Eastern Rhodopi mountain
South region of Bulgaria
This tour presents the beauty and serenity of the
Eastern Rhodopi mountain.
During the trip you explore some of Bulgaria's remote and forgotten
regions.
Best period: May 01 – October 31
Tour type: 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.
Day 1
The tour begins with a flight to Sofia, Bulgaria's capital (550
m a.s.l.). Transfer from the Airport to the town of Kardzhali
(260 km, 275 m a.s.l.) in the Eastern Rhodopi mountain. Dinner
in swimming tavern. Accomodation and overnight at a hotel on the
board of Kardzhali dam.
- Kardzhali is the main town in Kardzhali province. It is
the most important administrative, industrial and commercial center
of the Eastern Rhodopi region. The town is spreat on both sides
of ancient Arda river, between two dams: „Kardzhali“ and „Studen
Kladenetz“ (Cold well).
Day 2
Breakfast. Half an hour traveling 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 Kladenetz dam. It is a rocky area with caves that harbors
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 traveling 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
wolking 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 mountain. 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 center.
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 traveling by bus to “Meandrite
na Biala reka” protected site. Four hours walking, picnic at the
river bank. Half hour traveling 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. Five hours walking to the Lyutitza site. Picnic on
the way to the historical village of Pelevun, dinner in an “eco”
pub in the village. Overnight in Ivaylovgrad.
- On the way to Lyutitza the group will see roman bridge and
roman road, fortress and Thracian dolmens. The flora and fauna
are rich of species. Among the most interesting are Orchids, several
species of snakes, Bee-eaters, Ground squirrels, Lesser-Spotted
eagle, Booted eagle, Wolf.
Day 10
Breakfast.
Transfer to Sofia and departure.
