BULGARIA Adventure, Nature, Culture OFFICES ABROAD Hiking Penguin Travel - Denmark Frederiksberg Allé 32 Cycling 1820 Frederiksberg C Tel. +45 33 21 51 00 Horseriding Fax: +45 33 21 51 50 www.penguin.dk PENGUIN TRAVEL - BULGARIA [email protected] Birdwatching Penguin Travel Bulgaria-1 Penguin Travel - Sweden Roundtrips ”DMC Bulgaria” Stortorget 8 9 Orfej Str. 222 23 Lund SPA & Wellness 1421 Sofia Tel. +46 46 235 244, Telefon: + 359 2 400 10 50 +46 852 500 233 Fax: +359 2 400 10 49 Fax: +46 46 211 49 11 Summer holidays www.penguin.bg www.penguin.se [email protected] [email protected] Winter holidays Penguin Travel Bulgaria -2 Penguin Travel - Norway Rent-a-car 35 Knjaz Alexander (floor 2) Sandgata-Postboks 1705 4000 Plovdiv Sentrum Telefon: + 359 32 65 30 01 7416 Trondheim Fax: +359 32 63 11 50 Tel. +47 85 22 66 85 www.penguin.bg www.penguin-travel.no [email protected] [email protected] About Bulgaria 1 Contents: About us 2 Tour types and grades 2 Roundtrips Roundtrip “Around Bulgaria” 3 Self drive 3 Wine & Dine 4 Short breaks 4 Roundtrip Macedonia & Albania 5 Rose festival 6 Icon painting & Monastery tour 7 Hiking tours The Rila-Pirin mountain trek 8 Transbalkan trek 9 The Pirin-Rodopi mountain trek 10 Trigrad, Rodopi Mountains adventures 11 Bansko, Pirin Mountains adventures 12 Teteven, Balkan Mountains adventures 13 Mala Tsarkva, Rila Mountains adventures 14 Rock climbing course in Rila Mountains 15 Snowshoeing in Rodopi Mountains 15 Rodopi Mountains self-guided trek 16 Balkan Mountains self-guided trek 16 Trekking holiday in Sinaia, Bucegi Mountains (Romania) 17 Trekking in Northern Albania 17 Cycling tours The Balkan cycling tour 18 Monastery cycling tour 19 Road cycling in Rodopi Mountains 20 Mountain biking in Rodopi Mountains 21 Devin, centre-based cycling trip in Rodopi Mountains 22 Tryavna, centre-based cycling trip in Rodopi Mountains 22 The heritage of Transylvania (Romania) 23 Horseriding tours The Iskar Ranch rides 24 Balkan Riding Base – the Balkan rides 24 The Balkan riding trek – Ride trek over two mountains 25 The Rila Mountains riding trek 26 The Balkan Mountains trek to the “Singing Rocks” 27 Horse riding at the Black Sea 27 Birdwatching tours Spring birding tour “200+ specialties” 28 Spring birding intense tour for keen birders 29 Birdwatching in Southern Bulgaria 29 Autumn birding along the spectacular “Via Pontica” flyway 30 Winter birding tour “Red-breasted Goose” 31 Special interest tours 31 SPA & Wellness 32 Holidays Winter holidays 34 Summer holidays 35 Sofia & Plovdiv guesthouses 36 Rent a car 36 About Bulgaria ore and more people around the Europe. It features more than 12,500 plant spe- world are now curious about Bulgaria. cies (with over 250 endemic varieties); about MYou may have heard bits and pieces 770 vertebrates (over 420 species of birds, concerning the country in general, you may more than 20 of them globally threatened); and have visited the famous beach and ski resorts, hundreds of nature reserves and protected but Bulgaria offers far more than that. areas. The beauty of Bulgarian nature has Located on the southeastern part of the Balkan many faces: long sandy beaches on the sun- Peninsula, Bulgaria boasts an ancient and drenched Black Sea coast; 37 mountains – each rich history. The Thracians, Greeks, Romans, one with its own unique characteristic; over Byzantines, Bulgarians and Slavs all inhabited 550 mineral springs; fertile plains and valleys; these lands in their time, leaving behind monu- deep gorges and mysterious caves. ments and enriching the world’s treasure- Some call the mountainous regions of Bulgaria house of culture, and amazing modern-day the fortresses of Bulgarian spirit. They pre- tourists. serve not only the purity and variety of Bulgar- ian nature, in bygone times they maintained Here are some things you might not know the spirit of the nation during difficult periods about Bulgaria, but would be interested to of Byzantine and Ottoman domination in the know: churches and monasteries hidden deep in the • The Bulgarian state was founded in the year mountain slopes and woods. 681 These regions keep another treasure – the • The oldest handcrafted gold was discovered Bulgarian village. Throughout the ages people in Bulgaria followed tradition and created unique customs, • The global perfume and cosmetics industry folklore and crafts. The villages of the Rodopi could not do without Bulgarian rose oil. Bulgaria Mountains and the small picturesque villages produces 80 percent of the world’s supply and museum towns in the Balkan range offer • Bulgaria invented yoghurt excellent opportunities for walking, cycling, • Bulgaria is one of the biggest wine producers hiking and horse riding in the area. • Bulgaria is the land of Orpheus – the mythical musician and singer Enjoy the beauty of Bulgarian nature, taste the spirit of an ancient and rich culture, discover In addition to its historical sites and remnants unknown crafts and traditions, become ac- of ancient cultures, Bulgaria is renowned for quainted with some of the finest cuisine and its unique biodiversity – one of the richest in wines Brief about Bulgaria Territory: 1,110,912 sq km (11,957,756 sq ft). Population: 7,538,000 (2003) 83.9% ethnic Bulgarians; 9.4% Turks; 4.7% Roma; rest – smaller minorities including Russians, Armenians, Vlachs, Jews and Karakachans. Religion: 82.6% Orthodox; 12.2% Islam; 0.7% Protestant; 0.5% Catholic; 4.1% Other. Capital city: Sofia (1,182,698 people in 1992) Largest towns: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas, Ruse, Stara Zagora, Pleven Mountains: 37. Longest – Balkan mountains: 550 km (341 miles); width – 30-60 km (18-37 miles); highest – Rila Mountain – Musala – 2,925 m (9,596 ft). Boundaries: North: Romania; East: Black Sea (coastline 378 km, or 234 miles); West: Serbia, Macedonia; South: Greece, Turkey. Distribution of land (above sea level): 59.8% – 0-400 m (0-1,312 ft); 27.6% – 400-1,000 m (1,312-3,280 ft); 11.9% – 1,000-2,000 m (3,280-6,561 ft); 0.7% – over 2000 m (6,561 ft). Protected areas: Three national parks, 10 nature parks, 55 reserves, 35 managed reserves, over 350 protected areas and 500 natural monuments 01 introduction roundtrips About Us Roundtrip “Around Bulgaria” enguin Travel was founded in 1989. It began regardless of how many people book. Most of the Introduction: tery. Overnight in Bansko. by organising small trekking groups in a itineraries can also be organised for other dates This excursion offers a combination of natural Day 3. Sightseeing in Bansko. Transfer to San- Pfew countries and now offers trips to over during the appropriate season, for no additional and cultural landmarks. We start from the capital danski for more sightseeing (famous for its spa 15 destinations with more than 80 trips (including fee if a minimum of two people book. city of Sofia, situated in the foothills of Mount and climatic treatment resources). Transfer to the China, Mongolia, Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Our active tours usually include small groups Vitosha. Then we head southwards to the Rila Rozhen Monastery (the biggest sanctuary in the Spain, Italy, Kazahstan and many others). comprising four to twelve clients. And this is and Pirin ranges, both boasting peaks higher Pirin region) and further to Melnik for sightseeing In recent times our team has expanded to offices not just for flexibility. We believe this keeps our than 2,500 m, or 8,202 ft, as well as spectacular and overnight accommodation. in Bulgaria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Rus- clients satisfied and fulfilled during the entire trip monasteries. After passing the rounded hills of Day 4. Journey through the Rodopi Mountains sia, covering our biggest customer bases as well because they get a better insight into the daily the Rodopi Mountains (the birthplace of the mythi- to the blue waters of Dospat lake, followed by as the most sought after holiday destinations. life, culture and traditions of the country they are cal singer Orpheus) we continue through valleys Yagodina cave. After a cave tour, we head for Devin We are a team of young, enthusiastic people visiting. It also serves to keep nature undisturbed and plains to the Balkan mountains towards a and our overnight accommodation. with a passion for adventure and activity-based and less affected than it would be near bigger number of small towns, housing the remains of Day 5. We continue northwards through the travel – cycling, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, groups. rich history, traditions, unique architecture and Rodopi mountains and the Thracian Valley to the birdwatching, horse riding, photography and spirit kept alive over the centuries. foothills of the Balkan mountains and the town so on. A background in biology, geography and Penguin Travel is a fully bonded tour operator and The tour is carried out in small groups, giving peo- of Koprivshtitsa. Sightseeing along the cobbled nature-related skills helps us to create and the money paid to us is completely protected. ple the opportunity to be travel and experience streets of this unique settlement, which has pre- develop a wide range of programmes. Since we Your financial security is guaranteed by the a lot more, to be more flexible, and not least, to served over 250 designs from the Revival Period love travelling ourselves and know Bulgaria inside Danish Rejsegarantifonden, with whom Penguin get closer to the local people and their everyday architecture. Transfer through the Beklemeto out, all our excursions are carefully selected and Travel has its own membership number – 888. life. We stay in small and cosy hotels in beautiful Pass to Troyan (famous for its plum brandy) for tested. Most of the tours are guided by our own Our destination management centre in Bulgaria historical towns.