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      • The heart of the Balkan – Where the views take your breath away
      • To Heaven and Back
      • Sergey Sergeev Aleksandrov | Nature Tour Guide
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Autum in the Tazha park section - photo: Central Balkan National Park

To Heaven and Back | Central Balkan National Park

One, two or three day hiking on a route town of Kalofer – Ray chalet – Vasil Levski chalet – city of Karlovo

You are here: Home / Tours / To Heaven and Back | Central Balkan National Park
Stara reka reserve - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve

The highlights of this tour

One, two or three day hiking on a route town of Kalofer – Ray chalet – Vasil Levski chalet – city of Karlovo.

This tour and its variations show a great diversity of landscapes, ecosystems and habitats in Central Balkan National Park.

These include

  • the highest peak of the Balkan Range (Botev, 2,376 m asl)
  • the highest waterfall on the Balkan peninsula – Rayskoto praskalo waterfall (literally translated as heavenly waterfall)
  • two strict nature reserves (Stara reka reserve and the biggest reserve in Central Balkan – Dzhendema reserve) that preserve representative natural beech forests – part of the serial World Heritage Property “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”.
Botev peak (2,376 m) - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Botev peak (2,376 m)
Rayskoto praskalo waterfall - photo: Central Balkan National Park
Rayskoto praskalo waterfall
Beech forest in Dzhendema reserve - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Beech forest in Dzhendema reserve

Video of the area

Dzhendema Reserve - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve

Description of the 3-day-tour

Day 1

From the town of Kalofer the road leads us to the Panitsite locality (resort area).

On a small parking area we leave the transport and start our hike in direction Ray chalet and Rayskoto praskalo waterfall on marked trail. The route passes through deciduous forests, actively used pasture region of the park.

Then the path continues to the Ray chalet through Dzhendema reserve.

After an extreme ascent through Rogacheva forest we are facing the unique view of the Raiskite skali rocks and Ray chalet.

Ray chalet with Raisko praskalo waterfall - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Ray chalet with Rayskoto praskalo waterfall

The Raysko praskalo waterfall on Praskalska river is 40 minutes up the chalet.

Day 2

We are hiking the trail from Ray chalet to Vasil Levski chalet via Byala reka river gorge or via Botev peak on Tarzan’s trail.

Vasil Levski chalet - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Vasil Levski chalet

After a short break on the meadow in front the Vasil Levski chalet for 20 to 25 minutes, we will reach Karlovsko praskalo waterfall – a small picturesque waterfall into the beech-fir forest.

Karlovsko praskalo waterfall - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Karlovsko praskalo waterfall

After this it is time to relax and have a traditional dinner in Vasil Levski chalet – the oldest in the Balkan range.

Day 3

This day is dedicated to exploring the Stara reka reserve till the end of our tour in city of Karlovo.

Stara reka reserve - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Stara reka reserve

The path passes by the Balkanski rozi chalet (literally Balkan roses chalet) and Hubavets chalet – the last chalet on this trail.

Hubavets chalet - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Hubavets chalet

On the final part of the trail the Stara reka river is going steeply down, cutting a rocky canyon and takes us to the city of Karlovo.

Lilium jankae in Dzhendema reserve - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve

Variations of the tour

A) BYALA REKA ECOTRAIL

Four hours tour in the picturesque gorge of Byala Reka River on the territory of the national park, above the Kalofer Monastery in the beginning of the Dzhendema reserve.

Dzhendema Reserve - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Dzhendema Reserve

The trail is 1,830 meters long or about 3,700 steps. In normal walk this should take you about two hours. The altitude at the beginning of the trail is 570 meters above sea level, and at the end 630 meters.

During your walk, you will cross eight picturesque bridges above the Byala Reka River. The route is circular.

The ecotrail is situated on the border of Central Balkan National Park, close to the town of Kalofer (7 km). There is a small parking place before the entrance of the park. From the beginning of Byala reka ecotrail starts also marked trail to Paradzhika locality. That makes the ecotrail an alternative starting point to Ray chalet.

B) TO BOTEV VIA MARINKA

Alternative for the first day of the tour – for experienced hikers only.

On the northwest end of Paradzhika locality the trail follows closely the crest of the ridge going to Marinka shelter and Paradzhika peak.

From Marinka shelter the trail turns to the west, to the peak of Botev.

Botev peak (2,376 m asl) - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Botev peak (2,376 m asl)

C) TO BOTEV STARTING FROM APRILTSI

The town of Apriltsi is located on the northern slopes of Central Balkan National Park.

From Vidima neighbourhood (8 km from city centre) the hiking trail to Pleven chalet and Botev peak starts.

The route offers marvelous panoramic view of the wild labyrinth of the northern Dzhendema reserve.

Dzhendema reserve - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Dzhendema reserve

From the peak – according to the preferences of the tourists – the group can follow trail to Rayskoto praskalo waterfall, Ray chalet and town of Kalofer or to Vasil Levski chalet and city of Karlovo.

Rayskoto praskalo waterfall - photo: Central Balkan National Park
Rayskoto praskalo waterfall
Beech forest in Dzhendema reserve - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve

General information and booking info

Length of the tours

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

The three days tour is about 38 to 40 km long. Depending on the selected part(s) of the tour the length (respectively duration) can be reduced to 30 km (2 days)/ 20 km (1 day, 9 hours)/ 4 km (4 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.

Breaks and meals are determined by the length of the selected tour and the individual preferences of the guests.

Height difference

The height difference is 1,800 m.

Level of difficulty

Medium to high depending on the chosen variant (except Byala reka ecotrail where the level is low).

Requirements

Participants must be over 14 years old (without age limit for a hike on Byala reka ecotrail only), 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.

We are flexible and can offer tours on the same route for experienced and nonexperienced hikers. (We strongly recommend the conclusion of a travel–health–insurance, including accident insurance.)

Best season

The most suitable periods for visits are between May and October.
During the winter season avalanches often endanger the mountain trail. Booking 20 days in advance is required.

Start time

The best departure time for the first day is 9:00 a.m.

Starting/end point

Starting and end points for all tours can be the town of Kalofer, city of Karlovo or town of Apriltsi.

(The distance between Sofia and Karlovo is 150 km, between Sofia and Kalofer 170 km, between Sofia and Apriltsi 220 km.

The city of Karlovo and town of Kalofer can be reached by train form Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas and Varna.

The town of Apriltsi is connected with Sofia by direct bus service. A local bus line serves the route Troyan – Apriltsi.

Tour guides

Sergey Aleksandrov - Central Balkan National Park Nature Guide

Sergey Aleksandrov

Tsanko Nikolaev Kiranov | Centra Balkan National Park Nature Guide

Tsanko Kiranov

Assistance for your travel to Central Balkan NP you can receive on:

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

E-mail: and

Cost:

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.)

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).

Half a day tour (4-hours):
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).

How to book?

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

E-mail: and

Beech forest in Stara reka reserve - Photo: Central Balkan National Park and Biosphere Reserve

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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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