Bulgaria - Rodopi

Bulgaria is situated in a region once inhabited by the ancient Thracians and later by Greeks and Romans, and is successor of a powerful European medieval empire which at times covered most of the Balkans and spread its culture and literature among the Slavic peoples.

After almost five centuries of Ottoman rule, Bulgaria was reestablished as a constitutional monarchy in 1878. Part of the Eastern Bloc after World War II, today Bulgaria is a democratic, unitary, constitutional republic, a member of the European Union and NATO.

Bulgaria is one of Europe's oldest countries — officially recognized in 681 A.D. — and its cultural diversity is complemented by a mild climate ideal for walking.

Traditional dress, songs, dances, and crafts evoke the unique spirit and style of the local people. Impressive edifices — Roman ruins, active Orthodox monasteries, churches, mosques, and 19th-century National Revival architecture — create an inspirational setting for celebrating a remarkably well-preserved past. Yet Bulgaria is thoroughly alive with modern bustle and proud of its membership in the European Union.

Our walking and cultural trip in Bulgaria is complete, thanks to the warm welcome we receive in small, family-run inns; a 19th-century noble's house, and a newly built hotel, each with distinctive charm and comfortable amenities. Our homemade meals celebrate the country's cultural bounty and thriving land, defining, once again, a truly, uncompromisingly Bulgarian experience.

The home of Orpheus and Dionysus, the Rodopi Mountains are a land of myth and wonder, where spectacular scenery and rural idyll go hand in hand. Our short center-based trips takes us into the heart of this beautiful region, to discover for ourselves one the last bastions of traditional Eastern European life. The way of life seems to have changed little over the last few hundred years. Local people maintain a traditional rural existence, working the fields by hand and tending their livestock on the surrounding meadows and pastures. The Rodopi are a remote refuge for many exceptionally rare plants and animals, with some plants growing nowhere else in the world. Brown bears, wolves, wild cats and prolific bird life, including an extensive population of birds of prey, still find a safe haven amongst the ancient coniferous forests. We take day walks through a variety of landscapes and remote timeless villages, where we'll experience the traditional rural way of life. We'll also visit impressive caves, the Asenova Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery, as well as the Bulgarian capital Sofia where there's time for some sightseeing.