Self-Guided Trips

While we mainly offer guided hiking and mountain biking trips to the mountains of Bulgaria and around, we understand and respect that many people would prefer to travel in a more independent and flexible manner and organize things by theselfs. Unless you want to take it completely adventurous and just hang around, that usually means more planning hassle, time spent on the computer researching and requires some skills in navigation, planning, dealing in emergency situations, etc. You should also be aware of the potential risks you take walking in the mountains in unknown areas.

We believe that the info section of our website is helpful in that task. But still, there is a lot of things to consider when planning an independent trip to the mountains and sometimes the information you find in the web is vague or simply missing. We hope that the Self-Guided Trips section of our website, by providing professional advice and assistance from mountain guides, we’ll fill this gap and help you organize your walking trip to the mountains of Bulgaria in the best manner.

What can we do for you:

• To suggest you the most suitable route and itinerary according to your preferences, time frame and the season. We prefer to customize each tour and offer personal alternatives.

Each season has it specifics and each area has it best time to visit. We can suggest when is the best time to visit the Seven Lakes area, for example, and what are the specific risks of walking in the mountains here in May or in November. The mountain landscapes are constantly changing and you wont see a certain area in the same way in Spring or in Autumn. We are able to plan a good route in the mountains of Bulgaria in nearly every season. We understand that the holidays are some of the most valuable days for you, so we plan efficiently avoiding long bus and car journeys and visiting places that are not really worth, because its to crowded in August, for example.

• To post to your home country or provide upon arrival paper maps with the walking route drawn.

We prefer not to meet you on the airport and shower you with stressful information on how ti find this or that trail. We believe that we can provide on-line enough comprehensive information and advise, so you’ll feel confident and prepared for your Bulgarian self guided trip prior to arrival. Careful advance planning is crucial in order have smooth and rewarding travel, so we’ll prefer to send you all the info, including maps, in advance, and help you to study them. We would suggest you a hiking route and provide the most relevant maps with the specific route shown on them.

• To assist you in using your smart phone as a navigation tool. We’ll help you to install a gps-map, upload trail tracks and follow them if needed in emergency situations.

Most of the mountain maps of the mountains of Bulgaria are not that precise. They are good to get a common view of the regions, to find the main hiking trails, but sometimes the navigation might be confusing, especially if you are not skilled in reading maps and compass usage. We’ll be happy to assist you in getting familiar with the GPS technologies and using your PC at home when researching the route and your smart phone as a navigation tool when planning and walking. Of course, these electronic devices have their limitations and if you want to have your personal GPS transceiver with relevant maps and tracks during the trip, we are able to provide assistance as well.

• To send you route notes with important info about the walks – walking times, important junctions, water sources, places to see, sleep, eat, options in bad weather, and so on…

There is tons of small details which are impossible to know if you haven’t been on the route – an experienced guide would tell you a lot about each area. Information like “At what time is the last cabin of the gondola lift?”, “How much water should I carry?”, “How long to the next place to stop/eat”, alternatives to the routes in bad weather, emergency shortcuts, shelters, is useful when walking an unknown route in the mountains – we provide all that in descriptive route notes.

• To suggest the best places to stay overnight and provide contacts for direct booking.

It is very easy to book accommodation by yourself via phone or email or using the on-line booking operators and your credit card. We can help with info on the most suitable places to stay according to the specific route, and you can choose and book without any surcharges, taxes and mediators.

• To suggest different transport means and options according to the route and your budget.

There is relatively comfortable and reliable public transport in Bulgaria, which is also cheap. Sometimes it convenient to use it to approach the mountains, sometimes you can get a local transfer or a taxi. There is also reliable Bulgarian transport companies that may provide quick and comfortable transport during your holiday. You can also rent a car and drive by yourself. We’ll be happy to give recommendations on the most efficient, comfortable and the cheapest way to travel.

• To 24h assist you in any issues on-line or via phone – prior to the trip and during the trek.

Of course, no matter of the careful planning and preparations, you may have some ongoing questions, need some advice, need help in an emergency situation and so on. We’ll be available to assist you in each occasion and can give advice on how to ensure good connection between you and the rest of the world while on your mountain trip.