Impressive trail exploring some of the most hidden and authentic parts of Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, known as the birth place of the legendary musician Orpheus. Along with the pleasant climate the mountains are the perfect place for walking and exploring the pastoral sceneries with rolling landscapes, open valleys dotted with tiny villages, green meadows with grazing goats and sheep, dense century-old coniferous woods, ancient Roman roads and bridges and a large variety of nature phenomena, namely The Trigrad Gorge with its 250m vertical cliffs, Yagodina Cave (considered one of the most beautiful caves in Bulgaria and also among the longest ones with more than 10km mapped so far), The Devil’s Throat Cave (housing one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe - 42m), The Miraculous Bridges etc. Unlike a typical inn-to-inn walking tour where people are responsible to work out their own way to the starting point and from the last place of the trek, this self-guided holiday is fully inclusive of all transfers and luggage transportations from airport to airport meaning that clients will not have to look for public transportation or private transfers elsewhere.
Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains are probably the best place in Bulgaria for unguided walking vacations not only due to their natural and cultural merits but also because of the mentality of the local hoteliers, known for their hospitality and acquaintance to foreigners travelling without a guide.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Rodopi Mountains (also called Rhodope or Rodope; highest peak – Golyam Perelik, 2191m a.s.l.) are the oldest mountains on the Balkan Peninsula.
- Yagodina Cave is among the longest caves in Bulgaria (with more than 10 km mapped so far), considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe with its outstanding stalactites, stalagmites, columns, ponds and cave pearls in them.
- Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest Bulgarian monastery.
- Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria
- The Miraculous Bridges are result of an earthquake that made a huge cave in the marble bed of the river to collapse; due to their striking appearance the well-polished rock formations nowadays are declared protected area

Dates, Prices & Remarks

Accommodation:
Days 1 and 7 - 3 star hotels with en-suite facilities. Rest days - small family-run pensions and guesthouses with en-suite rooms. Meal plan is based everywhere on half board (breakfast and dinner included) except for days 1 & 7, when no dinner is provided. Luggage is taken care of throughout the tour.

Price for solo travellers (incl. also single room supplement): 840 €

Price: 570 € per person in a double/twin room (limited time offer)

Single room supplement: 110 €

The price includes: a trip, fully inclusive of all ground transfers from airport to airport (pick up/drop off at Sofia Airport); detailed road book in English and map; luggage transportation; accommodation and boarding as mentioned above; 24/7 emergency hotline; VAT and all local taxes.

The price does not include: tips, entrance fees for caves and museums, alcohol drinks and other personal expenses.

