Bulgaria - Tourism - Mountain Tourism
Mountain Tourism - The Rhodope Mountains
The Rhodope Mountains are located in the most southern part of
Bulgaria. Its highest peak is Goliam Perelik (2191 m.). The location
of the mountain determines to great extend its climate. It is
influenced both by the cold northern air and the warm southern
breeze.The Rhodopes spread over 14 000 sq. km. of which nearly
12200 are on bulgarian territory. The mountain is about 220 km.
long and about 120 km. wide. the average altitude is 785 m. The
Rhodopes is divided into two ridges - Western and Eastern. This
is the most populated mountain in Bulgaria and thus providing
many advantages for the tourists. The best conifer woods are situated
here as well as the best preserved natural environment.
The Western Rhodopes
The Western Rhodopes are the bigger part of the mountain. They
are also the higher and more developed part of the Rhodopes. Goliam
Perelik peak is here. Some of the deepest and most picturesque
river gorges can be found here - the Trigrad, Buinovsko, Gerzovitsa
river, Mostova Sushitsa river etc.Many Astonishing rock formations
can be seen here as well. There are nearly 40 chalets in the Western
Rhodopes.
Major hiking routes in The Western Rhodopes
Yundola Saddle and resort centre is on the border between Rila
Mountain and the Rhodopes, 16 km. away from Velingrad. There is
a tourist chalet, restaurants, shops and lots of private lodgings.
Youndola is an intermediary point for combined routes in the two
mountains. Hikers can reach the Kladova Chalet in the Alabak sub-range
of the Rhodopes for 3.30 hours along a marked route from where
hikers can proceed to the Milevi Skali Chalet (5 h.) and Ravno
Bore Chalet for another 2 hours.
Velingrad is the biggest balneological resort in Bulgaria and
is also one of the most beautiful towns in the Rhodopes. It is
the starting point for the Alabash Ridge. It is the beginning
of a marked hiking route to the Kladova Chalet (3 h.). If you
are a keen hiker and you are interested in real estates and you
want to buy cheap bulgarian property Velingrad has what to offer
you. You can buy and own property in this very beautiful area
and enjoy the beauty of the bulgarian nature.
The town ot Batak is a town of rich history, 26 km. south-east
of Velingrad and very near to Batak Dam. A hiking route starts
to the Teheran Chalet , from where in about 3.30 h. hikers can
reach the highest peak of the Batak range - Batakshki Snezhnik.
The town of Devin is 82 km. south of Pazardzhik and 46 km. north-west
of Smolyan. It is the strating point of hiking routes to: Orphei
Chalet (5 h.) in the Devin mountain subrange, from where hikers
could proceed to the well known Kemerov Most (3 h.), Lednitsata
Chalet in the Perelik subrange, from where there are different
options - to the village of Shiroka Luka, Perelik Chalet and Pamporovo,
Trigradski Skali Chalet. There is a bus from Devin to Trigrad,
which passes through the Trigrad gorge and near the Dyavolsko
Gurlo Cave. Devin is the place where you, if you are interested
in real estates, can buy cheap bulgarian property and thus fully
enjoy the marvels of the beautiful bulgarian nature.
The town of Peroushtitsa is 24 km. south-west of Plovdiv and is
a starting point for Chernatitsa. A hiking route starts here to
the Bryanovshtitsa Chalet (3 h.), from where it proceeds to Vurhovruh
Chalet (2.30 h.) or descends to the Academic Chalet (1 h.)
The village of Hrabrino is 12 km. south of Plovdiv. It is starting
point for the Academic Chalet (1.30 h.), from where the route
continues to the Bryanovshtitsa Chalet (1.5 h.) and Vurhovruh
Chalet (4 h.).
Village of Gulubovo is 17 km. south of Plovdiv. It is starting
point to the Byala Cherkva Ridge of Chernatitsa - along a marked
route to Zdravets Chalet (1.30 h.), Studenets Resort for another
1 hour, Byala Cherkva Resort (another 1.30 h.), from where hikers
can proceed to the Ravnishta Chalet (3.30 h.) and Persenk Chalet
(6 h.).
Village of Kouklen is 14 km. south of Plovdiv. Not far from it
is the Kouklen Monastery (1 h.). From Kouklen there is a marked
route to Ruen Chalet (2.30 h.), from where hikers can proceed
to Zdravets Chalet (another 2 h.)
Narechenski Bani is one of the biggest balneological centres in
Bulgaria, with many sanatoria, mineral water springs, hotels,
restaurants, shops.It is located 45 km. south of Plovdiv and 54
km. north of Smolyan. This is the starting point to Byala Cherkva
Resort (3-4 h.) passing the Cherni Vruh peak (1543 m.) in Chernatitsa,
Pashaliitsa Chalet (3 h.) in Radyuva Mountain in the Prespa Range,
Zarenitsa peak (1 h.)
The village of Hvoina, located on the main road Plovdiv-Smolyan,
is the starting point to Persenk Chalet (2.30-3 h.) and Kabata
Chalet (3 h.), from where in 3 hours and 1.30 hours respectively
hikers can reach the phenomenal rocks Choudnite Mostove, near
which there are two chalets - Choudnite Mostove Chalet and above
it - a bigger and better furnished Skalnite Mostove Chalet. Hvoina
is the place where you, if you are interested in real estates,
can buy cheap bulgarian property and thus fully enjoy the marvels
of the beautiful bulgarian nature.
