Hike Bulgaria's Rodopi Mountains

The adventure begins at Sofia Airport (Terminal 2), where we meet our leader, before a transfer to the remote village of Yagodina, our base for the next six nights. Around 6:30pm, say zdraveite (hello in Bulgarian) to your tour leader and fellow travellers when we gather as a group to get to know each other and hear more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome over dinner together. Want more time in Sofia? Speak to your sales representative about booking extra nights before the tour.

Our first day in the mountains provides us with two separate walks, each offering a unique set of landscapes and wildlife-spotting opportunities. A 20-minute drive after breakfast brings us to the trailhead of our first walk, a hike through the deep gorge and forests of Kastrakli Nature Reserve, renowned for orchids, butterflies and a well-established population of Balkan chamois. In the afternoon, after a 30-minute drive to the village of Chala, we set off for our second walk. To start, we follow a broad grassy ridge spur, offering spectacular views towards Yagodina, before dropping steeply into Buynovo Gorge, where the bus will be waiting to drive us (10 minutes) back to the hotel.

A 30-minute drive up the picturesque valley of the Buynovska Reka brings us to the village of Buynovo, where we start our walk. Today, we wander amid the mountain meadows and forests along the border with Greece. Nowadays this is a tranquil region, peacefully roamed by wolves, bear, wild boar and red deer, and home to secretive forest birds such as capercaillie and hazel grouse; however, during the Cold War, it was known as the Zone of Death, a forbidden area patrolled by armed border guards ordered to prevent anyone trying to escape across the Iron Curtain into Greece. During our walk, we see remnants of the old border fence and perhaps find traces of former military bunkers, giving us an opportunity to learn more about this period of Bulgarian history.

After breakfast, we set off in our bus for a 1hr 30min drive east into the highest part of the Rodopi Mountains. Having reached the end of the driveable road, we begin a wonderfully panoramic hike along the main ridge of the Rodopi Mountains. First, we skirt just below the military base on the summit of the Rodopi’s highest peak, Golyam Perelik (7,188ft/2,191m), before ascending Karlak (7,178ft/2,188m). Having enjoyed the expansive views from the rolling open pastures, we then start to drop into the forest, making a long descent to the picturesquely situated village of Gela, which according to legend was the birthplace of Orpheus. Here, we meet our bus for the drive back to Yagodina.

Embark on an exciting bear and wolf tracking walk, which starts and finishes at the door of our hotel. Spending the entire day on foot, we explore the diverse patchwork of landscapes that immediately surround Yagodina, a prime habitat for both brown bears and grey wolves. During our explorations, we look out for signs of their presence and activities, while learning about their ecology and behaviour. We also gain an understanding of local conservation efforts and the challenges of human-carnivore existence.

Having visited the village of Gela earlier in the week, the supposed birthplace of Orpheus, we continue with the Orphic theme today, following in his footsteps to the site of an ancient Thracian sanctuary where Orpheus is believed to have met his death. As well as being steeped in a fascinating mix of myth and mystery, today’s route also offers some lovely remote walking. We share our trail with wolves and deer, and can often hear the eerie cries of black woodpeckers echoing through the forest, adding to the excitement and magical atmosphere. The forests are also rich in other birdlife, including hazel grouse, nutcrackers, crossbills, and crested tits.

Having had breakfast and said our farewells to the staff at the hotel, we set off on foot for a short but stunning final walk. Begin by winding through the meadows at the edge of the village, before joining a narrow rocky trail, on which we eventually descend into the depths of the Buynovo Gorge. The first part of the path skirts the flank of imposing Mount Sveti Iliya, passing a cave and crossing scrubby scree slopes that are home to a growing population of Balkan chamois. The views of the crags above, on which chamois make their home, and down into the gorge below, are breath-taking. However, please note the trail is very rough and rocky underfoot, and although not exposed, may not be suitable for those with serious vertigo. Eventually, having entered the forest shade, we descend to the river. Here, we meet our bus and transfer (four hours) to Sofia. We expect to have a few hours free in Sofia before our farewell dinner together at the hotel restaurant.