Prices for this summer

665 EURO per PAX in group of minimum 6 PAX

555 EURO per PAX in group of minimum 10 PAX

Day 1 – Arrival in Sofia and enjoy some city-life before heading to the “hills” ◊ We’ll introduce the Bulgarian wines to you at a private wine tasting before dinner ◊ Night walking tour of Sofia.

Day 2 – Early morning transfer to Rhodope Mountains ◊ Long ride trough the amazing mountain trails from Avramovo to Dospat and around picturesque Lake Dospat before checking in our hotel ◊ Ride: 54 miles / 88 km./1502 m. total displacement 1502 m (8-9 h.)

Day 3 – Long ride to Trigrad, home of The Devil’s Throat Cave ◊ Ride:  42 miles /  68 km. /  total displacement 1226 m. / (7-8h.)

Day 4 – Short ride to Shiroka Luka, Cave Exploration, heartbreaking horizons ◊ Stroll through this charming mountain town - home of the famous Bulgarian Folk Music School ◊ Ride: 28 miles / 45 km. / total displacement 1267 м. / (6-7h.)

Day 5 – Pedal from Shiroka Luka to the top of the world, and enjoy disappearing on a single-track through the forest, magical ride to Miracle Bridges, natural water-carved wonders ◊ Ride: 42 miles / 67 km. / total displacement 1461 м. / (6-7h.)

Day 6 – Ride to peaceful Pomporovo and stay at one of the most memorable lodges on the trip, an ex-communist leader’s guest house in the mountains ◊ Ride: 39 miles / 63 km. / total displacement 1870 м. / (7-8h.)

Day 7 – Gentle rolling terrain out of Pomporovo will take us to the heart-pumping descent to Lucky – we saved the best for last! ◊ Stay in old town of Plovdiv and enjoy the cafés and culture before returning back to Sofia ◊ Ride: 23 miles / 37 km. / total displacement 618 м. / (4:30-5h.)

Day 8 – Breakfast at hotel ◊ Transfer to Airport for Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Sofia and enjoy a little City-life before heading to the “hills.” Afterwards, we’ll briefly tour Sofia on foot – a beautiful sight at night.

Time to put the bikes together before the first day of cycling.

Day 2 – Transfer to Rhodope Mountains (122 km/2:30h.). Long ride from Avramovo to the beautiful Lake Dospat. We will have a long and hard warm-up ride trough the amazing trials of Rodope mountain, to make sure they are ready for the climbing ahead.

Accommodation in hotel***, dinner

Day 3 – We’ll rise out of Dospat on a paved road to take us photos with the best view of the Dospat lake, but we’ll find dirt quickly and roam through streams and an old bridge or two among potato fields. Our trails lead us trough a forbidden, during communist time, zone of villages,  forests and potato fields. We recommend you to bring your ID card in case we meet the border guards.  

Accommodation in family guest house. Dinner.

For dinner we’ll have the famous home made mussaka, yogurt and creps.

Day 4 – We’ve planned a cave exploration before the ride. You can’t be prepared to be as awestruck as I was when I first entered these incredible caverns of darkness roaring with the pulsations of their underground lifeblood, the Trigrad’s River. The Devil’s Throat is famous, and we’ll hike through its throat and up out of its head. 

The ride today is spectacular. After a long but gentle climb trough the Chairski ezera (Chairski lakes), we’ll arrive at a village Mugla, where you’ll see the incredible wooden minaret of local mosque. Shepherds bark directions to dogs, who bark directions to sheep, and farmers who dig potatoes in high mountain fields haul them with horse-drawn wagons. After lunch in Mugla we have another hard climb and that amazing descent to Gela and Shiroka Luka , whose beautiful, old architecture, rock-hewn roof-tops, and impressive music center invite you to wander and capture its timelessness with your cameras. Take time for a coffee or rakia in the square or buy fruit, vegetables, honey or the famous local? beans from the region. 

Accommodation in hotel***. Dinner.

Day 6 – There’s more climbing today, which lead to grassy hilltops decorated with sanctuaries whose domed wall behind the altar always faces east. A cozy, if outdated, mountain lodge – once home to an ex-communist leader – will be your reward for the day. You won’t forget the experience, the Rakia or Mastika, or the cooking. Sit back, relax and truly enjoy yourselves and your new friends this evening. We may dish up a starry surprise for you after dinner, since the Rojen Observatory is nearby (weather-dependent, of course). Note: the starry view from this lodge is extraordinary with or without the powerful telescope.

Day 7 – The best descent and views on the whole trip are saved for today. The climbs are gentle and rolling as we ride the ridgelines; keep an eye out for the many fountains crafted by local individuals as a gift of respect for fellow travelers along the trail. Afterward the final descent is long and rocky, affording extraordinary views overlooking the destination village, Lucky, below. The thrill of downhill pleasure will land at Lucky where we’ll have time for a coffee or final rakia toast to the mountain villages. A short transfer to Plovdiv will take you to cultural pleasures, good food, shopping, and quaint cobblestone streets in the old town of Bulgaria’s second largest city.

Day 8 – Transfer to Sofia and/or Airport for Departure. Sadly we’ll wave goodbye, but we will already have started regaling wonderful tales from the Rhodope even as you board your homebound plane.

665 EURO per PAX in group of minimum 6 PAX

555 EURO per PAX in group of minimum 10 PAX

The price includes:

English speaking mountain bike guide

Additional mountain bike guide in group of 10 and more PAX

All accommodations mentioned in the itinerary on FB during bike trip

Accommodations on BB in Sofia

All transportations needed both for bikers and bikes Support vehicle during mountain bike trip: carries the luggage, food and can transport biker/s if necessary. Gives all the logistic help needed.

Bike tools and oil for bike repair needed

Insurance travel assistance and medical support for the mountain biking days

CD compilation with the best photos from the trip

Guided visit of the ancient city of Plovdiv and Shiroka Laka. Guided tour in Sofia by request.

 
The price does not include:

Fees for visits to: museums, churches, monasteries, etc.

Personal cycling equipment and specialized bike outfits

Personal amenities such as: drinks, laundry, telephone, tips, etc.

Flights and airport fees

Accommodations:

Sofia: Hotel*****

Dospat: Hotel***

Trigrad: family guest house

Shiroka Luka (or Gela): hotel***

Chepelare: Hotel***

Momchilovsti: Momchil Yunak hut, family guest house or hotel**

Personal equipment: