Ribaritsa village is a beautiful mountain rise high on all sides of the gorge as Introduction: resort with numerous little country houses unapproachable forest walls. On this tour you bike along the north and villas, which according to latest Monastery "St Birth of and central parts of the Balkan measurement has the biggest Virgin Mary", built between 1348 and Mountains, famous for their unspoiled concentration of oxygen in the air in 1350, lies in the valley of the nature, green valleys with sheep . River. peacefully grazing on lush grass, Monastery “Assumption of Virgin (300 m a.s.l.) a beautiful precipitous cliffs and gentle, rolling hills Mary”, being the 3-th largest in Bulgaria, is mountain town with preserved old offering plenty of unique biking built in the style of the Bulgarian town with National Revival opportunities. You start the trip from the Renaissance. architecture tiny Goliam Izvor village, passing by the is another famous mountain resort Arbanasi village is famous for its Central Balkan National Park and which attracts tourists with its beautiful massive houses that resemble minor ending up in – the Old landscape, numerous active holiday fortresses on the outside, with high, Bulgarian capital and one of the most opportunities and plenty of new hotels. solid walls and heavy gates and charming Bulgarian towns. The narrow Batoshevo Nunnery was founded in the secret hiding-places, but which are roads meander through picturesque beginning of the 20-th century with the spacious and comfortable, richly villages that look as they have been support of the Russian Tsar. decorated and furnished on the inside. untouched for the past 200 years. You’ll Etura Open-air Ethnographic Museum - Petropavlovski Monastery “St. St. see wooden carts pulled by a horse or Master craftsmen fashion beautiful gold, Peter and Paul” was founded in 10-th donkey and villagers making hay the silver, copper, leather and wooden articles century on the site of a Roman fort. old-fashioned way. During the trip you right before your eyes from early morning VelikoTurnovo (210 m a.s.l.), being will visit several of Bulgaria's most until late at the night. the former Bulgarian capital, is regally important Orthodox monasteries, - During Ottoman situated situated in the dales or woods. times the monks offered succour to along the historical hills of , Churches with centuries-old icons and Bulgarian outlaws and used to provide the and Sveta Gora on the two colourful murals are spread across a local rebels with an assembly point during banks of River. wide range of villages and small towns. the Rising of 1876. memorial - built on the main has preserved its old town ridge of the honour Special highlights: square, the only one left in the country, those who died for the Liberation of Glozhene Monastery was built in the which has been proclaimed as a Bulgaria during the Battles of Shipka 13-th century by the Ukrainian prince Monument of Architecture. Pass in the Russo-Turkish War of Glozh, housing an icon at the age of Bozhentsi village is an architectural 1877-78. about 1000 years. reserve consisting of some 100 houses - the second Bulgarian city in is a small vivid mountain town from The Bulgarian National Revival population and size after the capital, with rich history and lots of sights to Period. Plovdiv is famous for the Old Town explore (the city church, St Ilia Monastery “St Archangel with charming houses decorated with monastery from 13 c., the town Michael” is situated in the gorge of colourful ornaments museum, several old style architecture Dryanovska River where limestone rocks houses, etc). Itinerary: Day 1. Arrive at Airport and transfer to the village of Goliam Izvor Penguin Travel DMC-Bulgaria 1 Address: 9 Orfej Str., 1421 Sofia, BULGARIA; Phone: +35924001050; E-mail: [email protected] (about 1 hr from Sofia; or 3 hrs from for you to witness local life. The traffic peaceful, with almost no cars around. Plovdiv), where you stay overnight in a should be slow – except in Troyan town The road surface is good with few guesthouse. Dinner in the local and the area. The road exceptions at some parts like Tsareva restaurant. surface is good, with some exceptions Livada village. You will cross a train /dinner/ (mostly by ). There are several line 3 times. There are a couple of places throughout the stage where you places where you will find something Day 