Hiking has strong traditions in Bulgaria because of the country’s great nature resources that attract visitors, from one side, and the patriotic connotations that were associated to this outdoor activity from the late 19-th century, from another. At this period hiking in the country’s wild ranges become a way to show love to the motherland. This viewpoint is expressed in the words of one famous Bulgarian writer, Aleko Konstantinov, who is considered as the establisher of the organized mountain tourism in Bulgaria. “Get to know your motherland to love it”, he said, and hiking was the way “to get to know”. Later, during the Communist period, this ideology took even greater place in people’s life, because it was officially encouraged. Many huts were built and many trails were traced in that time, many people spent their holidays walking in the mountains, organized together in a hiking clubs with their colleagues, neighbors and so on. For the last decades the number of foreigners who discover the opportunities for hiking, that this small country with the highest mountains in southeast Europe offers, is increasing constantly.

There is a lot of reasons for the people to become interested in hiking in Bulgaria – from the severe alpine-like rocky landscapes of Pirin Mountains to the “green sea” of hills and meadows of the Rhodope Mountains. Totally counted as 37, the mountains of Bulgaria are suitable for a day walking or long treks – on foot or with snowshoes – in every season. Best time to go hiking in the highest parts of Rila, Pirin and Balkan Mountains is between July and September, when the weather is dry and warm and even the thickest snow drifts has already melted.

In Winter, between December and March-April, a pair of snowshoes on your feet gives a great chance to see completely different views of the all covered in white mountains. Spring is a good time for hiking in the lower ranges – like the Rhodopes and Strandja Mountains – they’ve already lost their snow cover, the weather is cool but not hot and the views are in all shades of green. In Autumn red, yellow and brown paints dominate in the Balkan Mountains which are said to offer the best “autumn” views, but this change of the colors is also impressive in Rila and Vitosha Mountains, partly covered in broad-leaf forests. A walking trip in Bulgaria may include a visit of a nature landmarks like caves, rock formations and glacial lakes, but also it is always more or less touch to a different culture, represented by the inhabitants of the mountain ranges that we meet on our way.

If you want to do some hiking in Bulgaria, researching about the right mountain range and route according to the season, your preferred level of difficulty and interests is the key for a good walking holiday. This, along with some practical questions that are discussed in this website, is the necessary minimum of information you need before starting to plan a biking or hiking holiday in the mountains of Bulgaria. It can be arranged entirely on your own, you can join a bigger group, organized by a tour company, or hire a local guide to accompany you during your hiking trip in Bulgaria, setting the program according to your own pace and interests.

Mountain Biking – Tough downhill descents on the steep slopes of the mountains or bike touring in the countryside, following quiet village roads – there is numerous opportunities for every style. Mountain biking in Bulgaria is relatively popular, but you wouldn’t find so much facilities as special routes, maps and places to stay with a few exceptions.

Most popular areas for freeride and downhill biking are in Sopot – a small town in the foot of Balkan Mountains, where a chair lift operates all year round and even some serious competitions are organized.

Mountain biking around Sofia – Vitosha Mountain offers good terrain both for cross country trips and more downhill orientated routes. Chair lift and daily buses can take you up to the mountain, at Aleko Hut.

Borovets – the second biggest ski resort in Bulgaria, started to develop mountain biking facilities – on of the lifts there, Sitnyakovo, operates constantly and some track with a different level of difficulty are maintained.

In Pirin Mountains, the chair lift to Bezbog is a good option to gain elevation and access some nice mountain tracks.

Cross country mountain biking in the mountains of Bulgaria – probably we wouldn’t be able to count all the options. Rhodope mountains are a nice place for mountain bike tours – not as high and rocky as Pirin and Rila mountains, very large (the largest in Bulgaria) and pretty populated – small villages are spread along the whole territory. Rhodopess are criss crossed by a large network of dirt roads that give a numerous options to plan mountain bike routes. Eastern Rhodopes are lower while the western parts can also offer some serious ascents.

Mountain bike trips around Sofia – not only Vitosha, but the parts of Balkan Mountains, located north of Sofia, are suitable for bike tours. Another interesting region in the so called Kraishte – a group of low mountains, west and south west of Sofia. The area in very remote and crossed by a number of quiet asphalt roads.

Mountain biking in the lower parts of Rila and Pirin Mountains – while the high parts are pretty difficult to ride – exception are some routes in Rila, mainly the east part of the mountain, mountain biking in the foot of these mountains is absolutely possible.

Another interesting region is Strandza Mountains, located next to the Black Sea – the best season to visit it is spring or autumn, as it can be pretty hot in summer. A lot of mountain bike routes can be found at the foot of the north slopes of Balkan Mountains, the so called Sub Balkan Range.