Bulgaria: Rodopi Mountains

8 days
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Small Group Tour
The Rodopi Mountains are a hauntingly beautiful and mysterious region which, according to legend, were the home of the ancient Greek bard, Orpheus. Today they offer a refuge for many rare plants, brown bears, wolves, wild cats and a prolific number of butterflies and birds. Discover the rich cultural and natural heritage of these remote peaks as we walk thro...
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$2,896
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Hike the Rodopi Mountains, a walker’s paradise of deep gorges, ancient forests and flowering meadows
    • Embark on day walks from our comfortable base in a traditional Bulgarian village
    • Look out for native flora and fauna, including brown bears, orchids and wildflowers
    • Trace the myth of Orpheus, the Ancient Greek bard, who is said to have lived here
    • Enjoy a warm welcome and delicious home-produced local cuisine at Yagodina Family Hotel

What's this trip about?

    The Rodopi Mountains are a hauntingly beautiful and mysterious region which, according to legend, were the home of the ancient Greek bard, Orpheus. Today they offer a refuge for many rare plants, brown bears, wolves, wild cats and a prolific number of butterflies and birds. Discover the rich cultural and natural heritage of these remote peaks as we walk through a variety of landscapes, including ancient coniferous forests and rugged limestone gorges. We engage with local people who maintain their traditional rural existence, working the fields by hand and tending their livestock on the meadows and pastures.Hike through wildlife-rich mountains and discover the rural culture and history of Bulgaria

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age range16 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CitySofia Airport
End CitySofia Airport

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Bulgaria

Attractions

  • Sofia

Activities

  • Culture
  • Hiking

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 6

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Trip includes

    • All breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners included
    • All accommodation
    • Transfer for group flights

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Start Sofia Airport; transfer to Yagodina

The adventure begins at Terminal 2 in Sofia Airport (Terminal 2), where we meet the leader, before a transfer to the remote village of Yagodina, our base for the next six nights. Accommodation: Yagodina Family Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 Kastrakli Nature Reserve and Chala village walk

Enjoy a day with two separate walks, each with a unique set of wildlife-spotting opportunities. A 15-minute drive after breakfast brings us to the trailhead of our first walk, a hike through the deep gorge and forests of Kastrakli Nature Reserve, renowned for orchids,...

Day 3 The Trigrad Karst Plateau

After breakfast, we drive to the neighbouring Trigrad gorge, where we make a short pause to scan the towering cliffs for the elusive wallcreeper, a delightful bird that flutters around like a butterfly on the rock faces, flashing strikingly crimson wings. We then spen...

Day 4 Traverse the highest peaks of the Rodopi Mountains

After breakfast, we set off in our bus for a 90-minute drive east into the highest part of the Rodopi Mountains. Having reached the end of the driveable road, we begin a wonderfully panoramic hike along the main ridge of the Rodopi Mountains. First, we skirt just belo...

Day 5 In the footsteps of Orpheus

Having finished the previous day’s walk in the village of Gela, the supposed birthplace of Orpheus, we continue with the Orphic theme today, by following in his footsteps to the site of an ancient Thracian sanctuary where Orpheus is believed to have met his death. As ...

Day 6 Hike in the Bulgaria-Greece border zone

A half-hour drive up the picturesque valley of the Buynovska Reka brings us to the village of Buynovo, where we start our walk. Today we wander amid the mountain meadows and forests along the border with Greece. Nowadays this is a tranquil region, peacefully roamed by...

Day 7 Forest walk and riverside nature trail. Transfer to Sofia

Before making the long transfer back to the Bulgarian capital, we have the chance to enjoy two final short, but highly picturesque nature walks. Having had breakfast and said our farewells to the staff at the hotel, we set off on foot, picking up yet another section o...

Day 8 End Sofia

This trip draws to a close after breakfast. If you want to spend a bit more time in the city after our walking adventures, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,145
Price per day$268
Last Updated: 5/22/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Shared Room
Single Room
Availability
24 May 2025
31 May 2025
$2,145
$2,535
07 Jun 2025
14 Jun 2025
$2,145
$2,535
28 Jun 2025
05 Jul 2025
$2,145
$2,535
12 Jul 2025
19 Jul 2025
$2,145
$2,535
06 Sep 2025
13 Sep 2025
$2,145
$2,535
27 Sep 2025
04 Oct 2025
$2,145
$2,535

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Exodus Travels Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
Excellent
13,310
Great
3,258
Average
609
Disappointing
146
Terrible
187
A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

If you go down in the woods today....

