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    • Belasitsa Nature Park
      • Service: Contact Data and Travel Info
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      • Butterflies and Flowers of Belasitsa
      • Life of the Chestnut
      • Sofia Kostadinova-Ilkova | Nature Tour Guide
    • Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
      • Service: Contact Data and Travel Info
      • Photo Galleries
      • The heart of the Balkan – Where the views take your breath away
      • To Heaven and Back
      • Sergey Sergeev Aleksandrov | Nature Tour Guide
      • Stoyan Pavlov Hristov | Nature Tour Guide
      • Tsanko Nikolaev Kiranov | Nature Tour Guide
      • Galina Ivanova Mihaylova | Nature Tour Guide
    • Rila Monastery Nature Park
      • Service: Contact Data and Travel Info
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      • Forest Tales of The Historic Railway
      • Rayna Pashova | Nature Tour Guide
      • Bogomil Schuschkov | Nature Tour Guide
      • Vasil Yanev | Nature Tour Guide
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      • Above the rooftops of Sofia
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      • Dr. Nikola Doykin | Nature Tour Guide
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      • Service: Contact Data and Travel Info
      • Photo Galleries
      • Video Gallery
      • Green way. To keep trace of plant mysteries
      • The secret routes of water: Karst
      • Olya Genova | Nature Tour Guide
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  • Tours
    • Butterflies and Flowers of Belasitsa | Belasitsa Nature Park
    • Life of the Chestnut | Belasitsa Nature Park
    • The heart of the Balkan – Where the views take your breath away | Central Balkan National Park
    • To Heaven and Back | Central Balkan National Park
    • Forest Tales of The Historic Railway | Rila Monastery Nature Park
    • Above the rooftops of Sofia | Vitosha Nature Park
    • Green way. To keep trace of plant mysteries | Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park
    • The secret routes of water: Karst | Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park
  • Tour Guides
    • Sofia Kostadinova-Ilkova | Belasitsa Nature Park Nature Tour Guide
    • Sergey Sergeev Aleksandrov | Central Balkan National Park Nature Tour Guide
    • Stoyan Pavlov Hristov | Central Balkan National Park Nature Tour Guide
    • Tsanko Nikolaev Kiranov | Central Balkan National Park Nature Tour Guide
    • Galina Ivanova Mihaylova | Central Balkan National Park Nature Tour Guide
    • Rayna Pashova | Rila Monastery Nature Park Nature Tour Guide
    • Bogomil Schuschkov | Rila Monastery Nature Park Nature Tour Guide
    • Vasil Yanev | Rila Monastery Nature Park Nature Tour Guide
    • Silvia Arangelova | Vitosha Nature Park Nature Tour Guide
    • Dr. Nikola Doykin | Vitosha Nature Park Nature Tour Guide
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Autum in the Tazha park section - photo: Central Balkan National Park

The heart of the Balkan – Where the views take your breath away | Central Balkan National Park

One, two or three days hiking on route village of Ribaritsa – Vezhen chalet – Eho chalet – village of Ribaritsa.

You are here: Home / The heart of the Balkan – Where the views take your breath away | Central Balkan National Park
Scenic view from the path - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov

The highlights of this tour

The heart of the Balkan – Where the views take your breath away | Central Balkan National Park

One, two or three days hiking on route village of Ribaritsa – Vezhen chalet – Eho chalet – village of Ribaritsa.

The tour represents a large variety of landscapes, ecosystems and habitats in one of the oldest and the largest Bulgarian reserves – Tsarichina reserve (1949).

The most representative natural beech forests in the reserve are part of the serial World Heritage Property “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”.

Beech forest - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov
Beech forest

Here is the northernmost locality of the Balkan endemic species – Macedonian pine.

Here is the kingdom of the red avens, brown bear and spectacular variety of birds.

Red avens (Geum coccineum Sibth. & Sm.) - photo: Central Balkan National Park
Red avens (Geum coccineum Sibth. & Sm.)
Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) - photo: Central Balkan National Park
Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos)

Here is the highest chapel on the Balkan peninsula – Holy Trinity – 1700 m altitude.

Holy Trinity Chapel - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov
Holy Trinity Chapel

Video of the area

Scenic view from the path - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov

Description of the 3-day-tour

Day 1

From the village of Ribaritsa the road leads us to the Border of Central Balkan National Park. On a small parking area we leave the transport and start our hike in direction Kolev kravarnik locality and Vezhen chalet.

We will pass through Tsarichina ecotrail – a nice way to enjoy the peaks of Central part of Balkan Range without going up to them. This forest is part of the Bulgarian component of serial UNESCO World Heritage Property “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”.

Rest area - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov
Rest area - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov

There are six places for recreation (sets with wooden tables and benches) and three  springs (fountains) along the route.

