Hiking
Hiking was first popularized in Bulgaria in the late nineteenth century, when it had patriotic connotations. During Communist times it was regarded as an ideal activity for citizens, and a network of trails and huts ( hizhi ) was created throughout the mountains. Though not as well signposted as they could be, the hundreds of trails can be combined in an almost infinite variety of routes. The main hiking areas are the Pirin and Rila national parks, the central and western Rhodopes, and the Stara Planina. The Pirin Mountains are the wildest, most picturesque range in Bulgaria, with 45 peaks over 2590m, deep valleys, karstic massifs and more than 200 glacial lakes, mainly in the northern part of the range, which has the finest panoramic views. Further north, the Rila Mountains include the highest peak in the Balkan peninsula and Bulgaria's greatest monastery, and are characterized by magnificent coniferous forests and alpine scenery, abloom with wildflowers all year. Here too there are many lakes, including a cluster that attracts sun-worshippers. Both ranges abut the Rhodopes , which are lower, but arguably the loveliest range in Bulgaria, with a mixture of pine forests, crags, highland meadows and villages of stone houses, not to mention the fantastic caves and birdlife around the Trigrad Gorge. In the Stara planina or Balkan Range, the fir-clad heights of the northwest are relatively uncharted, but their ill-marked trails reward the efforts of those with time to spare. Villages such as Berkovitsa and Chiprovtsi provide the best access to higher altitudes. The central Stara Planina between the Valley of the Roses and the Danubian plain has better maintained trails, and is best approached from Karlovo in the south or Cherni Osam and Apriltsi in the north. If you're planning to go hiking independently you should visit Odysseia-In in Sofia first, to stock up on hiking maps and advice; they can also book accommodation in some areas. If you don't fancy heading off on your own, you could join Odysseia-In's weekly scheduled hiking groups for US$35 per day, including bed and board. These run throughout the hiking season (mid-June to late October). Alternatively, you could hire a guide and tailor-make your own itinerary for US$25 per person per day, plus all expenses for yourself and the guide. Guides can be hired from SunShine Tours or through tourist offices in the Pirin and Rhodopes.
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