Redesigned

Cycling Bulgaria: From Sofia to the Rhodope Mountains

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Price from
US$ 2,990
Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Distance
360 km
Difficulty
Tour Code
BGR-BBH
Next departure
31-Aug-2025
Number of Cycling Days6
Average Distance Per Day: 60
0
150 Km
Average Climbing Per Day: 700
0
2,250 m
Total Cycling Distance360 kilometres
AccommodationIncluded
Bike HireMountain Bike: US$ 315, E-Bike*: US$ 490
Single SupplementUS$ 470
Client Rating (based on 1 reviews)
*E-bikes are in limited supply, please enquire to reserve one.

About this Cycle Tour

Newly-prosperous Bulgaria is a storied land of pristine forests, rushing rivers and soaring mountains, all marked by the civilizations that have flourished here from ancient Thrace and on through Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Soviet eras. Quaint villages, seemingly lost in time, reveal their character as we explore their stone bridges, narrow streets and medieval churches, while the wilderness beckons us to explore its deep gorges and hidden caverns. Larger towns like Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv put intriguing layers of history on display in their grand old houses and preserved monuments from antiquity. Later, soothe your muscles in the waters of the country's famed spa towns. Ever the gregarious hosts, Bulgarians will invite us to join them over hearty local fare and bottles of their regional wines, lending warmth and humour to our journey through their beautiful land.

After a briefing and welcome dinner in the revitalized old-world elegance of Sofia, our riding begins in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains, and we soon delve into a little-known part of Europe along the Vit River, stretching our legs with some challenging ascents. Reaching Chiflik, relax in the thermal baths for which Bulgaria is famous. The next day, follow a Roman road across Beklemeto Pass, Bulgaria’s highest, and take in the view before cruising down through forested countryside into Koprivshtitsa, a living monument to 19th century Bulgaria. After a night in this ambience, pedal among remnants of ancient Thrace, visiting millenia-old sacred sites and a modern winery, before reaching Plovdiv, where we spend the evening in its immaculate town centre of preserved theatres, mosques, and public baths. We then enter the Rhopode Mountains of Bulgaria’s remote southern frontier. Exploring monasteries and fortified villages, transition to the natural beauty of the marble Trigrad Gorge and the underground waterfall nearby before arriving at a welcoming local hotel. Awaking in this peaceful setting, we continue deeper into the wilderness among yet more stunning rock formations, ascending a forested route to Dospat and our lakefront hotel. The final day of cycling takes us northward to Velingrad, Bulgaria’s spa capital, where we can once more allow the waters to rejuvenate our legs after the journey and share a final night dinner. The following morning, we will transfer back to Sofia in time for onward journeys or further exploration of this fascinating city.

Join us on this 8-day cycling adventure to discover Bulgaria’s rich heritage, natural splendour, and warm hospitality!

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Book Your Cycling Holiday

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Sofia and explore this prosperous city of old-world elegance and richly-layered history. Later, meet for a trip briefing and welcome dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant.

Day 2

Transfer to Teteven and begin riding into the northern foothills of the Balkan Mountains along the Vit River. Crossing the Bogoi Pass, enjoy a glorious descent and arrive in a beautiful spa resort where you can rest your legs in the warm waters!

Day 3

Follow the ancient Roman Via Trayana over the top of the Beklemeto pass, then glide into the gorgeous countryside of South Bulgaria. After a picnic lunch, enter forested roads and reach the beautifully preserved 19th century town of Koprivshtitsa. Enjoy this atmospheric locale for the evening!

Day 4

After visiting a historic ‘house museum’, pedal to a Thracian temple from the 5th century BCE,, followed by lunch at a local winery. Continue to Plovdiv, an ancient city filled with Thracian, Greek, Roman, and Ottoman buildings that have survived the centuries. Explore and enjoy dinner in the city centre.

Day 5

Enter the Rhodope Mountains and explore frontier villages with fortified houses, which were isolated during the Cold War and preserved from centuries past. Ride upstream along the Trigrad River through the gorge it has worn in the marble. In Trigrad, visit the waterfall at Devil’s Throat Cave and relax at a family-run hotel.

Day 6

Explore a topography of gorges and caves as you pedal into the morning mountain air from Trigrad village. The landscape later opens to beautiful pastures and forests as we make our way to the town of Dospat, site of a huge dam built in the 1960s. The end of our route makes its way along the reservoir to our waterfront hotel.

Day 7

Ride through ancient woodlands and meadows to Velingrad, the spa capital of Bulgaria. Choose from dozens of thermal springs and an ice-cold karst spring. This evening, celebrate the journey over a delicious dinner. Na zdrave!