2. Today's cycling starts in Goliam can have something to eat or drink – to eat or drink – Tryavna and Tsareva Izvor village (445 m, or 1,459 ft), Shipkovo, Troyan, Troyan Monastery, Livada. heading to town (famous for amongst others. Cycling specifics: producing different kinds of “khalva”) Cycling specifics: Distance: 52 km (32.3 miles); uphill and then continue to Malak Izvor village Distance: 74 km (45.9 miles); uphill cycling: 950m (3,116 ft); downhill (550m, 1804 ft) . From this point a cycling: 900 m (2,952 ft); downhill cycling: cycling: 1,000 m (3,280 ft) steep road 4 km long leads you to the 1,000 m (3,280 ft) /breakfast, dinner/ Glozhene Monastery (870m, 2854 ft). /breakfast, dinner/ Having visited the monastery you go Day 6. You cycle back the same way back downhill to Malak Izvor village and Day 4. In the morning you start cycling for some 10 km and cycle downhill continue to Ribaritsa village (505 m, or from Apriltsi (550 m, or 1,804 ft). The road on the main road leading you to 1,656 ft) via the town of Teteven. In undulates throughout this stage passing where you can Teteven you can make a stop for a short through many small mountain villages. stop for a visit of the monastery and walk and visit the small but interesting After about 24 km (14.9 miles) you will see Bacho Kiro cave nearby. Then you town museum. Option for bike and hike the Batoshevo Nunnery on the right-hand continue in direction to Yalovo village trip to Koznitsa waterfalls nearby. Then side of the. The Batoshevo Monastery is on a very isolated village roads among you continue with a 12 km ride upstream also close by. It is a 4 km (2.4 mile) steep forested area and farmlands. The next river to Ribaritsa village, where you climb, so making the journey is entirely stop is Kilifarevo Monastery (240m, stay overnight. your choice. The road passes through 787ft). You can have small lunch The road is idle, passing through woody some hilly areas, flat cultivated terrains, nearby. After rest you continue with an hilly areas, varied by meadows and along the river bed of Rositsa River and ascend up to a pass at 480 m (1574ft) pastures. From Glozhene village you amid lush green mixed forest. The next and cycle down passing on a bridge cycle upstream Beli Vit River. From the milestone is the town of . You go above the blue waters of Iovkovtsi beginning of the stage down to through the town and continue cycling to dam (340m, 1115ft). After a short Yablanitsa town and Malak izvor village, Etura open-air ethnographic museum. You ascend followed by a descend you and then from Glozhene Monastery to can either finish for today or do another 4 reach the charming town of Elena Glozhene village, the traffic is slow; from km climb up to the picturesque Sokolski (255 m, or 836 ft). After some rest you Glozhene village to Ribaritsa the traffic monastery and then go down to Etara. can make a walk in the old town is a little busier. The road condition is You stay overnight in a hotel next to the visiting some of the old houses and fairly good. There are many spots on the entrance of Etura (465 m, or 1,525 ft). churches. Most of the road passes Glozhene-Ribaritsa road where you can Throughout the stage the traffic is very through pastures, cultivated fields and find a restaurant/café or grocery store. slow (except for Gabrovo town). The road shrubs in the form of low-lying hills, However, the best place is Teteven. condition is good except some short typical of this part of the Fore-Balkan. Cycling specifics: section. You can make a picnic for lunch Throughout the stage the traffic is not Distance: 70 km (43.5 miles); uphill or stop at a local restaurant in Gorna heavy and the road is in fairly good cycling: 850 m (2,788 ft); downhill Rositsa village. condition. There are two places on the cycling: 800 m (2,624 ft) Cycling specifics: stage where you will find a restaurant /breakfast, dinner/ Distance: 68 km (42.2 miles); uphill or café – the Kilefarevo Monastery cycling: 750 m (2,460 ft); downhill cycling: and Iakovtsi village. Day 3. This morning you face a fairly 800 m (2,624 ft) Cycling specifics: challenging ascent from Ribaritsa village /breakfast, dinner/ Distance: 77 km (47.8 miles), uphill (630 m, or 2,066 ft) to the highest point cycling: 750 m (2460 ft); downhill of the day – Bogoy pass (1,185 m, or Day 5. You start from the hotel and cycle cycling: 950 m (3116 ft) 