Winter holiday in Bulgaria
| country: | Bulgaria |
| trip type: | Moderate wilderness trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 20 Dec, 27 Dec 2010: 24 Jan, 14 Feb, 14 Mar, 19 Dec, 26 Dec 2011: 23 Jan, 20 Feb, 13 Mar, 19 Dec, 26 Dec |
| price: | From £649 - £799 (8 days) including flights from the UK. From £419 - £639 excluding flights. Local payment 125 EUR. |
| late availability: | Late availability on 27th December departures. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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1of6the amazing things you'll be doing
Explore the snow-clad forests, peaks and valleys of the Rila Mountains
Snowy Peaks & Ice-bound Lakes
The Rila Mountains hold some of the highest and most beautiful peaks in the Balkan Peninsula. Offering great summer walking, in winter the mountains here are transformed into an even wilder and more dramatic environment. Over the course of your week you’ll enjoy a variety of snowshoe treks. In the shadow of Mt. Maliovitza (2729m) you’ll trek in this beautiful wilderness area. Whilst snowshoeing from your pension in Guiletchitza to Panichiste, you’ll enter the celebrated Seven Lakes area.
Frozen Waterfalls & Cultural Highlights
Rest your limbs on a gentler day visiting some thermal pools and enjoying lunch with a local family. Snowshoe amongst frozen lakes to reach the 60-metre ice-encrusted Skakavitza waterfall – possibly the biggest icicle you’ll ever see! Finally you’ll visit two of Bulgaria’s historic highlights, Rila Monastery and Sofia.
Snowshoes
No longer the wooden ‘tennis rackets’ of old movies and story books, modern snowshoes are made of robust, lightweight materials, making them easy to put on and straightforward to use. Two trekking poles aid balance and away you go – into the deep white yonder!
Snowy Peaks & Ice-bound Lakes
The Rila Mountains hold some of the highest and most beautiful peaks in the Balkan Peninsula. Offering great summer walking, in winter the mountains here are transformed into an even wilder and more dramatic environment. Over the course of your week you’ll enjoy a variety of snowshoe treks. In the shadow of Mt. Maliovitza (2729m) you’ll trek in this beautiful wilderness area. Whilst snowshoeing from your pension in Guiletchitza to Panichiste, you’ll enter the celebrated Seven Lakes area.
Frozen Waterfalls & Cultural Highlights
Rest your limbs on a gentler day visiting some thermal pools and enjoying lunch with a local family. Snowshoe amongst frozen lakes to reach the 60-metre ice-encrusted Skakavitza waterfall – possibly the biggest icicle you’ll ever see! Finally you’ll visit two of Bulgaria’s historic highlights, Rila Monastery and Sofia.
Snowshoes
No longer the wooden ‘tennis rackets’ of old movies and story books, modern snowshoes are made of robust, lightweight materials, making them easy to put on and straightforward to use. Two trekking poles aid balance and away you go – into the deep white yonder!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London Upon arrival at Sofia airport you’ll be met by your Group Leader and make the drive (1½ hours) to your first night’s accommodation in the small mountain settlement of Guiletchitza. Your hotel lies at an altitude of approximately 1600m on the northern flanks of the Rila mountain range. The name Rila comes from the Slavic word ‘Rula’ meaning "full of water"; an appropriate name considering there are more that 200 lakes within this mountain range alone. Rila is a designated national park with lush coniferous and broad-leafed woodland, over 2000 plant varieties and of course the mountains, which reach heights of up to 2900m. Between December and early April much of the Rila range is covered in snow. The northern areas of the range attract the heaviest snowfall: conditions which have led to the development of the Borovets ski station a few kilometres away. Often there’s good snow cover from the door of your accommodations in both mountain locations. However if this is not the case, you’ll start your walks with just regular boots, carrying your snowshoes and strapping them on to your boots as you cross the snowline. Tonight your leader will brief you on the week ahead and you’ll pack your daypack ready for your first day’s snowshoeing. Mountain hotel – 2 nights (D) |