Day 8

This morning, transfer back to Sofia for your departure flight or further exploration of the city.

Elevation Profiles

Day 2 - Sofia - Tetevan - Chiflik spas Ride 50km. +900m / -800m.
Day 2 - Sofia - Tetevan - Chiflik spas Ride 50km. +900m / -800m.

Reviews

A unique opportunity to meet people, share culture and exercise.

Luzeni BorgesMay 2017

Orlon and Kiril were fantastic and entertaining guides and made our trip so memorable. We did so much along the way and their knowledge of places and history was very valuable and informative. The food was amazing and so plentiful. What a beautiful scenic ride. Highly recommend the Bulgarian Highlights bike ride. I will always look back and be so glad I had that wonderful experience.

Fiona McCarthyMay 2016

This was an excellent trip. Well organized, great guides, good food, lovely riding.........it exceeded my expectations...liked this trip a bunch!

Paul Michael BuchananMay 2015

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Tours in: Bulgaria

Cycling Bulgaria: From Sofia to the Rhodope Mountains
Tour CodeBGR-BBH
8Days
7Nights
DestinationsBulgaria
Tour MeetsSofia, Bulgaria
Tour EndsSofia, Bulgaria
Fly in toSofia Airport (SOF)
Fly out ofSofia Airport (SOF)
Group Size4-16 riders
Minimum Age18 (on scheduled departures)

Activity Profile

6Cycling days
360kmTotal cycling distance
60kmAvg distance / day
700mAvg climbing / day

Pricing

PriceUS$ 2,990
Bike Hire (Mountain Bike)US$ 315
Bike Hire (E-Bike*)US$ 490
Single SupplementUS$ 470
*E-bikes are in limited supply, please enquire to reserve one.

What's Included

  • SpiceRoads jersey
  • Water bottle
  • Support vehicle
  • Guide(s)
  • Meals (as indicated)
  • Accommodation
  • Snacks and drinks

What's Excluded

  • International flights
  • Airport pick up
  • Airport drop off
  • Visa fees
  • Alcohol
  • Tips

Departures

31 August - 09 September 2025
05 October - 14 October 2025
24 May - 02 June 2026
19 July - 28 July 2026
30 August - 08 September 2026
04 October - 13 October 2026

Trip Profile

We ride a total of 374 km over six days of cycling, with up to 900 metres of elevation gain per day (the average gain is 683 m). However, all days except one feature more descent than climbing, meaning there is ample opportunity to recover from the climbs. Days 2 and 3 are challenging, while the climbing eases off on a longer, flatter Day 4. Days 5 ,6, and 7 once again present more climbs, but always spread out over distances of 50 km to 70 km. We all ride at different speeds, and our progress may vary depending upon how we feel on the day. The guides tend to ride through the group, but stop on the top of passes to regroup. It is not essential that you try and keep up with everyone. Just ride at your own speed and enjoy it. Remember, the vehicle is there for you, driving behind the group.

Suitability: This trip is suitable for anyone with a reasonable fitness level. Average climbing per day is 683 m spread over distances averaging 60 km. This trip is not too arduous, but there are climbs every day, so the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy it.

Biking Conditions: This tour follows a mixture of good sealed roads with occasional rougher road surfaces for short distances. No off-road riding experience is required. We will ride mainly on quiet countryside roads, but sometimes we will enter towns and villages which may have moderate traffic. A support vehicle is almost always available to help you, and you will have your guides nearby you at all times. Bulgaria can be hot during the day, and cooler at night, so you may want to have a layer or two for the mornings along with your light cycling gear.

Day 1 Arrival in Sofia

Arrive in Sofia and make your way to the hotel. Enjoy exploring this newly-prosperous city of old-world elegance and richly-layered history. Vintage trams clatter along cobbled streets and past trendy cafes, overlooked by great churches, galleries and monuments. We will meet in the early evening for a trip briefing and welcome dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant.

Eurostars City Hotel
Dinner

Day 2 Sofia - Tetevan - Chiflik spas

Today, we transfer around 1h45m from Sofia to the start of our ride in the village of Teteven, famous for its beautiful views to the Balkan Mountains. Here in the northern foothills, we slowly wind upwards to the resort village of Ribaritsa, following the Vit river upstream. We reach the highest point for the day, the Bogoi pass, on a challenging ascent to the summit through idyllic countryside. It's a great way to warm up for the journey ahead. We then enjoy a glorious descent, followed by lunch in a small spa resort set amidst the pine trees. We highly recommend taking to the warm waters to relax your legs before dinner this evening!

