Climbing and Caving
Bulgaria's mountainous terrain means that the opportunities for climbing are practically limitless. The most popular areas with mountaineers and rock-climbers are Mt Malyovitsa in the Rila Mountains; the karst region to the north of Mt Vihren in the Pirin range; the Iskar Gorge, Vratsa and Belogradchik in the Stara Planina; and the Blue Rocks outside Sliven. Though no foreign operator runs package tours, individuals can go climbing with a guide from Odysseia-In for US$25-30 per person per day. On top of this, you'll need to pay for his - and your own - accommodation, meals, transport and equipment rental (if required). Of the hundreds of caves in Bulgaria (mostly in the Stara Planina and western Rhodopes), a dozen have been fitted with walkways and lighting and opened to the public. The most famous are the Magura Cave, with its prehistoric paintings; the Yagodina Cave, with its stalactites and cave pearls, and the awesome Devil's Throat near Trigrad. Scores of others that are equally spectacular are only known to Bulgarian cavers, who welcome contacts with their foreign counterparts. By getting in touch with the Bulgarian Federation of Speleologists you can be sure of finding someone who speaks English; local cavers such as "Kotse" Hadzheski at Trigrad can also arrange caving expeditions , but you may need an interpreter to set the ball rolling. Alternatively, individuals can hire a guide from Odysseia-In for US$25-30 per day plus expenses.
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