3,887 ft.) From this pass the road goes back the same road to Gabrovo. Then you /breakfast, dinner/ all the way down to the town of Troyan. get on the road to Tryavna and start The road passes through the village of climbing. After an ascent to the highest Day 7. From Elena (255 m, or 836 ft) Shipkovo (700 m, or 2,296 ft), famous point of the road 715m (2,345 ft). near a you continue cycling to the last point for its mineral water springs and communist monument, you start a steep of the trip – Veliko Tarnovo (180n, swimming pools. You are welcome to descent that leads you to Tryavna. There 950ft) (395 m, or 1,295 ft). The track take a break here before heading further you can spend some time on sightseeing today is reasonably smooth with long, on to Troyan and the Troyan Monastery and lunch in the centre of this beautiful even terrain, combined with slight (440 m, or 1,443 ft). You go through National Revival town. Further you climb undulations. The landscape includes Troyan town where you can have lunch up above Tryavna and follow an isolated meadows, pastures, farmland, shrub- and continue in direction to Troyan village road, go downhill to Tsareva livada covered hills and finally a beautiful monastery. A few hundred metres village and after severeal uphils followed plateau over Veliko Tarnovo where before the monastery, to the right, is the by downhills in forested area you reach Arbanasi architectural reserve is "Oreshaka" pottery and craft exhibition. the final stop of the day – Bozhentsi (750 situated. There are quite a few things After visiting the monastery and the m, or 2,460 ft). After a short break you can to see here, including 300-year-old exhibition you continue on towards the walk along the picturesque streets and old houses, monasteries and museums. mountain resort of Apriltsi where you houses. After this you commence on a steep stay in a guesthouse. The road weaves The traffic down to Tryavna might be busy descend to Veliko Tarnovo (the capital among the hills of the Central Fore- but not much especially if you start early. of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom). Balkan and affords many opportunities Afterwards the road becomes very Here you can visit Tsarevets fortress Penguin Travel DMC-Bulgaria 2 Address: 9 Orfej Str., 1421 Sofia, BULGARIA; Phone: +35924001050; E-mail: [email protected] and the old town. In the afternoon you Bike safety: sections with potholes, bumps and will meet your driver and be transferred Make sure you lock your bike every time stitches. The traffic might be a little bit to Plovdiv for overnight via the historic you leave it when visiting tourist sights. heavier at some sections but only for Shipka monument on the main ridge of Try to lock it near the ticket kiosk, parking a short while. the Balkan mountains. guard or any other safe place around. Ask During the initial 19 km, or 11.8 miles, the hotel stuff to put your bike in a safe Bicycles: the main road might be busy with some place in the accommodation you stay in. You can choose (depending on the traffic, but later on it becomes very Generally thefts in villages and small availability) from 2 types of bikes: quiet. Road conditions are generally towns are not common and you can leave good, except for a few spots like the your bike unlocked if you have visual 1. Road bike – Drag Marathon road before Dragizhevo village. There contact with it, but we suggest you to be Touring road bike excellent for long are two places on the stage where you cautious. distance cycling on asphalt roads with can have source something to eat or light aluminum frame and 28” rims. 21 drink – Tserova Koria village and Tour type: IT gears, front suspension “Zoom” (30 Dragizhevo village. mm travel), “Shimano” components Cycling specifics: Difficulty grade: B (shifters, crank, chain, V-brakes), back Distance: 47 km (29.2 miles); uphill luggage carrier with double-sided rear cycling: 650 m (1,968 ft); downhill Best period: April – October panniers, bottle holder cycling: 830 m (1,968 ft) 2. Mountain bike - RAM – HT 1 /breakfast / Weather: Hardtail mountain bike with aluminum Temperatures expected for this period are frame suitable for off road biking and Day 8. After breakfast you will have between +15 and +35oC. Sometimes asphalt cycling. 