Arrival of the participants in Sofia, meeting with the Guide and visit of the main sites of the Bulgarian capital – the Cathedral of Aleksandar Nevski, the Basilica of St. Sophia, the square of religions, a symbol of tolerance of the Bulgarians towards the main ones religions. Transfer by private minibus to the characteristic city-museum of Koprivstica, one of the most famous cultural and historical centers in Bulgaria for its houses from the Bulgarian Renaissance period. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast and transfer to the Beklemeto pass within the Central Balkans National Park. Meeting with the donkeys, preparation of the luggage and departure of our journey on foot

A 200-meter climb will take us to a plateau from where we can admire a beautiful view of the valley of the roses, stop for lunch after about 10 km at the Dermenka refuge. The path continues inside the natural reserve of Steneto, a beautiful beech forest with centuries-old trees, the path will take us to the beautiful Dobrila Refuge where we will stay overnight

Notes : 18.5 km 

Difference in height : + 885 m / – 600 m 

An undemanding stage, you will walk along the southern side of the Balkans meeting various grazing animals (Cows and Horses) to descend towards the Vasil Levski Refuge built inside a beech forest and dedicated to the most famous Bulgarian National hero who conceived and cared for the strategy in the revolutionary movement for the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.

Notes : 14 km 

Difference in height : + 238 m / – 672 m 

The longest and most difficult stage of this journey but one that will pay off with beautiful scenery and views. From the refuge a steady climb of about 10 km will take us to the summit of Mount Botev 2376 mt asl, the highest mountain in the Balkan mountains, named after the Bulgarian poet and patriot Hristo Botev. From its summit on clear days the view is breathtaking, to the south the Rila and Rhodope mountain ranges to the north the Danube valley. A long descent will take us to the Mandrata refuge in the valley of the Tazha river.

Notes : 21 km 

Difference in height : + 1375 m / – 1164 m 

Today’s route will take us first uphill towards the natural reserve of Peeshti Skali (the singing rocks) so called for the sounds they emanate when winds are crossed. This reserve is rich in fauna and it is not uncommon to meet deer or hear their bellow. We will continue until we arrive at one of the most beautiful shelters in all the Balkans, the Mazalat.

Notes : 13 km 

Difference in height : + 740 m / – 707 m 

Today we actually leave the National Park of the Central Balkan Mountains to enter places rich in history. A descent will take us to the Partizanska pesen refuge where we will stop for lunch to continue towards the Geographic Center of Bulgaria, today’s arrival point after 4 nights in the mountain refuges the characteristic Hotel Balkantzi with its incredible panoramic terrace and also equipped with jacuzzi and sauna (a little luxury after days of walking)

Notes : 15 km 

Difference in height : + 655 m / – 914 m 

A long and exciting journey awaits us on this day, in fact, at first a comfortable path with a final climb, will lead us to admire a beautiful panorama, places where Bulgarian history was made, the Valley of the Roses with its settlements and tombs of the Thracians, the Shipka monument which commemorates the most famous battle won by the Bulgarian / Russian army against the Ottoman one for independence, after centuries of domination and in the distance the Buzludzha Monument, symbol of the Bulgarian Communist Party.

We will have lunch in a restaurant on the Shipka pass, we will go up with donkeys to the monument, a magnificent stone tower, if we have enough time, a guided tour inside is planned. We will continue for another 10km of ups and downs almost always inside beech forests until we reach the socialist “UFO”. Dinner and overnight stay again this night in a characteristic hotel.

Notes : 20 km 

Difference in height : + 936 m / – 850 m 

Last stop on our fascinating journey through the nature and history of Bulgaria. Practically all downhill through fir and beech woods, we will arrive in the valley of roses where their scent will welcome us. We will leave our faithful donkey friends to rest in the garden of the structure that will host us this evening and we will go to visit the Kazanlak Rose Museum.

Notes : 16 km 

Difference in height : + 140 m / – 1000 m 

Great Ending, together with the Donkeys we will parade through the streets of the center of Kazanlak on the occasion of the Rose Festival, a wonderful emotion to be the protagonists and not spectators of this magnificent event, participating in the official parade. we’ll visiting a Distillery in the area to be able to see the real use of roses and the procedure for the production of the famous rose oil, visit to the Thracian Tomb “Golyama kosmatka”, the largest and the only non-robbed tomb located in the Valley of the Thracian kings, which is part of the Valley of Roses. A worthy conclusion to this beautiful journey with emotions that we will carry within us for a long time.

In the afternoon, transfer to Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria and one of the oldest in Europe, accommodation in the hotel. We will visit the ancient part of the city, recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. Dinner in a characteristic Bulgarian restaurant, final greetings

End of the Tour