Bulgaria - Walking and Wildlife Holidays

Holiday Profile

South-western Bulgaria represents a sea of rippling mountain ridges, where rugged peaks rise up from a cloak of ancient coniferous forests. Despite being criss-crossed by an extensive network of hiking trails, a reflection on the popularity of walking amongst the Bulgarian people, the mountains of Bulgaria still have remarkably few foreign visitors. This guided group walking holiday offers a comprehensive exploration of both the Rila Mountains and Pirin Mountains, visiting the main attractions and most spectacular landscapes that these mountains have to offer.

We begin our walking holiday in the Pirin Mountains, the second highest range in Bulgaria, and which boasts 40 peaks over 2500 metres and 3 peaks which top 2900 metres. We will focus our explorations in northern part of the Pirin Mountains, the highest and wildest region, and which was declared as the 'Pirin' National Park in 1962. Because of its southerly location and varied geology, the 'Pirin' National Park has a rich flora, totalling some 1315 species including a siginificant number of local Pirin endemics. The region is also excellent for birds with 110 breeding species, and provides a refuge for rare mammals including Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) and Balkan Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica), both of which have been glimpsed by clients on previous trips.

Heading north from the Pirin Mountains, we then make our way to the Rila Mountains, beginning our explorations at the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is breathtakingly located in the heart of the range. This is one of the most important cultural and historic sites in the country, and there will be time to visit the Rila Monastery itself as well as walk in the surrounding forests which have been declared a specially protected territory known as the 'Rila Monastery' Nature Park.

After our relaxing cultural interlude at the Rila Monastery, we then have several days of extremely rewarding hiking in the 'Rila' National Park. The Rila Mountains are the highest mountain range, not only in Bulgaria but on the entire Balkan Peninsula, Over 140 peaks top 2000 metres, including Mount Musala (2925m), the highest peak in South-eastern Europe. In 1992, a large part of the range was designated as the 'Rila' National Park, a vast protected territory that is now internationally recognized as one of the most important wilderness areas in Europe and which has recently been awarded the prestigious status of a PAN Park. With over 1400 species of plants, the flora of the 'Rila' National Park is even richer than that of the 'Pirin', and the fauna is also very varied including 100 species of breeding bird, as well as large mammals such as Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) and Wolf (Canis lupus), the latter seen by clients on a previous trip.

This trek has been specifically designed to provide a strenuous walking holiday in remote and largely untouched mountain landscapes that offer broad vistas and immense scenic variety. The walking is rugged, frequently attains altitudes above 2500m and climbs some of the highest peaks on the Balkan Peninsula. Many days are challenging, involving steep and often sustained ascents and descents, with between 5 to 8 hours walking. The terrain is typically rough and rocky, and frequently involves crossing moraines and boulders, with the occasional easy scramble.

This walking holiday in Bulgaria's Pirin and Rila Mountains is ideally suited to those who relish the challenges and beauty of a wilderness environment, yet prefer to sleep in a bed at night and experience the culture and cuisine of a fascinating area. Overnight stays will be in hotels at the foot of the Rila and Pirin Mountains, and on most days there will short transfers in our own private bus at the start and finish of the walks.