24 gears, “Rox shocks transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for noontime could be a little exhausting for Dirt 1” front suspension (80 mm departure (transfer time: 20 min to cycling on open territories. Rainfalls or travel), “Avid” V-brakes, “Truvativ” Plovdiv Airport or 2 hrs to Sofia Airport) short but heavy showers are possible, crankset, “Sram” shifters and /breakfast/ being a bit prolonged during spring and derailleur, “Mavic” 26” rims, bottle late autumn. holder. Accommodation: family hotels (days 3, 5, 6 ), Equipment and clothing: Group size: Min. 2 persons guesthouses (day 7) with private We strongly recommend you wearing a facilities and family-run pensions (day 1, helmet during the cycling. You can bring The price includes: equipped bike 4) with shared facilities on halfboard your own helmet or rent one from us. (helmets and saddle bags are (breakfast & dinner included, except for Cycling gloves, breathable clothes, provided upon request); transfers of dinner on day 7). trainers. (for list with recommended items bikes and cyclists on days 1,7 and 8; see “General”). accommodation and boarding as Luggage transportation: mentioned above; all local taxes, map; All luggage is carried by the cyclists. We NB! Biking without helmet is not roadnotes; 24 hours emergency back- can provide rear and front panniers on advisable. We strongly recommend you to up. request. bring your own helmet or rent one from us. The price does not include: Lunch, Additional tour info: Road conditons: We use mostly two-way dinner on day 7, entrance fees, drinks, All bikers receive a detailed roadbook roads (one band per direction) with an and other personal expenses. with route and sights description and asphalt covering (the latter usually not Supporting vehicle with English- detailed map. There is no supporting brand new!). The country roads are quite speaking guide/driver from day 2 to vehicle and a guide. Repair kit is peaceful, sometimes without any cars. day 7 will cost additionally 350 EUR included. 24 hours telephone assistance The road surface in these areas may be (maximum 3 cyclists). available. not very smooth at some stages. Expect

Penguin Travel DMC-Bulgaria 3 Address: 9 Orfej Str., 1421 Sofia, BULGARIA; Phone: +35924001050; E-mail: [email protected] GENERAL cycling shoes; fleece headband; fingerless ======biking gloves; lightweight windproof biking Brief about Bulgaria TOUR TYPES & GRADES jacket; waterproof trousers; fleece Territory - 110 912 sq. km. We provide different varieties of tours as windstopper jacket; sunglasses with UV Population - 7 538 000 (2003) (83,9 % regards to their types and difficulty grades! protection; sunscreen lotion and lip balm. ethnic ; 9,4% Turks; 4,7% Whether you will choose individual and ======Roma; rest – smaller minorities Russians, group tours with a guide or combined tours Money and personal expenses Armenians, Vlachs, Jews, Karakachans with a guide for some part of the trip You will need some extra money to cover etc.) depends on you. We emphasize on using meals, drinks and extra trips not included in Relligion – 82,6% Orthodox, 12,2% Islam, local experienced guides with knowledge of the tour price. Additional money for souvenirs 0,7% Protestant, 0,5% Catholics, 4,1% the local language, culture, history, art, etc. and personal things could also be spent. That Others. The tours are conducted in the English is why it is always necessary to have Capital city - Sofia (1 377 531 people in language. Guides in other languages are Bulgarian money in cash. 2006) available upon request. The payments in Bulgaria are usually made in Bigest towns - Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas, Tour types "LEV" (BGN), which is the official currency. Rouse, , Veliko Tarnovo, Our tours are divided in different tour types, The exchange rate with EU and USD is quite regardless of being guided or not or if changing sometimes, but approximately it is: Mountains - 37 (biggest - Balkan someone travels alone or in a group. We BGN:EU - 2:1; BGN:USD - 1,3:1. Credit Mountain: length - ~ 550 km.; width - ~ have prepared your vacation so that you can Cards could be used primarily in some 30-60 km.); (highest - Mountain - concentrate on new impressions and supermarkets and restaurants in the biggest peak Musala - 2 925 m.a.s.l.) experiences, awaiting you all the time. Here cities as well as in the petrol stations. Usually Boundaries - North - ; East - is a description of the various tours: it is marked