Western Rhodopes

Major departure points for hiking tours in the Rhodope Mountains

Yundola Saddle and resort centre - on the border between Rila Mountain and the Rhodopes, 16 km from Velingrad, 26 km from Belovo and 25 km from Yakoruda, are connected by regular bus lines. There are lots of rest homes, a tourist chalet, restaurants, shops. It is an intermediary point for combined routes in the two mountains and of the European route E-8. For 3.30 hours along a marked track one can reach the Kladova Chalet in the Alabak sub-range of the Rhodopes.

Velingrad - the biggest balneological resort in Bulgaria is also one of the most beautiful towns in the Rhodopes. It is the starting point for the Alabash Ridge. It is the main railway station of the narrow-gauge train line Septemvri-Dobrinishte. It is also connected through regular bus lines with many towns and villages, including Pazardzhik (48 km) and Razlog (69 km). It is the beginning of a marked hiking track to the Kladova Chalet (3 hours), from where one can proceed to the Milevi Skali Chalet (5 hrs.) and Ravno Bore Chalet (another 2 hours).

The town of Batak - a village of rich history, 26 km to the south-east of Velingrad and very near Batak Dam. Regular bus lines connect it with Velingrad, Pazardzhik and Plovdiv. There is a tourist hostel. A hiking track starts here to the Teheran Chalet (3.30-4 hours), from where in 3-3.30 hours one can reach the highest peak of the Batak range – Mt. Batakshki Snezhnik.

The town of Devin - is 82 km to the south of Pazardzhik and 46 km to the north-west of Smolyan, with which, along with many other towns (including Plovdiv) it is connected through regular bus lines. Hiking tracks start here to: Orphei (Orpheus) Chalet (5 hours) in the Devin mountain sub-range, from where one could proceed and reach in 3 hours the well known Kemerov Most (Kemer’s Bridge), Lednitsata Chalet (from Nastan quarter - 6 hours) in the Perelik sub-range, from where there are different options - to the village of Shiroka Luka, Perelik Chalet and Pamporovo, Trigradski Skali Chalet. The bus from Devin to Trigrad passes through the Trigrad gorge and near the Dyavolsko Garlo Cave (Devil’s Throat).

The town of Perushtitsa - 24 km to the south-west of Plovdiv, connected with a regular (every hour) bus line with it. Starting point for Chernatitsa. A hiking track starts here to the Bryanovshtitsa Chalet (3 hours), from where it proceeds to Varhovrah Chalet (2.30 hours) or descends to the Academic Chalet (1 hour).
The village of Hrabrino - 12 km to the south of Plovdiv. Connected with it with a town bus line. Starting point for the Academic Chalet (1.30 hour), from where the track continues to the Varhovrah Ridge of Chernatitsa to the Bryanovshtitsa Chalet (1.5 hrs.) and Varhovrah Chalet (4 hours). The track is marked.

Village of Galubovo - 17 km to the south of Plovdiv, connected with it with a regular town bus line. Starting point to the Byala Cherkva Ridge of Chernatitsa - along a marked track to Zdravets Chalet (1.30 hours), Studenets Resort (another 1 hour), Byala Cherkva Resort (another 1.30 hours), from where one can proceed to the Ravnishta Chalet (3.30 hours) and Persenk Chalet (6 hours).

Village of Kuklen - 14 km to the south of Plovdiv, connected with it through a town bus line. Near-by is the Kuklen Monastery (1 hour). From Kuklen there is a marked track to Ruen Chalet (2.30 hours), from where one can proceed to Zdravets Chalet (another 2 hours).

Narechenski Bani - one of the biggest balneological centres in Bulgaria, with many sanatoria, mineral water springs, hotels, restaurants, shops. Located 45 km to the south of Plovdiv and 54 km to the north of Smolyan. Regular bus lines connect it with these two cities and many other places. This is the beginning of marked tracks to Byala Cherkva Resort (3-4 hours passing Mt. Cherni Vrah - 1543 m altitude) in Chernatitsa, Pashaliitsa Chalet (3 hours) in Radyuva Mountain in the Prespa Range, Mt. Zarenitsa (1 hour) where one can see the remains of a medieval fortress. An asphalt road (6 km), with no marking, can take you to a very interesting village, known for its old architecture - Kossovo.

Village of Orehovo - 40 km to the south of Assenovgrad and 28 km to the north of Chepelare. A bus line connects it to Plovdiv (twice a day), Assenovgrad and Smolyan. 7 km away from it is the village of Hvoina, located on the main road Plovdiv-Smolyan, where many bus lines have a stop. It is the starting point to Persenk Chalet (2.30-3 hours) and Kabata Chalet (3 hours), from where in 3 hours and 1.30 hours respectively one can reach the phenomenal rocks Chudnite Mostove, near which, at 20 min walking distance from one another there are two chalets - Chudnite Mostove Chalet (immediately by the rocks) and above it - a bigger and better furnished Skalnite Mostove Chalet. All tracks are marked.