A superb holiday in beautiful countryside, staying in an excellent local hotel with walks that make the most of what the region has to offer. Realising that bears w...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

A wonderfully authentic Bulgarian experience; interesting walks, comfortable accommodation and a lovely group

This trip provides a great introduction to a very special, unspoilt part of Europe which maintains traditional practices in agriculture and food production. Yagod...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

A fantastic walking holiday in remote and beautiful mountains

We had five strenuous but not exhausting days walking through really beautiful gorges, meadows and mountains and came back to a welcoming and comfortable simple ho...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

As the Nike Ad says "Just Do It"

Having travelled extensively but not to Bulgaria previously I was very interested to see what I would think of the country and I wasn't disappointed. I flew direct...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

A great walking holiday in unspoilt Bulgaria

This was an excellent trip in a relatively unspoilt and bucolic part of the world. The Rodopi mountains in southern Bulgaria, near the Greek border, make for relat...

Write a Review

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Exodus Travels

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It is all about adventure. That is what Exodus was founded upon and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on.

At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved.

This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday.

Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments.

All our office staff have a passion for travel and adventure, and between us we’ve notched up experience that spans 171 different countries. That’s not all. In their former lives, our team members have been professional archaeologists, wildlife guides, overland drivers, mountain leaders, diving and ski specialists and mountain bike gurus – so no-one is better placed to create tours that appeal to a wide range of specialist interests.

Their care in putting all the details in place really shines through too. Extensive planning, research, fact-finding and training are a sign of our commitment to providing a holiday where your enjoyment, value for money and safety come first. It’s a telling reason why we remain one of the leading worldwide adventure tour companies. It is no exaggeration to say that our tour leaders can make a world of difference to the enjoyment of your holiday – so we choose them carefully. The result is that, in 2013, 93% of our clients stated that their leader exceeded their expectations. Where possible, we train and employ local leaders because they can provide invaluable insights that enrich the trip. What’s more, this investment in local staff really helps us benefit both them and their community.

Why we love this operator
With a wide range of trip styles, Exodus caters to every type of traveler out there- even those with specific interests from cycling to winter hiking.
What they’re known for
Global trips to a wide array of destinations with a focus on themed adventures, exciting physical activities and learning about local cultures.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Travel insurance
    • Visas and vaccinations
    • Single supplement

Accommodation

6 nights in a traditional rural settlement in Yagodina Village, famed for its self-sufficiency and hospitality 1 night in comfortable hotel in central Sofia. All rooms en suite 6 days centre-based walking Rural mountain village location Altitude maximum 1600m, average 1350m
Our base for six nights is Yagodina, a traditional rural village known for its self-sufficiency and hospitable inhabitants. Home to around 500 people, it is secluded in the Trigrad Karst region, one of the most remote parts of the Rodopi Mountains.   Here, we stay in the Yagodina Family Hotel, a small accommodation with comfortable twin and single rooms. It’s owned and run by a local family and most of the food (including milk, cheese, butter, jam and honey) is either home-produced or locally sourced.   Our final night is at Boutique Hotel Crystal Palace, a conveniently located four-star hotel in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. The 63-room accommodation is in the downtown area, close to city landmarks, including the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It also has a restaurant serving French, Italian and Spanish dishes, plus a lobby bar with cocktails, coffee and more. 
Cancellation policy

The cancellation policies of this trip when booked through Travelstride are determined by the stated policies of the tour operator - Exodus Travels.

If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel a confirmed booking you must notify Travelstride in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by Travelstride and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.

If You Cancel Your Holiday
You, or any member of your party, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time. Written notification from the lead name or your travel agent must be received at our offices. 

Since we incur costs in canceling your travel arrangements, you will have to pay cancellation charges as follows (see also the exceptions below): 

  • More than 42 days - No cancellation fee. Deposit can be transferred to a new booking departing within 2 years of date of travel of original booking. Any remaining balance will be refundedThis excludes all non-refundable costs as set out in clause 4 above (for example international and domestic flights and local services).
  • Between 41 and 21 days (inclusive) - No cancellation fee. Balance and deposit can be transferred to a new booking departing within 2 years of date of travel of original bookingThis excludes all non-refundable costs as further explained in clause 4 above (for example international and domestic flights and local services).
  • Between 20 and 15 days (inclusive) - 80% of the holiday cost
  • 14 days or less; or failure to join the holiday (inclusive) - 100% of the holiday cost

Certain trips may involve different cancellation charges; you will be advised if this is applicable to your holiday during the booking process.For Polar holidays, the following cancellation charges will be made for all Polar holidays. Period before departure in which you notify us: 

Cancelation charge

  • More than 133 days - Deposit only
  • 133 days or less (or failure to join the holiday) (inclusive) - 100% of the holiday cost

Notes (i) Your deposit is non-refundable, even if the cancellation charge calculated is lower than the deposit amount paid; (ii) If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges; (iii) certain travel arrangements may be subject to higher cancellation charges and could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements from the moment the booking is confirmed.

