Mountain Biking In Rodopi Mountains
On this incredible biking adventure you will be immersed into the heart of the gorgeous Rodopi Mountains, which provide excellent conditions for mountain biking. Plenty of off-road tracks are waiting to be discovered amidst the greenery of the land of the mythical musician and singer Orpheus who entranced people, animals and plants with his magical music. On this tour you will be able to cycle on different terrains, dirt, macadam, and isolated asphalt roads and paths. Also you will be riding through forests, along deep gorges, on ridges and hillsides. Remote tiny villages with unique architecture and natural phenomena will add even more flavour to the tour. As well as, meet hospitable people, and experience local traditions and customs.
The Rodopi Mountains with the highest peak Goliam Perelik at 2191 m a.s.l, are the southernmost mountains in Bulgaria. The mountains border with Greece and are known to be the widest massif in Bulgaria. Geologically they are the oldest land on the Balkans. This area is abundant with coniferous woods. The landscape is soft and oval. It also consists of rolling hills, high ridges and deep river valleys snaking alongside river basins. This massif is home to 70% of the world’s minerals, as well as 600 caves. A wide variety of plant and animal species can be found only here in Europe. The climate is mild and pleasant throughout the year with more than 275 sunny days. The summer temperatures are never too high, and the winter ones never to low.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(MB-9655-P) |
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accommodation in family hotels and guesthouses |
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equipped mountain bike (without helmet!) |
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guide/driver with a supporting vehicle |
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map, roadbook |
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transfer from/to Sofia or Plovdiv airport |
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VAT and all local taxes. |
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Price Excludes |
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tips, entrance fees, alcohol drinks and other personal expenses. |
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Suitability / Level |
Demanding |
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Minimum Age |
12
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Theme |
Activity Days
(Click to Search All) |
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Max Group Size |
12 |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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Departure dates for 2008:
14 June; 09 August; 06 September
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv Airport and transfer to Plovdiv for overnight.
Day 2: Transfer deep into the mountains few kilometers after Studenets vacation area. Biking on dirt roads into the shades of a lush mixed forest until you reach the small Dobralak village. From there you ride on an isolated asphalt road until you reach the final point of today\\\'s cycling King Assen’s fortress built in the 11th-12th centuries. After visiting the fortress we go to the Bachkovo Monastery by car. Afterwards we will proceed to the overnight destination in the village of Brestnik at the foots of Rodopi Mountains (uphill/downhill cycling - 500m/1000m).
Day 3: Transfer to Lilkovo village. The cycling runs within the countryside Hadzhiitsa and further up - Popova Rock. The village of Hvoina is the last stop with a visit to Persenk hut and the village of Orehovo on the way. Transfer to the town of Chepelare, where we stay overnight (uphill/downhill cycling - 900m/1250m).
Day 4: Transfer to the rock phenomenon The Wonderful Bridges, then 1 km. further up to the Skalni mostove hut where the biking begins. Going further through old coniferous forest the track reaches Gluhite kamani (The Deaf Stones) nature phenomenon. At Izgrev hut you start a downhill biking to Zornitsa village all the way down to Chepelare. Transfer to the town of Smolian for overnight (uphill/downhill cycling - 350m/800mm).
Day 5: Having visited the beautiful Smolyan Lakes you are transferred a few kilometres uphill to the starting point where you leave the asphalt road and hit a gravel track. In a short while you get to Studenets hut and Pamporovo ski-resort. From there you bike uphil to the highest point for the day Mechi Peak area at 1850 m a.s.l. From this point on you will be able to experience breath-taking mountain landscapes. Then comes a pleasant downhill ride through Kukuvitsa village and ending in Shiroka Luka - village - an architectural reserve. Overnight in Shiroka Luka (uphill/downhill cycling - 300m/950m).
Day 6: Transfer to Gela village where the cycling starts. You pass by Lednitsata hut and then through the small typical Rodopi villages Kassaka and Mougla. Afterwards you hit the road which turns in macadam and starts climbing before reaching the ancient Chairski lakes. From the lakes a downhill track leads you to the marvellous Trigrad Gorge where you finish with cycling and visit The Devil\\\'s Throat Cave. Nearby is Trigrad village where we stay overnight (uphill/downhill cycling - 600m/850m).
Day 7: You do a loop on your bikes: Trigrad - Vodni Pad village - Trigrad. Then you continue with a downhill cycling to Yagodina Cave, situated within the Buinovsko Gorge. After visiting the cave you get on the supporting vehicle. On our way to Plovdiv we enjoy the superb views over the Vacha and Krichim dams. We stay overnight in the city of Plovdiv (uphill/downhill cycling - 350m/600m).
Day 8: After breakfast you will have transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure.
Highlights:
• Rodopi Mountains with their highest peak Golyam Perelik (2191m a.s.l.) are the oldest mountains on the Balkan Peninsula.
• Plovdiv (160 m a.s.l.) ranks as the second Bulgarian city in population and size. The old town of Plovdiv is one of the oldest European towns contemporary to Troy and Mikena.
• Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest Bulgarian monastery.
• Chepelare (1100 m a.s.l.) is a ski resort that has Bulgaria\\\'s only ski and snowboard equipment factory.
• The Wonderful Bridges (1450 m a.s.l.) are 2 unique rock formation (about 40 m high) covering an area of 40,3 hectares. • Pamporovo (1650 m a.s.l.) is a modern ski resort in the heart of the Rodopi Mountains.
• Shiroka Luka (1060 m a.s.l.) Numerous houses preserving the typical Rodopean architecture, speech, songs and customs of local people have given the village the status of an architectural, ethnographic and folklore reserve.
• Gela village (1500 m a.s.l.) is one of the most ancient settlements in the Rodopi Mountains, being more than 3300 years old. Gela is believed to be the birth place of the legendary musician Orpheus.
• Chairski lakes (1600 m a.s.l.) are formed by land sliding. They are declared protected area due to the presence of some rare plants, growing within the peat there.
• The Devil\\\'s Throat Cave has its name from the fact that if you let something flow in the cave river it never comes out again. There is a cave waterfall - one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe, 42 m high.
• Trigrad (1250 m a.s.l.) is a small village in the central part of the Rodopi Mountains, neighbouring to Trigrad Gorge, famous for its 250 m high cliffs
• Yagodina Cave is among the longest caves in Bulgaria (more than 10 000 m mapped so far), considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe with its outstanding stalactites, stalagmites, columns, ponds and cave pearls in them.
FOR LOWCOST FLIGHTS TO BULGARIA please check: Wizz Air; Sky Europe; Easy Jet; Germanwings; My Air; Flybulgarien; Norwegian Air Shuttle. CONNECTING THE TOUR: in summer time there are loads of opportunities to book a cheap flight to Bourgas or Varna Airport instead of landing at Sofia Airport. We can arrange for you public transport tickets or private transfer to the starting point of the tour. |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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We stay in family-run hotels (days 3, 5 & 6) with private facilities and in guesthouses with en-suite facilities (the rest days; shared facilities only on day 4) on HB (breakfast & dinner included). Ordering lunchpacks is available in each of the hotels if necessary for the day tours (at the amount of 5-6 Euro) |
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Holidays
Extras |
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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. |
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