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SNOWSHOEING IN BULGARIA
WINTER WILDLIFE IN THE RHODOPE (RODOPI) MOUNTAINS

Holiday Profile

Holiday Highlights

  • Snowshoeing through stunning mountain landscapes with deep gorges, spectacular caves, ancient forests and extensive rolling meadows.
  • Track and observe a variety of secretive wildlife such as chamois, deer, wild boar and wolves.
  • Discover the secrets of the Underworld as you enter the depths of the 'Devil's Throat' and 'Yagodinska Peshtera', two of Bulgaria’s most spectacular caves.
  • Learn more about Bulgaria's rich history and culture with a pilgrimage to the Bachkovo Monastery
  • Experience traditional rural life in remote rural mountain settlements.
  • Enjoy the hospitality and delicious traditional dishes of cosy family run hotels.
  • Relax and pamper yourself at the end of the tour with an afternoon in a spa.

Encircled by the rivers Mesta and Maritsa, the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains are the most extensive mountain range in Bulgaria, covering a vast area in the southern part of the country, and rolling on across the border into Greece. Until recently, one of the least-known and least-visited corners of Europe, the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains are a paradise for lovers of nature, the region's biodiversity internationally recognised as amongst the most varied and valuable in Europe. Due to its remoteness and the extensive range of habitats, the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains boast an amazing number of endemic plants, large stable populations of Wolf (Canis lupus), Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) and other rare mammals, as well as an outstanding mix of birds. Approximately 300 species, some 70% of Bulgaria's bird fauna has been recorded in the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains, including 37 species of birds of prey.

During the winter the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains often experience heavy falls of snow, which blanket the mountains in deep drifts making ideal conditions for snowshoeing. This unique private guided one-week winter adventure is offered to individuals, couples or small groups, and explores a remote and unspoilt part of this mountain range far from the crowded pistes of the major winter resorts, offering a blend of natural history and cultural interest, as you discover more about the amazingly rich history, culture and wildlife of the region. A highly varied selection of carefully designed snowshoe treks and winter walks will lead you through ancient forests, across panoramic open meadows, into mysterious caves, and past snow-bound villages which lie seemingly cut off from the outside world.

As we explore some of the remotest and wildest parts of the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains, we will encounter a maze of animal tracks and trails criss-crossing the snow, and if we are lucky, even have a chance to catch a fleeting glimpse of secretive wildlife such as Wolf (Canis lupus), Balkan Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica), Mouflon (Ovis orientalis), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Fallow Deer (Dama dama), as well as many interesting birds including the elusive Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria).

Balkan Trek is at the forefront of responsible tourism in Bulgaria, and recognised as one of Bulgaria's leading mountain adventure and eco-tourism operators. We are specialists in small group walking holidays, trekking holidays, snowshoeing treks, cultural tours, monastery tours, village holidays, wildlife holidays, natural history trips, birdwatching holidays, butterfly holidays, botanic tours and photography holidays. We operate trips in Bulgaria's Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains, Rila Mountains, Pirin Mountains, Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains), Strandzha Mountains, Sredna Gora Mountains, Vitosha Mountains, as well as at the Black Sea.