Feya Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 50km
+900m
-800m

Day 3 Chiflik - Koprivshtitsa

After breakfast, a short transfer takes us to the highest pass in the Balkan Mountains; the Beklemeto Pass at 1500 m (we have already climbed considerably, so you do not have to pedal this entire elevation!). This is the ancient Roman Via Trayana (the Road of Trajan), and some of the Roman remains can still be seen. We make a short ascent to the zenith before commencing a scenic route down into South Bulgaria. Lunch will be a picnic next to the river, as our route heads into the south foothills of the Balkan Mountains and enters the gorgeous forests of the Sredna Gora Mountains. Our accommodation is in the beautifully-preserved historic town of Koprivshtitsa, full of characteristic architecture and ambience of the 19th century. We will meet up for dinner in an authentic local restaurant.

Gozbarov Guesthouse
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 63km
+700m
-1300m

Day 4 Koprivshtitsa - Plovdiv

After breakfast, we will visit a famous local 'house museum' to learn more about Koprivshitsa’s illustrious history and culture. We then saddle up and pedal through rolling terrain among the vast meadows that sprawl across this land. A long descent into Strelcha town passes the ''Crooked Beech Tree” and some interesting rock formations once used by the ancient Thracians for their sacred rituals. On the way, we visit an ancient Thracian cult temple from the 5th century BCE and have lunch at a local winery. From here on, the road rolls calmly all the way to our final riding destination, the village of Kaloyanovo(famous for its home made ice cream). Here, we will get in the van and travel for 20 minutes to the town of Plovdiv. Known as “The City of the Seven Hills," it is one of the world's oldest cities, and has a fascinating history of Thracian, Greek, Roman and Ottoman rule. Plovdiv is among the few cities with two ancient theatres; remains of the medieval walls and towers; Ottoman baths and mosques; and a well-preserved old quarter from the National Revival period with beautiful houses, churches and narrow paved streets. We will do a late afternoon walk in the old town and have dinner in the city center.

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 75km
+300m
-900m

Day 5 Plovdiv - Trigrad

An amazing day awaits us! We transfer up to the Pamporovo Ski Resort in the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains, stopping on the way to visit Bachkovo Monastery, the country's second largest, with its unique 17th century interiors. We jump on our bikes at Pamporovo and ride down to the village of Shiroka Laka with its many authentic Rhodopean houses. This was a restricted frontier region during the Cold War, so the villages became like time capsules. These two-storey homes feature a small cellar with a hiding place and thick white walls to conceal the courtyard from the outsiders. We will have lunch in this quaint town, then continue our ride upstream along the Trigrad River and the stunning marble rock gorge it has created over time. Once we reach the famous Rodopi village of Trigrad, we can enter the thrilling Devil’s Throat Cave, which features a 40 m high underground waterfall. We will spend the night at a cozy family hotel and feast on local Rodopi specialties at dinner.

Zdravets Guest House
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 52km
+600m
-900m

Day 6 Trigrad - Dospat

This morning, wake up and take in the pristine mountain scenery, then start a descent back through the 300m high walls of the Trigrad Gorge before a gradual incline takes us up into and through Bulgaria's longest gorge, Buinovo. Known by locals as The Wolf's Leap, the 10 km-long gorge narrows to just a few metres at some points. You'll spot entrances to many caves along the way, and we'll stop to visit the beautiful 5-story tall Yagodina cave filled with fascinating formations. The terrain opens up once more to pastures and coniferous forests as we pedal to Dospat town and its dam, which dates to the 1960s and created a huge reservoir. The last section follows a quiet and scenic road very close to the lake shore, leading us to our picturesque waterfront hotel.

Hotel Panorama
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 64km
+900m
-1000m

Day 7 Dospat - Velingrad

This morning, we will ride through ancient woodlands and open meadows, passing three more Soviet-era dams along the way, to finish in charming Velingrad, the spa capital of Bulgaria that sits in a serene valley. The thermal waters here have been an attraction since pre-Christian times, as Roman clay pipes found in the region attest. Choose from dozens of hot and an ice-cold karst spring as you recover and reflect on a great ride. Wander through the quiet tree-lined streets of the town and take in this relaxing milieu. Later, we will gather for our sumptuous farewell dinner. Na zdrave!

Vella Hills Park Hotel & Spa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 70km
+700m
-900m

Day 8 Velingrad - Departure from Sofia

This morning, transfer 2.5 hours back to Sofia for your departure flight or further exploration of the city.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.