| Day 2: | Maliovitza Area Snowshoeing After breakfast you’ll collect a picnic lunch and board hired transport for a short transfer to today’s trailhead. Once out of the vehicle your Group Leader will give a lesson on the equipment you will be using, how to put on your snowshoes and how to use them with a pair of poles to move around. It really isn’t difficult at all and although you might feel a little ungainly at first, you’ll soon discover that you can climb even a fairly steep slope with ease. With snowshoes you can go almost anywhere, which means you can get to places that skiers cannot. You may set off along a well used trail but if a glorious view or interesting diversion presents itself you have the freedom to get off the beaten track –literally! You can expect to be out for most of the day today, so it’s a good idea to take a vacuum flask. Anyone familiar with winter walking in the British hills will immediately feel at home. As you head up the valley it opens out to reveal the rocky summits and ridges of the Rila’s northern flank – not dissimilar in appearance to many Scottish mountains. Your first goal today is Svinskoto or “Pig” Lake, which you can expect to reach after an hour and a half of steady uphill snowshoeing. Today you are snowshoeing beneath the peaks of Kupenite and Popova Kapa. You’ll continue your circular route with a descent via the mountain refuge of Maliovitza, to return to the day’s start point and your waiting transport. You can expect to be snowshoeing for four to five hours today, up to a total 800m of ascent. (BLD) Please note we intend to operate the walks and itinerary as listed here, however snow conditions may mean we need to change the routings, if circumstances dictate. |
| Day 3: | Vada, Lovna & Zeleni Preslop/Panichishte This morning you’ll leave your pension at Guiletchitza. In addition to packing your daypack, you’ll also need to have your main luggage packed and ready for the transfer driver. Today you’ll be heading westward from the Maliovitza area to the Seven Lakes region. The walking today is in much shorter sections and is interspersed with sections of level and downhill snowshoeing as you traverse a series of small valleys and gulleys. After an hour of mainly descent, you’ll reach the small settlement of Vada, from where it’s a further 45 minutes uphill to reach the Lovna mountain refuge. Beyond Lovna you continue with a gentle traverse across the forested mountain slopes to reach Zeleni Preslop, on the edge of the larger settlement of Panichishte. Here you’ll check in to your accommodation for the next three nights. Today you can expect to be snowshoeing for approximately five and a half hours, with a total ascent of around 450m. Pension – 4 nights (BLD) |
| Day 4: | Sapareva Bania There’s an easier day ahead today, with a change of pace and scenery. After a leisurely breakfast you’ll snowshoe for an hour or so, through the forest to reach the Rila National Park visitor centre in Panichishte. The snow-clad forest is a magical place and if you’re lucky you should spot the telltale tracks of some of the local inhabitants: red and roe deer, bear, fox, wolf and wild boar. You may also be joined in your search by one of the region’s many birds including nut crackers, peregrine falcons and even eagles. At the visitor centre there’s a variety of display and interpretive material illustrating the park’s ecological importance and the variety of flora and fauna it supports. Meeting up with transport you then make the short drive to the village of Saparevo where you’ll enjoy lunch at the home of a local family. This is a great way to gain an insight into everyday Bulgarian life and to learn first hand about some of the country’s customs and traditions. Typical dishes you might expect to be served are Shopska Salad (chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions served with grated white cheese – similar to Feta), grilled kebabs or a meat and vegetable stew. After lunch you’ll visit a local thermal pool - fed by the hottest mineral waters in the Balkans. The waters here are used to treat those with respiratory illnesses and those with muscle and joint conditions but the pools also welcome those seeking to rest and relax weary walking legs too! NB This thermal pool is currently closed due to ongoing rennovations. Instead, you can relax in a pool with thermal water in a nearby hotel. Meeting up with your transport once again, you’ll return to Panichishte. (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Skakavitza After yesterday’s gentler day, it’s time for one last snowshoe trek into the mountains, heading south into the ‘Seven Lakes’. Your goal today is the 70m high Skakavitza waterfall, the highest in Rila which during mid-winter is frequently entirely ice-clad. The freedom gained by using snowshoes to cross the snow-covered slopes means that you may take any number of routes to reach the waterfall. Nearby is a mountain refuge, open all year round with a guardian; the perfect spot to get a hot drink or bowl of warming soup. After lunch, you walk for about two hours through the forest via what is known as the “small Skakvitza waterfall” back to your start point. You’ll return to your pension on foot, after four to five hours of snowshoeing. (BLD) |
