• Beautiful mountain landscapes with deep gorges, spectacular caves, ancient forests and flowery meadows
  
• Experiencing the culture and cuisine of a fascinating and little-known region of Europe
  
• Visits to the Gornovodenski, Bachkovo, Rozhen and Rila Monasteries
• Opportunities to experience life in traditional Bulgarian villages and to see fine examples of the region's traditional vernacular architecture
  
• A final traditional celebratory dinner in the home of a Bulgarian "granny"

Lying almost forgotten for years behind the Iron Curtain, Bulgaria remains one of the continent's best kept secrets. Our trip provides the opportunity to discover the amazingly rich cultural and natural heritage of Bulgaria's remote Rhodope, Pirin and Rila Mountains, with plenty of opportunity to interact with local people and learn about their way-of-life. In particular our trip offers a unique insight into the local Pomak (Bulgarian Muslim) community as much of our time will be spent staying in and walking amongst traditional Muslim villages. By way of contrast, we will also visit four of Bulgaria's most striking Orthodox Christian monasteries! And the natural history is equally fascinating: during our hikes, there will be excellent opportunities to see a fascinating variety of rare flora and fauna.

women in moderate physical condition who want to learn about the history and culture of Bulgaria, and also enjoy hiking in beautiful countryside. Following traditional shepherds' paths, forest tracks, and ancient Roman roads, we walk leisurely for between 2-5 hours per day, with plenty of time to stop for photographs, look at nature, and talk to local people. Our daily walks will take us through a mixture of silent forests and open meadows, as well as over some rough and rocky terrain. Although for the most part moderately gentle, there will be an occasional steep ascent and descent.

comfortable tourist-class hotels that are classified two to three star by the Bulgarian classification system. These hotels offer twin rooms with private facilities. Where possible, we try to use smaller more atmospheric hotels.

• a Bulgarian English-speaking mountain (woman) guide and an Adventures in Good Company guide,
• eight nights lodging in twin/double rooms with private toilet and shower
• all meals from supper on July 5 to breakfast on July 13
• all transport within Bulgaria including a private bus and lifts
• entrance fees to sites that are included in the itinerary
• tips for the bus driver and restaurant staff

at the Sofia airport (SOF) the afternoon of July 5 (most flights arrive between 1 and 2:30 pm)

at the Sofia airport the afternoon of July 13

 summary of this information, packing list, notes on packing list, general information, trip itinerary

July 5: Arrive Sofia and transfer (2 hours 15 minutes) to the town of Asenovgrad on the northern slopes of the Rhodope Mountains. Tonight we'll stay in an attractively restored traditional 19th century mansion.

July 6: We start the day with a drive to the 9th century Asenova Fortress, perched on rocks at the mouth of the Chepelarska Gorge. The fortress is a part of the Rodopi line fortresses which guarded the northern Byzantine territories from the invasions of the Slavs and was an important protector of the Bachkovo Monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria. As well as looking around the monastery itself, we will also have a gentle walk in the beautiful valley behind it. At the edge of a botanic reserve, we will find several interesting chapels tucked away in the forest. After a picnic lunch we drive on into the heart of the Rhodope Mountains, stopping off at the picturesque village of Shiroka Luka, famous for its traditional architecture. From there we complete our transfer to Yagodina village, a very remote and friendly mountain settlement which is inhabited by Pomatsi (members of the Bulgarian Muslim minority). Here we will stay in a small family run hotel offering a warm welcome and wonderful home-cooked food.
Walking Time = 2 hours; ascent and descent is about 600 ft.

