Ecotour in Eastern Rhodopi Mountains
Best period: May 01 – October 31
Tour type: small group tours – there is a guide accompanying you throughout the whole trip, meeting you at the airport upon arrival and leaving you at the airport again for departure. We use well-trained and experienced local people with good knowledge of English. The group size is normally 8 – 12 people, if not specially mentioned.
Difficulty grade: To prepare yourself for the best of your vacation we recommend that you start planning it in an advance. You should be in good health condition and not too bad physical condition.
|
|
|
Details |
| |
Price Includes |
(EC-10041-P) |
| |
 |
Transfers from and to the Airport |
|
Transportation by car / bus |
|
9 overnights BB in hotels and guest houses 2/3* |
|
7 lunches / picnics |
|
Specialist English speaking guide |
|
All parking taxes and entrance fees |
|
Wine tasting in Ivaylovgrad |
|
| |
Price Excludes |
|
| |
Flights to Bulgaria and back
Airport taxes
Dinners
Insurances
Personal expenses |
|
| |
Suitability / Level |
NA |
| |
Minimum Age |
12
|
| |
Theme |
Small Group Travel
(Click to Search All) |
| |
Max Group Size |
12 |
| |
|
| |
Itinerary
& Highlights |
| |
Departure dates for 2008:
15 june, 17 august, 21 september
Day 1 - Transfer from the Airport Sofia to the town of Kardzhali (260 km, 275 m a.s.l.) in the Eastern Rhodopi Mountains. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel on the board of Kardzhali dam. Overnight.
Kardzhali is the main town in Kardzhali province. It is the most important administrative, industrial and commercial centre of the Eastern Rhodopi region. The town is spread on both sides of ancient Arda river, between two dams: Kardzhali and Studen Kladenetz (Cold well).
Day 2 - Breakfast. Half an hour travelling by bus to the Sredna Arda protected site. Walking tour in the protected site – about 4 hours. Lunch in small restaurant on the bank of Studen Kladentetz dam. About 2 hours and a half walk along the Perpereshka river in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the same hotel.
Sredna Arda protected site is located on the north bank of Studen Kladenets dam. It is a rocky area with caves that harbours the largest bat colony (5 - 8000 individuals of 8 species) in the Eastern Rhodopes. Many rare species occur in the protected site. Some of the most remarkable are Griffon vulture, Black Stork, Peregrine Falcon, Cat snake, and local endemits plants such as Lathrea rhodopea.
Day 3 - Breakfast. One hour travelling by bus to the Dambala area, about 5 hours walking and picnic. Dinner and overnight at the same hotel in Kardzhali.
The area of Dambala is located about 700 m. a.s.l. There is a holy spring and tomb of the Muslims aliani. The area is rich of wildlife including toads, snakes, Lend tortoises, birds such as Goshawk, Stone curlew, Black-eared Wheatear.
Day 4 - Breakfast. Transfer from Kardzhali to Madzharovo. Stop on the way to visit the archaeological complex of Perperikon, 2 hours walking on a an eco-trail. Lunch in a small restaurant in the village of Silen. Visit of the Thracian sanctuary Kromlech, 2 hours walk on another eco-trail. Accommodation at a hotel in the town of Madzharovo.
Both Perperikon and Kromlech are among the most impressive cultural monuments from the Thracian and Byzantine time in the Eastern Rhodopi Mountains. A lot of tree species, reptiles, birds and insects can be seen along the eco-trails.
Day 5 - Breakfast. Visit of the Momina skala protected site, about 6 hours walking, picnic at a nice meadow near a natural spring. Dinner in a local pub. Overnight in the same hotel.
Momina skala is rich of rare species including Orchids, Land tortoises, Golden eagle, Egyptian vulture, Blue Rock thrush, Woodchat shrike. Free ranging herds of autochthonous short-horned cattle and local horses can be seen. There are two Thracian tombs and other Thracian rock monuments.
Day 6 - Breakfast. Transfer by bus (2 hours) to the Valchi dol nature reserve. Half an hour walking to the vulture feeding place. Two hours watching of vultures and eagles. Picnic at the river bank. Two hours walking along Arda river. Dinner at the Nature conservation centre. Overnight in Madzharovo.
A lot of insects, reptiles, birds and mammals can be seen around the nature reserve Valchi dol. Most typical are Land Tortoises, Black stork, Chucar, Wolf, Fox, Fallow dear. A special show can be watched at the vulture feeding place. Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Black vulture, Golden eagle, Imperial eagle, Raven, White tailed see eagle are the participants. Not rarely wolves also come.
Day 7 - Breakfast. Visit of the BSPB (BirdLife Bulgaria Conservation centre). Two hours walk in an oak forest in the vicinity of the centre. Lunch in a restaurant in Madzharovo. Visit of the Chernata skala protected site. Two hours walk. Dinner and overnight in Madzharovo.
The areas the group will pass through represent a beautiful mosaic of oak forest and rocks. A lot of species from the Rhodopean Flora and Fauna can be seen, including several species of snakes, Rock thrush, Golden eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Egyptian vulture, Rock Nuthatch.
Day 8 - Breakfast. Two hours and a half travelling by bus to Meandrite na Biala reka protected site. Four hours walking, picnic at the river bank. Half hour travelling to the town of Ivaylovgrad. Dinner and overnight in Ivaylovgrad.
Meandrite na Biala reka protected site is located not far from the border with Greece. There are lots of Mediterranean species occur in the area. Some of the most interesting are Balkan terrapin, Snake-eyed lizard, Booted eagle, Masked shrike, Olive-tree warbler.
Day 9 - Breakfast. Transfer to Sofia for the last overnight. No lunch foreseeing this day. Dinner at the hotel in Sofia.
Day 10 - Breakfast. Free day. Departure at any time. |
| |
|
Accommodation
& Centre Details |
| |
in Kardzhali - 2* family hotel on the board of Kardzhali dam/artificial lake
in Madzharovo - 3* family hotel
in Ivaylovgrad - 2* family hotel
in Sofia - 3* holiday village |
| |
|
|
| |
Holidays
Extras |
| |
We have provided a little
section of extra travel needs that you may need
and to make life easier for our customers. We aim
to provide all the extras you would need; flights,
hotels, insurance, car hire and airport parking.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
