Walking in the Rhodope Mountains Short Break
Walking in the Rhodope Mountains Short Break
Tour Overview
This five-day centre-based tour, walking in the Rhodope Mountains, follows a self-guided itinerary along trails in and around Trigrad, with three full days of hiking. Trigrad is a traditional mountain village, at en elevation of 1,240m, and from your three-star family-run hotel, you get to explore superb Rhodopian landscapes famous for their limestone gorges, caves and prolific forests. Treks along ancient trails include the 300m-high Trigrad Gorge, Devil's Throat Cave, and Orpheus Peak (1,532m). This is an easy to moderate walking holiday and It’s also very popular with solo travellers ...more ...less
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In Trigrad
Location: Trigrad
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Family Hotel Arkan Han or similar
Your tour begins with a complimentary transfer from Sofia Airport to the village of Trigrad (4h), located in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains and your base for the next few days. Depending on arrival time, take the opportunity to wander around the village, taking in the dramatic scenery that surrounds the area.
Day 2 : Vodni Pad
Location: Vodni pad
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Family Hotel Arkan Han or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin the first day of hiking with a warm-up walk, following a shaded path towards Vodni Pad, with plenty of water fountains and opportunities to rest along the way. Formally a restricted area during the Communist period due to its proximity to the Greek border, today, the village of Vodni Pad is now becoming a very lively place for local people and visitors alike. In the afternoon, you can visit Devil’s Throat Cave and explore its vast underground caverns. The cave’s entrance resembles a devil’s head and inside, a waterfall rushes down the cave’s throat, giving rise to many legends, the most popular being that Orpheus descended through this hole to the underground kingdom of Hades to seek his lost love, Eurydice.
Walking for the day: 10km, 3h, ↑280m, ↓280m
Day 3 : Kesten
Location: Kesten
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Family Hotel Arkan Han or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today’s circular route starts with an ascent to a ridge to the east of Trigrad before descending towards the village of Kesten, close to the Greek border, with an optional detour to Zhrebevo. Both villages are largely uninhabited, leaving them relatively unspoiled and still surrounded by Rhodopian natural heritage.
Walking for the day: 17km, 5-6h, ↑736m, ↓733m
Day 4 : Orpheus Peak (1,532)
Location: Orpheus Peak
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Family Hotel Arkan Han or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today’s route is a shorter but steeper hike to the top of Orpheus Peak overlooking the village of Trigrad, with far-reaching views over the surrounding area. From here, you descend back into Trigrad, where you can spend the final evening relaxing in one of the local restaurants.
Walking for the day: 7km, 2-3h, ↑500m, ↓500m
Day 5 : Departure
Location: Trigrad
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departure after breakfast and complimentary airport transfer.
What's Included
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Accommodation
4 overnights in a three-star hotel as listed in the itinerary
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Meals
4 breakfasts
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Internal ground transfers listed in the programme
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Digital pre-departure holiday information pack
Including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and maps (Please note, that the information pack for this tour is digital only and will be emailed to you prior to departure. Physical documents are not able to be mailed or provided on-site)
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24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
What's Not Included
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Airfare and connecting land transfers
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Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
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Travel insurance
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Personal expenses
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Entry fees (payable locally)
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Any items not explicitly listed as included
Check out our Q&As
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When to go?
This trip is available from May to October.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your holiday at any time in the season.
The region’s climate is influenced by colder air from the north and the warmer breeze from the Mediterranean. Depending on location and altitude, temperatures vary, but high summer daytime temperatures are rarely too hot as, even though temperatures can occasionally reach 30C, the mountains and forests remain cooler, dropping at night to between 5-15C. -
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy-moderate and is suitable for regular walkers with a reasonable level of fitness. The trip covers an average of 11km daily and involves gradual ascents and descents with an average elevation gain of 506m each day (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack. -
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All guides are English Speaking
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes we can, please contact us for details
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
This will be provided on all documentation
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms) -
Are flights included in this tour?
No, international flights are not included
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Natural Adventure was founded by people who love hiking and cycling in wild and wonderful places. Places that we want to keep that way. Responsible tourism has, therefore, been at the heart of what we do since the get go.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
In April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, we launched the Support Local Communities Initiative. We have enabled an option when booking a tour for customers to make a donation to support our local partners. 100% of the donations go directly to our local suppliers.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Whether you’re travelling on your own, as a couple, a group of friends, or a family, our self-guided holidays allow you the freedom to choose your own holiday companions.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our self guided walking and cycling holidays typically include: Accommodation, Breakfasts, Luggage transfers, Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps, 24/7 phone assistance by our local representative and/or our central office
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Accommodations in double or twin rooms (solo travellers are usually accommodated in single rooms at an extra cost; we never mix and match)
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If possible, and entirely at the discretion of the Tour Operator, a change of the dates may be possible without charging an amendment fee, provided that it is requested at least 30 days before the departure date. In some cases, we will still have to pass to you any non-refundable charges imposed by our suppliers. In all other cases, change of dates will normally be treated as a cancellation.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
All places have been carefully checked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have selected accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
The Natural Adventure was founded in the UK in 2009, by Peter Duncan, former UK Chief Scout and BBC Blue Peter presenter, and Alex Pazderski, an avid hiker and acclaimed expedition kayaker. Both natural adventurers and keen explorers of wild places and trails, remote communities and responsible tourism partners, Peter and Alex founded our company inspired by the responsible travel values t
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Low Deposit
The Natural Adventure requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 42 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of the natural adventure charges.
Up to 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
Walking in the Rhodope Mountains Short Break
5 Days Starting in Trigrad and ending in 4825 Trigrad, Bulgaria
Visiting: Trigrad, Vodni pad, Kesten, Orpheus Peak
Tour operator:
Tour code:
919
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
18-80
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians