Jeep tour in Bulgaria Cross-Ridges

Unique for the summer and autumn seasons – Crossing the central Balkan ridge

A little longer than two-hour flight away lies the capital of the Balkan, the crossroads between Asia and Europe. A Trip to Bulgaria is a geographic and cultural journey full of experiences to a region taking its first steps into modern Europe. This trip offers a unique opportunity to visit picturesque villages where time has stood still, primordial natural landscapes, forests and all within a catching atmosphere of cheerfulness, local folklore, fine food and wine that flows like water. Summer is a very nice season for a trip to Bulgaria due to the mild weather and the celebration of nature with endless flowers and the sound of water flowing in abundance and intensity. In an autumn trip we enjoy the variety of colors, from yellow to red, of the trees at their various stages of falling leaves (Note: in family trips there are special attractions for children, during the months of May (spring trips) the route is slightly different and does not include the Balkans).

Itineraries

Day 1 – Sofia – Vitosha heights – Rila ridge – Belmeken Dam – Bansko
In the morning we rent the jeeps at the airport, get organized, check the radios, and begin our course to Vitosha Heights, where we shall view the Great Lake Iskar, Bulgaria’s greatest lake, and have our first picnic lunch. We will continue to the east side of the Rila ridge (Rain Mountain), hosting the Mosle Mountain (2925 meters), Bulgaria highest mountain, continue to head up the mountain until reaching the unique Balmakan dam, take a field drive through the ridge on mountain roads and through landscapes soaked in natural beauty. We’ll spend the night in a 200-years old family hotel which was restored and have a traditional lunch to the sounds the restaurant’s musicians at the ski resort in the developing town of Bansko. (In case of a flight that lands in the morning after a night with almost no sleep, we’ll spend the first day in Sofia and not on Day 7 as scheduled).

Day 2 – Bansko- The Bears Reserve – Pirin Peak – Melnik
We’ll start our 2nd day only after having a rich Bulgarian breakfast, visit the Bears Reserve in Blitsa at Rila ridge. We will continue to the Pirin ridge (named after Prune, the god of thunder) which also rises to a height of nearly three thousand meters, ride an open cable car to the top of Bezbog, and if anyone wish to take a magical walking tour through the an Alpine scenery between mountain lakes, he can do so. Lunch is served in a wooden hut at an altitude of 2000m. Later we’ll take a field drive, as well as a normal drive, to the smallest town in Bulgaria (500 residents) – Melnik, where we will spend the night at a family hotel built in typical Bulgarian stone-building style.

Day 3 – Melnik- South Pirin- Rhodope Ridge – Koprivshtitsa – Lake Dospat
After breakfast we’ll take a walking tour through Melnik, known for its wines, we will visit the House of the Lord and get to know the phenomenon of the “pyramids”, typical to this region, take a field drive and cross the lake at the southern slope of Pirin Ridge. After lunch we will continuue to the Rhodope ridge, which borders between Bulgaria and Greece in the south. We will pass near the habitat of the Gypsies and visit the local Bulgarian villages hidden in the mountains, built with slate roofs, and if we’re lucky we’ll also visit one of these local houses. We’ll take a challenging field drive through the beautiful scenery to Lake Dospat and spend the night at the town of Dosfat next to it.

Day 4 – Dospat – Yagodina and Trigrad canyon – Shiroka Laka – Plovdiv
After having a local breakfast we’ll head on to the heart of the Rhodope Mountains, the karstic portion of the ridge, enter the Trigard canyon and visit the “Devil’s Mouth” cave that links us both to Greek mythology and to a unique natural phenomenon. We’ll climb and take a short but challenging drive to cross the heights that connect us to the Jagodina canyon. After lunch we will continue to the town of Shiroka Leka, the center of Bulgarian folk music, and learn the story of Bulgarian Jewry during the Holocaust. If time permits we will visit the Chekbo monastery and its nearby market. We’ll head on to Plovdiv, which is the second largest city in Bulgaria, and a city known for its magnificent Roman remains, get organized at an high-class spa hotel located in the city center. We’ll go out for dinner at a local restaurant and anyone who wishes to do so, before going to sleep, can take a Night Tour of the Old City and its new pedestrian mall.

Day 5 – Plovdiv – the Balkan Ridge – Aprilchi
In the morning we’ll say goodbye to Plovdiv and travel north while crossing the great Thracian plain and “Serdana Gura” ridge at the outskirts of the “Valley of Roses”. We will continue to the Central Balkan Ridge (the Balkan’s distance is 550 km west to east) that crosses Bulgaria, drive the jeeps up a beautiful climbing road and park for lunch in a lovely spot on the curvey mountain road. Crossing the ridge at its top (“Pass”) will be done with a challenging drive accompanied by spectacular sights of lively breathing nature, waterfalls and oak, plane and frankincense forests colored in the shades of the season. We’ll spend the night at a panoramic hotel overlooking the Balkan ridge.

Day 6 – Aprilchi – Troyan Monastery -Troyan passage – Kopribistitsa – Sofia
After having breakfast facing the Balkan peaks we will visit the Troyan monastery at the foothills of the ridge and listen to its special story. Before crossing the Balkan ridge we will make a stop at the outskirts of the town of Troyan and discover the spectacular pottery works for which it is known. We’ll cross the Balkan ridge through the Troyan passage, on the road this time (originally built by Emperor Trajan) and visit its sites if the whether permits it. We will continue to the village-museum “Koprivshtitsa” which is located on the Serdana Gura ridge, where he the revolt against the Turks which led to the independence of Bulgaria began. This village is known for its artists and unique houses. We will visit at least one of its restored houses. We’ll leave the village, if time will allow, in an easy field drive through the wooded hills on the ridge, which roads are filled with monumets in memory of the Bulgarian partisan who operated in these regions. We will reach Sofia.
Towards the evening we will return the jeeps and get organized at a pampering spa hotel in the city center. In the evening we’ll go out to celebrate in a local authentic folklore with dancing and a Bulgarian meal fit for a king.

Day 7 – Sofia
We’ll spend the last day in Sofia’s picturesque markets, tour its main streets and visit its beautiful sites: The Alexander Nievski cathedral, Saint Sophia Chapel, Holocaust Statues Garden, National Theater, King’s Palace, President Residence, the rotunda, antiques from the Roman/Byzantine era, the Turkish bath, the indoor market and the synagogue. In the afternoon we’ll be given free time which can be spent individually on resting and/or visiting museums and/or bathing in the pool and/or enjoying treatments at the hotel. In the evening we’ll have a group farewell party at the restaurant before finishing the trip.