Bulgaria Walking and Spa Adventure

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8 Days From

~~$1059~~

$1026

Bulgaria Walking and Spa Adventure

8 Days Starting and ending in 42.135408,24.745290

Visiting: Plovdiv, Smolyan, Shiroka Laka, Devin

Tour operator:

The Natural Adventure

Tour code:

Group Type:

Independent

Recommended For:

Singles

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Physical rating:

Moderate

Age range:

12-99

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Walking Hiking and Trekking

From: $1059 $1026 Tourhub's Big Adventure Sale: -$33

NB: Prices correct on 31-Oct-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Bulgaria walking holidays should always be accompanied by bathing Bulgarian style, making the most of its many thermal spas. This eight day, self-guided walking holiday through the heart of the Rhodope Mountains does just that. Enjoy carefully crafted walking trails through the likes of the Canyon of Waterfalls, Smolyan Lakes and the village of Shiroka Laka, with traditional Rhodopean houses set in tiers along the riverside. Staying in three and four-star spa hotels, with plenty of Rhodopean food and wine en route, this is a refreshing and enlightening way to explore Bulgaria’s mountain life

Highlights

The city of the seven hills – Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest cities, with its Old Town and ancient Roman amphitheatre and stadium
Shiroka Laka Village, an architectural and folklore reserve
Gela village
Devin – spa capital of Bulgaria
Canyon of Waterfalls

Itinerary

tourhub | The Natural Adventure | Bulgaria Walking and Spa Adventure | 4 | Route Map

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Day 1 : Plovdiv

Location: Plovdiv

Accommodation Name: Accommodation: a three-star hotel close to the city centre and Old Town: Ego or similar (standard version); DoubleTree by Hilton or similar (optional upgrade)

Arrive in the charming city of Plovdiv, visit the ancient Roman amphitheatre and stroll around the beautiful streets of the Old Town.

Day 2 : Smolyan Lakes & Canyon Of Waterfalls

Location: Smolyan

Accommodation Name: Accommodation: a three-star hotel with spa facilities (Mountain Lake or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Morning transfer to Smolyan Lakes (95km/2h). After check-in and lunch, you are transferred to the starting point of the Canyon of Waterfalls eco-trail (5km). The trail leads you up river and crosses several water cascades, forming a system of small and medium waterfalls. The trail then crosses a series of metal and wooden bridges built over the Elenska River, which are also perfect picnic spots. Walk back to starting point. Transfer back to the hotel.

Walking for the day: 5-8km (3-4h)

Day 3 : Shiroka Laka

Location: Shiroka Laka

Accommodation Name: Accommodation: a four-star hotel with spa facilities and a thermal pool (Shiroka Laka Spa Hotel)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Optional morning walk to Orpheus Rocks near your hotel. Midday transfer to the village of Shiroka Laka (20km/30mins) where you follow a circular walk in one of the most beautiful parts of the Rhodope Mountains. Shiroka Laka is an architectural reserve, famous for its traditional 18th and 19th-century houses.

Walking for the day: optional morning walk in Smolyan Lakes (2-3h, 5km) and an afternoon walk from Shiroka Laka to Varbovo (3-4h, 9km)

Day 4 : Shiroka Laka Circular Walks

Location: Devin

Accommodation Name: Accommodation: a four-star hotel with spa facilities and a thermal pool (Shiroka Laka Spa Hotel)

Meals Included: Breakfast

You have several alternative walks to choose from:

Walk through the village of Gela, pass by Lednitsata Cave and return to Shiroka Laka on a circular route (24km, 6-7h)

Transfer to the village of Gela (8km, not included), then walk from Gela by Lednitsata Cave and return to Shiroka Laka on a circular route (16km, 5h)

Transfer to the village of Gela (8km, not included), then walk back to Shiroka Laka on the same route (8km, 2h)

Day 5 : Devin

Location: Shiroka Laka

Accommodation Name: Accommodation: a four or five-star hotel with spa facilities and a thermal pool (Persenk, Devin or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Optional morning walks around Shiroka Laka. Early afternoon transfer to the hotel in Devin (20km/30mins). Devin, in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains, is known as the spa capital of Bulgaria with many mineral springs and its own microclimate. The four-star hotel has natural mineral water pools on-site, as well as a large spa centre.

