Bulgaria, The Realm of the Brown Bear We had an excellent trip, learning about the evolution, distribution, habitat, food and habits of bears. We studied and measured " bear " trees and scats and were able to deduce the age and sex from these! The walks were well varied through stunning scenery.
We went on this tour by recommendation of friends who had previously visited Bulgaria and this same tour with this local travel specialist. Having been already on a few such hikes in the Alps and the Pyrenees we wanted to experience something different. And we got it! Stunning mountains, combined with perfect organization, very good accommodations and local food. Very good physical condition is a must if you wish to fully enjoy the hikes. But scenery has been rewarding throughout. We were lucky to be there when summer starts and meadows were filled with a variety of flowers, blooming right after the winter. Our guide even showed us a herd of mountain goats at the foot of Vihren. The program is designed in the best possible way. We had a day off with less activities, which was meant to provide more time for relax between the hikes in Rila and Pirin. And we made use of it by visiting one of the most famous tourist attractions in the country - the UNESCO heritage listed Rila Monastery. Overall great experience and highly recommended tour!
We enjoyed our week with Julian down in the Rodolpi Mountains, trekking the hills and meadows, on the lookout for the wildlife of the region. We loved it all. The landscape (sort of alpine-esque) is gentle in places and vigorous in others. Every day the walks took us to new areas and vistas. People have impressions of what Bulgaria is going to look and feel like and this week resets those expectations completely. We summoned up the energy to head to the hide a couple of times and loved it there - a real "in the moment" way to spend three hours. The hotel was welcoming and comfortable with ample delicious local specialties to fuel our efforts. Travelling in September we were surprised by how many flowers were still out, the butterflies and insects, the huge range of funghi, not to mention the very varied bird and mammal life of all sizes. There was the familiar, and the new, at every corner.