Village of Zabardo is 51 km.south of Assenovgrad. It is a starting
point to the natural phenomenon Choudnite Mostove with the two
chalets nearby (2.3-3 h.), from where hikers can proceed to Persenk
Chalet (3 h.), Izgrev Chalet (5-6 h.), Kabata Chalet (1.30 h.)
or climb the Persenk peak (2074 m.) in 2 hours. There is a direct
route from Zaburdo to Izgrev Chalet as well. There is a hostel
in the village.
The town of Chepelare is the biggest speleological centre in Bulgaria.
It hosts a tourist house and a speleological museum. This is the
starting point for a marked route to Izgrev Chalet (2.30-3 h.)
in Chernatitsa, from where hikers can proceed southwards along
the watershed to Pamporovo (6-7 h.), Shiroka Luka (4 h.), or to
the north to Persenk Chalet (6-7 h.), Choudnite Mostove (5-6 h.).
A road (12 km) connects it to Pamporovo Resort. If you are a keen
hiker and you are interested in real estates and you want to buy
cheap bulgarian property Chepelare has what to offer you. You
can buy and own property in this very beautiful area and enjoy
the beauty of the bulgarian nature.
Rozhen Saddle is the border between the Perelik and Prespa subranges,
9 km. away from Chepelare and 20 km. north of Smolyan. The saddle
is at an altitude of 1430 metres. A marked hiking route passes
here, connecting the resort Pamporovo (Stoudenets Chalet - 2 hours)
and Momchil Yunak Chalet (3 h.).
Smolyan is the largest town in the Western Rhodopes. It is 100
km. south of Plovdiv. The town is the starting point for marked
hiking routes to the Stoudenets Chalet (3 h.), Perelik Chalet
( 5 h.) located near the highest peak in the mountain range -
Golyam Perelik, Rodopska Shipka with the monument below the Srednogorets
peak (3-4 h.), the village of Arda (7-8 h.). An 8 km road leads
to the Smolyan lakes and the chalet thereby. Smolyan is the place
where you, if you are interested in real estates, can buy cheap
bulgarian property and thus fully enjoy the marvels of the beautiful
bulgarian nature.
The town of Assenovgrad is 20 km. south-west of Plovdiv. It is
the main starting point for the Dobrostan Massif. A marked hiking
route leads to Momina Sulza Chalet (2 h.), Brezovo Chalet (another
1.30 h.) and Martsiganitsa Chalet (another 3 h.). 2.5 km. south
of the town is the historical Assenova Krepost. There is a tourist
hostel in the town.
The village of Manastir is the highest village in Bulgaria (located
at 1450 m above sea level). It is an important starting point
for the Prespa Subrange. Marked hiking routes lead to Svoboda
Chalet (2.30-3 h.), Prespa Chalet (1.30-2 h.) and Haidushki Polyani
(a small resort - 2 hours), located on the main watershed of the
Prespa Range. The village of Novakovo is located 24 km. south-east
of Assenovgrad is a starting point for Sini Vruh Chalet (2 h.)
in the Novakov Mountain, from where hikers can proceed to Martsigaitsa
Chalet (7.30 h.), Svoboda Chalet (10-11 h.).
The Eastern Rhodopes
The Eastern Rhodopes are spread over a territory of 4127 sq. km.This
part of the mountain is much lower than teh Western Rhodopes -
the highest peak is Orlitsa (1483m.). There are about 10 chalets
here.
Major hiking routes in The Eastern Rhodopes
The town of Haskovo is a starting hiking point in the northern
part of the Eastern Rhodopes. It is located 78 km. east of Plovdiv.
West of the town are Haskovski Mineralni Bani (9 km.), which may
be the starting point for hiking tours to the beautiful ridges
Mechkovets and Dragoina. The route to Aida Chalet, right below
the Mechkovets peak (760 m.) takes 2 hours along a marked route,
that passes by Sharapanite (remains from Thracian times). From
the chalet hikers can proceed westward along a marked route leading
to the Sini Vruh Chalet (9 h.), thus entering the Western Rhodopes.
If you are a keen hiker and you are interested in real estates
and you want to buy cheap bulgarian property Haskovo has what
to offer you. You can buy and own property in this very beautiful
area and enjoy the beauty of the bulgarian nature. A marked hiking
route starts from the town to the village of Dragoinovo, crossing
Dragoina Ridge (4-5 h.).
Kurdjali is another big town in the Eastern Rhodopes. It is the
main starting point to the most interesting places in the Eastern
Rhodopes - the valleys of the rivers Borovitsa, Vurbitsa, Arda
known for the big dams. Some 10 km. away from Kardjali, in the
Eastern Rhodope range, on a rocky peak at 1 400 ft above sea level,
is the sacred Thracian Palace of Perperikon. Here, Alexander the
Great learned about his faith to conquer the world. The palace
and its fortress were the capital of the mightiest state of the
Thracians - that of the Odris Kingdom. Kurdjali is the place where
you, if you are interested in real estates, can buy cheap bulgarian
property and thus fully enjoy the marvels of the beautiful bulgarian
nature.
The major Bulgarian mountains are:
