Balkan Mountains Cycle
8 Days Starting and ending in Sofia
Visiting: Bulgaria
Tour Overview
The Balkan Mountains are famous for lush green valleys, sheer cliffs and gentle rolling hills with sheep grazing peacefully in their pastures. Starting from the tiny village of Goliam Izvor there is enormous opportunity for unique cycling. Passing through the Central Balkan National Park, the narrow roads meander through valleys, forests and quaint villages that have not changed for centuries. Wooden carts pulled by horse or donkey are the norm and farmers still make hay with a pitchfork. Along the route you will visit several of the country's most significant and historic Orthodox monasteries. Many churches with ancient icons and colourful murals are scattered throughout the region. The final cycling stage ends in Veliko Tarnovo - one of the most charming Balkan towns and the former Bulgarian capital.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Transfer From Sofia Airport To Hotel
There will be an arranged meeting at Sofia Airport followed by a transfer to Sofia to your overnight hotel. Arrival briefing and dinner.
Day 2 : Transfer To Golyam Izvor, Cycle To Ribaritsa Via Glozhene Monastery (64 Or 47Km/40 Or 30Mi)
Meals Included: B, D
An early transfer brings us to Golyam Izvor village where we commence cycling. We start cycling towards the town of Teteven and take an optional detour to visit the Glozhene monastery. As we reach Teteven we can have a short stop for a walk and visit the local historic museum and church, or go for a short bike and hike to a nearby eco trail with 2 beautiful waterfalls. Later we continue cycling to Ribaritsa village where we stay for the night.
Cycling distance: 48km/30mi; Ascent: 620m; Descent: 510m.
Detour to Glozhen monastery - Distance: 16km/10mi; Ascent: 430m; Descent: 430m.
Day 3 : Via Bogoi Pass To Shipkovo With Mineral Springs And Troyan Monastery (77Km/48Mi)
Meals Included: B, D
Today starts with a fairly challenging ascent from Ribaritsa village (630m / 2067ft) to the highest point for the day, Bogoi pass (1185m / 3888ft). From here the road leads you through the village of Shipkovo, where you can relax in the mineral water swimming pools, and on to the town of Troyan. After lunch in the town centre, visit the Oreshaka Pottery and Craft Exhibition nearby and the famous Troyan monastery, the third largest in Bulgaria and built in the Bulgarian Renaissance style. The road then weaves among the hills of the Central Fore-Balkan region to reach our accommodation for the night in Apriltsii village.
Cycling: Ascent: 970m; Descent: 1060m
Day 4 : Cycle To Gabrovo And The Ethnographic Museum At Etura (61Km/38Mi)
Meals Included: B, D
This morning you cycle from Apriltsi to Gabrovo. Enroute you will pass by numerous small villages set in green landscapes and river valleys. After an ascent followed by a pleasant downhill ride you will reach the town of Gabrovo and continue on to 'Etura', an open air ethnographic museum to Etura. We stay overnight in Etura.
Cycling: Ascent: 700m; Descent: 800m.
Day 5 : Cycle To Bozhentsi Architectural Reserve Via Tryavna (58Km/37Mi)
Meals Included: B, D
Today you start cycling from Gabrovo. After an ascent followed by a descent, you arrive in the beautiful town of Tryavna, where you can have lunch and spend some time sightseeing. Ups and downs through open terrain will lead you to the final stop for today, Bozhentsi, an architectural reserve of some 100 houses from the Bulgarian National Revival period.
Cycling: Ascent: 1010m; Descent: 1000m
Day 6 : Transfer To Dryanovo Monastery, Cycle To Elena (46Km/29M)
Meals Included: B, D
Today starts with a transfer to the Dryanovo monastery in the morning. You then start cycling from the Yalovo village turn-off. Kilifarevo Monastery is nearby so you make a short stop here before continuing alongside the Iovkovtsi dam to the town of Elena, the final destination for today. The road today mostly passes through pastures, cultivated fields and shrubs on low-lying hills, typical of this part of the Fore-Balkan.
Cycling: Ascent: 800m; Descent: 800m.
Day 7 : Cycle To Arbanasi, Visit Veliko Turnovo And Transfer To Sofia (42Km/26.5Mi)
Meals Included: B
From Elena we continue cycling to the last point of the trip – Arbanasi architectural reserve. The landscape includes meadows, pastures, cultivated lands, shrubby hills and finally a beautiful plateau over Veliko Turnovo. After some free time for rest and walks among the old houses of Arbanasi we have a lunch break and do a sightseeing tour in Veliko Turnovo - the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, drive to Sofia for overnight.
Cycling: Ascent: 600m; Descent: 730m.
Day 8 : Trip Ends With Transfer To Airport
Meals Included: B
Group transfer to Sofia airport where the trip concludes.
What's Included
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Accommodation
7 nights 3 star hotels and guesthouses -
7 breakfasts - continental breakfasts are served and will often consist of breads, spreads, yoghurt, cheese, tea, coffee & juices
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5 dinners – these usually consist of 2-3 courses using local ingredients. The meals may be taken at a local restaurant or in the hotel/guesthouse dining room
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7 nights accommodation in family run hotels and guesthouses on a twin share basis with private facilities (possible shared facilities on day 3)
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English speaking tour leader who also drives support vehicle
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Rental of 24 speed mountain bike or 21 speed road touring bike with helmets & panniers (e-bike available on request - supplement applies)
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Transfers described in the itinerary including from/to Sofia airport
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Detailed maps and route descriptions (per room booked)
What's Not Included
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Travel to and from Sofia
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Items of a personal nature
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All lunches, beverages and dinner on days 1 & 7
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Entrance fees and guided tours of monasteries and monuments enroute
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tips
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Travel insurance
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Meals not listed as included, drinks
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Travel insurance - mandatory
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A supplement will apply if you book a single room
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E-bike, supplement applies
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Tips
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Hotel taxes if applicable – payable directly to the hotel
Grading
MODERATE TO CHALLENGING – GRADE 4
The cycling distances range from 43 to 78km/27 to 48.5mi over undulating to mountainous terrain. We use mostly two-way roads (one band per direction) with an asphalt covering (the latter usually not brand new!). The country roads are quite peaceful, sometimes without any cars. The road surface in these areas may be not very smooth at some stages. The traffic might be a little bit heavier at some sections but only for a short while. It is considered suitable for cyclists with a good to excellent level of fitness. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with road cycling in light traffic in order to participate comfortably.
*For safety reasons, we insist that cycle helmets are worn whilst cycling.
What You Carry
During the cycle day you will carry your daily requirements in the pannier provided with the bike. This may include your lunch, wet weather gear, mobile phone and water. A small daypack which can be kept inside the pannier is useful for sightseeing
1 Dates & Availability
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Saturday - Saturday
Jun 22, 2024 - Jun 29, 2024Saturday - Saturday
Sep 07, 2024 - Sep 14, 2024Saturday - Saturday
Oct 12, 2024 - Oct 19, 2024Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
UTracks allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform utracks, 70 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
UTracks requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of utracks charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 35 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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