If You Change Your Booking

If, after our Booking Confirmation has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be in writing from the lead name or your travel agent. You will be asked to pay an administration charge of $60, and any further cost we incur in making this alteration (including those charged by third party suppliers who provide the component parts of your booking).  You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Note: Certain travel arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

You can transfer your booking to another person, who satisfies all the conditions that apply to this booking, by giving us notice in writing at least 7 days before departure provided that the new lead passenger accepts the transfer and these Terms and Conditions. Both you and the new traveler are responsible for paying all costs we incur in making the transfer. Please bear in mind that certain airlines and other transport providers treat changes as a cancellation and charge accordingly, up to 100% of the cost for that part of the arrangement. Where applicable these charges will be passed on to you.

If We Cancel Your Booking

Exodus reserves the right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason whatsoever, including too few participants ,logistical problems, a Force Majeure Event (as defined in Section 8), or any other circumstances that may make operation of the trip inadvisable. All trip payments received will be promptly refunded, and this refund will be the limit of Exodus’s liability without any further obligation on Exodus’s part. Exodus is not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the trip, including non-refundable or penalty-carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees, or other trip-related expenses.

If We Change Your Booking

  1. Changes to the price. We can change your holiday price after you’ve booked, only in certain circumstances. Changes in the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from changes to the cost of fuel or other power sources, the level of taxes or fees imposed by third parties including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports, or exchange rates mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked.

  2. Changes other than the price. It is a term of your booking that we are able to make changes to any aspect of your booking. If the change is insignificant, we will ensure that you are notified about it. Examples of insignificant changes include alteration of your accommodation to another of the same or higher standard. If we are forced by circumstances beyond our control to alter significantly any of the main characteristics of the travel services that make up your package you will have the rights set out below.

    2.1 - We will contact you and you will have the choice of accepting the change or having a refund of all monies paid. You can also accept an alternative holiday, where we offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). We will tell you the procedure for making your choice. Please read any notification of changes carefully and respond promptly as if you do not respond to us within the timescale given your booking may be canceled.

    2.2 - If you choose to accept a refund then that is the only liability we have and we will not be liable for any further sums, compensation or otherwise and you are advised to adequately insure yourselves against cancellation for any reason

Please note that insurance premiums and amendments charges are not refundable in any circumstances. 

Once you have put down a deposit for a tour, you are unable to cancel and re-book within a promotional period and we reserve the right to amend the pricing on any new booking you make within that time. If you cancel a tour and book the same tour under a promotional code, we reserve the right to decline the booking.

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in addition to the charge above.

If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.

Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.

For more additional details, see the booking conditions of TruTravels at the following web address: https://www.exodustravels.com/us/about-exodus/exodus-booking-conditions.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
Breakfast: Usually includes tea or coffee, bread, jam, honey and cheese, supplemented in Yagodina by fresh home-made yoghurt and traditional local specialities, such as katmi (thick pancakes) and rodopski klin (a rice-based dish). Lunch: Picnic lunches will be eaten in the mountains and typically comprise of bread, cheese, salami, salad, biscuits and fruit. Dinner: Will be taken in our hotel restaurant, and will normally include three courses comprising salad or vegetarian soup, followed by a main course, and a dessert of fruit, ice cream or cake/pudding. The cuisine reflects a mixture of Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish and Slavonic influences. We sample many traditional local specialities including smilyanski fasul (a delicious bean soup) and patatnik (grated potatoes, onions and cheese, seasoned with mint and other herbs). Jugs of tap water will be provided on the table with the evening meal. Bottled mineral water, soft drinks and alcohol are not included but can be purchased. There are also several local wines you may wish to try, including an excellent red Mavrud from vineyards on the northern slopes of the Rodopi. Vegetarians and vegan diets: Bulgaria produces excellent fresh vegetables and fruit, so vegetarians are usually well catered for, although in the mountains the variety may be limited to what is seasonally available. Eggs and dairy produce, especially cheese, form the staple part of the diet in the Rodopi region, and are included in most traditional meals, so vegans may find their daily menu more restricted and less varied. Gluten intolerance: Special gluten-free products are not available, so those with a wheat/gluten intolerance should, if needed, bring something to replace the local bread and pastries that make up the breakfasts and picnic lunches.
Age Requirements
16 years and up
Additional Information
  • Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (hotels)
  • Six days of walking
  • Group normally 6 to 16 plus leader. Minimum age: 16
  • Altitude maximum: 7,180ft (2,188m); average: 4,430ft (1,350m)
  • Travel by minibus
  • Option to travel by train to your adventure
Trip ID
exodus-TDB

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