Summer Trekking In Bulgaria

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You're still looking for somewhere for the summer holiday but the Euro-zone look a bit pricey at the moment and, tempting as Nepal may be, it's a bit far afield for a week's holiday. So, where do you go?

Well, with Western Europe on a price hike it's time to head further east for this one-off, sneak-peak at the mouthwatering mountains - the alluring altitude - of Rila National Park, Bulgaria.

Where?

Fear not, we know you can place Bulgaria on a map, but where's this particular national park? Well, Rila's in the south west of Bulgaria and its main claim to mountain fame is that it is home not only to the highest peak in Bulgaria but also the highest on the Balkan peninsula. It's called Musala Peak and it rises to … wait for it … a respectable 2925m.
It's not a one-peak wonder either. There are over 100 peaks of 2000m or more in the area so it's far from a bad place to take a pair of hiking boots on a week away.

The walking

We stayed in Borovets - of ski fame - which huddles on the flanks of Musala Peak itself. The area is mostly pine-clad, especially if you climb Musala all the way from the valley, although it's possible to take a cable car to over 2000m. That just leaves you with a short day or long half day's outing to the top - just don't tell anyone we told you.

Higher up the mountain, as you'd expect, the trees bow out and the rocks take centre stage - or the snow, depending on the season. Most scenic of all were the tiered lakes which you pass on the way to the summit and there's a nice bristly ridge for the last few hundred metres to keep you happy if rugged is your thing. It's a walk rather than a scramble but it gets you dreaming of steeper, tougher routes and if you look around you there's plenty of potential for those.

A bed for the night

For anyone wanting to make Musala's acquaintance for more than a day, there's a hut a few hundred metres below the summit. It's an alpine-style wooden affair, with alpine bunks, and it's certainly a scenic place to crash so long as you don't expect showers or any other such absurd luxuries. Turn up early in the peak season to bag yourself a bed.
Down in the valley, Borovets is the largest ski resort around, with plenty to suit all tastes.

Biking, rafting, kayaking - and more

Borovets is best known as a winter destination so if you're happier in ski boots than trainers you won't need much convincing. There's plenty of variety in the summer too though.

You can hire mountain bikes to take on one of many designated routes in the area. They vary in difficulty depending on how your nerves fare on rough downhill stretches and - more importantly - whether you've got the lungs to get back up the other side. If you're a walker on a rest day there are plenty of gentle options (surprisingly, if you look at the local gradients) but equally there are a number of half day routes for the regulars.

Placid or high-adrenaline options also exist on the water, if you're of the opinion that dry land can sometimes be too much of a good thing. At the placid end of the spectrum, try a paddle across the lake in the Iskar Hunting Reserve (below). For the more daring, you can raft, or kayak the Struma River, at grades III to V (that's a paddler's way of saying 'moderate to hardcore'). As with most European paddling, it's only raft-able in the snowmelt season, from April to early summer.

Practicalities

Transport: Getting there and away involves a three hour or so flight with EasyJet, British Airways or Bulgaria Air, followed by the 73km drive to Borovets.

Climate: Summer can be pretty toasty in Sofia (well into the thirties isn't unusual) but Borovets is a bit more moderate because of the altitude. At the time of writing - June - it's a pleasant 24 degrees. Don't forget the sunscreen …


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