Tiny mountain
roads. Magnificent scenery. Rolling terrain.
Discover the rustic villages and enduring folklore
of a country that is off-the-beaten-path.
We first traveled to the Rila Mountains in summer
2003. After an inspiring week riding some difficult
terrain high in this beautiful and steep range,
we said good-byes to our new Bulgarian friends
and vowed to return with more mountain-bike-toting
travelers in years to come. Since that first
trip, we've been back several times to scout
new rides and treasures for our future guests.
We can wait to share our discoveries: this is
your chance to sleep in the monks' quarters
in the Rila Monastery, graze until your blue
(literally!) in the high-mountain wild berry
fields, dance arm-in-arm with your new Bulgarian
friends to their whining folkloric tunes, and
glimpse into the culture of a nation finding
its way out of its recent communist history.
Trip Summary
Day 1 – Arrive and/or meet in Sofia and enjoy some city-life before heading to the “hills” ◊ We’ll introduce you to Mt. Vitosha and then to the wines of Bulgaria at a private wine tasting before dinner at one of our favorite hotspots. ◊ Night walking tour of Sofia. ◊ Optional Ride: 15 miles / 24 km
Day 2 – Transfer to Rila Mountains ◊ Medium ride in Rila National Park ◊ Picnic Lunch ◊ Afternoon reception with Bulgarian music and dancing ◊
Ride: 25 miles / 40 km
Day 3 – Long day of climbing to
Olympic Training Center ◊ Bellies in Blueberries
◊ Ride: 40 miles /65 km
Day 4 – Lighter on the legs: fairly
flat ride to Treshtenik Cottage ◊ Visit
Semkovo High Mountain Resort, where we’ll stop
for lunch ◊ Swim in Lake Grunchar ◊
Beautiful outdoor dinner at Cottage ◊
Ride: 35 miles / 56 km
Day 5 – Picturesque ride route
to Macedonia Lodge ◊ Lunch at the Lodge
◊ Heart-pumping descent to Rila Monastery
◊ Sleep in the Monks’ quarters ◊
Ride: 35 miles / 56 km
Day 6 – Double track ride to Fish
Lakes ◊ Take in the high mountain air
and solitude before departing for Sofia ◊
Ride: 20 miles / 32 km
Day 7 – Breakfast at hotel ◊ Transfer to Sofia and/or Airport where we bid farewell.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Meeting on the Mount – Mt. Vitosha and
City Lights
Downtown Sofia, Bulgaria
What better place to start your ride journey than
Sofia’s back yard. Mt. Vitosha rises almost 7,500 feet above
Sofia and is the perfect place to get your pedals
cranking and work
out the kinks after a long flight. You'll also
get to know the BAS Boys, who will help make sure
all machines are ready for mountain action! An
evening walking tour through Sofia will find us
at one of our favorite restaurants, where we'll
fill up our tanks before heading for the hills.
◊ Ride: 15 miles / 24 km
◊ Lodging: Radisson, Sofia offers
modern comforts before the rustic mountain pleasures
in days to come.
Day 2
Into the Rila
Miles to roam…
After our transfer to our hotel, we'll set off on our first loop inatito the Rila Mountains and Rila Nonal Park. You'll have ridgeline views of the vast folds of the Rila Mountains before a sunny stop in a high meadow for a picnic lunch. We'll pass wagons, shepherds and worker-dogs as we climb out of our village home in search of high places. A zippy descent back to our hotel will find you relaxing in the cozy outdoor patio tables or enjoying village explorations before dinner. Watch for horse-pulled wagons laden with wild grasses for feeding local livestock rolling past, as well as mushroom harvesters along the roadside — perhaps we'll take a bagful home to add to our dinner this evening. But before our hearty supper, we've planned a backyard afternoon of Bulgarian music and appetizers, hosted by our gregarious friend. The young and old village talent will carry you back to years-gone-by with traditional song and dance used to woo young village men to marriage. You won't forget the atmosphere and warmth of our family-run hotel/home, and its inviting fireside dinner tables and cozy outdoor patio.
◊ Ride: 25 miles
/ 40 km
◊ Lodging: Friendly
family-run lodge on the outskirts of Govedarci
village.
Day 3
Berries, Berries, Berries
Blue Smiles! — Berry harvesters
pause for a picture.
A long day of climbing today. Our destination
is the Olympic cross-country ski training center,
where Olympic hopefuls from all over
Europe spend summers training at altitude on a
specially designed paved skate course. High mountain
lakes and vistas all around make this the perfect
ending to a challenging day. Enjoy the evening
talking to coaches and athletes from all over.
