The highlights of this tour
These are the highlights of the “The secret routes of water – Karst tour”:
- A great walk into the wild scenery of limestone and forest
- 360° panoramic view in the heart of the mountain
- The element of water – over, through and under the rocks
Description of the tour
The tour starts at the end of Zgorigrad village.
At the beginning along the left bank of Leva river we will see the traces of big disaster. In the spring of 1966 after a heavy rain, mine tailing storage caused an enormous flood in the valley. The consequences of water activity are still visible.
After we cross the river, our path starts to climb the steep slope. Half an hour later, we will reach a bigger road used by the village herds.
An easy hike will lead us through a nice beech forest. The altitude grows unnoticeably as we approach our main destination – a rocky summit with an amazing view in all directions.
But to reach the special place we should leave the path and walk through the stones and bushes. These efforts will be generously rewarded by the unique place at the highest point of the hill. The limestone field with deep crevices will surprise you with its strange shapes and hidden plants.
The photographers have the chance to take great photos of the surrounding lawns, hills and deep valleys. The one side of the summit is a vertical rock wall. The view at the edge shows the whole route down to the start point. After a short break, our tour continues.
The songs of birds will accompany us to the next destination – one of the famous waterfalls in the region – “Borov kamak”. First we will reach a lawn with refuge. This is the place for longer rest and lunch (out of your backpack).
A short walk along the water will lead us to a view point just at the place where the stream falls down.
On a series of wooden ladders, we will get down to see the waterfall in his whole fascination. The stones around the waterfall are covered with mosses and ferns.
Following the water stream, the track goes downhill and after an hour we will finish out tour at the start point.
See photo gallery with photos of this tour
General information and booking info
Length
7 km / 5 hours
Height difference
Ascent 550 m / descent 550 m
Level of difficulty
moderate/hard
Requirements
Good physical condition, good footwear required as well as a drinking water reserve for the whole tour duration.
Best season
April – June and September – October
Start time
Preferably early in the morning (8:00 to 8:30) to have the best light for taking photos.
Starting/End point
The tour starts at the upper end of Zgorigrad village.
Number of participants
Minimum 5 persons, maximum 15 persons.
Pets
Only dogs on a lead.
Cost
10 € per person
The starting point can be reached by car or taxi (3.5 km from the center of Vratsa). There is a place along the road to leave the cars.
In case of a big group (10 persons and more) the nature guide can provide transport from the town and back at a small additional cost.
Accommodation and food places are described in the park information.
Tour guides
How to book?
You can book the tour by E-Mail:
ogenova@gmail.com Olya Genova or
krasimir.lakovski@gmail.com Krasimir Lakovski
or by phone: +359 88567784 Olya Genova.
Tour calendar
Please check our tour calendar for planned tours and contact us for any other dates:
Discover more guided tours
Learn more about Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park
Photos from Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park
Text and Photos: Courtesy of Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, Krasimir Lakovski