Day 1: Afternoon transfer from Bulgaria's capital city Sofia to Yagodina village in the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains. This is a remote mountain village set within the stunningly beautiful Trigrad Karst Region. Our base for the next six nights will be a warm and welcoming family-run hotel renowned for its hospitality and delicious traditional cuisine.

Day 2: Setting off on foot from the village of Zmeitsa, we follow the line of an ancient Roman road and enjoy rambles through Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains' meadows, forests and fields where there are opportunities to observe the local people engaged in their traditional agricultural lifestyle. Finally, having descended a broad grassy ridge spur, that offers stunning views towards the village of Yagodina, we drop steeply into the Buinovsko Zhdrelo (Buinovo Gorge). The Buinovo Gorge has been declared a protected territory on account of its rich flora and fauna. The flora of the 'Buinovsko Zhdrelo' protected territory includes 27 Balkan endemic species, 3 Bulgarian endemic species and 2 local endemic species which are unique to the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains. Within the Buinovo Gorge, 55 species of bird have been recorded, including: Peregrine (Falco peregrinus), Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus), Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) and Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia). There are also numerous species of mammal, including Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), Wolf (Canis lupus), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus), Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the Fat Dormouse (Glis glis), as well as 17 species of bat! Our minibus will be waiting for us in the Buinovo Gorge.

Walking Time: 31/2 hours; Total Ascent: +300m; Total Descent: -600m;

Day 3: Setting off on foot from the hotel, we walk out of the village and pick up spectacular trail that runs high along the flank of the Buinovo Gorge beneath the rugged rock outcrops of Mt. Sveti Iliya. Meeting our bus, we then have a short drive downstream, before commencing the second part of our walk, a hike through the heart of the 'Kastrakli' nature reserve. The reserve has a rich flora and fauna, and is world renowned for the large variety of butterflies and moths that can be found in the region. During the walk there is also a chance to catch a glimpse of Balkan Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) and Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus). Finally on emerging at the village of Borino, we are picked up by our bus and driven back to Yagodina.

Walking Time: 4 hours; Total Ascent: +450m; Total Descent: -300m.

Day 4: We start today's Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountain rambles by first hiking down the gorge of the Chairska River, and then climbing through ancient forests to emerge at an extensive area of glorious flower-filled meadows. Here we will lunch, having plenty of time to enjoy the wildflowers, butterflies and birds that we will see all around us in this enchanting spot. Having crossed the meadows, and then an interesting section of karst plateau, we eventually drop down into the Trigradsko Zhdrelo (Trigrad Gorge). The Trigrad Gorge is not only famous for its spectacular cliffs and numerous caves, it also shelters an amazing variety of plants and animals, many of them rare or endemic species. Indeed the whole region has been declared the 'Trigradsko Zhdrelo' protected territory to conserve the unique biodiversity of this wonderful region. Within the Trigrad Gorge, there have been recorded 39 species of mammals, 8 species of reptiles, 5 species of amphibians and 3 species of fish, as well as 109 species of birds. Perhaps the most famous bird of all those found here is the Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria), a rare and elusive bird that flutters around the rocks like a butterfly on strikingly crimson wings. The Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) draws birdwatchers from around the world, as this is one of the most accessible and reliable places to see the species in Europe. The other claim to fame of the region is the 'Dyavolsko Gurlo' (Devil's Throat) Cave. This cave is in fact an enormous chasm with a thundering waterfall. According to legend, this was the cave by which Orpheus emerged from the Underworld after his tragically failed attempt to reclaim his wife Eurydice.

Walking Time: 4 hours; Total Ascent: +500m; Total Descent: -300m.

Day 5: A full day's circular walk starting and finishing in Yagodina. Our route rambles around Mount Durdaga, a high wooded peak that rises directly above the village. During the course of our walk, we pass through a large variety of habitats with an extremely rich flora and fauna. During the first half of the day, as well as rambles through ancient forests that are home to Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), Wolf (Canis lupus), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus), we will also cross several flowered covered pastures that are normally enlivened by a spectacular assortment of butterflies. Later in the afternoon, we return to Yagodina along the line of a former Roman road that runs high above the Trigrad Gorge, and which not only offers outstanding views, but which is also one of the most renowned botanic trails in the country. As we walk we should have the chance to see a large number of rare and endemic plant species, several of which are unique to the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains. The trail is also very good for butterflies and for birdwatching.

Walking Time: 5 hours; Total Ascent: +500m; Total Descent: -500m.

Day 6: The focus of today's Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountain rambles is the imposing Sveti Iliya (Saint Elijah) ridge that rises up directly north of Yagodina. Our route starts by climbing steadily upwards through lush flower-filled meadows, until we reach the broad open ridgeback. Although rough and stony, the ridge boasts its own unique flora and fauna, as well the opportunity to observe a range of interesting raptors, with Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Booted Eagle (Hieraaetis pennatus) and Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) all having been recorded on previous departures, as well as Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) and Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), and an assortment of falcons such as Peregrine (Falco peregrinus), Hobby (Falco subbuteo) and Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Other interesting birds to look out for include Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca), Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia), Woodlark (Lullula arborea), Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) and Stonechat (Saxicola torquata). However, the panoramic views would in themselves be reward enough for climbing the ridge, for they not only stretch out over the village of Yagodina itself, but indeed much of the Western Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, offering an ideal chance to point out and identify the places one has walked during previous days of this holiday.

Walking Time: 41/2 hours; Total Ascent: +650m; Total Descent: -550m.

Day 7: Setting off on foot from the hotel, we pick up yet another section of former Roman road, now a beautiful forest trail that is famed for the great variety of orchids that can be found growing alongside it. Suddenly the path emerges at a shelter, perched high on a rocky viewpoint from which one can gaze down into the Buinovo Gorge below. From here, the trail steadily descends to meet the river and road beside a wonderfully preserved Roman bridge and just a short distance from the Yagodina Cave. We will spend about an hour inside the cave, one of the most beautiful in the country, and world renowned for its variety of cave formations including stalagmites, stalactites, draperies, flowstones, dendrites and cave pearls. The cave system also harbours a unique prehistoric dwelling and we will have the chance to see this and learn more about the surprisingly sophisticated way-of-life of the people who inhabited it more than 6000 years ago. Finally, after lunch, we set off on the long but highly picturesque transfer to the Bulgarian capital Sofia, where we will spend our final night.

Walking Time: 1 hour; Total Ascent: +100m; Total Descent: -300m.

Day 8: Tour ends in the Bulgarian capital city Sofia