WALKING & WILDLIFE IN BULGARIA
NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PIRIN & RILA MOUNTAINS
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Afternoon transfer of 2 hours 45 minutes from Bulgaria's capital city Sofia to our hotel in Bansko, an atmospheric mountain town at the gateway to the Pirin Mountains, which will be our base for the next few days.
Day 2: Having hiked up the Demyanitsa valley, we start a long steady climb which takes us first past the Vasilashki lakes, then two more small but beautifully formed lakes known as the 'Eyes of Todorka'. Eventually we cross over the high pass Todorina Porta (2500m), an outstanding viewpoint, before descending steeply via the Bunderishki lakes to the Vihren hut where we will be picked up and driven on down to our base.
Walking Time: 5-6 hours; Total Ascent: +1200m; Total Descent: -650m.
Day 3: Today we will attempt an ascent of Mount Vihren (2914m), the highest peak in the 'Pirin' National Park and the second highest in Bulgaria. Beginning from the Vihren hut, our walk takes us steadily up into the dramatic Golyam Kazan cirque which lies tucked in directly beneath Mount Vihren's towering 400 metre high north wall. Here, as well as enjoying breathtaking mountain scenery, we can also find several beautiful endemic alpine flowers such as the delicate yellow Pirin Poppy (Papaver degenii) and Pirin Cabbage (Brassica jordanoffii) . From the cirque, a long exciting scramble takes us up white marble rocks to the summit of Mount Vihren, which on a clear day offers a wonderful panorama over the entire Pirin Mountains. There follows a steep descent back down to our bus for the return to Bansko.
Walking Time: 4-5 hours; Total Ascent: +1000m; Total Descent: -1000m.
Day 4: Leaving Bansko, we transfer to the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As well as visiting the monastery itself, we will also have a pleasant walk in the surrounding forests which have been designated as the 'Rila Monastery' Nature Park. During our walk we will have the chance to visit a couple of isolated chapels and a cave which are closely associated with the intriguing life story of Saint Ivan Rilski, a local hermit who was to become the patron saint of Bulgaria. Typical birds we are may see during our walk include: Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris), Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Black Woopecker (Dryocopus martius), Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), Coal Tit (Parus ater) and Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio). Also widespread in the region are Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) and Aesculapian Snake (Elaphe longissima). The shady beech forests are not the best habitat for flowers, but we may find Lilium martagon, Neottia nidus-avis and several other orchids from the genus Epipactis.
Walking Time: 1-2 hours; Total Ascent: +250m; Total Descent: -100m.
Day 5: Whilst our luggage is transferred round
the mountains by road, we make a long demanding trek through the heart
of the Rila Mountains and the 'Rila' National Park. Our
route leads us up and over one of the highest and most imposing ridges
in the Rila Mountains where we have a good chance of seeing birds such
as Golden Eagle (Aquila chrusaetos) and Alpine Chough (Pyrrocorax
graculus). Today's walk also leads through fantastic butterfly habitats,
and there is a good opportunity to see a kaleidescope of beautiful rare species flying here.
Finally rejoining our bus on the other side of the range,
we transfer to our hotel at Malyovitsa.
Walking Time: 7 hours; Total Ascent: +1400m; Total Descent: -1000m.
Day 6: Today we explore the region at the head of the Malyovitsa valley, and attempt an ascent of Mount Malyovitsa (2729m), one of the highest and most imposing peaks in this part of the Rila Mountains. The whole walk offers stunning views, as well as an opportunity to observe an interesting variety of birds including Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus), Crag Martin (Ptynonogne rupestris), Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta), Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris), Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Willow Tit (Parus montanus), Coal Tit (Parus ater), Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris), Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus), Raven (Corvus corax), Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) and Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra). There is also a very good chance of seeing the beautiful yet elusive Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) in the Malyovitsa region.
Walking Time: 5-6 hours; Total Ascent: +1000m; Total Descent: -1000m.
Day 7: Our goal for today is Mount Musala (2925m.), not only the highest peak in the Rila Mountains, but also on the Balkan Peninsula. To accomplish the ascent as a day walk, we will use the cabin-lift from Borovets which will take us up to a starting altitude of about 2300m. The route to the summit of Mount Musala is well-graded, winding up past a succession of sparkling glacial lakes around the shores of which one can find blooming the endemic Rila Primrose (Prumula deorum). We then end the day with short 1 hour 30 minutes transfer to Sofia, where we will spend our final night.
Walking Time: 3-4 hours; Total Ascent: +600m; Total Descent: -600m.
Day 8: Tour ends in the Bulgarian capital city Sofia