Bulgarian Mountains :: Rhodopes
Major departure points for hiking tours in the Rhodope Mountains
Western Rhodopes
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.
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.
