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Home8 Days Rodopi Mountains Cycling Tour
Description
Go for an amazing cycle trip in the heart of the mystic Rodopi mountains along with rivers and lakes and through old coniferous woods, meadows. Meet some nomadic gypsies, picking mushrooms and berries in the woods; and meeting some local Muslim inhabitants growing tobacco and potatoes, or herds of sheep or goats coming down from the mountain at the end of the day. Also, get a chance to visit many tourist attractions throughout the tour.
Highlights
- Cycle in the Rodopi Mountains
- Mingle with the local communities
- Witness the beautiful flora and fauna of Bulgaria
- Visit the Devil's Throat Cave
Itinerary Expand All Collapse All
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Day 1: Arrive in Sophia expand_more
Arrive at the Sofia airport and transfer to the hotel.
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Day 2: Belmeken Dam - Velingrad Spa Town expand_more
- Drive to Sestrimo.
- Starts cycling few kilometres before the village of Sestrimo and up to the Belmeken Dam (2000 m) through old coniferous woods.
- Cycle on the road that passes through Lundholm's mountain meadows in the afternoon
- Descend to the spa town of Velingrad, where we will stay overnight in a hotel with a mineral water swimming pool.
Cycling distance: 76 km
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Day 2: Batak dam - Beglik Dam - Dospat expand_more
- Begin few kilometers from Velingrad, passing through the picturesque landscape of Tsigov Chark countryside by Batak dam to the town of Dospat.
- Go round the blue-green waters of Goliam Beglik and Shiroka Poliana dams before reaching the town of Dospat and its dam, where we stay overnight in a hotel.
- Cycling distance: 71 km
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Day 3: Dospat - Devil's Throat Cave - Trigrad expand_more
- Start biking from Dospat via Borino town to the Buinovsko Gorge, which is also a gate to the next stop - the Yagodina Cave.
- Take a cave tour before going further to Trigrad village, passing among the 250 m high cliffs of the Trigrad Gorge.
- Visit the Devil's Throat Cave, housing one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe.
Overnight stay in Trigrad in a family hotel.
Cycling distance: 50 km
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Day 5: Shiroka Laka - Smolyan Lakes - Smolyan expand_more
- Descend along Trigradska River which will bring you to the village of Grohotno and the natural rock phenomenon "The Elephant".
- Continue upstream alongside the Shirokolushka River to the village of Shiroka Luka.
- Savour the spirit of this architectural reserve, famous for its preserved houses dating back from the Bulgarian Revival Period.
- Pass by the beautiful Smolyan lakes and finish cycling in the Smolyan town, where we stay overnight.
Cycling distance: 66 km
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Day 6: Rozhen - Borovo expand_more
- Cycle from Smolyan to the historical place of Rozhen.
- Go uphill to a big picturesque meadow at 1700m which marks the beginning of a gentle downhill ride in the direction to Laki town through “Momina Voda” protected area.
Nearby is the picturesque village of Borovo and the famous religious place with chapels and healing springs – Krastova Gora.
Overnight stay in Borovo.
Cycling distance: 39 km
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Day 7: The Miraculous Bridges - Plovdiv expand_more
- Take a downhill ride that continues along Jugovska River valley to the main road Smolyan-Plovdiv.
- Transfer to the Miraculous Bridges Rock phenomenon for a short walk and sightseeing.
- Stop by the Bachkovo Monastery, the second-largest monastery in Bulgaria.
- Transfer to Plovdiv for overnight stay.
Cycling distance: 80km
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Day 8: Departure expand_more
Transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv airport for departure after breakfast.
What's Included
Accommodation in family-run hotels/guesthouses with private facilities
5 days on half-board, 2 days on BB (Day 1 and 7)
English-speaking Bulgarian guide/driver with a supporting vehicle
Detailed map and roadbook
Group transfers from/to Sofia or Plovdiv airport (09.00 - 19.00)
All local transfers
Technical support for the bikes
What's Excluded
Bike rental -Category 1: 60 EUR, Category 2:40 EUR
Flights
Travel insurance
Dinners on day 1 and 7. (free to choose in Sofia and Plovdiv)
Lunches
Tips
Entrance fees
Private transfers: Sofia APT - Sofia center: 15 EUR (per vehicle); Plovdiv APT - Plovdiv center: 15 EUR (per vehicle); Sofia-Plovdiv 60 EUR (per vehicle)
Alcohol drinks and other personal expenses
Other expenses, like Single room supplement: 80 euro; rent of a rear saddle bag: 10 EUR/week
What to bring
- Helmet
- Cycling gloves
- Breathable clothes
- Waterproof gear
- Cycling shoes/trainers
Know before you go
- Bikes: hardtail mountain bike or hybrid bike
- Roads: we use mainly isolated village asphalt roads with little traffic, road conditions are relatively good with some exceptions (bumpy sections, potholes, rough asphalt), we do not go off-road. The traffic might be a little bit heavier at some sections but only for a short while.
- Guide/driver: The guide with the supporting vehicle and the luggage inside checks several times a day if everything is OK with the group, waiting by Crossroads, accompanying them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and giving them talks by the most interesting sites en-route
- Dress code in monasteries and churches - men are not allowed to enter in shorts and women should not expose their legs and shoulders.
- Extension at the Black Sea coast - relax at the seaside - more information upon request
- How to get there: Wizz Air; Easy Jet; Germanwings; Penguin Travel; Norwegian Air Shuttle; Airberlin; Ryan Air
- We recommend the trip in the period: May - October
Meeting Point
Sofia, Bulgaria
Cancellation Policy
For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.Price Details
| Adult | |
| 1 To 4 | EUR 450 Per Person |
This is a group tour | |