Summary
The holiday combines cycling and cultural sightseeing. You will ride on scenic, asphalt, not – busy roads in a region full of history and sites to visit. You cycle at average altitude of 500 -600m with the highest point being at 1300m and pretty much reach one place to the other with your bicycle. Few, short transfers by vehicle will be needed for some of the busy sections of the road.
Along the way you will explore some of the largest cities such as Sofia and Veliko Turnovo as well as discover tiny, rural villages and towns located deep in the countryside – Apriltsi, Bojentsi and Trayvna.
During the period of the Ottoman domination in Bulgaria the region of south Stara planina mountains has been a place for preservation of the typical Bulgarian traditions and crafts. Some of our best artists and painters come from here. You get the chance to experience in real time the pottery, icon – painting and wood – carving at the National Exhibition in Oreshak and with Encho and Velichka in Drashkova polyana.
Tour highlights
Tour information
Price per person: 780 € BGN (valid for a group of 2 people)
Duration: 8 days/7 nights
Best period: mid April – mid October
Type: self-guided cycling tour
Level: easy to moderate (2-4 hours per day)
Guided: self-guided
Transport: supporting vehicle
*This is a self – guided holiday with supporting vehicle. You travel on your own with a road book and map / GPS device (optional). Your luggage will be transported from accommodation to accommodation and in some of the days there will be a short transfer by vehicle for you and the bicycles.
Day by day itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Bulgaria!
Arrival in Sofia. Meet at the airport, briefing and receive of the road book. Accommodation in small hotel in the center of the city.
Depending on time arrival, you can do a sightseeing walking tour of the main highlights in the center of the city.
Dinner at your expense.
Transfer: 0,30min
Night stop: Sofia city
Accommodation: 3* hotel
Included meals: none
Day 2: Sofia / Etro pole / monastery of Teteven
In the morning transfer by vehicle to the south face of “Stara planina” mountain. You go north from Sofia towards Ribaritsa village. You can pay a visit of Etropole city and its regional museum of history.
Your first stop is the monastery St Trinity (founded XVIc.), an important center for icon painting, and the waterfall Varovitets. Afterward you continue towards the city of Teteven. Yamna village is the good choice for having a break and lunch. At the end of the day you descend in the valley of Cherni Vit river.
Transfer from Sofia: 100km
Cycling: 38km, +500m, – 600m
Night stop: Teteven town
Accommodation: family run hotel
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 3: Teteven city / Shipkovo village / Troyan Balkan mountains
In the morning visit the church of Teteven St. Julien, built in XVIIc.
You start cycling from the city of Teteven towards Chipokovo village. You ride through a forest and gain altitude until you reach the highest point at 1200m. This is a good place for picnic surrounded by the hills of the mountain. From here a nice road takes you to the end of the ride.
Chipkovo is famous for its natural hot springs and a desired place for SPA & Wellness.
Cycling: 41km, +1000m, – 600m
Night stop: Beli Osam village
Accommodation: guest house
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 4 : Chipkovo / Troyan / Drashkova polyana
This region offers a lot of cultural sightseeing, so plan your day carefully in order to have time for everything. Places of interest are: the historical museum of Troyan city, which present the tradition of pottery; the National Exhibition of Popular and Artistic Crafts in the village Oreshak – the most representative for Bulgaria. You can buy and take home work of art (woodcarving, pottery, steel, textiles); the monastery of Troyan – the third largest in Bulgaria, built in XVIIc.
Around the area of the monastery you can find local grocery stores, restaurants.
You continue north and your ride finishes in Drashkova Polyana village in the guest – house of Encho (pottery specialist) and Velichka (professional photographer).
Cycling: 42km, +400m, -500m
Night stop: Drashkova polyana
Accommodation: guest house “Eco Art”
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 5: Drashkova polyana / Apriltsi / Batochevo / Bojentzi
We start from the house and our first stop is at the monastery in Apriltsi St. Julein, 1830. Today you ride through many mountain villages located below the “Central Balkan” mountains – one of the three national parks in Bulgaria.
You continue towards Batochevo – the end point of the ride. Place of interest is the Monastery “Assumption of Mary”, located 5km away.
You continue with vehicle from Batochevo to Bojentsi.
Cycling: 41km, +550m, -850m
Night stop: Subotkovtci village
Accommodation: guest house “Staroto shkolo”
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 6: Bojentsi / Trayvna
The mountain around Gabrovo is dotted with many villages that still remain connected to the past and are preserve the typical mountain architecture. Some of them are classified as national heritage sites, such as Bojentsi village and the city of Trayvna – your final destination for the day and one of the centers of the traditional and religious arts of Bulgaria, an important city for the Bulgarian independency.
Cycling: 28km, +650; -850m
Night stop: Trayvna city
Accommodation: Family hotel
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 7: Trayvna / Dryanovo / Veliko Turnovo / Sofia
The last day of cycling will take you to the medieval capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Turnovo city.
Ride finishes in the village of Draynovo where you can visit the museum of Kolio Ficheto – self – taught architect Dryanovo monastery; the cave “Bacho Kiro”. From here transfer by vehicle to Veliko Turnovo.
Arrival in Veliko Turnovo and sightseeing walking tour of the highlights of the city.
In the afternoon transfee by vehicle to Sofia.
Transfer: 290km
Cycling: 22km, +400m; -650m
Night stop: Sofia city
Accommodation:
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to Aiport.
If time available sightseeing walking tour of the center of Sofia.
Transfer: 15km
Included meals: breakfast
The price includes:
The price excludes:
