8-Day Rodopi Road Cycling Tour through Caves, Spa Towns and Monasteries

• Arrive at Sofia or Plovdiv airport.

• Transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv city centre for accommodation.

• Cycling starts a few kilometres before the village of Sestrimo and continues up to Belmeken Dam (2,000 m) through old coniferous woods.

• In the afternoon, the road passes the Lundola mountain meadows before descending to the spa town of Velingrad.

Stay overnight in a hotel with a mineral water swimming pool.

(Cycling distance: 76 km)

• Begin a few kilometres from Velingrad, passing through the picturesque landscape of the Tsigov Chark countryside by Batak Dam to the town of Dospat.

• On the way, go around the blue-green waters of Goliam Beglik and Shiroka Polyana dams.

• Arrive at the town of Dospat and its dam.

Stay overnight in a hotel.

(Cycling distance: 71 km)

• Biking starts from Dospat via Borino town to the Buinovsko Gorge, which is also the gateway to the next stop - Yagodina Cave.

• Take a cave tour before continuing to Trigrad village, passing among the 250 m high cliffs of the Trigrad Gorge.

• Here, another sinister cave awaits - the Devil's Throat Cave, home to one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe.

Overnight in Trigrad in a family hotel.

(Cycling distance: 50 km)

• A pleasant descent along the Trigradska River brings you to the village of Grohotno and the natural rock phenomenon, "The Elephant".

• Continue upstream along the Shirokolushka River to the village of Shiroka Laka. Stop here to savour the spirit of this architectural reserve, famous for its preserved houses dating back to the Bulgarian Revival Period.

• Pass by the beautiful Smolyan Lakes and finish cycling in the town of Smolyan.

Overnight in Smolyan.

(Cycling distance: 66 km)

• Cycle from Smolyan to the historic place of Rozhen. After a short rest, go uphill to a big picturesque meadow at 1,700 m, which marks the beginning of a gentle downhill ride towards Laki town through the "Momina Voda" protected area.

• Nearby is the picturesque village of Borovo and the famous religious place of Krastova Gora, known for its chapels and healing springs.

Overnight in Borovo.

(Cycling distance: 39 km)

• The downhill ride continues along the Jugovska River valley to the main Smolyan-Plovdiv road.

• A short transfer brings you to the Miraculous Bridges rock phenomenon for a short walk and sightseeing.

• The next stop is Bachkovo Monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria.

Transfer to Plovdiv for an overnight stay.

(Cycling distance: 80 km)

• After breakfast, you will be transferred to Sofia or Plovdiv airport for departure.