| Day 6: | Seven Lakes Area Today we start out from our pension and walk along a road at a lower altitude, and so without the need for our snowshoes! After about an hour and a half, you will reach the mountain chalet of Rilski Lace at 2100m. From there, we don our snowshoes and walk into the famous Seven Lakes area. First you head to the fifth lake “Babreka” (The Kidney). From here, you take the Dalgdi rid ridge and descend back through the forest to reach the road that leads back to your pension. Many of the higher slopes above are prone to avalanche, so your expert leader will be making sure you only trek at the safest lower altitudes. About five or six hours of snowshoeing today. (BLD) |
| Day 7: | Rila Monastery & Sofia Today you leave the mountains behind and return to Sofia. However, first of all you’ll make a visit to Rila Monastery - Bulgaria’s largest monastery and perhaps the most famous of all the country’s attractions. Situated on the southern slopes of the Rila Mountains, the monastery was founded by John of Rila in the 10th century and later became one of the centres of early mediaeval culture in Bulgaria. Over the centuries, the monastery has endured many turbulent times, including destruction by fire, abandonment by the monks and being looted and pillaged several times. Today the oldest building in the complex is the five-storey defensive tower, built in 1335. Amongst the other features of interest are the ornately carved entrance gate, the wooden colonnaded walkways and central church with beautifully painted icons and murals. It takes around an hour and a half to reach the monastery by road and after your visit it’s a further two and a half hours drive to return to Sofia. Your leader will therefore suggest a suitable local café or restaurant for lunch, en route to Sofia. On arrival in Sofia you’ll check in to your pension and have time to take a short walking tour with your leader (depending upon flight schedules this may be arranged for the following day). In common with many European capitals, Sofia has a fascinating mix of historic buildings, museums, parks and galleries to explore. Most of the main sights are located within walking distance of one another making it easy to get around. Amongst the most popular sights you’ll see are the Alexander Nevski Church, whose massive domes are reminiscent of St Paul’s in London, and the nearby Russian Church with its characteristic gilded “onion” spires. Other attractions include the National Art Gallery and Sofia City Garden and of course there are shops too. The main shopping boulevard is Vitosha Street but there’s also an extensive indoor market and a couple of former soviet era government buildings, now converted to department stores and malls. Tonight, your last in Bulgaria, your leader will most likely help to arrange a celebration meal at a local restaurant. Hotel – 1 night (B) |
| Day 8: | Fly to London There may be free time to wander out into the city once more, before the trip ends for Land Only clients and those on group flights transfer to Sofia airport in good time for your return flight to the UK. (B) |
travellers' tales
Snow shoeing into the seven lakes areas was the most memorable part. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: This trip benefits many local Bulgarian people, from the owners of the pensions where we stay to our local family-run agency, the Group Leader and drivers. We also visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rila Monastery, where our entrance fee contributes towards the upkeep and further restoration of this historic site. This area of the Rila mountain range, away from the Borovets ski station, is largely undiscovered by foreign tourists and the people you do meet are more likely to be locals or visitors from other parts of Bulgaria. Groups can get a further insight into local life in the region when we have a meal with a local family.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Other charities that we work closely with include Born Free Foundation and The Travel Foundation, a UK charity that has been established to promote responsible travel practises throughout the whole of the travel industry. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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