08 May 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,118
Escorted tour
Hike Bulgaria’s Rodopi Mountains – 8 Days
Gorges, forests, peaks and wildlife tracking from a family-run hotel in the Rodopi.
8 days
From £1,744
Tour overview
This 8-day walking holiday explores the Rodopi Mountains of southern Bulgaria, a wild region of forests, gorges and traditional villages said to be the birthplace of Orpheus. A tour leader walks with the group, which numbers between six and sixteen. You stay six nights at a small family-run hotel in the village of Yagodina, with locally produced food, and a final night at a four-star hotel in Sofia. Almost all meals are included.
After meeting at Sofia airport you transfer to Yagodina. Your first day brings two walks, through the Kastrakli Nature Reserve and the dramatic Buynovo Gorge. You then hike in the border zone near Greece, traverse the highest peaks of the Rodopi and set out from the hotel door on a bear and wolf tracking walk with a local expert.
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Following in the footsteps of Orpheus, you walk from the village of Gela through mountain pasture, and on your last mountain day you follow the trail of the chamois before transferring to Sofia for a farewell night near Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The physical rating is medium, with daily walks of several hours. This holiday suits walkers who want to discover one of Europe’s least-known mountain ranges.
Trip highlights
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The Buynovo Gorge (Day 2)
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The Greek border zone (Day 3)
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The highest Rodopi peaks (Day 4)
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Bear and wolf tracking (Day 5)
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The birthplace of Orpheus (Day 6)
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The chamois trail (Day 7)
Your route
5 stops from Sofia to Sofia
- Sofia Day 1
- Yagodina Days 1–6
- Buynovo Gorge Day 2
- Golyam Perelik Day 4
- Sofia Days 7–8
Why choose this tour
A wild, little-known mountain range on foot. Most meals included at a family-run hotel.
Best suited to
- Keen walkers
- Nature and wildlife lovers
- Solo travellers and couples
- Travellers seeking somewhere new
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Sofia, Bulgaria to Sofia, Bulgaria
-
Day 1 · Sofia, Yagodina Yagodina
Into the mountains.
- Hotel
- Yagodina Family Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Kastrakli, Buynovo Gorge Kastrakli and Buynovo
Two gorge walks.
- Hotel
- Yagodina Family Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3 · Buynovo Border zone
A hike near Greece.
- Hotel
- Yagodina Family Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Rodopi Mountains High Rodopi
The highest peaks.
- Hotel
- Yagodina Family Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Yagodina Wildlife tracking
Bears and wolves.
- Hotel
- Yagodina Family Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Gela Orpheus
In the steps of Orpheus.
- Hotel
- Yagodina Family Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Rodopi Mountains, Sofia Sofia
The chamois trail.
- Hotel
- Boutique Hotel Crystal Palace
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Sofia Sofia
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Yagodina (6 nights) Yagodina Family Hotel
- Sofia (1 night) Boutique Hotel Crystal Palace
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 7 nights in hotels
- Meals 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
- Minibus transport and group airport transfers
- Six guided walking days
- Bear and wolf tracking walk
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Drinks
- Tips
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You don’t enjoy walking
- You want to move between hotels
- You want city sightseeing
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–8 · Lunch: Days 2–7 · Dinner: Days 1–7
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Bulgaria
Departures & prices
From £1,744 per person, twin share, tour only. 21 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £2,047 (single supplement from £304).
Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.
29 May 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,118
05 Jun 2027
Twin share
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Single from £2,118
26 Jun 2027
Twin share
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Single from £2,118
10 Jul 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,118
04 Sept 2027
Twin share
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Single from £2,048
11 Sept 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,118
18 Sept 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,118
25 Sept 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,118
02 Oct 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,118
09 Oct 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £2,118
06 May 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
27 May 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
03 Jun 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
24 Jun 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
08 Jul 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
09 Sept 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
16 Sept 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
23 Sept 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
30 Sept 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
07 Oct 2028
Twin share
£2,391pp
Single from £2,786
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
How hard is the walking?
Moderate, with walks of four to six hours on mountain paths.
Will I see bears or wolves?
You’ll learn to read tracks and signs. Sightings are rare and never guaranteed.
Are airport transfers included?
Yes, group transfers at set times.
Do I need a visa?
UK citizens don’t need a visa for Bulgaria for short stays.
What is the hotel like?
A small family-run hotel with locally produced food.
How many people travel together?
Between six and sixteen walkers, with a tour leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary