Description
Summary
We invite you on this exclusive trip which combines one of the best cycling routes of Bulgaria and Greece. This trip will immerse you into the local Balkan culture, history, traditions and cuisine. The highlights of the tour are the famous Balkan hospitality, rural life and the local charm. All trails are surrounded by the pristine forests of Rhodope Mountains, views to the Balkan Mountain Range and the unsurpassed water and land scenery of Thassos Island in Greece!
Tour highlights
- Cycling in Bulgaria: Balkan Mountains, Thracian Valley, Rhodope Moutains
- Cycling in Greece: Rhodope mountains, Thassos Island
- Balkan village life and culture by visiting Panaguirishte, Koprivshtitca, Zlatograd, Thassos
- Rila Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Experience the Bulgarian and Greek cuisine and local wine
- Guided city tours of Sofia, Plovdiv and Thessaloniki city
- Homestays and family-run hotels with local charm
Tour information
Price per person:
2640€/ per persion (valid for a group of 2-3)
2390€/ per person (valid for a group of 4 – 5)
1980€/ per person (valid for a group of 6 – 7)
1850€/ per person (valid for a group of 8 – 9)
1850€/ per person (valid for a group of 10 – 11)
1800€/ per person (valid for a group of 12 – 13)
1760€/ per person (valid for a group of 14)
Duration: 11 days/10 nights
Best period: all year round
Type: guided cycling tour
Level: easy to moderate (cycling 3-5 hours per days)
Guided: yes
Transport: transfers by private bus/car
Other dates:
Other dates are available upon request.
Day by day itinerary
Day 1: Welcome
Tour starts in Sofia.
Your guide will meet you at the reception of the hotel in the morning. First you will have a short briefing and after that go for a guided, walking tour in the center of the town. You will see its yellow-cobbled streets, its antique’s market, its many churches and Roman ruins. Besides that on your way you will see St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, The National Theater, St.George Rotunda, The National Archaeological Museum which guards one of the most famous Thracian Golden treasures, found in the lands of nowadays Bulgaria, dating back to the 4th-century BC.
Night stop: Sofia city
Accommodation: 3* hotel Sofia Place
Included meals: Dinner
Day 2: Sofia – Panaguirishte
In the morning short transfer to the outskirts of Sofia.
You start cycling from Gorna Malina village, close to Elin Pelin town and ride through Sredna gora Mountains to finish at Panaguirishte town.
In the afternoon, if time permits, walking sightseeing tour of Panaguirishte city – famous of being one of the strongholds of the Bulgarian Revival movement which resulted in liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. The History museum in Panaguirishte boasts the most outstanding Gold treasure ever found in Europe (piece of art of the Thracian civilization, 4th century BC).
Overnight and dinner in guest – house in Panaguirishte town.
Transfers: 1,00 hour
Cycling time: 4-6 hours, 64km;
Night stop: Panaguirishte town
Accommodation: guest house “Djudjeva kashta”, a certified Green lodge
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Panaguirishte town – Plovdiv city (European capital of culture 2019)
Today you cycle from Panaguirishte town to the outskirts of the second largest city in Bulgaria – Plovdiv.
You start right from your accommodation in Panaguirishte and ride in south direction through a valley located between Stara Planina and Rhodope Mountains. This valley is referred to as the valley of roses or the valley of Thracian kings.
On your way to Plovdiv you pass by some small villages and the artificial lake Pyasachnik in order to finish in Suedinenie town, 35km away from Plovdiv. From here transfer to the city by bus.
Possible extension: as today is pretty much flat you can extend the ride from Suedinenie to Plovdiv with another 24km and enter the city on the bike. This option should be discussed with the guide.
(the planned for the day ride)
(Possible extension)
Free time at your leisure after arrival. Dinner will be in a restaurant in the center of the town.
Transfer time: 1.00 hour
Cycling time: 3 – 5 hours; 59km (extension, 1 – 2 hours 24km)
Night stop: Plovdiv city
Accommodation: 3* hotel Ego
Included meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 4: Plovdiv – Velingrad
Today you cycle from the outskirts of Peshtera town to Velingrad town passing by the artificial lake Dospat.
In the morning walking sightseeing tour of the second largest city in Bulgaria – Plovdiv. You will explore the Old Town with numerous cultural monuments from different historical periods. Among them are the Roman Theatre, the Roman stadium, the Ethnographical Museum, the East Gate from the 4th century, mansions from the 19th century and more. The modern town is doted with shops and bars – a pedestrian street crosses from one end to the other and was elected to be the European Capital of Culture in 2018.
After the tour transfer by vehicle from Plovdiv city to a nearby town Peshtera. Here you enter the Western Rhodope Mountains which are the bordering Mountains with Greece and where you will cycle for the next few days.
The bus leaves you above Peshtera town from where you start riding in West direction and finally reach Velingrad without any other transfers for the day. On your way you pass by Dospat dam where you can stop and enjoy for a while.
Overnight and dinner in the hotel in Velingrad.
