8-Day Transbalkan Trek in Bulgaria with Mount Botev and Plovdiv

• Arrival at Sofia Airport and transfer to your hotel in Sofia (30-minute drive).

• Transfer to Teteven's suburb, Skribatna (2-hour drive), where the trek starts.
• The path goes through broad-leaved forest and lush meadows.
• We soon reach the Banishteto area and the main ridge of the mountains above Teteven, from where we enjoy the view over the marvelous Teteven Valley.
• Then we descend to the town through an old forest, following a river valley, and check in to our hotel in Teteven.

Uphill walk: 400 m; downhill walk: 400 m; walking time: 3-4 hours. B/L/D.

• Transfer to the Bogoe passage via Ribarica village.
• From there, we start the day's march to Chiflik village, famous for its hot mineral springs and swimming pools. The path follows the low ridge between two rivers, finally reaching the main ridge of the Balkans.
• Soon we enter the Central Balkan National Park and continue east along the main ridge. Breathtaking views to the south and north surround us all the way through the Kozyata Stena Reserve, famous for its very rare Edelweiss flower.
• We reach Kozyata Stena Hut (1562 m a.s.l.), and after a short lunch break, we descend all the way down to the Chiflik resort, where we relax in the hot mineral pool before checking in to our hotel.

Uphill walk: 500 m; downhill walk: 700 m; walking time: 6-7 hours. B/LP/D.

• Transfer from Chiflik to Cherni Osam village to continue our trek to the main ridge of Stara Planina. On the way, we stop for a short visit to the famous Troyan Monastery.
• The track ascends gradually through the old beech forest to the St. John the Baptist Monastery.
• Then, following the path through woods and alpine pastures, we get to Ambaritza Hut (1500 m a.s.l.), where we stay overnight.

Uphill walk: 700 m; downhill walk: 150 m; walking time: 4-5 hours. B/LP/D.

• From there, we start the hike to Pleven Hut, climbing our way up to the main Balkan ridge.
• Soon we reach the main ridge and continue east, passing over one of the most famous Balkan summits - Kupena (2168 m a.s.l.).
• Then we descend north from the main ridge, walking through the old forest, and end up at Pleven Hut, where we can enjoy the great panoramic view of the stunning rocks of Severen Djendem.

Uphill walk: 700 m; downhill walk: 500 m; walking time: 5-6 hours. B/LP/D.

• From Pleven Hut, the path goes through a beech forest, reaching a place called "Murgata".
• Then it continues by the foothills of the "Milk Peak" to "Hristo Botev" refuge, with great views of the majestic rocks of the Northern Dzhendema Reserve (Dzhendem means Hell).
• From there, we start climbing the highest peak of the Balkan Mountains - Mount Botev (2376 m a.s.l.).
• From the peak, the track weaves among the rocky slopes of the mountain (Tarzan's Path), providing an excellent view of the precipice of the Southern "Dzhendem".
• Then we continue to Rai Hut, passing by the Heavens Waterfall ("Raiskoto Praskalo").

Uphill walk: 1000 m; downhill walk: 900 m; walking time: 6-7 hours. B/LP/D.

• Descending through the rocky slopes of the Southern "Dzhendem", we finally reach the Panicite area, where our mountain experience ends.
• Transfer first to the Hisarya hot springs resort, where you can relax in a hot mineral pool, and then continue to the city of Plovdiv, where we stay overnight.
• Visiting the Old Town, we enjoy the atmosphere and the architecture of the Bulgarian Revival period.

Uphill walk: 80 m; downhill walk: 1000 m; walking time: 4 hours. B/L/D.

• Transfer to Sofia Airport for departure (2-hour drive).