Cycling tours listing
Balkan mountains cycling tour (Bulgaria)
On this tour we bike along the north and central parts of the Balkan Mountains, famous for their unspoiled nature, green valleys with sheep peacefully grazing on lush grass, precipitous cliffs and gentle, rolling hills offering plenty of unique biking opportunities. We start the trip from the tiny Goliam Izvor village, passing by the Central Balkan National Park and ending up in Veliko Tarnovo – the Old Bulgarian capital and one of the most charming Bulgarian towns. The narrow roads meander through picturesque villages that look as they have been untouched for the past 200 years. You’ll see wooden carts pulled by a horse or donkey and villagers making hay the old-fashioned way. During the trip you will visit several of Bulgaria's most important Orthodox monasteries, situated in the dales or woods. Churches with centuries-old icons and colourful murals are spread across a wide range of villages and small towns.
Tour highlights:
• Beautiful green landscapes of the Forebalkan and National park “Central Balkan
• Typical countryside sceneries, villages and local everyday life of the Balkan mountains region
• 7 of the most beautiful Bulgarian monasteries dating back from 13-15th century
• 2 unique architectural reserves with traditional old style houses and beautifully decorated churches and the marvelous open air ethnographic museum Etara
• The old capital of the Second Bulgarian kingdom - Veliko Tarnovo
Guaranteed departure dates for 2010:
Every day from April to October (Other dates also possible if the requirement for min group size is fulfilled)
Itinerary
Every day from April to October (Other dates also possible if the requirement for min group size is fulfilled)
Itinerary
Day 1. Arrive at Sofia or Plovdiv Airport and transfer to the village of Goliam Izvor
(about 1 hr from Sofia; or 3 hrs from Plovdiv), where we stay overnight.
Day 2. Today's cycling starts in Goliam Izvor village, heading to Yablanitsa town (the most famous place for producing different kinds of “khalva” in Bulgaria) and then continue to Malak Izvor village. From this point a steep road 4 km long leads you to the Glozhene Monastery Having visited the monastery you go back downhill to Malak Izvor village and continue to Ribaritsa village via the town of Teteven, where we can have lunch and spend some time on sightseeing. The road is idle, passing through woody hilly areas, varied by meadows and pastures. We stay overnight in Ribaritsa village.
Cycling specifics: distance: 70 km; uphill cycling: 850 m; downhill cycling: 800 m
Day 3. This morning you face a fairly challenging ascent from Ribaritsa village to the highest point of the day – Bogoy pass (1,185 m). From this pass you continue cycling all the way down to the town of Troyan. The road passes through the village of Shipkovo, famous for its mineral water springs and swimming pools. You are welcome to take a break here before heading further on to Troyan and the Troyan Monastery (one of the biggest and most famous one in Bulgaria). A few hundred metres before the monastery, to the right, is the "Oreshaka" pottery and craft exhibition. After visiting the monastery and the exhibition you continue on towards the mountain resort of Apriltsi where you stay overnight. The road weaves among the hills of the Central Fore-Balkan and affords many opportunities for you to witness local life.
Cycling specifics: distance: 74 km (45.9 miles); uphill cycling: 900 m (2,952 ft); downhill cycling: 1,000 m (3,280 ft)
Day 4. In the morning you start cycling from Apriltsi centre. The road undulates throughout this stage. After about 24 km (14.9 miles) you will see the Batoshevo Nunnery on the right-hand side of the road, where we can enjoy a picnic in the garden. The Batoshevo Monastery is also close by. The next milestone is the town of Gabrovo. There you will meet the guide who can either take you by car or you can keep cycling to Etura, an open-air ethnographic museum. The road passes through some hilly areas, flat cultivated terrains, along the river bed of Rositsa River and amid lush green mixed forest. We stay overnight in Etura.
Cycling specifics: distance: 55 km (34.1 miles); uphill cycling: 750 m (2,460 ft); downhill cycling: 800 m (2,624 ft)
Day 5. Today you start cycling some 10 km (6.2 miles) out of Gabrovo in order to avoid the heavy town traffic. After an ascent, immediately followed with a descent, you arrive in Tryavna. There you can spend some time on sightseeing and lunch in the centre of this beautiful town. Further undulations will lead you to the final stop of the day – Bozhentsi village (an architectural reserve). After a short break you can walk along the picturesque streets and old houses.