Transfer time: 1,30 hours
Cycling time: 2 – 4 hours; 47km
Night stop: Velingrad city
Accommodation: boutique SPA hotel Lucky Light
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Velingrad – Dospat Dam
Today you cycle from Velingrad to Dospat dam.
You start directly from your hotel and ride south which gets you deeper in the Rhodope Mountains – the land of the legendary Orpheus. We ride alongside Chepinska river passing through valleys at the foot of Golyama Suitka mount. The ride finishes at the shores of dam Dospat, right at the front door of your accommodation. Dinner will be served here.
Transfers: no transfers needed
Cycling time: 3-5 hours, 50km
Night stop: Dospat dam
Accommodation: tourist complex “Romantika”
Included meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 6: Satovcha village – Kovachevitsa village / Uva Nestum winery
Today you cycle from Satovcha village to Kovachevitsa village.
In the morning you have a short transfer to bring you to Satovcha village. From here you go in South – West direction and ride very close to the border with Greece. The way takes you through some Mountainous areas and typical Rhodopean villages, where the locals still rely a lot on agriculture.
Half way through the daily ride you stop at the Uva Nestum winery for light lunch and wine sampling.
After that you continur and at the end of the ride you reach Kovachevitsa village on bike. This is one of the symbolic village in the area and also a great example of the local architecture.
Overnight and dinner in a guest – house in Kovachectisa.
Transfers: 1.00 hours
Cycling time: 3 – 5 hours; 40km
Night stop: Kovachevitsa village
Accommodation: guest – house “Byalata kashta” or similar
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: Delchevo – Stavroupoli / Bulgaria to Greece
Today you leave Bulgaria and go into Greece. Cycle from the outskirts of Drama town to Stavroupoli village.
In the morning you have a transfer from Ognyanovo village in Bulgaria to Drama town in Greece and basically go on the other side of the Rhodope Mountains.
The bus will leave you in the outskirts of Drama from where you cycle until your hotel in Stavroupoli.
Overnight and dinner in Stavroupoli.
Transfers: 2,00 hour
Cycling time: 2 – 4 hours; 40km
Night stop: Stavroupoli village
Accommodation: hotel Nemesis
Included meals: breakfast, pocket lunch, dinner
Day 8: Greece / Thassos island
Today you leave the mainland of Greece and go to the tiny island of Thassos. You cycle from Stavroupoli village to Keramoti port.
You start cycling from you hotel and go south towards the Aegean sea to Keramoti without any transfers needed. Finish at the harbor, ride the ferry to the island and sightseeing walk of the capital of Thassos.
Transfer to Skala Potamia and afternoon at your leisure.
Overnigh in Skala Potamia. Dinner will be in a tavern at the shores of the sea.
Transfer time: 1,00 hours
Cycling time: 4 – 6 hours, 53km
Night stop: Skala potamia, Thassos island
Accommodation: family run hotel Kamelia
Included meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 9: Greece / Round trip of Thassos island
Morning at your leisure in Skala potamia village.
Afterwards get on the bus for a round trip of the Island. Stop for a lunch and relaxing at Psili Ammos Beach. Then get on the bikes and cycle alongside the sea.
Dinner and overnight in Skala Potamia.
Transfer time: 1 hour
Cycling time: 3-4 hours, 30-40 km
Night stop: Skala potamia, Thassos island
Accommodation: family run hotel Kamelia
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10: Thessaloniki
In the morning transfer to Thassos and catch the ferry to Keramoti / Kavala and then transfer to Thessaloniki – the second largest city of Greece and the most important centre of the area. Built near the sea (at the back of the Thermaïkos Gulf), it is a modern metropolis bearing the marks of its stormy history and its cosmopolitan character, which give it a special beauty and charm.
Places of interest are: Aristotelous Square, Nikis Avenue, White Tower, Palace of Galeriu, Ancient Agóra, Byzantine Bath, Hamza Bey Mosque, Royal Theatre, etc.
Free lunch in a restaurant at your taste. Overnight and farewell dinner in Thessaloniki.
Transfer time: 2,00 hours
Night stop: Thessaloniki city
Accommodation: hotel Davitel – The Tobacco hotel
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 11: Departure
Transfer to Thessaloniki airport for onward flight.
Transfer time: 0,30 hours
Included meals: breakfast
The price includes:
- English speaking cycling guide
- 2 English speaking guide for groups of 10 people and more
- Driver and private vehicle, including bicycle trailer, for all transfer according to the itinerary
- Accommodation: 5 nights in guest-houses and family run hotel, 5 nights in 3* hotel,
- All transfers and drives according to the program in private minibus or minivan
- 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 10 dinners
- Cycling repairing Kit
- Hybrid bicycles
- Visit of museums in Panaguyrishte
- Visit of museums in Plovdiv
- Wine tasting and lunch in Uva Nestum winery
The price excludes:
- Flights and taxes
- Insurance
- Failing meals
- Personal expenses and tips
- Anything not specifically mentioned as included