Jeep Safari

DAY 1 ARRIVAL AT SOFIA AIRPORT, SOFIA – ISKAR LAKE – PLANA MOUNTAIN - SAMOKOV

Upon arrival at Sofia Airport our representative will meet you and escort you to the jeeps. All the group is transfered to a nearby local restaurant where after having lunch a detailed explanation and instructions of the program will be made.

After lunch, we drive off-road on Plana Mountain by Iskar Lake till we reach Samokov town. Overnight.

DAY 2 SAMOKOV – SESTRIMO – BELMEKEN – YAKORUDA – BELITZA BEAR PARK – BANSKO

After breakfast we drive to Sestrimo (today we explore Rila Mountains), then we ascend to Belmeken (lake on top of the main ridge). There we take a very panoramic off-road to Yakoruda town. We visit Belitza bear-park. The Dancing Bears Park Belitsa, was founded in year 2000 and after the expansion work it now covers over 120,000 sq. m. of natural terrain. The park hosts 24 former dancing bears which were held in captivity and used to perform tricks and beg for money. Until 2007 all of them were rescued and set free in the park.

Drive to the most famous and modern ski-resort of Bulgaria, set in a highland valley between three mountain ranges.

DAY 3 BANSKO – HIKING TO VIHREN HUT – PIRIN LAKES – DOBRINISHTE – BANSKO

After breakfast, we explore Bansko (church, ethnographic museum, local market) and climb to Vihren hut and walk around glacial lakes and jagged peaks. Imagine a landscape of knife-sharp granite ridges and peaks, babbling mountain brooks overflowing from cold, clear glacial lakes, and alpine meadows bursting with fields of flowers. The marked paths are clear enough for seasoned hikers to follow. Drive to hot mineral water swimming pool in Dobrinishte town.

Return to Bansko – dinner in local tavern with live music.

DAY 4 BANSKO – DOBRINISHTE – BEZBOG HUT – BANICHANI VILLAGE – OGNYANOVO – VELINGRAD

Breakfast. Drive from Bansko to Dobrinishte, then to Bezbog hut. Here we take chair–lift till a lake. Off-road till Banichani village, then road to Ognyanovo (mineral water swimming pools), then to Kovachevitsa (architectural museum village) and off-road to Velingrad.

DAY 5 VELINGRAD – KOSTANDOVO RUG-FACTORY – TSEPINA FORTRESS – LAKE BATAK - SNEZHANKA CAVE – DEVIN SPA RESORT

We visit Kostandovo rug-factory, then off-road to Tsepina medieval fortress and around lake Batak. Walk in Snezanka cave. Drive to Devin SPA town.

DAY 6 DEVIN – TRIGRAD – DEVIL`S THROAT CAVE – YAGODINA VILLAGE – BUYNOVO – CHAVDAR – DEVIN

Walk the local Eco-trail (around river and waterfalls). Drive to Trigrad, visit Devils Throat cave, off-road to Yagodina village and cave. Snezhanka is one of the most beautiful caves in Bulgaria. It is also known as the Pearl of the Rhodopes and is one of the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria. The cave has gathered all types of cave formations in its mere 145 m of length. Off-road via Buynovo and Chavdar villages to Devin town.

DAY 7 DEVIN – SHIROKA LAKA – UHLOVITSA CAVE – SMOLIAN – PAMPOROVO

Drive from Devin to Shiroka Laka village (off-road), then Uhlovitsa cave and off-road via Smolian to Pamporovo. Spread along the course of a small river winding between the mountain slopes, Shiroka Laka is a mosaic of one and two-storey traditional houses with heavy stone-slab roofs and small gardens peeping out of them. Losing yourself in the narrow lanes between the houses of Shiroka Laka is the best way to explore the village, and to enjoy it. Overnight.

DAY 8 PAMPOROVO – WONDERFUL BRIDGES – BACHKOVO MONASTERY – PLOVDIV – SOFIA

Drive from Pamporovo to Wonderful Bridges (rocky phenomena), walk and sightseeing. In the past the bridges had been one entire cave, formed under the destructive activity of the river waters. Parts of it were collapsing with time, forming majestic marble bridges. The large bridge is about 15 meters wide in its wider parts and almost 100 meters long.Then drive to Bachkovo monastery. Drive to Plovdiv for sightseeing one of the most ancient towns ob Bulgaria. Drive to Sofia. Direct transfer to the airport or for additional overnight.

NOTE: DEPENDING ON THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE FLIGHTS, THE PROGRAM WILL BE AMENDED ACCORDINGLY OR ADDITIONAL OVERNIGHTS IN SOFIA CAN BE ADDED.

Total km: around 1000 km

Transport: jeeps for 4 persons each

Group size : 16-30 pax

Package price per person in double room, 4 pax in jeep: 430 + 160 + 70 = 660 euro

Single room use supplement: 80 euro

The package price includes:

• Accommodation based on a bed in double room in small family run hotels as described in the program;
• Meal plan: breakfast all days & 7 dinners;
• English speaking jeep-guide;
• Rent a jeep and parking fees;
• Fuel – aprox. 150 l or 250 euro for the whole journey;

The package price excludes:

• Meals – lunches;
• Activities marked as optional;
• Personal expenses;