8-Day Hike at the Champions of the Balkans
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8-Day Hike at the Champions of the Balkans
Next available dates
Mon
15 Jun
Tue
16 Jun
Wed
17 Jun
Bestseller
8-Day Hike with Transport
Duration: 8 days
Free cancellation
Manual confirmation
Hotels and Mountain huts: 5 nights in Hotels in Sofia, Borovets, Bansko, Olympic coast
2 nights at Mountain huts
Guidance: Guided by an English (German, Russian, Greek) speaking local mountain guide
Duration: 8 days
Breakfast, Lunch pack, Dinner: Breakfast daily, 3 Lunch packs and 2 Dinners in Huts;
Bulgaria-Greece: Bulgaria- Rila Mountain, Rila Monastery, Pirin Mountain Greece- Mount Olympus
Transfer by minivan or car
Cabin Lift and Museum
Pickup included
Guidance: Guided by an English (German, Russian, Greek) speaking local mountain guide
Duration: 8 days
Breakfast, Lunch pack, Dinner: Breakfast daily, 3 Lunch packs and 2 Dinners in Huts;
Bulgaria-Greece: Bulgaria- Rila Mountain, Rila Monastery, Pirin Mountain Greece- Mount Olympus
Transfer by minivan or car
Cabin Lift and Museum
Pickup included
From
MYR 7,079.07
Highlights
If you are considering a hike in the mythic Mount Olympus, the home of the Ancient Greek gods, but also want to hike up to the highest mountain of the Balkans, Rila Mountain, than this trip is for you.
We offer you a trip to the three tallest mountains of the Balkans:
1) Rila Mountain in Bulgaria, with Musala peak at 2,925 m / 9596ft;
2) followed by Mount Olympus in Greece, with Mytikas peak at 2,918 m 9573ft, and
3) in third place Pirin Mountain with Vihren peak at 2,914 m /9560ft, also in Bulgaria.
It will take you through two beautiful countries in the Balkans: Greece and Bulgaria with lots of diverse nature, culture and food in less than a week.
The Balkans, an area of Eastern Europe, is the perfect place to have an epic hiking vacation as most of it is covered by mountain ranges. But they also border strikingly with the Mediterranean Sea, which means that you can finish at the pristine beaches with clear blue water or head to some of Greece’s famous islands.
Itinerary
Welcome to Sofia!
Sofia
4 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeUpon arrival at Sofia you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or independently explore Sofia. Perhaps head to the Vitosha Boulevard in the city's vibrant center with views towards the Vitosha Mountain, wander around the streets and see the iconic St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral with its gold-plated domes. There will be a welcome meeting with your guide.St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
2 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeSt. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it is one of the 50 largest Christian church buildings by volume in the world. It is one of Sofia's symbols and primary tourist attractions. St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100 sq ft) and can hold 5,000 people inside.- AccommodationsOvernight in Sofia, Sofia Palace Hotel (or similar)
Trek To The Musala Peak
Borovets Ski Resort
2 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeThe group will be transferred to the foothills of the Mount Rila at the resort of Borovets (1300 m /4265 ft), a famous ski resort in winter, settled in a beautiful pine forest. Check-in at the hotel and preparing of one-day backpacks for the hike.Rila National Park
8 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedFrom Borovets resort the group will take the cabin lift to the altitude of 2300m / 7545 ft from where starts the guided climbing to the peak of Musala (2925m/9596ft). The trek passes by the hut Musala and sets off on an ascending along a zig-zagging path. In less than 3 hours, passing by the beautiful Musalenski Lakes, it leads to the very peak. In the evening there is free time in the resort. You can enjoy the swimming in one of the hotels pools in the resort.Musala
6 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeGuided climbing to the peak of Musala, the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, 2925m. In winter Rila is covered with thick layers of snow. In summer, when the snow thaws, all the rivers are full of water. This water feeds the fascinating Rila lakes, which are more than 200. Take plenty of photos and enjoy a picnic lunch at the summit before starting the descent back down the slopes of the mountains. Hiking Stats: Distance: 13 km, Ascend: 750 m, Descend: 750 m, Walking Time: 6 hours- AccommodationsOvernight in the Hotel Samokov (or similar)Food And DrinksBreakfast - Breakfast in the hotelLunch - Lunch pack
Borovets – Rila Monastery - Bansko
Rila Monastery
2 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedThe group continues the journey towards the next Mountain, Pirin Mountain. Along the road (fewer than 2 hours) we will make a diversion to visit the famous Rila Monastery. The Monastery is settled deep in the heart of the Rila Mountain and the road towards it follows the valley of the Rilska river. It is the most impressive monastery complex in Bulgaria. It has an exceptional historic, cultural and art value. Its more than thousand year old history is connected with the name of the hermit Ivan Rilski. The original architecture and the invaluable documents that are preserved here in the library and the museum of the Monastery make it a key Bulgarian landmark. It is a Unesco World Heritage site.Bansko
4 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeBansko is an old traditional town in the foothills of the Mount Pirin. Due to the ski area nowadays it has become an international canter for winter and summer tourism. Check-in in the hotel in Bansko. In the afternoon you can enjoy the hot mineral water in one of the many swimming pools at the nearby village of Banya, located only 5 km (3 mi) from the town.- AccommodationsOvernight in the 3 Mountains Hotel (or similar)Food And DrinksBreakfast
Trek To The Vihren Peak
