How many people total are included on each trip (what is the group size)?

The minimum group size is 4 and the maximum group size is 12 for this tour.

How many years have you been doing the Balkan Mountains Cycle tour? Do you have any recent reviews on that trip? I only saw reviews from other locations.

As of now, the tour operator has been offering this trip for around 6 years, without any issues. We encourage clients to write reviews post-trip, but unfortunately, not everyone does. So occasionally there are trips like this one that doesn’t have any reviews.

Balkan Mountains Cycle

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See Itinerary

duration 8 days
tour type Small group Request as private
age requirement 18-99 yrs
max group size 12
guiding method Fully guided
Tour Code BM-20430
Footprint Carbonneutral CO₂ emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
Operated in English

Starts Sofia, Bulgaria
Ends Sofia, Bulgaria

HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes

Cycling through the green landscapes of the Forebalkan and the Central Balkan National Park
Typical countryside scenery, villages and local everyday life of the Balkan mountains region
Visiting some of the most beautiful Bulgarian monasteries dating from 13-15th century
Spending time in the old capital of the Second Bulgarian kingdom, Veliko Tarnovo
Visiting 2 unique architectural reserves with traditional old style houses and beautifully decorated churches
Time at the open air ethnographic museum, Etura
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Starting and ending in Sofia, the "Balkan Mountains Cycle" tour is a guided bicycle tour that takes 8 days. You will travel through Sofia, Elena, Bulgaria, Apriltsii and 3 other destinations in Bulgaria. "Balkan Mountains Cycle" is a small group tour which includes accommodation, meals and others.

Off the beaten track cycling through the unspoiled Balkan Mountains of Bulgaria. The Balkan Mountains are famous for lush green valleys, sheer cliffs and gentle rolling hills with sheep grazing peacefully in their pastures. Starting from the tiny village of Goliam Izvor there is enormous opportunity for unique cycling. Passing through the Central Balkan National Park, the narrow roads meander through valleys, forests and quaint villages that have not changed for centuries. Wooden carts pulled by horse or donkey are the norm and farmers still make hay with a pitchfork. Along the route you will visit several of the country's most significant and historic Orthodox monasteries. Many churches with ancient icons and colourful murals are scattered throughout the region. The final cycling stage ends in Veliko Tarnovo - one of the most charming Balkan towns and the former Bulgarian capital.

ITINERARY Expand All

Day 1 : Transfer from Sofia Airport to hotel
Day 2 : Transfer to Golyam Izvor, cycle to Ribaritsa via Glozhene Monastery (64 or 47km/40 or 30mi)
Day 3 : Via Bogoi Pass to Shipkovo with mineral springs and Troyan Monastery (77km/48mi)
Day 4 : Cycle to Gabrovo and the ethnographic museum at Etura (61km/38mi)
Day 5 : Cycle to Bozhentsi architectural reserve via Tryavna (58km/37mi)
Day 6 : Transfer to Dryanovo Monastery, cycle to Elena (46km/29m)
Day 7 : Cycle to Arbanasi, visit Veliko Turnovo and transfer to Sofia (42km/26.5mi)
Day 8 : Trip ends with transfer to airport

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Accommodation

7 nights accommodation in family run hotels and guesthouses on a twin share basis with private facilities (possible shared facilities on day 3)

Meals

7 breakfasts - continental breakfasts are served and will often consist of breads, spreads, yoghurt, cheese, tea, coffee & juices
5 dinners – these usually consist of 2-3 courses using local ingredients. The meals may be taken at a local restaurant or in the hotel/guesthouse dining room

Transport

English speaking tour leader who also drives support vehicle
Transfers described in the itinerary including from/to Sofia airport

Others

Rental of 24 speed mountain bike or 21 speed road touring bike with helmets & panniers (e-bike available on request - supplement applies)
Detailed maps and route descriptions (per room booked)

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

Travel to and from Sofia
Meals not listed as included, drinks
Travel insurance - mandatory
A supplement will apply if you book a single room
E-bike, supplement applies
Entrance fees and guided tours of monasteries and monuments enroute
Hotel taxes if applicable – payable directly to the hotel
Items of a personal nature

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier This travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.5 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 387 reviews for other tours with an average 4.7 rating.

REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:

Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected Travel within your own bubble.
Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.

Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.

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