Nuts & Bolts

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section.

If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike or gravel bike in good mechanical order, with any specific spare parts and tools you may need.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

The Nitty Gritty

Passports and Visas

Travellers from Australia, the United Kingdom, US, EU and all foreign nationals who have a valid multi–entry Schengen visa, type “C” or “D”, or a valid residence permit in one of the Schengen member states do not need a visa to Bulgaria for a visit of less than 90 days. Click here for the list of countries that are exempt. Please check with the Bulgarian Embassy for further details.

Health

No vaccinations are not considered necessary however you may wish to consider cover for Typhoid & Hepatitis A. Fountains in town parks and outside monasteries and churches provide fresh drinkable water as well as the Cheshma (water spouts), found along main roads, which also offer constant supplies of fresh, delicious and safe water.

Weather

Bulgaria enjoys a temperate climate with hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters, often with heavy snow. Sofia’s climate is generally favourable, with average daytime highs of around 28°C in July and August and 3°C from December to February. Rainfall is highest in the mountains and rural life is often disrupted in winter by huge snowfalls. Southern Bulgaria and the Black Sea coast can be very hot and sunny from mid-June to early September. A fleece and long trousers for the evening are recommended. Rain is a possibility, therefore you will need to bring a waterproof jacket and pants. Sun cream is a must, as is a covering for your head.

Food

Bulgarian food shares characteristics with other Balkans cuisines. Most dishes featured vegetables, herbs and fruits. Rich salads are served at every meal also a variety of hot and cold soups, an example of a cold soup being tarator. Bulgarian cuisine is also noted for the diversity and quality of dairy products and the variety of Bulgarian wines and local alcoholic drinks such as rakia, mastika and menta. There are many different Bulgarian pastries as well such as banitsa to indulge in.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. But you may also want to bring electrolytes in powder or tablet form. Alcoholic drinks are available everywhere, but are NOT included in the price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you tuck away a few extra euros for possible incidentals that might arise. It is always wise to have some paper currency in case of ATM absence or credit card problems. This will save you a lot of unnecessary worries. It is also customary to tip local tour guides and drivers; however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive.

Money

The local currency is the lev (plural: leva) ATMs that accept major credit cards can be found in all sizable towns and cities. It’s best to use credit cards as a backup for cash in case an ATM swallows your card - more likely if the card is issued outside Europe. There are many foreign exchange offices in every city and town and at major attractions. The best currencies to take are Euros, GB Pound Sterling and US dollars.

Be Aware

Overall, the level of petty crime is much less than in most Western countries. However, take the usual precautions about avoiding rowdy political demonstrations, not flashing money around and being aware of pickpockets in crowded places.

General booking info

If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:

FLEXIBLE BOOKING CONDITIONS

Booking a SpiceRoads cycling adventure is easy and we try to do everything possible to make sure you have full flexibility and peace of mind. We do not require a deposit to hold your place on a tour and once full payment has been made your money is protected in our client account and you have the flexibility to cancel or change your booking if needed.

CONFIRMING YOUR BOOKING

Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.

You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.

TRIP STATUS

There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.

BOOKING ONLINE

From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).

If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.

BOOKING OFFLINE

Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.

The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.

In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.

In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.

The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.

FULL FLEXIBILITY FOR TOUR CANCELATIONS

If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).

If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).

Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.

If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.

Loyalty Riders Club

For those who have been on several long tours with us, we reward customer loyalty by offering repeat customers a special discount off the tour price (excludes single supplement and bike rental). If this is your fourth scheduled tour or more you will receive a 5% discount. If this is your eighth scheduled tour or more we will extend a 10% discount. The discount will be reflected in your online booking, but please contact us if any questions. Loyalty discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Note: Only tours of 7 days or more will be applicable for a loyalty discount.

International Flights

International flights, to and from the start and finish points are not included in the tour price. Once your tour is Guaranteed to Depart you can book your flight. Please contact us for advice before arranging flights for the best arrival and departure times. We would only cancel a trip for an extreme circumstance, but in that case, where we cancel your trip, we cannot be liable for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made. Please claim any losses from your travel insurance that you acquired when you booked your holiday.

Newsletter

Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from SpiceRoads, be sure to subscribe.

The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary

Contact Us

45 (Sub Soi Pannee) Soi Pridi Banomyong 26
Sukhumvit Soi 71 Klongtan Nua, Wattana
Bangkok, Thailand 10110
Tel: +66 (0) 2 026 3295
Email: info@spiceroads.com
Website: www.spiceroads.com