Village of Zabardo - 51 km to the south of Assenovgrad and 28 km to the north of Chepelare. Connected with Plovdiv by bus (once a day), with Assenovgrad and Smolyan as well. 13 km away from it is the Sinite Hancheta Inn, a bus stop on the main road Plovdiv-Smolyan. It is a starting point to the natural phenomenon Chudnite Mostove with the two chalets nearby (2.3-3 hours), from where one can proceed to Persenk Chalet (3 hours), Izgrev Chalet (5-6 hours), Kabata Chalet (1.30 hours) or climb Mt. Per-senk (2074 m) in 2 hours. There is a direct route from Zaburdo to Izgrev Chalet as well. There is a hostel in the village. All tracks are marked.

Town of Chepelare - on the main road Plovdiv-Smolyan, located at respectively 73 km and 26 km from them. Connected with both of them with regular bus lines. The biggest speleological centre in Bulgaria. The town hosts a tourist house and a speleological museum. This is the starting point for a marked track to Izgrev Chalet (2.30_3 hours) in Chernatitsa, from where one can proceed southwards along the watershed (to Pamporovo 6-7 hours, Shiroka Luka - 4 hours), or to the north (to Persenk Chalet - 6-7 hours, Chudnite Mostove - 5-6 hours. A main road (12 km.) connects it to Pamporovo Resort.

Rozhen Saddle this the border between the Perelik and Prespa subranges, located on the main road Plovdiv-Smolyan, it is 9 km away from Chepelare and 20 km to the north of Smolyan. All bus lines that cross the town stop there. There is a big motel with restaurant. The saddle is at an altitude of 1430 metres. A marked hiking track passes here, connecting the resort of Pamporovo (Studenets Chalet - 2 hours) and Momchil Yunak Chalet (3 hours) from where one can proceed in different directions.

Smolyan - the largest town in the Western Rhodopes, 100 km to the south of Plovdiv. Regular bus lines connect it to Sofia, Plovdiv and many other cities and villages. There are abounding accomodation facilities, many restaurants, entertainment opportunities. 16 km away from it is Pamporovo Resort. The town is the starting point for marked hiking tracks to the Studenets Chalet (Pamporovo - 3 hours), Perelik Chalet (5 hours) located near the highest peak in the mountain range – Mt. Golyam Perelik, Rodopska Shipka (with the monument below Mt. Srednogorets) - (3-4 hours), the village of Arda (7-8 hours). An 8 km road (town bus available, too) leads to the Smolyan lakes and the chalet thereby.

The town of Assenovgrad - 20 km to the south-west of Plovdiv, connected with it with bus and railway lines. This is the main starting point for the Dobrostan Massif. A marked hiking track leads to Momina Salza Chalet (2 hours), Bezovo Chalet (another 1.30 hours) and Martsiganitsa Chalet (another 3 hours). 2.5 km to the south of the town is the historical Assenova Krepost. There is a tourist hostel in the town.

The village of Manastir – the highest village in Bulgaria (located at 1450 m above sea level). It is 20 km away from Lacky, with a regular bus running between the two. An important starting point for the Prespa Sub-range. There is a tourist hostel. Marked hiking tracks lead to Svoboda Chalet (2.30-3 hours), Prespa Chalet (1.30-2 hours) and Haidushki Polyani (a small resort - 2 hours), located on the main watershed of the Prespa Range.

The village of Novakovo - located 24 km to the south-east of Assenovgrad, on the main road Plovdiv-Kurdzhali. Connected with the three cities by regular bus lines. Starting point for Sini Vrah Chalet (2 hours) in the Novakov Mountain (Prespa Sub-range), from where one can proceed to Martsigarnitsa Chalet (7.30 hours), Svoboda Chalet (10-11 hours), passing by the forest guard house Aqua Tepe and Rodopsko Konche, Aidaa Chalet (9 hours) in the direction of the city of Haskovo.

Eastern Rhodopes

Kurdzhali - the biggest city (together with Haskovo) in the Eastern Rhodopes. Kurdzhali is the main starting point to the most interesting places in the Eastern Rhodopes - the valleys of the rivers Borovitsa, Varbitsa, Arda with the big dams built on them. There are almost no marked hiking tracks in the area and all tourist sites are accessible through regular bus lines and by car, of course.

The city of Haskovo - a starting point in the northern part of the Eastern Rhodopes. Located 78 km to the east of Plovdiv. Connected with other parts of the country by bus and railway lines.

9 km to the west of the city are Haskovski Mineralni Bani, which may be the starting point for hiking tours to the beautiful ridges Mechkovets and Dragoina. The route to Aidaa Chalet, (Aida) immediately below Mt. Mechkovets (760 m above sea level) takes 2 hours along a marked track, that passes by Sharapanite (remains from Tracian times). From the chalet one can proceed westward along a marked track leading to the Sini Vrah Chalet (9 hours), thus entering into the Western Rhodopes. A marked hiking track begins in the city to the village of Dragoinovo, crossing Dragoina Ridge (4-5 hours). There are no other marked tracks in the area, but all interesting sites are accessible by regular bus lines.

Every town and city in the Eastern Rhodopes can be the starting point for a route to natural sites, historical monuments or tourist chalets.

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