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Rodopi Cycling Tour in Bulgaria

Join Horse Riding Bulgaria on this amazing cycling trip in the heart of the mystic Rhodope Mountains - home of the legendary singer Orpheus.

Key information

  • Trip type: Guided
  • Lodging: Point to Point
  • Terrain: Good isolated village asphalt roads with some exceptions (bumpy sections, potholes, rough asphalt), no off-road
  • Starts and ends in Sofia
  • Total Distance: 221 miles / 355 kilometers
  • Type of bike: Road bike (personal bike, rental bike is available)
  • E-bike: available to rent

Highlights

  • 6 cycling days
  • Ride along Velingrad, Yagodina Cave, and Shiroka Luka
  • Exploring Miraculous Bridges and Bachkovo Monastery
  • 7 nights accommodation
  • Tasty breakfasts and dinners
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off
  • Supporting vehicle and luggage transport

Skill level

  • Intermediate

6 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Bulgarian
Group size: 4-12 participants
Airport transfer included: Sofia Airport
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Accommodation

Accommodations will be provided in hotels and guest houses - rooms with private facilities including breakfast.

Program

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Belmeken Dam - Velingrad spa town

You start the day with a short drive to the village of Sestrimo. The starting point of the cycling tour is just a few kilometers outside the village. You will cycle through thick coniferous forests before reaching the first stop for the day - the Belmeken dam (above 2,000 meters above sea level). After a short break, you continue toward the Iundola area, known for its vast mountain meadows.

Afterwards, you start descending to the renowned spa town of Velingrad, where you stay overnight in a hotel. There, you will have some free time to swim in mineral water pools and relax after a full day of cycling. For those of you who would like to avoid the long and challenging uphill at the beginning, it is possible to start the tour from Belmeken Dam.

  • Cycling distance: 60 kilometers / 37 miles. Uphill/downhill: 1420 / 1450 meters
  • Cycling distance (starting from the dam): 42 kilometers / 26 miles. Uphill/downhill: 140 / 1440 meters
  • Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Day 3: Batak Dam - Beglik Dam - Dospat

Today's starting point is a few kilometers away from Velingrad. You will cycle through the picturesque landscape of the Tsigov Chark area and along the shores of Batak Dam. You will enjoy the views of the blue-green waters of the Goliam Beglik and Shiroka Poliana dams before reaching the town of Dospat. You will spend the night in a hotel in the town.

  • Cycling distance: 71 kilometers / 44 miles. Uphill/downhill: 1320 / 830 meters
  • Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Day 4: Yagodina Cave - Devil's Throat Cave - Trigrad

After breakfast, you start cycling towards the scenic Buinovsko Gorge, passing through the town of Borino. You will take a short break to enjoy the breathtaking view and then continue to the next stop - the Yagodina Cave. You will have some time to explore the cave. known for its impressive cave pearls.

Afterward, you continue to the village of Trigrad, passing through the narrow Trigrad Gorge, surrounded by 250-meter-high cliffs on both sides. There, you will visit the second cave for the day - The Devil's Throat Cave, housing one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe. Overnight in Trigrad in a family hotel.

  • Cycling distance: 48 kilometers / 30 miles. Uphill/downhill: 1200 / 1250 miles
  • Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Day 5: Shiroka laka - Smolyan lakes - Smolyan

You start today's cycling with a pleasant descent along the Trigradska River. You will reach the village of Grohotno and visit the natural rock phenomenon "The Elephant". You will then continue cycling along the Shirokolushka River before reaching the village of Shiroka Luka. You will take a break there to savor the spirit of this architectural reserve, famous for its preserved houses dating back to the Bulgarian Revival Period (19th century). The next stop is the beautiful Smolyan Lakes. Afterward, you are heading to the town of Smolyan, where you will spend the night.

  • Cycling distance: 64 kilometers / 40 miles. Uphill/downhill: 1440 / 1560 meters
  • Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Day 6: Smolyan - Rozhen - Borovo

The first stop for today is the small mountain town of Rozhen, where the National Astronomical Observatory is located. Afterwards, you are cycling uphill to a big picturesque meadow situated at 1700 meters. a.s.l. The meadow marks the beginning of a gentle downhill ride towards the town of Laki. On the way there, you will pass through the scenic protected area - “Momina Voda". You will explore the picturesque village of Borovo, located just a few kilometers away, as well as the famous religious site Krastova Gora, known for its healing mineral water. Overnight in Borovo.

