Central Southern Bulgaria
The town of Kalofer (3991 inhabitants, 600 metres above sea-level) is beautifully situated along both banks of Tundga River, in a small valley in the eastern foot of the Strazhata Hill (The Sentry) (a natural connection between the Balkan and the Sredna Gora Mountains.
Surrounding Areas
The Byala Reka Inn is located by the bridge across the river Byala Reka (White River), with a small summer resort near it. It’s a few kilometres west of Kalofer and all buses between Karlovo and Kalofer stop there. The upper part of Byala Reka has cut through the Balkan the fantastic South Dzhendem Canyon, declared a Nature Reserve. It is accessible only with mountaineer equipment. Near the Alpine Rai Chalet (Paradise) is the highest waterfall in Bulgaria - Raiskoto Praskalo (The Heavens’ Sprayer) (124 m), whose waters fall down the stony walls of Mt. Botev (2376 m) - the highest peak in the Balkan Range. One can get to this true paradise only on foot - about 4 hours from the Panitsite Resort. Besides for the Central Balkan Range (see Stara Planina related chapter), Kalofer is also a starting point for the Surnena Sredna Gora Mountain. From the railway station, along a marked tourist track, one can get to Svezhen Chalet in about 5 hours. The chalet is above the village of the same name, where Colonel Serafimov - a hero of the Balkan War, was born. One can also reach the village by bus from Karlovo. From Svezhen Chalet one can continue eastward along the ridge of Surnena Sredna Gora, to the Bratan Chalet and Kavakliika Chalet.