July 7: We start the day with a visit Yagodina Cave. This is one of the most spectacular in the country and has numerous stalagmites, stalactites and other unusual cave formations. Having visited the cave we climb out of the Buinovsko Gorge and then set off on foot across the mountains following the line of a former Roman Road to the neighboring Trigrad Gorge.  There we visit the Dyavolsko Gurlo (Devils Throat) Cave, an enormous cavern from which Orpheus is said to have emerged from the Underworld. This whole karst limestone region between the two caves is famed for its amazingly rich flora, which includes many endemic species.
Walking Time = 3 hours; 1000 ft ascent and 300 ft descent

July 8: Setting off on foot from the hotel, we follow a short but beautiful trail that drops down into the Buinovo Gorge beneath the breath-taking crags of Mt. Sveti Iliya. Rejoining our bus for a 10 minute ride down the gorge, we then resume our walk by hiking through the rugged Kastraklia Nature Reserve, home to numerous butterflies and birds, as well as a small population of Chamois. Our hike ends in the village of Borino, from where we have a picturesque drive (3 hours) west through the Rhodope Mountains. Finally we spend the night at the small provincial town of Gotse Delchev which is located in the valley of the river Mesta.  Walking Time = 4 hours; Ascent = 1350 ft; Descent = 1000 ft

July 9: We start the day driving to the tiny village of Leshten, an architectural reserve famed for its vernacular architecture. we spend the morning exploring on foot the deeply cut valley of the river Kanina where the local authorities have been working hard to establish a spectacular new eco-trail. Later we drive on to the village of Breznitsa where we will be welcomed as guests by some local Pomak (Bulgarian Muslim) women. As well as showing and explaining about their rich tradition of weaving and handicraft making, they will also prepare us a home-made lunch possibly accompanied by some traditional folk songs. Leaving the village, we then drive across the southern Pirin Mountains via the Popovi Livadi pass to arrive in Melnik, the smallest and perhaps most beautiful town in Bulgaria, stunningly set in an amazing sandstone gorge.
Walking Time = 3-4 hours; Ascent = 300 ft; Descent = 1300 ft

July 10: Today is a full day spent exploring the Melnik region on foot. First we make our way to the village of Kurlanovo, from where we climb up to the remote Chapel of Sveti Iliya. We then drop down to the village of Rozhen for lunch, before making our way on to the nearby Rozhen Monastery. This monastery, one of the most picturesque and tranquil in Bulgaria and one of the few Bulgarian monasteries from the Middle Ages, has survived relatively intact up to present days. Having looked round the monastery, we then complete our walk back to Melnik by following a spectacular trail through a labyrinth of sandstone pinnacles, ridges and gorges.
Walking Time = 4 hours; ascent and descent is about 1350 ft.

July 11: We begin the day with an early morning hike on the Sveti Nikola elevation above Melnik where there are ruins of several churches and monasteries as well as an old fortress. The hill also offers superb views over the surrounding region. Leaving Melnik we travel north up the Struma Valley, and then cut back east into the heart of the Rila mountains. Here we will visit the Rila Monastery. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is beautifully located beneath the Rila Mountains highest peaks.  We'll start with a visit to the hermitage of St John of Rila and have the opportunity to purify ourselves as we climb out a tunnel from his cave (this is optional). We will then take a short walk in the surrounding Rila Monastery Nature Park to the monastery itself. We'll take time to look at the many icons and soak up the atmosphere of the monastery itself. Later in the afternoon, we transfer to the other side of the range and our hotel at Borovets, the most famous Rila resort.
Walking Time (Sveti Nikola) = 1 hour; ascent and descent are about 450 ft
Walking Time (Rila Monastery) = 1 hour; ascent is about 600 ft,  descent  is 300 ft

July 12: Climbing Mt. Musala (9600 ft) the highest peak not only in Bulgaria but on the whole of the Balkan Peninsula, is a fitting finale to our holiday. Using a cabin-lift to take us up from Borovets to 7,600 ft, we then set off on foot to climb the peak. The first part of the hike follows a long ridge to the ruins of a former Soviet-era ski project before starting steadily up. From there the ascent is steep and rocky in places, but very rewarding. However, as this is an out and back walk, it is possible for those who don't want to do the whole climb to stop off at a couple of convenient refuges and wait for the rest of the party to return. We will return to Borovets on the same chairlift, making a total hike of 4 to 6 hours. That night we'll visit the traditional home of a Bulgarian "granny" for a celebratory meal, the perfect way to end this magic week.
Walking Time = 4-6 hours; ascent and descent is about 1800 ft.

July 13: Leaving the Rila Mountains we head north to Sofia. We'll have a short guided tour and then some free time to enjoy the sights of the capital city of Bulgaria, before getting on the plane for home or on to the next adventure