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Guide Profile
Hristo Nikolov – Icho
Hristo Nikolov – Icho
Guide
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Languages: English, German, Macedonian
Professional experience
Experience in the mountains
Travel experience
Reviews
Professional experience
Icho has been working as a mountain guide since 2009. His specialty and passion is mountain biking. He guides both Bulgarian and international bikers and hikers across the country, and also organizes trips for Bulgarians abroad, including to the Himalayas, the Pyrenees, the High Atlas Mountains, the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Balearic Islands, Morocco, and the Balkan countries.
As part of the Bikearea team, he contributes to the development of many new biking routes in the mountains of Bulgaria. Since the summer of 2011, he has also been working with children as an instructor in outdoor adventure camps. He is one of the creators of Balkanche as well.
Experience in the mountains
He grew up at the foot of the Central Balkan Mountains and has felt connected to them since childhood. He frequently visits Bulgaria’s other high mountains — Rila, Pirin, Vitosha, and the Rhodopes — on foot, by bike, on skis, or on snowshoes. He has guided bike expeditions to some of Bulgaria’s lesser-known mountains, such as Slavyanka, Belasitsa, Ograzhden, Maleshevska, Vlahina, and the mountains in the Kraishte area. He has also led kayaking trips along Bulgaria’s largest rivers.
He has explored mountain ranges throughout the Balkan countries, as well as in Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and beyond. Additionally, he has visited the Nepal Himalayas, the Atlas Mountains, the Pyrenees, and the Alps, both on foot and by bike.
Travel experience
Been to Nepal, Canary islands, around the Balkans, has visited Central and Eastern Europe on a train and while hitchhiking. Traveled as a tour guide to Oman, Pakistan, Armenia.
Reviews
Katie, UK: Great 3 day walk – Rila and the Seven Lakes
My friend and I did a three day guided walk with Icho and we really enjoyed it. The scenery was stunning and the hike was good fun. Icho speaks fluent English and took good care of us. It was easy booking the tour through Lyuben and all the arrangements were perfect. I’d definitely do another walk with this company and recommend them highly.
Peter, Belgium: 2 day hiking in the Rila Мountains
We (2 Belgian families with kids) enjoyed this month a great 2 day hiking trip in Rila mountains (7 lakes + mountain hut + Rila monastery).
Very good support from Lyuben in preparing the trip. Appreciated a lot the effort to adapt last minute the schedule with one day upon our request..
Itcho was the actual guide during our trip. Excellent knowledge of the mountains and history of Bulgaria. Good English. Very mature in guiding our mixed group.
Driving license
active driver
Bachelor degree in Urbanism, University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Bulgaria.
Mountain Bike Leader Award, Mountains and People Association;
Mountain Leader Award, Mountains and People Association
Certificate № 018709/2012; Registered in the National Tourist Registry under Т-РД-17-3/13.06.2016
2002
2004-2010
2010
2012