Flock of sheep - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov
Flock of sheep

Upon reaching the sheepfold with a small dairy at Kolev kravarnik, traditionally prepared sheep’s milk products (yoghurt, white brined cheese, yellow cheese, stalk) and a traditional demonstration of these products are available.

From Kolev kravarnik we continue on our way to the final goal for the day – Vezhen chalet. We will have traditional diner and will spend the night at the chalet.

Vezhen chalet in the Tsarichina Reserve - photo: Central Balkan National Park
Vezhen chalet in Tsarichina Reserve

Day 2

After breakfast we continue to Eho chalet. We will follow one of the most popular touristic trails in Bulgaria called E3 International Friendship Route.

Eho hut - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov
Eho Chalet

A few minutes before we reach the chalet, we will see the highest-placed chapel in the Central Balkan, named Holy Trinity.

Now we have some spare time to enjoy one of the most impressive views in Central Balkan.

View from Eho hut - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov
View from Eho Chalet

If desired, we have time to climb the Yumruka peak for an even more spectacular panorama to the north and south of the Balkan. Then it’s time for relaxation and a traditional dinner at the chalet.

Day 3

After breakfast we continue on our way back to village of Ribaritsa.

This time we will take the steep path via Ostrikite locality.

Part of the path - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov

We will climb down through fascinating beech-fir forest.

We will refill the bottles with mountain water and continue along a dirt road to the north towards the village of Ribaritsa.

Scenic view from the path - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov

Variations of the tour

A) TSARICHINA ECOTRAIL

The trail is pedestrian, circular, with the duration of the transition 4 to 4,5 hours.

Tawny owl (Strix aluco) - photo: Central Balkan National Park
Tawny owl (Strix aluco)

B) TO VEZHEN PEAK VIA WINTER TRAIL

The distance between the Vezhen chalet and Vezhen peak is around 600 m. The peak may be climbed via three trails, their forking is at around 1 km south off the chalet, close to the upper forest line.

Part of the path - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov

Flock of sheep - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov

General information and booking info

Length of the tours

We offer 1, 2 or 3 days experience along the trail of the above descripted tour and all variations depending on the abilities and preferences of our guests.

The three days tour is about 32 to 34 km long. Depending on the selected part(s) of the tour the length (respectively duration) can be reduced to 30 km (2 days)/ 18 to 20 km (1 day, 9 hours)/ 5 km (5 hours).

Daily hikes for two or three day tours last between 5 and 8 hours. We are also flexible with regard to the direction of passing the route and possible combinations of its parts and variants.

Height difference

The height difference is 1,500 m.

Level of difficulty

Medium

Requirements

Participants must be over 10 years old, in good health, with medium/good hiking skills and appropriate equipment including wind and waterproof jacket and trousers (not shorts!), raincoat, comfortable hiking boots, comfortable backpack, bottle for water, flashlight, cap/hat, gloves.

Best season

The most suitable periods for visits are between April and November.

The visit of the dairy at Kolev kravarnik is possible between 15th of June and 15th of August.

Booking within 20 days of planned date is needed.

Start time

09.00 a.m.

Costs

Three day tour:
100 EUR per person (min 4 persons or supplementary payment of 20 EUR per person in a group of 3 and 25 EUR per person in a group of 2). The price includes 2 nights in a mountain chalet (basic accommodation) and tour guiding. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are not included.)

Two day tour:
70 EUR per person (min 4 persons or supplementary payment of 15 EUR per person in a group of 3 and 20 EUR per person in a group of 2). The price includes 1 night in a mountain chalet (basic accommodation) and tour guiding. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are not included.)

One day tour:
30 EUR per person (min 4 persons or supplementary payment of 15 EUR per person in a group of 3 and 20 EUR per person in a group of 2).

5-hour tour:
10 EUR per person (min 4 persons or supplementary payment of 5 EUR per person in a group of 3 and 10 EUR per person in a group of 2).

Useful hints

The starting point can be reached by car. There is a place along the road to leave the cars.

Start of the route - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov
Start of the route

In case of a big group (10 persons and more) the nature guides can provide transport from the village and back at a small additional cost. The nature guides can cooperate about food and hotels.

Tour guides

Tour Guide Galina Mihaylova - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov

Galina Mihaylova

Tour Guide Stoyan Hristov - Photo: Central Balkan National Park

Stoyan Hristov

How to book?

Phone: +359 886761994 Sergey Aleksandrov and +359 886090658 Galina Mihaylova

E-mail: and

Scenic view from the path - Photo: Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov

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Text: Courtesy of Central Balk National Park Directorate

Photos: Directorate of Central Balkan National Park/Stoyan Hristov


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