rila and Pirin mountains, as well as smooth rolling hills and sandy trails. Further we pass by Dospat Dam and the villages of Yagodina and Trigrad, located near Trigrad Gorge and Buynovsko Gorge. We will finish our route near the villages of Mugla and Gela in the foot of the highest ridge of the Rhodopes – Perelik Ridge. Final visit to the town of Devin and depart to Sofia.
Trip Price Upon Request
Please let us know about your group size, travel period and adjustments of the itinerary needed and we will offer you our price.
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Rila Mountains: Macedonia Hut – Semkovo – Belitsa Bear Park – Treshtenik – 50 km, +1100 m.
Day 3: Rila Mountains: Treshtenik – Belmeken – Ortsevo – 72 km, +1400 m.
Day 4: Rhodope Mountains: Ortsevo – Zlataritsa – Dospat Lake – 65km, +740 m.
Day 5: Rhodope Mountains: Dospat – Yagodina – 45 km, +1020 m.
Day 6: Rhodope Mountains: Yagodina – Trigrad – Chairski Lakes Hut – Mugla Village – 32 km, +960 m.
Day 7: Rhodope Mountains: Mugla village – Gela village – Solishta village – Shiroka Luka Village – 50 km, +940m
Day 8: Rhodope Mountains: Shiroka Luka village – town of Devin – Sofia
Day 1: Arrival
Pick up from Sofia airport and drive to the town of Blagoevgrad and further to the start point at Bodrost locality – 2.15h. Pick up the bikes and adjustment of the equipment. Ride up to Macedonia Hut – dirt road, 8km, +730 m. Accommodation at the hut.
Day 2: Rila Mountains: Macedonia Hut – Semkovo – Belitsa Bear Park – Treshtenik
We start with a ride from Macedonia Hut to the Semkovo area and then we follow dirt roads on the southern slopes of Rila Mountains towards the Belitsa Bears Park. Visit to the park and lunch. Afternoon ride to Treshtenik area, accommodation in a hotel.
Total for the day 50 km, +1100 m.
Day 3: Rila Mountains: Treshtenik – Belmeken – Ortsevo
From Treshtenik we start with an uphill ride along the aphalt for about 4km, then we start following the panoramic channel road towards the high mountain dam of Belmeken, located at 2000 m above the sea level, in Eastern Rila. The road goes up and down and offers great views towards Rila, Pirin and the Rhodope ranges.
After a short stop at the lake we`ll descend towards the highest train station on the Balkans near the village of Avramovo – the Avramovo train station at 1300 m. We further enter the Rhodopes range and follow some gentle dirt roads, passing by the highest peak of the area and descending down to Ortsevo village at 1500 m. Accommodation in a local guest house – private rooms, but common bathroom.
Total for the day: 72 km, +1400 m.
Day 4: Rhodope Mountains: Ortsevo – Zlataritsa – Dospat Lake
We bike along a very panoramic ridge that offers views towards Pirin Range and reach the remotest village in the area – Zlataritsa. Further we follow the main ridge and finally descend to the town of Sarnitsa, on the west shore of Dospat Lake. A final ride around the lake will take us to the town of Dospat, Western Rhodope Mountains.
Total for the day: 65km, +740 m.
Day 5: Rhodope Mountains: Dospat – Yagodina
We leave the town and start following an ancient Roman road, very close to the borther with Greece. Passing by a few nearly abandoned villages, we finally reach the valley of Buinovska River and descend along it down to Yagodinska Cave. A final short ascent takes us to the village of Yagodina (The Strawberry village) at 1500 m. Accommodation in a family hotel.
Total for the day: 45 km, +1020 m.
Day 6: Rhodope Mountains: Yagodina – Trigrad – Chairski Lakes Hut – Mugla Village
We head to the village of Trigrad, following a gentle road through the forests. Visit to the village, Trigrad Gorge and Devil`s Throat Cave. Lunch. Afternoon ride up to Chairski Lakes and further via the abandoned village of Chamla. Final descent to Mugla village. Accommodation in a local family hotel.
Total for the day: 32 km, +960 m.
Day 7: Rhodope Mountains: Mugla village – Gela village – Solishta village – Shiroka Luka Village
From the village of Mugla we climb the slopes of the highest range in the area – Perelik Ridge, following a dirt road. We cross the ridge at a pass at 1900 m and then descend down to the famous Gela village. Ride across the villages of Stikul and Solishta with final descent takes us to the architectural reserve of Shiroka Luka for a visit and accommodation.
Total for the day: 50 km, +940m
Day 8: Rhodope Mountains: Shiroka Luka village – town of Devin – Sofia
Option for a half day asphalt ride to the town of Devin and visit of the outdoor mineral pools.
Transfer to Sofia – 3,5h. Departure/end of service.
General Tour Info
The best period for this tour
Best time to take this trip is June to October.
Please note the Google map does not represents 1:1 the detailed route of our itinerary, is for general reference only.