on their front doors if Credit (coastline 378 km.); West - IT: Individual tours There is no guide on Cards are accepted. ATMs ("bankomates") Serbia, Macedonia; South - Greece, this tour. You travel individually and we are are more frequent (again in the biggest towns Turkey; responsible for the hotel overnights and only!). Traveler's cheques take quite a lot of Distribution of the lands - 0 - 400 m.a.s.l. - /some/ transfers. Sometimes you will travel time to handle and not each bank deals with 59,8 %; 400 - 1000 m.a.s.l. - 27,6 %; together with other people. If you wish a them (in many cases it takes even few days 1000 - 2000 m.a.s.l. - 11,9 %; over 2000 guide can be arranged, if ordered. We take it since their deposition in the bank!) - thus they m.a.s.l. - 0,7 % for granted that you can read maps, provided are not recommended! Protected areas - 3 national parks, 10 by us upon arrival. Here are some examples of comparative nature parks, 55 reserves, 35 managed ------costs in Bulgaria (NB: prices in mid-range reserves, over 350 protected areas and Difficulty grades restaurants!): 500 natural monuments To prepare yourself for the best of your - Coffee – 0,3 Euro ======vacation we recommend that you start - Tea – 0,3 Euro Weather planning it in an advance. Good physical - Beer (0,5 l) – 0,5-1 Euro Mean year temperature - + 10,5 °C (Abs. condition is required. In order to achieve it - Soft drink (0,5 l) - 0,4-0,5 Euro Min. - -38,3 °C ; Abs. Max. - + 45,2 °C) we advise you to start walking, jogging or - Bottle of water (0,5 l) - 0,3-0,4 Euro Mean rainfall per year - 416 - 650 mm. in cycling everyday. Swimming a couple of - Bottle of mark red wine (0,75 l) - 5-10 Euro the lowlands; 650 - 1193 mm. in the times a week is also highly recommended. - Three-course lunch - 4-7 Euro highlands You do not need much to get yourself in - Lunch pack - 2-3 Euro Rainy days per month – May – 7; June – shape. And don't forget that the most Tips – 10% of the restaurant bill 8; July – 6; August – 3; September – 6; important tip for an unforgettable active ======(number may be higher in the mountains) holiday is to choose a trip which corresponds Cell phone coverage Mean daily/night temperatures (up to to your physical condition! Currently the whole territory of Bulgaria is 1000 m a.s.l.) - May – 22/12 °C; June – B: Moderate covered with a mobile connection. However 26/16 °C; July – 28/17 °C; August – 26/15 3,5-5 hours of cycling per day on average the trekking & cycling tours are done in °C; September – 23/13 °C; over hilly or flat terrain with only several mountainous areas where the signal could be steep parts (climbing max. 12 %) which can weak or even lacking from time to time. In be skipped if it’s a guided tour with a such a situation you just need to change your Altitudinal distribution of annual supporting vehicle. All people used to cycling location a bit in order to find available temperatures in Bulgaria should be able to make this trip. However network. 30-50 km cycling per day is recommended ======for some time before the start of the tour. ======Weather Bulgaria Extensions: Yes, Black Sea This is a unique proposal, which gives you 25 the opportunity to stay in Bulgaria for one week more at the incredibly low price! We 20 can offer a great variety of means of 15 accommodation - from home stays (no 500 m a.s.l. meals) to 2, 3 and 4-star hotels (BB or HB) 1000 m a.s.l. 10 on the Southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast: 2000 m a.s.l. - Sunny Beach - a big modern resort with 5 hundreds of hotels, cafes, pubs, casinos, Temperature) ( C water-sports facilities etc. - Nessebar, - small towns (founded 0 by the ancient Greeks) with picturesque Old April June August October Quarters and a specific atmosphere. -5 - Lozenets -a peaceful small village with a Months beautiful beach. Only 4-5 km from the forests Electricity of the Strandzha Mountains where you can In Bulgaria two-pin sockets are normal. go walking, biking or riding horses. Voltage is 220 watts. If you come from the ======U.S. or UK you need to purchase an adapter, Equipment and clothing: which is available only in Bulgarian cities and Recommended items: good quality padded biggest winter and sea resorts. cycling shorts (baggy style); cycling helmet; Penguin Travel DMC-Bulgaria 4 Address: 9 Orfej Str., 1421 Sofia, BULGARIA; Phone: +35924001050; E-mail: [email protected]