Program

Program Print icon

Day 1: Sofia – Devin
Meeting at Sofia or Plovdiv airport (the latter against a small fee). Transfer to the SPA city of Devin. Depending on where you land, the transfer could last 1,30hrs (from Plovdiv) or 3 hrs (from Sofia). If you arrive early enough you can use the afternoon to visit the picturesque nature trail along Devinska River, or jump in the thermal pools near your accommodation.
Day 2: Devin – Yagodina/Yagodina Cave/Eagle’s Eye viewpoint – Trigrad (3-5,30-6,45hrs; 9,50-16-21km)
Today you can choose between two main treks (incl. options to extend them additionally):
Shorter (9,50km; +565m/-355m): A 40min transfer takes you to the entry of the Yagodina Cave: one of Bulgaria’s longest caves, which you can opt to view. Once finished with the cave tour, proceed for Trigrad village through a colorful kaleidoscope of landscapes that immerse you in the idyll of rolling crests, forests, and valleys.
Longer (16km (+1070m/-750m) or 21km (+1385m/-1065m): A 30min transfer takes you to the trailhead where a moderate but nice ascent through gardens and woods brings you up at the crest of the mountain. Enjoy the breath-taking views from the famous Eagles’ Eye observation platform. Then you descend down to Yagodina village, from where you can make a detour to visit Yagodina Cave or head straight for Trigrad village.
*Those who chose the shorter option, can extend their hike with a visit to the Trigrad Gorge (with its 350m high vertical cliffs) and the The Devil’s Throat Cave (housing the highest underground waterfall on the Balkans, 42m high), both near Trigrad. Visiting these sights is a must, and can be done also in the afternoon of Day 3 or Day 4 by those, who opted for the longer treks on Day 2.
Day 3: Trigrad – Zhrebevo – Trigrad (5,30hrs; 18,50km; +700m/-700m)
Magnetic sights follow each other on a circular hiking tour around Trigrad, with the authentic village of Zhrebevo at its distant end. Legend has it, the village was named after a stallion which shielded it from trouble and strife. Along the route, you observe the entry to the Trigrad Gorge and enjoy the wonderful panorama to surrounding parts.
Day 4: Trigrad – Kesten/Vodni Pad – Trigrad (5,30hrs; 17km; +670m/-760m)
Today, starting with a 10min transfer to the trailhead, you enjoy a particularly pleasant walking trek to the bordering with Greece villages of Kesten and Vodni Pad (until recently within a closely guarded strip proscribed even for those living down the road; you will see remains of the barbed wire border fences, meant to prevent people from escaping to Greece in the years during the 45yrs long communist rule in Bulgaria after WWII). A circular trail takes you up panoramic crests, through pine and beech forests dotted with green meadows and smallholdings, sheltered valleys, and traditional stone houses. The valley of the Trigradska River takes you back to Trigrad.
Day 5: Trigrad – Beden – Lyaskovo (6-6,30hrs; 21km; +825m/-860m)
With a transfer to the village of Beden begins today’s particularly panoramic trek. The views of the Rhodopes’ green crests change at each turn. The day ends at the village of Lyaskovo, one of the most distinctive local communities, with unforgettable charm and unique atmosphere. Your stay in the guesthouse of a local family will leave you wonderful memories of Rhodope hospitality.
* There is an option to extend the tour with extra night in Lyaskovo village, incl. a circular trek along the nearby mountain ridges.
Day 6: Lyaskovo – Wonderful Bridges – Kossovo (5,30hrs; 17,50km; +1160m/-780m)
A picturesque hiking route through one of the Rhodopes’ most beautiful forests (yet one little known among tourists) takes you to the amazing rock formations of the Chudni Mostove (The Wonderful Bridges): a natural rocky phenomenon that will impress you. From here, you are transferred to the village of Kossovo: a unique mountain community where you overnight in a restored traditional stone house.
Day 7: Kossovo – Bachkovo Monastery – Plovdiv – Sofia
After breakfast, you are transferred to Bulgaria’s second largest monastery at Bachkovo where you may view the miracle-working icon of Virgin Marry. A transfer then takes you to Plovdiv to the starting point of the Free Plovdiv Tour (for 11:00*), which will show you the main sites of interest of the Old Town, the center and the pedestrian area of the city. Time on your own until early afternoon in Plovdiv (time permitting) and transfer to Sofia in order to make it on time for the Free Sofia Tour, starting at 18:00 (similar service, meant to show you the most famous tourist attractions in the center of Sofia).
*N.B.: Between October & April the free tour in Plovdiv runs at 14:00. If you booked a tour during this period of time you will have to explore the Old Town using our own navigation materials, and not as a part of the free guided walking tour.
Day 8: Sofia
Transfer to Sofia Airport.

Date	Destination	Spots left	From price
28/10/2025	In the footsteps of Orpheus (8 days)	More than 8	€790.00	Book
29/10/2025	In the footsteps of Orpheus (8 days)	More than 8	€790.00	Book
30/10/2025	In the footsteps of Orpheus (8 days)	More than 8	€790.00	Book
31/10/2025	In the footsteps of Orpheus (8 days)	More than 8	€790.00	Book

In the footsteps of Orpheus

Dates, Prices & Remarks

Program

Day 1: Sofia – Devin

Day 2: Devin – Yagodina/Yagodina Cave/Eagle’s Eye viewpoint – Trigrad (3-5,30-6,45hrs; 9,50-16-21km)

Day 3: Trigrad – Zhrebevo – Trigrad (5,30hrs; 18,50km; +700m/-700m)

Day 4: Trigrad – Kesten/Vodni Pad – Trigrad (5,30hrs; 17km; +670m/-760m)

Day 5: Trigrad – Beden – Lyaskovo (6-6,30hrs; 21km; +825m/-860m)

Day 6: Lyaskovo – Wonderful Bridges – Kossovo (5,30hrs; 17,50km; +1160m/-780m)

Day 7: Kossovo – Bachkovo Monastery – Plovdiv – Sofia

Day 8: Sofia

Departures and prices

Hotel