Booking your trip
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This popular six-day walk at the Western Rhodopes follows the third highest ridge in the Mountains- the ridge Chernatitsa. It implies natural, historical and architectural attractions as high peaks, the natural phenomena Wonderful Bridges, thick ancient forests, green meadows, an amazing canyon with many waterfalls and lakes. The trail offers panoramic views towards the small authentic villages that are scattered on the slopes and passes by remote chapels and well-maintained shelters. Due to the proximity of the region with the second largest city of Bulgaria- Plovdiv and the winter resort Pamporovo, as well the hot mineral water at the foot of the mountains, there are built many huts, that provide good conditions for hiking and relaxation.
Six-day hut to hut hike passing along a high mountain ridge, natural phenomena, ancient forests, green pastures, impressive canyon with many waterfalls;
To be leaded by experienced guide (if guided option is chosen);
To spend the nights at warm and cozy huts or guest-houses;
Breakfast and dinner provided by the hut-keepers;
Difficulty: The biggest part of the trail is a pleasant walk. The most difficult part is along the eco-trail Smolyan waterfalls canyon, as some of the wooden steps are very steep and walking on them requires a lot of attention, but none of them need of special equipment. The walk on the Day 3 is prolonged, 21 km due to the visit to the Wonderful Bridges.
Accommodation: The huts are centrally located and are visited by many tourists and the local people. That’s why it is advisable to book a place in them. In the town of Smolyan there are guest-houses and hotels. There is no lack of choice- some of them offer traditional atmosphere, some are modern. On the event of a national holyday it is possible to be fully occupied and a booking of a room is a must. Please, have in mind that these are high mountain huts and the conditions are basic: in some huts the beds are in common rooms, no hot shower in each hut and shared WC.
Transport:
Security: The trail is totally secure. All parts of it are marked, but at some sections it is possible to miss. Also it crosses many dirt roads and shepherd’s paths that makes the navigation challenging. It is advisable to use some kind of GPS device. The area is served by the mountain rescue teams.
179 EUR per person /self guided trail
OPTION |
SELF-GUIDED |
GUIDED TRIP |
Accommodation in the huts |
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Detailed Itinerary |
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GPS Track of your trail |
√ |
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Time tables of public transport |
√ |
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Taxi companies contacts |
√ |
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Phone and e-mail assistance |
√ |
√ |
English speaking guide |
X |
√ |
Intermediate transfers |
√ |
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Meals and drinks |
X |
X |
Travel insurance |
X |
X |
Travel to and from Bulgaria
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X |
X |
RANGE
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Active
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TRIP TYPE
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Self Guided Tour
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STARTS
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Plovdiv town
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ENDS
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Smolyanresort
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DEPARTS
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June - October
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GROUP SIZE
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Min 1 / Max 20
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ACCOMMODATION
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Common rooms
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TOUR GUIDE
|
Yes/No - guided/self guided
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MEALS |
Yes, against payment |
COUNTRY
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Bulgaria
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The Prices Start From 179 EUR*
* per person in self-guided option.
Walk from the Hrabrino village to the hut Varhovrah. The walk passes along broad paths and dirt roads by several huts and chapels and provides views to the valley of Plovdiv.
Walk from the Varhovrah hut to the Persenk hut. Gradually the path enters the mountain and after the village of Churen there are fantastic views towards the mountains. It leads you trough forests, glades and small rivers to the area of the peak Modar where the path gets into ancient Roman road. To the hut the path is through a thick forest where many fallen trees make you ease the pace and pay attention to the lush vegetation.
Walk from the hut Persenk to the hut Izgrev. Continuing by the ancient Roman road, the path leads you soon to the natural phenomena Wonderful Bridges. Once part of a cave now they remind stone bridges. They owe this shape to the destructive water in the river and possible earthquakes. The walls of the cave collapsed and thus they formed arches or bridges.
Walk from the hut Izgrev to the resort of Pamporovo. This walk is a real pleasure as it is trough green pastures and without big ascends and descends. On the saddle Pamporovo is built the winter resort with the same name and this is the place where finishes the Chernatitsa ridge.
Walk from the resort of Pamporovo to the town of Smolyan. The walk heads off down from the area of the peak Snezhanka at the Pamporovo resort. It is a pleasant walk down that winds along the Smolyanski Lakes, small lakes scattered along the valley and provides views towards the rocky outcrops known as the Orpheus Rocks.
This walk is a type of a side walk, but once in the town of Smolyan, it definitely deserves to pay a visit to the Canyon of the waterfalls. It is a real surprise for the waterfall lovers. After a long ascend along the valley of the river Gerzovitsa, the path enter the Soskovcheto nature reserve where the eco-trail Smolyan waterfalls canyon was set up recently. The trail winds up along the river deep in the ravine that once was wild and nobody could penetrate without special equipment. Today with the support of the many wooden steps, bridges and signs, the path gives the tourists the opportunity to see more than 46 waterfalls and strange rock formations. The path is circular and the second part leads you high above the river and provides panoramic views down to the waterfalls and toward the town.
If you prefer to explore the mountain at your own pace, than chose the option “Self-guided trip”. In this case we will provide you a package of materials, including a written hike description together with a customized travel itinerary, GPS tracks of your trail and local information. In order to make your independent hiking tour a success we will do all of the necessary arrangements. That is why the accommodations in the package are prepaid.
* per person in self-guided option.