Cycling specifics: distance: 52 km (32.3 miles); uphill cycling: 950m (3,116 ft); downhill cycling: 1,000 m (3,280 ft)
Day 6. Having visited the Dryanovo Monastery by car that morning, you commence cycling from the Yalovo village turn-off. Kilifarevo Monastery is very close. We make a short stop here and continue on to the mountain town of Elena which is some 48 km (29.8 miles) from the start and the final destination for today. Most of the road passes through pastures, cultivated fields and shrubs in the form of low-lying hills, typical of this part of the Fore-Balkan.
Cycling specifics: distance: 48 km (29.8 miles), uphill cycling: 600 m (1,968 ft); downhill cycling: 700 m (2,296 ft)
Day 7. From Elena we continue cycling to the last point on the trip – Arbanasi village (an architectural reserve). The track today is reasonably smooth with long, even terrain, combined with slight undulations. The landscape includes meadows, pastures, farmland, shrub-covered hills and finally a beautiful plateau over Veliko Tarnovo. A short descent leads to the centre of Arbanasi village, where the cycling for the whole trip ends. There are quite a few things to see here, including 300-year-old houses, monasteries and museums. After this we head off on a sightseeing tour of Veliko Tarnovo (the former capital of Bulgaria), the site of numerous historical events. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Plovdiv for overnight.
Cycling specifics: distance: 43 km (26.7 miles); uphill cycling: 600 m (1,968 ft); downhill cycling: 600 m (1,968 ft)
Day 8. After breakfast you will have transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure (transfer time: 20 min to Plovdiv Airport or 2 hrs to Sofia Airport)
(about 1 hr from Sofia; or 3 hrs from Plovdiv), where we stay overnight.
Day 2. Today's cycling starts in Goliam Izvor village, heading to Yablanitsa town (the most famous place for producing different kinds of “khalva” in Bulgaria) and then continue to Malak Izvor village. From this point a steep road 4 km long leads you to the Glozhene Monastery Having visited the monastery you go back downhill to Malak Izvor village and continue to Ribaritsa village via the town of Teteven, where we can have lunch and spend some time on sightseeing. The road is idle, passing through woody hilly areas, varied by meadows and pastures. We stay overnight in Ribaritsa village.
Cycling specifics: distance: 70 km; uphill cycling: 850 m; downhill cycling: 800 m
Day 3. This morning you face a fairly challenging ascent from Ribaritsa village to the highest point of the day – Bogoy pass (1,185 m). From this pass you continue cycling all the way down to the town of Troyan. The road passes through the village of Shipkovo, famous for its mineral water springs and swimming pools. You are welcome to take a break here before heading further on to Troyan and the Troyan Monastery (one of the biggest and most famous one in Bulgaria). A few hundred metres before the monastery, to the right, is the "Oreshaka" pottery and craft exhibition. After visiting the monastery and the exhibition you continue on towards the mountain resort of Apriltsi where you stay overnight. The road weaves among the hills of the Central Fore-Balkan and affords many opportunities for you to witness local life.
Cycling specifics: distance: 74 km (45.9 miles); uphill cycling: 900 m (2,952 ft); downhill cycling: 1,000 m (3,280 ft)
Day 4. In the morning you start cycling from Apriltsi centre. The road undulates throughout this stage. After about 24 km (14.9 miles) you will see the Batoshevo Nunnery on the right-hand side of the road, where we can enjoy a picnic in the garden. The Batoshevo Monastery is also close by. The next milestone is the town of Gabrovo. There you will meet the guide who can either take you by car or you can keep cycling to Etura, an open-air ethnographic museum. The road passes through some hilly areas, flat cultivated terrains, along the river bed of Rositsa River and amid lush green mixed forest. We stay overnight in Etura.
Cycling specifics: distance: 55 km (34.1 miles); uphill cycling: 750 m (2,460 ft); downhill cycling: 800 m (2,624 ft)
Day 5. Today you start cycling some 10 km (6.2 miles) out of Gabrovo in order to avoid the heavy town traffic. After an ascent, immediately followed with a descent, you arrive in Tryavna. There you can spend some time on sightseeing and lunch in the centre of this beautiful town. Further undulations will lead you to the final stop of the day – Bozhentsi village (an architectural reserve). After a short break you can walk along the picturesque streets and old houses.
Cycling specifics: distance: 52 km (32.3 miles); uphill cycling: 950m (3,116 ft); downhill cycling: 1,000 m (3,280 ft)
Day 6. Having visited the Dryanovo Monastery by car that morning, you commence cycling from the Yalovo village turn-off. Kilifarevo Monastery is very close. We make a short stop here and continue on to the mountain town of Elena which is some 48 km (29.8 miles) from the start and the final destination for today. Most of the road passes through pastures, cultivated fields and shrubs in the form of low-lying hills, typical of this part of the Fore-Balkan.
Cycling specifics: distance: 48 km (29.8 miles), uphill cycling: 600 m (1,968 ft); downhill cycling: 700 m (2,296 ft)
Day 7. From Elena we continue cycling to the last point on the trip – Arbanasi village (an architectural reserve). The track today is reasonably smooth with long, even terrain, combined with slight undulations. The landscape includes meadows, pastures, farmland, shrub-covered hills and finally a beautiful plateau over Veliko Tarnovo. A short descent leads to the centre of Arbanasi village, where the cycling for the whole trip ends. There are quite a few things to see here, including 300-year-old houses, monasteries and museums. After this we head off on a sightseeing tour of Veliko Tarnovo (the former capital of Bulgaria), the site of numerous historical events. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Plovdiv for overnight.
Cycling specifics: distance: 43 km (26.7 miles); uphill cycling: 600 m (1,968 ft); downhill cycling: 600 m (1,968 ft)
Day 8. After breakfast you will have transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure (transfer time: 20 min to Plovdiv Airport or 2 hrs to Sofia Airport)
PRICE: 600 euro
The price includes:
equipped bike (helmets and saddle bags are provided upon request only); English-speaking guide/driver with a supporting vehicle; map; roadbook; transfers from/to Sofia airport; accommodation and boarding as mentioned above; VAT and all local taxes (entrance fees not included).
Price of extra services:
single room supplement: €80; rent of a helmet: 10 euro/7 days; rent of a rear saddlebag: 10 euro/week; rent of a handle-bar bag: 5 euro/week.
Accommodation:
3-star hotels (days 3, 5, 6 ), guesthouses (days 1 and 7) with private facilities and family-run pensions (day 2, 4) with shared facilities on halfboard (breakfast & dinner included).
Luggage transportation:
Luggage is taken care of throughout the whole trip.
Practical information:
BIKES: You can choose (depending on the availability) from 2 types of bikes: 1. Hardtail performance mountain bike “RAM” with road tires, 24 gears and 80mm front suspension fork; 2. quality road touring bike “DRAG” with 21 gears, 28 inch rims and Shimano components.
TOUR INFO: All bikers receive a detailed roadbook and map. The guide with the supporting vehicle and the luggage inside checks several times a day if everything is OK with the group, waiting by crossroads, accompanying them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, giving them talks by the most interesting sites en-route. The guide is also responsible for the technical support of the bikes. Bikers can always skip some harder stages using the supporting vehicle.
ROAD CONDITIONS: We use mostly two-way roads (one band per direction) with an asphalt covering (the latter usually not brand new!). The country roads are quite peaceful, sometimes without any cars. The road surface in these areas may be not very smooth at some stages. The traffic might be a little bit heavier at some sections but only for a short while.
RECCOMMENDED EQUIPMENT: We strongly recommend you wearing a helmet during the cycling. You can bring your own helmet or rent one from us. Cycling gloves are also advisable .
EXTENSION AT THE BLACK SEA COAST: we have a unique proposal, which gives you the opportunity to stay on a sea holiday for extra week after your active tour at an incredibly low price in Sozopol, Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Lozenets, St. Vlas, Golden Sands etc. and all this with arranged transportation right after your tour and before your departure flight. For more information please check "Vacation extensions" below.