Perhaps before tomorrow's ride, you can give it
a whirl on skate skis!
◊ Ride:
40 miles / 65 km
◊ Lodging:
Olympic Training Center
Day 4
Treshtenik Cottage & Semkovo High Mountain
Resort
Our dinner table
From the Olympic Training Center, we'll cover
gorgeous, high, flat terrain to our next stop,
Treshtenik Cottage, and then on to Semkovo High
Mountain Resort. Take your time so you don't miss
the berries! They are everywhere here, and worth
stopping for — Wandering groups of ladies
wielding harvesting
baskets are a dead giveaway that you are in the
right place for wild blueberries and blackberries!
An optional short climb takes you to high mountain
Lake Grunchar, where you can rest your seat and
legs on tree stump tables while sipping coffee,
or dip your toes in the crisp waters before our
afternoon descent.
◊ Ride:
35 miles / 56 km
◊ Lodging:
Semkovo High Mountain Resort
Day 5
Macedonia Lodge & Rila Monastery
Breathtaking Rila Monastery
Some of the most picturesque riding happens today.
A beautiful double-track climb culminates in a
short hike-a-bike section and afterward a surprising
appearance of Macedonia Lodge. On a chilly day,
the lodge's winds will drive you indoors next
to the fire and the owner will greet you with
hot tea or coffee and soup, followed by hot lunch.
On a warm day, the sunny deck outside is the perfect place to
enjoy a chocolate bar and sandwich — get ready
for the best descent of the trip, too! Rila Monastery,
here we come! Tonight, rest your head on a hotel
pillow, or race to make it through the Monastery
doors before the world is locked out at 9 PM and
sleep in one of the monks' quarters! The creaking
wood floors and stairways surrounding the empty
stone courtyard, bathed in warm moonlight, is
magical – be still, and wait for the signal
of the morning gongs calling the monks (and you!)
to the day's first ritual. We highly recommend
this – few have the opportunity to witness
the rituals of daybreak from inside the Monastery's
walls – breathe in the trails of incense
smoke wafting through the courtyard and cleansing
the way to the monastery doors before the chanting
calls to the heavens begin.
◊
Ride: 35 miles / 56 km
◊
Lodging: Rila Monastery
Day 6
Soul and Solitude – Rila Monastery and
Fish Lakes
Some hike. Some bike, on
our way to Fish Lakes.
Double track and fire road wanders its way to
Fish Lakes and back. The road disappears into
trail, and most will choose to stash the bikes
and hike the rest of the way into the lakes. Or,
try and keep up with one member of our crew, Ty,
who on our first trip refused to walk and was
the only person to make it all the way in by bike.
Personally, I think it's more fun to rock-hop
across the crystal—clear streams on foot
and run to the lakes!
◊ Ride:
20 miles / 32 km
◊ Lodging:
Rila Monastery Hotel
Day 7
Home Bound
Breakfast and good-byes. Transfer to Sofia.
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Kim McElhinney
Dude Girl
P.O. Box 2695
Truckee, CA 96160
Cancellation
Cancellations within 90 days receive no refund.
If Dude Girl is responsible for the cancellation
you will receive a full refund.
Trip
Insurance
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You are responsible for purchasing your own trip
insurance, and for making sure that trip cancellations
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What's Included
- Door-to-door airport service upon arrival and
departure
- All accommodation
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners
- Services of guide(s), who will lead the riding,
handle behind-the-scenes logistics and try to
look after your every need, whether translating
a menu, confirming your flight or tracking down
the best shops in the area
- Support vehicles, which sweep the day's biking
route distributing refreshments, assistance, etc.
- Maps and detailed route suggestions
- Baggage transport between lodges
- Bike box storage
- All transportation from rendezvous to drop-off,
including private coaches
- All gratuities for baggage, porters and Lodging
service
- Bike Mechanic
Price Does Not Include
- International flights (approximately $900-$1,200
for USA-Sofia-USA flights)
- Bikes (this trip assumes - and recommends -
that you bring your own; however, let us know
if you would like us to provide a bike for you,
and we'll arrange.)
- Travel insurance (discretionary)
To reserve a place, you are required to make a
deposit of US$500 per person, payable by check,
at the time you receive confirmation from us.
All reservations are subject to our Terms & Conditions.
Contact us with questions at 530-587-3833.
Book this trip
Terms and Conditions
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