Bulgaria: Hiking through the mountain range Pirin

Price: 150 $
Duration: 4 days
Next: on request

Bulgaria: hiking through the mountain range Pirin

Overview

Fascinating camping in Bulgaria offers a great possibility of short holiday adventure for fans of hiking, as the Pirin Mountain range is considered to be the most picturesque in the country. The name “Pirin” is often associated with the highest pantheon of the Slavic and the god of thunder and lightning Perun, who according to the legend lived on the top of the Mount Vihren and threw out fire arrows in the form of lightning. And it is true that strong winds and storms are common for Pirin. The look of the great mountain peaks is also very impressive with rocky granite and marble crests, sharp edges, deep abysses, clearly marked glacial valley, and a large number (over 180!) of glacial lakes.

Moreover the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria preserved their pristine nature. Thanks to the warm climate of the Mediterranean, flora and fauna in Pirin are extremely rich with thick pine and fir forests covering the slopes of the mountains, blooming poppy and edelweiss on the cliffs. The unique nature of the Pirin Mountains caused the formation of the National Park “Pirin” in the north of the mountain range. The park with an area of ​​over 40 thousand ha was listed in UNESCO world natural and cultural heritage in 1983 and has been under UNESCO protection since then.

During hiking through the mountain range Pirin we climb the highest peak of the ridge – Mount Vihren (2915 m) which is only ten meters lower than Musala, the “roof” of Bulgaria, admire incredible clean and deep mountain lakes, test our body and nerves during long trekking along rocky ridges of Pirin.

Note: The tour requires good physical form and experience of mountain hiking. The total ascent is 4,600 meters and descent is 4000 meters. This tour is not recommended to people who are afraid of heights.

Price includes:

  • guide service
  • using common camp gear (tents, camp tools, kitchen equipment, first aid kit)
  • meals during the campaign (hot breakfast and dinner, lunch as a snack (meals in a café is self-maintained)
  • overnight stays in a tent during the tour
  • insurance
 Extra paid:

  • plane tickets
  • rental of sleeping bag and mat, backpack
  • meals in cities (restaurants, shops)
  • internal moving (near 20 EUR)
  • fee for a tent near hut – 1,5 EUR/person
Day 1. Route: Jane Sandanski hut – Waterfall Popynolshky – Begovishki pass (2500 m) – traverse m. Kamenishka Kukla – Lake Tevno, distance – 16 km, elevation per day +1860 m, -290 m
Instructor meets a group at the bus station in Sandanski. From there we get to the starting point of the tour (12 km). Public transport does not go there, so we use taxi. At Jane Sandanski hut we start the route and in 10 minutes pass a waterfall Popynolshky which height is 15 m. The trail goes through the forest along the river Behovitsa and into a swampy valley where the soil is quite wet, so make sure to take additional pair of shoes.
The moorland changes to the rocky area at the ascent to the pass Begovishki. There are great views of the huge peaks – Kamenishka, Yalovarnika, Zyba and Kuklte. After climbing the pass we traverse an interesting mountain Kamenishka Kukla. There are views of several lovely lakes, including Lake Tevno – the place of our nightstay.
Day 2. Route: Lake Tevno – m. Perevalski chukar (2604 m) – m. Malik Typyts (2644 m) – m. Holyam Typyts (2645 m) – m. Vasylyshki chukar (2615 m) – pass Bashlayskyy –Dolhoto lake, distance – 9 km, elevation per day + 500 m, -700 m
We go through the ridge to the lake Perevalski and to the peak with the same name and enjoy the beautiful view of the lake Valyavyshky. After passing three more peaks we stop for rest before difficult descent. We go down to the lake Dolhoto along pass Bashlayskyy. The descent is complicated with large rocks as tall as a human, which are impossible to go round. We stop at the lake to have a rest. Next day there is a difficult pass.
Day 3. Route: Lake Dolhoto – cross connection Kabata – m. Vihren (2914 m) – the slope of Kutelo (2908 m) – m. Banski Suhodol (2883 m) – Yavorov hut, distance – 18 km, elevation per day +1350 m, -1900 m
In the morning we climb the ridge to mountain cross connection Kabata and to m. Vihren – the highest in the Pirin mountain range. It is a huge marble block which looks quite strict. By the way, there you can find rare edelweiss.
After Vihren we go traversely to m. Kutelo. This is a difficult and very extreme area with a length of about 4 km. The trekking is along narrow stone path between steep and slippery slopes for hundreds of meters down. There are railings, but several times they need to be overcome to the other side. For people who are afraid of heights, this area is ​​great testing of the strength of will.
After passing we stop and rest. All route is without any source of water, so it should be used very sparingly. Then we climb the peak Banski Suhodol and go down to the Yavorov’s hut for overnight.
Day 4. Route: Yavorov’s hut – city of Razlog , distance – 9 km
We do not have to hurry as there is only a small and simple route for trekking left. We go down to the city Razlog, then go to Sofia.

More information about the equipment preparation:

Personal clothing:

  1. Trekking shoes
  2. Spare shoes
  3. Trousers, 2 pairs
  4. Shorts
  5. Socks – thick and thin ones, 2-3 pairs
  6. T-shirt – 2-3 pieces
  7. A light sweater of a thin fleece or something like that
  8. A warm sweater
  9. A windbreaker jacket
  10. A raincoat
  11. A panama hat/a bandana/a cap and gloves
  12. Hats and warm gloves
  13. Spare underwear and swimsuits

Personal gear:

  1. A backpackRental
  2. A sleeping bag and a padRental
  3. Kitchen utensils (a plate, a spoon and a cup)
  4. Waterproof sacks
  5. Flashlight
  6. A flask or a bottle of water
  7. Personal first aid kit
  8. Personal hygiene items
  9. Sunglasses
  10. The documents, money, cell phone



  • What shoes to wear in the rock area?
  • How is accommodation arranged during the tour?
  • What is a “hut” in Bulgarian mountains?
  • How to reach the starting point of the tour?
  • How to return to Sofia?
  • How much money do I need for the trip (except the tour price)?
  • What are the likely additional costs?
  • Do I need to take a personal first aid kit?
  • Is it possible to change the program?

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