Walking for the day: no walking / optional walks around Shiroka Laka in the morning and Devin in the afternoon

Day 6 : Strulitsa Eco-Path

Location: Devin

Accommodation Name: Accommodation: a four or five-star hotel with spa facilities and a thermal pool (Persenk, Devin or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The hotel is close to the start of the Strulitsa eco-path. The circular trail takes you past waterfalls, through pine, oak and birch forests that open out to some of the trip’s most spectacular views of the Rhodope Mountains, as well as following the Devin River.

Walking for the day: 7km (3-4h

Day 7 : Plovdiv

Location: Devin

Accommodation Name: Accommodation: a three-star hotel close to the city centre and Old Town: Ego or similar (standard version); DoubleTree by Hilton or similar (optional upgrade)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Transfer to Plovdiv (90km/1.5h). Overnight in Plovdiv.

Day 8 : Departure

Location: Plovdiv

Meals Included: Breakfast

Departure (unless you have booked an additional overnight or transfer) after breakfast.

What's Included

7 overnights in three to four-star hotels or family-run guesthouses as listed in the itinerary
7 breakfasts
Daily luggage transport to next accommodation (one bag of up to 20kg per person)
All internal ground transfers and baggage transfers as listed in the itinerary
Detailed pre-departure holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and road notes; maps with daily routes and optional hikes marked
24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative

What's Not Included

Airfare and connecting land transfers
Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Entry fees (payable on-site)
Any items not explicitly listed as included

Optional Extras

Single room

If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
Solo traveller supplement (mandatory if travelling alone)

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)

Check out our Q&As

Are all entrance fees included in the price?

Entry fees are payable on-site
Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

No visa required
Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?

Yes, additional nights available upon request.
What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

The holiday is suitable for regular walkers and requires a reasonable level of fitness. The trip covers an average of 14km (5.2h) of hiking per day, all of them on gentle slopes of the Rhodope Mountains. Average daily elevation gain is 506m (read more about difficulty grades).

During the tour you will walk mostly on unpaved roads and hiking trails; some sections may include walking on asphalt. Most of the trails are well marked and signposted. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
Are vaccinations required for this tour?

No vaccinations required

Are airport transfers included in this tour?

No
Are flights included in this tour?

No
What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

Quality three and four-star hotels, as indicated in the itinerary. Most of the hotels in the mountains have spa facilities, and some have thermal pools. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

Yes
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.
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.
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.
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
What policies are in place for Covid-19?

We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.
Can I join the tour once it has departed?

Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.
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)
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.
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.
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

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Ethan

Beautiful walks in the mountains

03-Oct-2022

Well planned itenerary, beautiful walks- as novice walkers we followed the gps routes given which made our walks easy and stress free- the one walk without we managed to get lost twice though looking back it was a simple route. One tip for the long day of walking at Gela- the shorter option is a bit dull up a road, but there is a forest path that runs parallel to a village near Gela that is much nicer. Our faviourite hotels were in Smolyan and Shiroloka, we liked Devin the least, but the walk nearby was beautiful and made our stay there worthwhile. Plovdiv is beautiful and there was much to explore for the day, including lots of good restaurants. There are resonable vegetarian options available. We liked having the spa facilities to enjoy after a day of walking. Overall our trip went smoothly and we both appreciated the adventure offered. There was a slight miscommunication about our airport transfer on the last day which caused some anxiety but we arrived in good time for our flight. The natural adventure team were available to help us. Our first driver Angel from Smolyan was an exceptional driver for windy mountain roads professional and safe.... a couple of our other drivers didn't have seatbelts and we had a near miss which again was concerning. Overall we had a great time, we would recommend this trip and use the Natural Adventure company again.

Kate

A wonderful holiday

03-Oct-2022

For me, this trip was the perfect combination of daytime outdoor activity and evening indulgence. Everything was impeccably organised: huge thanks to Katya, and to all of the local drivers (who were super-friendly and great sources of extra information about the area). I loved the fresh air of the Rhodope mountains, the beautiful autumnal scenery, the friendly people and the hearty Bulgarian food. My one word of advice would be to persevere with the GPS app (it took me and my friend a while to work it out - neither of us is particularly tech-savvy...) which removed all doubt and stress from the long day's walk in Shiroka Laka. Overall, this was a wonderful holiday which I would wholeheartedly recommend.

Great way to explore & get off the beaten track

David B

09-Jul-2023

Thoroughly enjoyed the route - great suggestions for places to visit that we would not have come up with ourselves. Fantastic ap so we could navigate on our hiking routes. Good mixture of places where we could experience both the nature and also local culture Good hotels, recommendations & transfers Will book again!!!

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