Bulgaria Treks and Walking Holidays
Our Bulgaria Trips
Bulgaria sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, right in the belly of the Balkans. Its location makes it a cultural melting pot with Greek, Slavic, Ottoman and Persian influences. It has a rich heritage of traditional dance, music, costumes and crafts and its capital, Sofia, at the foot of the Vitosha mountain dates back to the 5th century B.C. Bulgaria has a wide outlet on the Black Sea and borders Greece, Serbia, Romania, Turkey and Macedonia.
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Gavin started Adventure Alternative in 1991 during a long period of travelling the world, working in a wide variety of jobs, climbing mountains and going on long expeditions. A six month solo trek across the Sahara Desert aged twenty one was the benchmark experience, after which travel and adventurous exploits became a way of life.
Born in the United Kingdom, Gavin went to high school in Western Australia and then moved to Northern Ireland to complete his BA in English Literature. He...
What Our Bulgaria Adventurers Think:
Mark and I had a great time, we are very grateful to Stoyan and the Adventure Alternative team for their organisation of this trip. Mark and I got sick on the Sunday but Stoyan was able to amend the itinerary so we were able to recover all day before our last day up in the mountains. The accommodation was great throughout, it was varied and comfortable, we’re just sorry we didn’t get the night in the hostel at the edge of the lake but I couldn’t have gone up a flight of stairs that day never mind a mountain! Our driver Nikkolai was super too, very helpful and very professional. It was my sons toughest ever challenge so I was very proud of him. I would heartily recommend this trip, it’s a week-long and every day is filled with wondering views and challenges – and great food and wine! Whenever Stoyan eventually makes it over to Northern Ireland, let me know because Mark and I would love to meet up YIT (yours in travel!) Peter Jack
About Bulgaria
South of Sofia lie the Rila, Pirin and Rhodope Mountains. The Rila Mountains are the highest in Bulgaria and indeed the entire Balkans, with its highest peak, Mount Musala, standing at an impressive 2,925m. The highest peak in the Pirin Mountains is Mount Vihren (2,914m) and in the Rhodope Mountains it is Golyam Perelik (2,191m). Adventure Alternative offers an excellent trekking trip through the Rila and Pirin mountain ranges on this moderate trekking adventure.
The mountains of Bulgaria not only offer stunning beauty, but a chance to interact with the local communities and experience the unique history of the region. Get lost in time admiring the many glacial lakes trekking among her majestic peaks and ridges while exploring her tiny mountain villages.
Much of the Balkans are still quite isolated. Don’t expect to be surrounded by tourists on Adventure Alternative’s winter trip to the Rila Range. See the mountains in a whole new way during the winter months and enjoy a winter ascent of the Bulgaria’s highest peak, Mount Musala (2,925m).
The natural landscape of Bulgaria is diverse, consisting of lowlands, plains, foothills and plateaus, river valleys, basins, and mountains of varying elevations. About 70% of the country’s territory is hilly land and 30% is mountainous. In the central part of the country lies the Balkan Mountain Range and from south to north its western area is crossed by the Iskar River, which forms a picturesque gorge more than 70 km long.
Bulgaria boasts a large amount of stunning coastline. Known as the Bulgaria Riveria, this less-known European beach scene is the perfect spot to unwind and relax. For a happening beach scene head to Sunny Beach and if family fun is what you are after, Albena is for you. Lastly, if you are the camping in solitude type, check out the remote Silistar beach.
Eye-catching mountain lakes, sunny beaches, gorgeous rose valleys, vast forests, curative hot springs and deep chilly caves help make Bulgaria an attractive alternative to traditional European tourist destinations. Bulgaria is the second most biologically diverse country in Europe and three national parks have been established in the country: Pirin National Park (UNESCO natural heritage site), Rila National Park, and the Central Balkans National Park. There are also 11 nature reserves – Belasitsa, Balgarka, Vratsa Balkan, Golden Sands, Persina, Rila Monastery, Rusenski Lom, Sinite Kamani, Strandzha and the Shumen Plateau. Wherever you end up, you can’t go wrong trekking through Bulgaria’s mountains with Adventure Alternative.
As part of the EU, UK residents can use their GHIC card in Bulgaria.
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Our Bulgaria Articles
We’re dedicated to helping you make the most of your next adventure trekking holiday. That’s why we’ve created our travel blog full of in-depth trekking guides, travel inspiration and other fantastic information. Having done all of these climbs many times already, we want to pass on our wealth of trekking wisdom to you.