Balkan Cycling, Bulgaria (guided)

Exciting cycling trip in the heart of the Balkan mountains.

On this tour we bike along the north and central parts of the Balkan Mountains, famous for their unspoiled nature, green valleys with sheep peacefully grazing on lush grass, precipitous cliffs and gentle, rolling hills offering plenty of unique biking opportunities. We start the trip from the tiny Goliam Izvor village, passing by the Central Balkan National Park and ending up in Veliko Tarnovo – the Old Bulgarian capital and one of the most charming Bulgarian towns. The narrow roads meander through picturesque villages that look as they have been untouched for the past 200 years. You’ll see wooden carts pulled by a horse or donkey and villagers making hay the old-fashioned way.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Tour highlights:

♦ Glozhene Monastery - built in the 13-th century by the Ukrainian prince Glozh, housing an icon at the age of about 1000 years.
♦Bozhentsi village - an architectural reserve consisting of some 100 houses from The Bulgarian National Revival Period.
♦Etura Open-air Ethnographic Museum - Master craftsmen fashion beautiful gold, silver, copper, leather and wooden articles right before your eyes from early morning until late at the night.
♦Troyan Monastery “Assumption of Virgin Mary”, being the 3-th largest in Bulgaria, is built in the style of the Bulgarian Renaissance.

Itineray:

Day 1. Arrival
Arrival at Sofia/Plovdiv airport and transfer to Sofia/Plovdiv city center for accommodation.

Day 2. Goliam Izvor - Glozhene monastery - Ribaritsa village
Early transfer brings us to Yablanitsa town where the cycling starts. We pass through town and then continue to Malak Izvor village, which is a starting point for a challenging 5 km uphill ride to Glozhene Monastery. Having visited the monastery you go downhill the same way and continue further to the scenic Teteven town. Here you can have a short stop for a walk and visit of the local historic museum and church and a short bike and hike to a nearby eco trail with 2 beautiful waterfalls. Then you continue cycling to Ribaritsa village where we stay for the night. Cycling distance: 70 km

Day 3. Ribaritsa village - Troyan monastery - Apriltsi
Ascent from Ribaritsa village to the highest point for the day - Bogoi pass (1185m). From this pass the road goes all the way down to the town of Troyan passing through the village of Shipkovo where you can take a refreshing bath in the mineral water swimming pools. After lunch in Troyan town centre we visit The Pottery and Craft Exhibition "Oreshaka" nearby and the famous Troyan monastery. We spend the night in Apriltsii village. Cycling distance: 74 km

Day 4. Apriltsi - Gabrovo - Sokolsky monastery - Etura
Cycling on isolated village roads from Apriltsi to Gabrovo. Enroute you pass by numerous small villages set in green landscapes and river valleys, visit Batoshevo monastery and have lunch in a local village pub. Nunnery and possible visit of Batoshevo monastery. After a ascent follow by a nice downhill ride you reach Gabrovo town and continue to the "Etura"- an open-air ethnographic museum, as well as the beautiful Sokolski Monastery. We stay overnight nearby Etura. Cycling distance: 55 km

Day 5. Gabrovo - Tryavna - Bozhentsi
You get on the supporting vehicle and start cycling from Gabrovo. After an ascent followed by a descent, you arrive in Tryavna. There you can spend some time on sightseeing and lunch in the centre of this beautiful National Revival town. Ups and downs through open terrain will lead you to the final stop for today - Bozhentsi architectural reserve. Cycling distance: 52 km

Day 6. Bozhentsi - Dryanovo monastery - Elena
Having visited by car the Dryanovo monastery in the morning, you start cycling from the turning for Yalovo village. Kilifarevo Monastery is very close. We make a short stop here and continue to the town of Elena passing by the blue waters of Iovkovtsi dam. Cycling distance: 48 km

Day 7. Elena - Arbanassi - Veliko Turnovo
From Elena we continue cycling to the last point of the trip – Arbanasi architectural reserve. The landscape includes meadows, pastures, cultivation lands, shrubby hills and finally a beautiful plateau over Veliko Tarnovo. After some free time for rest and walks among the old houses of Arbanasi we go for a lunch and sightseeing tour in Veliko Turnovo - the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Sofia or Plovdiv for overnight. Cycling distance: 43 km

Day 8. Transfer to airport. Departure.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

21 April 2012
12 May 2012
02 June 2012
30 June 2012
14 July 2012
11 August 2012
06 October 2012

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