LOW COST FLIGHTS TO BULGARIA: please check: Wizz Air - http://wizzair.com/; Sky Europe - http://www1.skyeurope.com/; Easy Jet - http://www.easyjet.com/; Germanwings - http://www.germanwings.com/; My Air - http://www.myair.com/; Penguin Travel – http://www.flybulgarien.dk/; Norwegian Air Shuttle - http://www.norwegian.no/.
CONNECTING THE TOUR: In summer time there are loads of opportunities to book a cheap flight to Bourgas or Varna Airport instead of landing at Sofia Airport. We can arrange for you a bus or train ticket to the starting point of the active tour with transfer to the central bus/railway station in these towns, picking you up at the airport upon arrival or vice versa at the end of your tour (this would only cost you appr. 20-30 Euro per car + the bus/train ticket price itself). For detailed information and prices, please look at the trip dossier.
equipped bike (helmets and saddle bags are provided upon request only); English-speaking guide/driver with a supporting vehicle; map; roadbook; transfers from/to Sofia airport; accommodation and boarding as mentioned above; VAT and all local taxes (entrance fees not included).
Price of extra services:
single room supplement: €80; rent of a helmet: 10 euro/7 days; rent of a rear saddlebag: 10 euro/week; rent of a handle-bar bag: 5 euro/week.
Accommodation:
3-star hotels (days 3, 5, 6 ), guesthouses (days 1 and 7) with private facilities and family-run pensions (day 2, 4) with shared facilities on halfboard (breakfast & dinner included).
Luggage transportation:
Luggage is taken care of throughout the whole trip.
Practical information:
BIKES: You can choose (depending on the availability) from 2 types of bikes: 1. Hardtail performance mountain bike “RAM” with road tires, 24 gears and 80mm front suspension fork; 2. quality road touring bike “DRAG” with 21 gears, 28 inch rims and Shimano components.
TOUR INFO: All bikers receive a detailed roadbook and map. The guide with the supporting vehicle and the luggage inside checks several times a day if everything is OK with the group, waiting by crossroads, accompanying them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, giving them talks by the most interesting sites en-route. The guide is also responsible for the technical support of the bikes. Bikers can always skip some harder stages using the supporting vehicle.
ROAD CONDITIONS: We use mostly two-way roads (one band per direction) with an asphalt covering (the latter usually not brand new!). The country roads are quite peaceful, sometimes without any cars. The road surface in these areas may be not very smooth at some stages. The traffic might be a little bit heavier at some sections but only for a short while.
RECCOMMENDED EQUIPMENT: We strongly recommend you wearing a helmet during the cycling. You can bring your own helmet or rent one from us. Cycling gloves are also advisable .
EXTENSION AT THE BLACK SEA COAST: we have a unique proposal, which gives you the opportunity to stay on a sea holiday for extra week after your active tour at an incredibly low price in Sozopol, Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Lozenets, St. Vlas, Golden Sands etc. and all this with arranged transportation right after your tour and before your departure flight. For more information please check "Vacation extensions" below.
LOW COST FLIGHTS TO BULGARIA: please check: Wizz Air - http://wizzair.com/; Sky Europe - http://www1.skyeurope.com/; Easy Jet - http://www.easyjet.com/; Germanwings - http://www.germanwings.com/; My Air - http://www.myair.com/; Penguin Travel – http://www.flybulgarien.dk/; Norwegian Air Shuttle - http://www.norwegian.no/.
CONNECTING THE TOUR: In summer time there are loads of opportunities to book a cheap flight to Bourgas or Varna Airport instead of landing at Sofia Airport. We can arrange for you a bus or train ticket to the starting point of the active tour with transfer to the central bus/railway station in these towns, picking you up at the airport upon arrival or vice versa at the end of your tour (this would only cost you appr. 20-30 Euro per car + the bus/train ticket price itself). For detailed information and prices, please look at the trip dossier.
Group size: Min. 2 persons
Tour type: IT + / GT
Difficulty grade: moderate. For bikers in good phisycal condition.
Best period: April – October
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