Vihren
8 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeTransfer to the starting/finishing point of the hike. In the morning the group will be transferred to the end of the asphalt road next to the hut Vihren (1955м /6414 ft). From here starts the ascending towards the peak of Vihren (2914 m/ 9560 ft). The path is rocky but well-trodden. After 4 hours approximately the group will reach the summit. Needless to say that in good weather the highest peak of the mountain offers the best views in the whole area. The panorama of the rugged mountain peaks around and the deep blue lakes settled in the glaciers circuses has made Pirin so attractive and desired destination of the hikers from all over the world. In less than 3 hours the group will drop down back to the hut Vihren and transferred back to Bansko. The hike is circular and it shows the whole splendor of the mighty peak of Vihren. Hiking Stats: Distance: 8 km, Ascend: 1100 m, Descend: 1100 m, Walking Time: 7 hoursPirin National Park
8 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeThe trek to the tallest peak of the Pirin Mountain is at a protected area of the Pirin National Park and declared Unesco World Heritage site.- AccommodationsOvernight in the 3 Mountains Hotel (or similar)Food And DrinksBreakfast - Breakfast in the hotelLunch - Lunh pack
Bansko – Greek Border – Thessaloniki – Olympic coast
Greece
4 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeIn the morning the journey continues towards the Greece and the last Mountain of the hike, Olympus. Along the road (approximately 320 km and 4 hours) the group will cross the Bulgarian-Greek border.Thessaloniki
Admission Ticket FreeThessaloniki is the capital of the region of Central Macedonia, Greece, and has about one million inhabitants, the second largest city in the country. In case of interest, we can make a stop there.Paralia Katerinis
4 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeAfter passing Thessaloniki, we will arrive at the Olympic coast on the Mediterranean Sea. Here the group can swim in the clean waters of the sea, while enjoying the views of the Mount Olympus. The night will be spent in a hotel at the coast.- AccommodationsOlympic coast, The Olympios Zeus hotel (or similar)Food And DrinksBreakfast
Trek To The Hut Apostolidis In Mount Olympus
Litochoro
30 minsAdmission Ticket FreeWe will reach the starting point of the hike Gortsia. It will take approximately 2-3 hours to get to the hut Petrostrouga (1940 m/ 6365 ft) where we can have a rest and refreshments. The ascending continues along a well maintained path in the alpine part of the mountain to the hut Apostolidis.Giosos Apostolidis Refuge
6 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedDue to the big difference of the elevation between the starting points and the peak of Mytikas, the group will spend the first night at the Apostolidis hut, the highest situated hut on the Balkan peninsula (2697 m /8848 ft) before the final ascend to the top the next day. The location of the hut, called the Plateau of Muses, itself is ideal for contemplating the beauty of the rocky peaks of Mytikas and Stefani, the valley bordering the sea, the sunrise and the sunset. Hiking Stats: Distance: 9.8 km, Ascend: 460 m, Descend: 1200 m, Time: 6 hours- AccommodationsOvernight in the Apostolidis hutFood And DrinksBreakfastDinner
Mount Olympus, Mytikas Peak Day
Mount Olympus
3 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeThis day the group starts the trek to the highest peak of the Greece, Mytikas (2918m) in the Mount Olympus. Being on the Plateau of Muses gives the group the chance to consider, with the help of the group leader, if the weather conditions are appropriate for a climbing to the very top. As the trail (trough Kakoskala, regarded as the safest) is mainly on rocks, it requires dry conditions and good visually. If there are good conditions, those who feel enough energy and lack of fear of the heights, can reach the very peak in less than 1:30 hours with a small backpack. The rest of the group can enjoy the other panoramic peaks in the region as the peak of Profits Elias (2781m), Toumpa (2786m) and Kalagia (2625m). In the afternoon, when the group reunites, it will set off down to the hut Petrostrouga (1940) to spend the night.Petrostrouga Refuge Olympus Mountain
6 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedIn the afternoon, when the group reunites, it will set off down to the hut Petrostrouga (1940) to spend the night. Hiking Stats: Distance: 9.8 km, Ascend: 460 m, Descend: 1200 m, Time: 6 hours- AccommodationsOvernight in the Petrostrounga hutFood And DrinksBreakfastDinner
End Of The Trip
Litochoro
3 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeThis is the final day and the group will return to Sofia. In less than 3 hours, we will get by foot to the area of Gortsia at the asphalt road, where the bus will wait for us to drive the group back to Sofia. Hiking Stats: Distance: 5.2 km, Ascend: 30 m, Descend: 830 m, Time: 2,30 hoursSofia
5 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeUpon additional arrangements, you can be transported to other places served by airports as Athens, Thessaloniki or nearby coastal resorts.- Food And DrinksBreakfast
What's included
INCLUDED
Guidance by local mountain guide
Private transportation
Accommodation: 5 nights in hotels + 2 nights at mountain huts
Lunch (2)
Dinner (2)
Cabin-lift ticket to the area of Musala peak
Air-conditioned vehicle
Breakfast (7)
NOT INCLUDED
Travel to and from Bulgaria and visa
Travel insurance
Organised luggage transport from hut to hut
Drinks
Dinners and lunches in the hotels
Additional information
Must Know
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Good To Know
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Trek Suitability: For fit and active travelers
Location
Address
Sofia, Bulgaria
Provider
BG Hike
From
MYR 7,079.07
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