Bulgaria walking holiday, National Parks
If you think you're ready to walk to the summit of three of Bulgaria's toughest peaks: Musala, Malyovitsa and Vihren, then there's only one way to go and that's up.
Sofia Demyanitsa Valley Vasilashki lakes the 'Eyes of Todorka' Todorina Porta high pass (alt 2500m) Pirin Mountains Bunderishki lakes ascent to Mount Vihren (alt 2914m) Golyam Kazan cirque UNESCO Rila Monastery Rila Mountains ancient forests and glacial lakes ascent to Mount Malyovitsa (alt 2729m) ascent to Mount Musala (alt 2925m)
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£1249including UK flights
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From £1049 excluding flights.
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Late availability on these dates: 11 Sep
Description of Bulgaria walking holiday, National Parks
There’s nowhere else in Europe that compares to Bulgaria which is why a walking holiday within the country’s wild and woolly national parks is such a surprise for all the senses.
The twin mountain ranges of Pirin and Rila provide more than their fair share of options for hikers who like a challenge with glacial moraine, high mountain passes and precariously placed monasteries adding to the adventure of walking way off the familiar tourist trails.
From a planned ascent on Mount Vihren within the Pirin National Park to a proposed summit of Mount Musula, the region’s highest peak, this walking holiday is designed for those who like drama, adventure, a test, with luggage transfers allowing you to make the most of the scenery en-route from one family run hotel to the next.
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Price information
£1249including UK flights
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From £1049 excluding flights.
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Travel guides
Picture walking in the Alps – way back when. Affordable, locally run lodgings; not another soul in sight; fabulously fresh food, straight from the soi...
Holiday information
Small group tours:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. Those with a two-week holiday, a small group tour will save valuable planning time.
Our top tip:
Summit days, especially, will prove to be a challenge so make sure you've put in a fair few hours 'training' prior to heading to Bulgaria. Take plenty of energy bars, drinks and Kendall mint cake to keep you going.
Trip type:
Small group. Average size 12. Minimum age 18.
Activity level:
Challenging. Good level of fitness and previous experience hiking rocky terrain essential.
Accomm:
7 nights in comfortable en-suite hotels.
Included:
Accommodation, transfers, vehicle support and tour leader throughout.
Meals:
All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners.
Solos:
Single room supps not available.
Reviews
2 Reviews of Bulgaria walking holiday, National Parks
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 25 Aug 2019 by Niall Murtagh
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Hiking. meeting fellow travelers.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
yes, not particularly and not particularly.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Great
Read the operator's response here:
We would like to thank Niall for her feedback and we were pleased to read that she found her holiday to be great. We just wanted to take this opportunity to
highlight the ways in which this holiday was run in a responsible way. All 7 nights are spent in family run hotels, employing local people and sourcing local
produce and products. During the stay in Bankso groups visit the Rila Monastery where you have the opportunity to purchase products made by the local
communities. Few holidays have as little detrimental impact on the environment and local residents as a walking and trekking trip and we provide water so
travelers can refill their reusable water-bottles along the way.
highlight the ways in which this holiday was run in a responsible way. All 7 nights are spent in family run hotels, employing local people and sourcing local
produce and products. During the stay in Bankso groups visit the Rila Monastery where you have the opportunity to purchase products made by the local
communities. Few holidays have as little detrimental impact on the environment and local residents as a walking and trekking trip and we provide water so
travelers can refill their reusable water-bottles along the way.
Reviewed on 26 Aug 2018 by Mary Bolton
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The wildness of the mountains and the unspoilt terrain and spectacular views.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
London
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We stayed in a small family run hotel in a small village. Local produce was used as much as possible.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good. I learnt a lot about Bulgaria, about the wild life in the Rodope mountains and how this is being preserved. The people working in the hotel were very helpful and friendly and our guide and driver were excellent in every way.
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.
Planet
Activity:Few holidays have as little detrimental impact on the environment and local residents as a walking and trekking trip. Erosion on and adjacent to popular paths is a growing problem in certain places and therefore our trip leaders encourage clients to stick to advised routes in order to minimise this. We do believe in leaving no more than footprints although this tour actively encourages guests to talk to local people, visit local cafes and restaurants, use markets to purchase traditional gifts and crafts. We also leave a positive impact by paying National Park fees and buying from the Rila Monastery to contribute to upkeep.
Water:
Water is important with active trips and whilst we must stay hydrated, it is also vital that we have a system for providing clean water without causing lots of waste with plastic bottles. We suggest that instead of repeatedly buying bottled water, guests should re-fill a singular bottle from taps and fountains in the mountains. 10. The local water in the village is drinkable and of good quality so all clients are advised that it is preferable to drink this rather than purchase bottled water.
UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
People
Accommodation & Meals:We spend all seven nights in family run hotels, which employ local people and take every opportunity to source produce and supplies within the area. There is an abundance of local cuisine on offer and the villages in which we stay often produce their own dairy products, eggs, seasonal vegetables, pulses, jams and honey etc. Or when it is necessary, the ingredients will come from the surrounding region – such as trout from a nearby fish farm. In supporting local agriculture and hotels, we bolster the local economy and provide clients with a really authentic experience. Where meals are not provided we suggest you visit the local market in Bankso or a traditional inn.
Local Craft and Culture:
During their stay in Bankso and whilst visiting the Rila Monastery, clients have the opportunity to purchase local produce and products that have been manufactured by local communities. Whilst staying in the village of Govedartsi , we arrange for the local folk dance group to perform for the group, and for this we pay the men from the ensemble a fee, plus clients usually give tips of their own. This is a great chance to provide an avenue of income for a rural community.
Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.
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