  • Cycling distance: 58 kilometers / 36 miles. Uphill/downhill: 1480 / 1420 meters
  • Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Day 7: The Wonderful bridges - Bachkovo monastery - Sofia

Today you continue riding downhill along the Jugovska River valley. Upon reaching the main road Smolyan-Plovdiv, you will meet your driver for a short transfer to a junction nearby, from where you will ride about 16 kilometres uphill to the rock phenomenon Wonderful Bridges. The next stop is Bachkovo Monastery - the second biggest one in Bulgaria, consisting of several buildings. Transfer to Sofia for overnight.

  • Cycling distance: 54 kilometers / 34 miles. Uphill/downhill: 1040 / 1570 meters
  • Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for departure.

  • Meals included: Breakfast

About the tour

The Rhodope Mountains are situated in the oldest part of the Balkans and boast some of the loveliest evergreen woods in the region. The landscape is gentle and rounded, consisting of high ridges and deep river valleys. During the tour, you will reach a height of around 2,000 meters (6561 feet). Most of the mileage is done on mountain roads, with relatively little traffic. Along the way, you will have the chance to experience the legendary hospitality of the local people, learn more about their lifestyle, and indulge in the idyllic rural atmosphere.

  • Velingrad - a prominent SPA resort in Bulgaria, famous for its healing hot mineral waters
  • Yagodina cave - one of the longest caves in Bulgaria (more than 10,000 meters mapped so far) with its outstanding stalactites, stalagmites, columns, ponds, and cave pearls
  • Shiroka Luka - an architectural, ethnographic, and folklore reserve
  • The Miraculous Bridges - a unique natural rock formation, consisting of two 40-meter-high arches
  • Bachkovo Monastery - the second-largest Bulgarian monastery

Important information

1. Roads

The tour uses mainly isolated village asphalt roads with little traffic, road conditions are relatively good with some exceptions (bumpy sections, potholes, rough asphalt), you will not go off-road. The traffic might be a little bit heavier in some sections but only for a short while.

2. Guide or driver

The guide with the supporting vehicle and the luggage inside checks several times a day if everything is OK with the group, waiting by crossroads, accompanying them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and giving them talks by the most interesting sites en route.

3. Dress code in monasteries and churches

Men are not allowed to enter in shorts and women should not expose their legs and shoulders.

4. Necessary equipment

It is strongly recommended that you wear a helmet when cycling. You can bring your own helmet or rent one. Cycling gloves, breathable clothes, waterproof gear, and cycling shoes or trainers are recommended. If taking part in biking activities, each individual is responsible for him or herself and agrees to abide by the decisions and instructions given by the guide who reserves the right to change the itinerary according to weather conditions and the group’s abilities.

Bike rental

  • Bianchi e-bike - 190 EUR
  • Longwise e-bike - 190 EUR
  • Cube - 140 EUR
  • Drag - Hardy Comp - 100 EUR
  • Drag - Grand Canyon TE - 100 EUR

Location

Join the Horse Riding Bulgaria team on this amazing cycling trip in the heart of the mystic Rhodope Mountains - home of the legendary singer Orpheus and also:

  • Nature, forests, and lakes
  • Mineral water
  • Yagodina cave
  • Ethnographic architecture and folklore
  • Monasteries

Food

Daily breakfast at the accommodation and five dinners are included in the price.

The following meals are included:

  • Breakfast

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

  • Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

What's included

  • Cycling tour
  • 7 nights accommodation in hotels and guest houses - rooms with private facilities
  • Daily breakfast
  • 5 dinners (Days 2 to 6)
  • English-speaking guide or driver with a supporting vehicle and luggage transport
  • Map and road notes in English
  • Transfers from and to the airport on days 1 and 8
  • Technical support

What's not included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Drinks and meals not mentioned
  • Entrance fees
  • Additional transfers
  • Rent of bicycles
  • Tips (5 EUR per person per day)
  • Personal expenses

How to get there

Recommended Airports

Airport: Sofia Airport Airport transfer included: Sofia Airport No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

  • A reservation requires a deposit of 100% of the total price.
  • The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.

Value for money
Accommodation & facilities
Food
Location
Quality of activity
8 days / 7 nights
from --
Pricing information
  • Supplement per person if the group is only 1-3 persons: 150 EUR
Minimum group size

This trip requires a minimum of 4 participants

Saturday May 3, 2025
(8 days / 7 nights)

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